PROSPECTUS
750,000 Shares
PROGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
COMMON STOCK
(par value $1.00 per share)
All of the 750,000 shares of the common stock, par value $1.00 per
share (the "Common Stock"), offered hereby (the "Offering") are being issued and
sold by Progress Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company")
at a price of $19.50 per share.
The Common Stock is quoted on the National Market of the Nasdaq Stock
Market under the symbol "PFNC." The last reported sale price of the Common Stock
as quoted through the Nasdaq Stock Market on May 6, 1998 was $20.75 per share.
See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 13 of this Prospectus for information that
should be considered by prospective purchasers of the Common Stock offered
hereby.
THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY ARE NOT SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, DEPOSITS OR OTHER
DEBT OBLIGATIONS OF A BANK OR SAVINGS ASSOCIATION AND ARE NOT INSURED
BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE SAVINGS
ASSOCIATION INSURANCE FUND, OR ANY GOVERNMENTAL
AGENCY OR OTHERWISE.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY
IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
================================================================================
Underwriting
Price Discounts and Proceeds to
to Public Commissions(1) Company(2)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per Share $19.50 $1.26 18.24
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total(3) $14,625,000 $942,435 $13,682,565
================================================================================
(1) The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended. See "Underwriting."
(2) Before deducting expenses payable by the Company, estimated at $200,000.
(3) The Company has granted the Underwriters an option, exercisable within
30 days of the date hereof, to purchase up to an additional 75,000
shares of Common Stock, on the same terms and conditions set forth
above, solely to cover over-allotments, if any. If such option is
exercised in full, the Price to Public, Underwriting Discounts and
Commissions and Proceeds to Company will be $16,087,500, $1,037,498 and
$15,050,002, respectively.
The shares of Common Stock are offered severally by the Underwriters,
as specified herein, subject to receipt and acceptance by them and subject to
their right to reject any order in whole or in part. It is expected that
delivery of the shares of Common Stock will be made on or about May 11, 1998
against payment therefor in immediately available funds.
----------
SANDLER O'NEILL & PARTNERS, L.P.
----------
The date of this Prospectus is May 6, 1998.
<PAGE>
[MAP]
IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY ENGAGE IN
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE, MAINTAIN OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE MARKET PRICE OF
THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY INCLUDING OVER-ALLOTMENT, STABILIZING AND
SHORT-COVERING TRANSACTIONS IN SUCH SECURITIES, AND THE IMPOSITION OF A PENALTY
BID IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING. FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE
"UNDERWRITING."
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AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in
accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy
statements and other information can be inspected and copied at the Commission's
public reference rooms located at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549, and at the Commission's Regional Offices at Northwestern Atrium Center,
500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661, and 7 World Trade
Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048. Copies of such material can be
obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. The Commission
maintains a World Wide Web site at http://www.sec.gov containing reports, proxy
and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file
electronically with the Commission, including the Company. The Common Stock is
listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, and such reports, proxy statements and other
information concerning the Company also may be inspected at the offices of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"), 1735 K Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20006.
The Company has filed a Registration Statement on Form S-2 (together
with all amendments and exhibits thereto, the "Registration Statement") under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to
the Common Stock offered hereby. This Prospectus does not contain all the
information set forth in the Registration Statement. For further information
with respect to the Company and the Common Stock offered hereby, reference is
made to the Registration Statement. Statements contained in the Prospectus
concerning provisions of certain documents are not necessarily complete and in
each instance, reference is made to the copy of such document filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement or attached thereto, each such statement
being qualified in all respects by such references.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
This Prospectus is summary in nature, does not purport to be a full and
complete statement of the business, affairs and financial condition of the
Company and should be read in conjunction with the following documents of the
Company which have been filed with the Commission and are hereby incorporated by
reference into this Prospectus:
(i) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1997, including the 1997 Annual Report to
Stockholders filed as Exhibit 13 thereto; and
(ii) the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 28, 1998.
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<PAGE>
Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any sale of securities made
hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has
been no change in the affairs of the Company or its affiliates since the date
hereof or that the information contained herein is correct as of any time
subsequent to its date.
This Prospectus is accompanied by the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 and the 1997 Annual Report to
Stockholders. Copies of any other documents incorporated by reference herein are
available from the Company without charge (other than exhibits to such
documents, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into
the information that this Prospectus incorporates) to any person to whom this
Prospectus is delivered, upon written request of such person. Requests for such
copies should be directed to Frederick E. Schea, Chief Financial Officer of the
Company, at the Company's principal executive offices located at Four Sentry
Parkway, Suite 230, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania 19422-0764. The Company's telephone
number is (610) 825-8800.
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<PAGE>
SUMMARY
The following summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified
in its entirety by the more detailed information in the Company's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, including the Consolidated
Financial Statements and related Notes, in the Company's 1997 Annual Report to
Stockholders accompanying this Prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated, the
information in this Prospectus assumes that the Underwriters' over-allotment
option will not be exercised.
The Company
Progress Financial Corporation (the "Company") is a Delaware
corporation headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. The Company is a unitary
thrift holding company and the sole stockholder of Progress Bank (the "Bank"), a
federally-chartered savings bank, which has been engaged in the thrift business
since 1878. The Bank conducts its business through eight banking offices located
in Montgomery County, one banking office in Delaware County, one banking office
in Chester County and one banking office in the Andorra section of Philadelphia,
in southeastern Pennsylvania. Unless the context otherwise requires, references
herein to the Company include the Bank. At December 31, 1997, the Company had
total assets of $493.4 million, total liabilities of $453.3 million, including
total deposits of $340.8 million, and total stockholders' equity of $25.1
million.
The Company's current business strategy is to operate as a profitable,
diversified financial institution providing a full range of banking services
with an emphasis on commercial business and commercial real estate loans to
small and medium-sized businesses, as well as residential construction and
consumer lending, funded primarily by customer deposits. As a complement to this
core business, the Company has expanded its business activities to include
equipment leasing, commercial mortgage banking, asset management, managing a
fund which provides subordinated debt financing primarily to technology
companies in the Mid-Atlantic region, and communications and telemarketing,
which provide a steady source of fee income. As a result of increased
acquisitions of small to medium-sized financial institutions by large bank
holding companies in southern Pennsylvania, the Company believes that there is a
significant market opportunity for the Bank to provide a full range of
commercial banking services to small to middle market commercial customers
seeking personalized service that is generally unavailable to such customers at
larger regional and national institutions. See "Business Overview of the
Company."
Historically, the principal business of the Company consisted of
attracting deposits from the general public through its branch office network
and using such deposits to originate loans secured by first mortgage liens on
existing single-family residential real estate and existing multi-family
residential and commercial real estate, as well as to originate construction
loans (which included land acquisition and development loans). Prior to 1996,
5
<PAGE>
such lending activities comprised, in the aggregate, at least 80% of the
Company's total loan originations.
Beginning in 1995, the Company started to change its focus and to
modify its operations to become more like a commercial bank. The Company's
emphasis shifted to commercial business, commercial real estate and construction
lending and equipment leasing, with a focus on providing such banking services
to small to medium-sized businesses, including companies in the technology
sector. The Company's shift in focus coincided with the recent acquisitions of
small to medium-sized banking institutions by larger bank holding companies and
the consolidation in the banking industry which has limited the number of
lenders available to small commercial borrowers. Since 1995, the Company has not
emphasized residential lending and has only originated a limited amount of
single-family residential mortgage loans. As a consequence, single-family
residential loans declined from $100.0 million, or 48.1% of the Company's total
loan and lease portfolio, at December 31, 1994 to $56.6 million, or 17.2% of the
Company's total loan and lease portfolio, at December 31, 1997. During the same
time, commercial business and commercial real estate loans increased from $83.3
million, or 40.1% of the Company's total loan and lease portfolio, to $179.3
million, or 54.4% of the Company's total loan and lease portfolio. To assist the
Company's transition in business focus, several senior personnel have been
recruited with significant experience in specific areas of the Company's new
focus, including the technology sector. While this shift in focus has increased
the Company's operating expenses, it has also helped improve the Company's yield
on its average interest-earning assets, which has increased from 7.97% in 1995
to 8.82% in 1997. This increase in yield has helped to offset the increase in
operating expense.
The Company also invests in mortgage-backed securities, including
securities which are insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government and agencies
thereof, and other similar investments permitted by applicable laws and
regulations. In addition, the Bank is involved in real estate development and
related activities, through its subsidiaries, primarily to facilitate the
completion and sale of certain property held as real estate owned.
The principal sources of funds for the Company's activities are
deposits, amortization and repayment of loans, proceeds from sales of assets
classified as available for sale, net savings inflows and advances from the
Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") of Pittsburgh. The Company's principal sources
of revenues are interest and other payments on loans, including origination and
servicing fees, interest on investments and mortgage-backed securities, service
charges on deposits, gains (losses) from mortgage banking activities and from
the sale of loans and mortgage-backed securities classified as available for
sale and other fee income. Its principal expenses are interest paid on deposits,
advances from the FHLB of Pittsburgh and other borrowings, provisions for
possible loan and lease losses and real estate owned, personnel, occupancy and
equipment, and other administrative expenses.
The Company, as a registered thrift holding company, is subject to
examination and regulation by the Office of Thrift Supervision ("OTS") and is
subject to various reporting and other requirements of the Commission. The Bank,
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<PAGE>
as a federally chartered savings bank, is subject to comprehensive regulation
and examination by the OTS, as its chartering authority and primary regulator,
and by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"), which administers the
Savings Association Insurance Fund ("SAIF"), which insures the Bank's deposits
to the maximum extent permitted by law. All federal savings banks are subject to
the qualified thrift lender ("QTL") test that requires at least 65% of a savings
association's portfolio assets to be qualified thrift investments ("QTI"). QTI
generally have included an unlimited amount of housing-related loans and
investments. In 1996, legislation was enacted expanding the types of investments
qualifying as QTI to include, without limitation as to amount, loans for
education purposes, loans to small businesses and loans made through credit
cards or credit card accounts. These amendments to the QTL test allow the Bank
to pursue its strategy of providing a full range of banking services and
emphasizing commercial lending while continuing to comply with the QTL test. At
December 31, 1997, 71.4% of the Bank's portfolio assets were QTI. For more
information about the QTL test and the consequences of failure to comply with
it, see "Risk Factors - Regulation."
The Bank is a member of the FHLB of Pittsburgh, which is one of the 12
regional banks which comprise the FHLB System. The Bank is further subject to
regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ("Federal
Reserve Board") governing reserves required to be maintained against deposits
and certain other matters.
The Company's principal executive offices are located at Four Sentry
Parkway, Suite 230, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania 19422-0764, and its telephone number
is (610) 825-8800.
7
<PAGE>
The Offering
Common Stock Offered
by the Company................. 750,000 shares.
The Company has also granted the Underwriters
an option, exercisable within 30 days of the
date hereof, to purchase from the Company up to
75,000 additional shares of Common Stock solely
to cover over-allotments, if any. See
"Underwriting."
Purchase Price.................. $19.50 per share.
Common Stock Outstanding
Prior to the Offering.......... 4,063,778 shares.
Common Stock Outstanding
After the Offering............. 4,813,778 shares (4,888,778 shares assuming the
exercise of the Underwriters' over-allotment
option).
Estimated Net Proceeds.......... $13.5 million.
Use of Proceeds................. Net proceeds retained by the Company will be
used for general corporate purposes, including
contributions to its subsidiaries for growth
and expansion of their businesses both through
internally generated growth and possible future
acquisitions. The Company intends to invest
approximately $6.0 million of the net proceeds
of the Offering in equity of the Bank. The Bank
intends to use such additional capital to
increase its regulatory capital levels in order
to support additional lending and an increase
in its asset base. See "Use of Proceeds."
8
<PAGE>
Dividend Policy................. The Company is currently paying quarterly
dividends of $.03 per share on the Common
Stock. The Company's ability to pay dividends
on the Common Stock depends on the receipt of
dividends from the Bank and the Company's
non-banking subsidiaries. In addition,
dividends will be subject to determination and
declaration by the Board of Directors in its
discretion, which will take into account the
Company's consolidated financial condition and
results of operations, tax considerations,
industry standards, economic conditions,
statutory and regulatory restrictions, general
economic conditions and other factors. While
the Company expects to continue to pay regular
quarterly cash dividends, there can be no
assurance that dividends will not be reduced or
eliminated in future periods. See "Market Price
for Common Stock and Dividends - Dividends."
Nasdaq National Market
System Symbol for the
Common Stock................... PFNC
Risk Factors.................... Prospective investors are urged to carefully
review the matters discussed under "Risk
Factors."
9
<PAGE>
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OTHER DATA
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
The selected consolidated financial and other data set forth below
should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by, the
more detailed information, including the Consolidated Financial Statements and
related Notes, set forth in the Company's 1997 Annual Report to Stockholders.
See "Available Information."
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
At December 31,
--------------------------------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
-------- -------- ------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Financial Condition Data:
Total assets................. $493,406 $383,649 345,394 $348,189 $333,209
Loans and leases............. 325,544 251,562 221,650 205,771 158,268
Loans held for sale(1)....... 373 599 3,153 351 16,744
Investment securities:
Available for sale(1)...... 6,395 3,462 5,504 4,627 --
Held to maturity........... 4,051 1,937 2,149 12,867 4,632
Mortgage-backed securities:
Available for sale(1)...... 44,518 42,738 36,842 9,103 8,893
Held to maturity........... 49,421 47,334 52,833 93,673 117,054
Deposits..................... 340,761 306,248 297,260 283,958 273,583
Borrowings................... 71,172 50,270 28,400 47,052 40,536
Capital securities........... 15,000 -- -- -- --
Stockholders' equity......... 25,115 19,954 16,407 13,020 14,788
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
At or For the Year Ended December 31,
------------------------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
------- ------ ------ ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Operations Data:
Interest income.......................... $34,448 $28,121 26,569 $22,830 $20,824
Interest expense......................... 16,609 14,682 15,335 12,505 11,465
------- ------ ------ ------- -------
Net interest income...................... 17,839 13,439 11,234 10,325 9,359
Provision for possible loan and lease
losses................................. 1,121 687 625 521 368
------- ------ ------ ------- -------
Net interest income after provision
for possible loan and lease losses..... 16,718 12,752 10,609 9,804 8,991
Other income(2).......................... 6,478 4,859 2,265 1,545 2,226
Other expense............................ 17,014 15,596 12,071 12,065 11,568
------- ------ ------ ------- -------
Income (loss) before income taxes
(benefit).............................. 6,182 2,015 803 (716) (351)
Income tax expense (benefit)............. 2,310 762 (1,868) -- (1,034)
------- ------ ------ ------- -------
Net income (loss)........................ $ 3,872 $1,253 $2,671 $ (716) $ 683
======= ====== ====== ======= =======
Per Share Data:
Net income (loss) per share(3)......... $ .97 $ .32 $ .77 $ (.21) $ .27
======= ====== ====== ======= =======
Net income (loss) per share,
assuming dilution(3)................. $ .90 $ .31 $ .75 $ (.20) $ .26
======= ====== ====== ======= =======
Cash dividends per share............... $ .10 $ .04 $ -- $ -- $ --
======= ====== ====== ======= =======
Book value per share(4)................ $ 6.18 $ 5.02 $ 4.76 $ 3.79 $ 4.30
======= ====== ====== ======= =======
Common shares outstanding
at end of period....................... 4,064 3,974 3,444 3,439 3,439
Average common shares outstanding,
assuming dilution...................... 4,324 4,071 3,581 3,555 2,435
</TABLE>
(Continued on following page)
10
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
At or For the Year Ended December 31,
----------------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
------ ------ ------ ------ -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Other Data(5):
Operating Data:
Return (loss) on average assets............... .92% .35% .76% (.21)% .21%
Return (loss) on average equity............... 17.50 6.59 18.62 (5.24) 6.25
Average equity to average assets.............. 5.27 5.29 4.08 4.01 3.42
Dividend payout ratio......................... 10.31 12.50 -- -- --
Net interest margin(6)........................ 4.57 3.99 3.37 3.23 3.25
Interest rate spread(6)....................... 3.99 3.60 3.07 3.04 3.26
Efficiency ratio (7).......................... 70.11 80.35 83.44 85.60 87.28
Asset Quality Data:
Non-performing assets(8)...................... $5,190 $7,555 $4,607 $9,085 $17,628
Allowance for possible loan and lease losses.. 3,287 3,177 1,720 1,503 2,113
Non-performing assets as a percent of total
assets at end of period(8).................. .50% .91% 1.33% 2.61% 5.29%
Non-performing loans as a percent of total
loans and leases at end of period(8)........ 1.48 2.15 1.74 2.19 3.42
Allowance for possible loan and lease
losses as a percent of non-performing
loans and leases at end of period........... 68.34 58.78 44.34 33.03 34.92
Allowance for possible loan and lease
losses as a percent of total
loans and leases at end of period........... 1.00 1.25 .76 .72 1.19
Net charge-offs as a percent of
average loans and leases.................... .35 .03 .19 .60 .64
Bank's Regulatory Capital Ratios(9):
Tangible...................................... 6.50 4.93 4.91 4.57 4.14
Core.......................................... 6.50 4.93 4.91 4.57 4.14
Risk-based.................................... 10.00 8.51 8.68 9.47 9.39
Branch Data:
Full service banking offices.................. 10 10 9 8 8
</TABLE>
(Footnotes on following page)
11
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- ----------
(1) Loans classified as held for sale are carried at the lower of aggregate
cost or fair value while mortgage-backed securities and investment
securities classified as available for sale are carried at fair value.
(2) Includes gain on sale of mortgage servicing rights of $978,000 and $924,000
during the year ended December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively.
(3) In 1997, the Company implemented SFAS 128 which requires the Company to
present basic earnings per share amounts for income from continuing
operations. All prior period per share amounts have been presented in
accordance with SFAS 128.
(4) Book value per share represents stockholders' equity divided by the number
of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding.
(5) With the exception of end of period ratios, all ratios are based on average
daily balances during the indicated periods.
(6) Interest rate spread represents the difference between the weighted average
yield on interest-earning assets and the weighted average cost of
interest-bearing liabilities (which do not include non-interest-bearing
accounts), and net interest margin represents net interest income as a
percent of average interest-earning assets.
(7) Reflects adjusted operating expenses (net of amortization of intangibles
and the special SAIF assessment) as a percent of the aggregate of net
interest income and adjusted non-interest income (excluding gains and
losses on the sale of loans and securities).
(8) Non-performing loans consist of non-accrual loans and accruing loans 90
days or more overdue; and non-performing assets consist of non-performing
loans and real estate owned, net of related reserves.
(9) For additional information concerning the Bank's compliance with its
regulatory capital requirements, see "Regulatory Capital."
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RISK FACTORS
An investment in the Common Stock involves certain investment risks. In
determining whether or not to make an investment in the Common Stock,
prospective purchasers should carefully consider the matters set forth below, as
well as the other information included or incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus. This Prospectus contains certain forward-looking statements and
information relating to the Company that are based on the beliefs of management
as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to
management. In addition, in those and other portions of this document, the words
"anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "should" and similar
expressions, or the negative thereof, as they relate to the Company or the
Company's management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such
statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future
looking events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions,
including the risk factors described in this Prospectus. Should one or more of
these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove
incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as
anticipated, believed, estimated, expected or intended. The Company does not
intend to update these forward-looking statements.
Increased Emphasis on Commercial Business, Construction, Commercial Real Estate
and Consumer Lending and Lease Financing
The Company's commercial business loans, construction loans, commercial
real estate loans (including multi-family residential loans), consumer loans and
lease financings amounted to $69.3 million or 21.1%, $26.7 million or 8.1%,
$109.9 million or 33.4%, $25.6 million or 7.8% and $41.1 million or 12.5% of the
Company's total loan and lease portfolio (including loans classified as held for
sale), respectively, at December 31, 1997, and $30.4 million or 11.9%, $20.7 or
8.1%, $90.4 million or 35.4%, $23.8 million or 9.3% and $25.9 million or 10.1%,
respectively, at December 31, 1996.
Since 1995, the Company has increased its emphasis on commercial
business, residential construction, commercial real estate (primarily
multi-family residential), consumer lending and lease financing. See "Business
Overview of the Company." Commercial business and commercial real estate lending
entails different and significant risks when compared to single-family
residential lending because such loans often involve large loan balances to
single borrowers and because the payment experience on such loans is typically
dependent on the successful operation of the project or the borrower's business.
Commercial real estate lending can also be significantly affected by supply and
demand conditions in the local market for apartments, offices, warehouses or
other commercial space. Construction financing is generally considered to
involve a higher degree of risk of loss than long-term financing on improved,
owner-occupied real estate. Risk of loss on a construction loan is dependent
largely upon the accuracy of the initial estimate of the property's value at
completion of construction or development and the estimated cost (including
interest) of construction. During the construction phase, a number of factors
could result in delays and cost overruns. If the estimate of value proves to be
13
<PAGE>
inaccurate, the Company may be confronted, at or prior to the maturity of the
loan, with a project, when completed, having a value which is insufficient to
assure full repayment. Consumer lending is also generally considered to involve
additional credit risk than traditional mortgage lending because of the type and
nature of the collateral and, in certain cases, the absence of collateral. Lease
financing is also considered to involve a higher degree of credit risk than
single-family residential lending due primarily to the relatively rapid
depreciation of assets securing leases such as equipment, phone systems,
computers, automobiles and furniture. In addition, the Company is subject to
increased risk of loss on the disposition of the residual value of the equipment
underlying its leases. A majority of the Company's leases are operating leases
whereby the Company retains the residual value of the leased property upon
expiration of the lease. In the event that the residual value is less than
provided for in the lease, the Company may have a loss related to the
disposition of such property. However, because residual values on the Company's
leases generally have not been materially below the equipment value at lease end
and a majority of the Company's leases are bought out or extended at the end of
their terms, the Company has not experienced any material losses in this area to
date. At December 31, 1997, the total residual value of the Company's lease
portfolio was $4.6 million.
A portion of the Company's growth in its business activities is due to
the acquisition or start-up of several companies over the last several years
including the Equipment Leasing Company, PAM Financial Corporation and Procall
Teleservices. The Company plans to continue to add to the variety of its
business lines through both the strategic hiring of talented individuals and the
acquisition of whole businesses. The success of past and future acquisitions
will depend on a variety of factors, including the ability of the Company to
integrate such businesses into its current operations, its ability to control
incremental expenses from such acquisitions, its ability to evaluate the assets
generated by such businesses for purposes of asset/liability management and
credit quality and its ability to retain the personnel to operate such lines of
business. Although the Company believes, based on past experience, that it will
be able to manage its growth from acquisitions effectively, there can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to achieve results in the future similar
to those achieved by its existing operations. In addition, because the Company
has only recently expanded into commercial lending lines of business,
particularly in the areas of equipment lease financing and lending to the
technology sector, the historical performance of the Company's loan portfolio
should not be viewed as an indication of future trends in the Company's current
loan portfolio.
Increased Emphasis on Lending to the Technology Sector
The Bank's specialty lending division provides customized financial
services to Pennsylvania-based companies in the greater Philadelphia area,
primarily to companies in the technology, healthcare and insurance industries.
The specialty lending division focuses on lending to technology-based companies
in the greater Philadelphia geographic area from Princeton, New Jersey to
Wilmington, Delaware and west to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. While the Company
seeks relationships with companies that have already received initial venture
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<PAGE>
capital and have reported annual revenues of at least $1.0 million, many of
these companies are still in the initial phase of operations and have limited
operating histories. Accordingly, because these companies do not have a history
of profitable operations and because there is no assurance that such companies
will be successful in the long term, such lending involves a higher degree of
risk than residential or traditional commercial business lending. However, the
Company attempts to minimize these risks by primarily emphasizing depository
relationships with companies in their initial start-up phase. The initial
lending relationship by the Bank requires a pledge of deposits or qualifying
accounts receivable as collateral for the loan. The Bank generally will not make
unsecured loans to such companies and intends to limit the aggregate amount of
loans to companies in the technology sector to 15% in the aggregate of the
Company's total loans outstanding. In addition, the Company has also committed
to invest up to $3.3 million in Progress Capital Fund, L.P., a $8.8 million fund
managed by a subsidiary of the Company, which commenced operations in late 1997
and provides subordinated debt financing to early-stage Mid-Atlantic based
technology companies. See "Business Overview of the Company - Other Activities."
Because of the start-up and speculative nature of the companies that the fund
targets, such investment involves a higher degree of risk than traditional
equity investments.
Dependence on Key Personnel
W. Kirk Wycoff, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company,
maintains a significant role in the development and management of the Company's
business. In addition, the Company has assembled senior management personnel
primarily with commercial banking experience to run the Company's separate
business operations, including Robert J. Bifolco, Senior Vice President of
Commercial Banking, Steven Hobman, Senior Vice President for Specialized
Lending, Eric J. Morgan, Senior Vice President for Credit and Administration,
Frederick E. Schea, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Donald
M. DeMaio, Senior Vice President of Retail Division as well as H. Wayne Griest,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Progress Realty Advisors, Inc., the
Company's mortgage banking subsidiary, and George R. Mark, Executive Vice
President of the Company, whose responsibilities include oversight of equipment
leasing, telemarketing and development of new business services. While the
Company and Mr. Wycoff have entered into an employment agreement, the Company
does not have employment agreements with its other executive officers, however,
such officers have been granted stock options to purchase Common Stock of the
Company. The loss of services of Mr. Wycoff or other senior executives could
have an adverse effect on the Company.
Increased Operating Expenses and High Efficiency Ratios
The Company's operating expenses have been increasing in recent years
due primarily to the Company's determination to expand into different business
lines. Many of the Company's current business activities are relatively new and
have incurred in recent periods, and will continue to incur, start up costs and
expenses. As a consequence, the Company's efficiency ratio, which was 70.11% for
fiscal 1997, is higher than many other financial institutions and its peer
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group. Although the Company has made progress in improving its efficiency, the
Company expects that its efficiency ratio will continue to exceed that of its
peer group until its various business activities are more fully developed. The
Company believes that it can attract and retain highly qualified personnel to
run its businesses because a portion of each of the Company's senior executive
officer's compensation is based upon the results of the specific business
activity that such executive is involved in. The Company believes that this
compensation structure allows it to attract highly motivated entrepreneurial
people experienced in each field that would not otherwise be available to the
Company.
Regulation
The Company, as a unitary thrift holding company, and the Bank, as a
federally chartered savings bank, are subject to extensive governmental
supervision and regulation, which is intended primarily for the protection of
depositors. In addition, the Company and the Bank are subject to changes in
federal and state law, as well as changes in regulations, governmental policies
and accounting principles. The effects of any such potential changes cannot be
accurately predicted at this time but could adversely affect the business and
operations of the Company and the Bank.
All federal savings banks are subject to the qualified thrift lender
("QTL") test that requires at least 65% of a savings association's portfolio
assets to be qualified thrift investments ("QTI"). QTI generally have included
an unlimited amount of housing-related loans and investments. In 1996,
legislation was enacted expanding the types of investments qualifying as QTI to
include, without limitation as to amount, loans for education purposes, loans to
small businesses and loans made through credit cards or credit card accounts.
These amendments to the QTL test allow the Bank to pursue its strategy of
providing a full range of banking services and emphasizing commercial lending
while continuing to comply with the QTL test. At December 31, 1997, 71.4% of the
Bank's portfolio assets were QTI. The Bank also met the QTL test in each of the
prior 12 months and, therefore, met the QTL test.
In the event that the Bank fails to comply with the QTL test due to its
increased emphasis on commercial lending, or any other reason, the Bank could be
required to convert to a bank charter and the Company could be required to
register as a bank holding company. Under the Home Owners Loan Act, as amended
("HOLA"), a federal savings bank that does not meet the QTL test must either
convert to a bank charter or comply with the following restrictions on its
operations: (i) the association may not engage in any new activity or make any
new investment, directly or indirectly, unless such activity or investment is
permissible for a national bank; (ii) the branching powers of the association
shall be restricted to those of a national bank; (iii) the association shall not
be eligible to obtain any new advances from the FHLB; and (iv) payment of
dividends by the association shall be subject to the rules regarding payment of
dividends by a national bank. Upon the expiration of three years from the date
the association ceases to be a QTL, it must cease any activity and not retain
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any investment not permissible for a national bank and immediately repay any
outstanding FHLB advances (subject to safety and soundness considerations). In
addition, the HOLA would require the Company to register as a bank holding
company within one year of the failure of the QTL test by the Bank. Under such
circumstances or if the Bank were to convert to a bank charter, the Company
would become subject to all of the provisions of the Bank Holding Company Act of
1956, as amended, and other statutes applicable to bank holding companies, in
the same manner and to the same extent as if the Company were a bank holding
company. As a bank holding company, the Company would be subject to restrictions
on its activities as well as restrictions on the activities of its non-bank
subsidiaries. In such case the Company would be also be required to maintain
certain minimum capital requirements. The Company does not believe that the Bank
will not be able to satisfy the QTL test or that it will be required to register
as a bank holding company in the foreseeable future. However, in the event that
the Company were required to register as a bank holding company, it does not
believe that the activities restrictions or the applicable capital requirements
would have a material adverse effect on its business and operations.
Potential Effects of Changes in Interest Rates and the Current Interest Rate
Environment
The operations of the Company are substantially dependent on its net
interest income, which consists of the difference between the interest income
earned on its interest-earning assets and the interest expense paid on its
interest-bearing liabilities. Like most financial institutions, the Company's
earnings are affected by changes in market interest rates and other economic
factors beyond its control. If an institution's interest-earning assets have
shorter effective maturities than its interest-bearing liabilities, the yield on
the institution's interest-earning assets generally will adjust more rapidly
than the cost of its interest-bearing liabilities and as a result, the
institution's net interest income generally would be adversely affected by
material and prolonged decreases in interest rates and positively affected by
comparable increases in interest rates. At December 31, 1997, the Company's
interest-earning assets which were estimated to mature or reprice within one
year exceeded the Company's interest-bearing liabilities with the same
characteristics by $66.0 million or 13.4% of the Company's total assets. For the
year ended December 31, 1997, the Company's interest rate spread and net
interest margin increased to 3.99% and 4.57%, respectively. The Company's
interest rate spread and net interest margin amounted to 3.04% and 3.23%,
respectively, for fiscal 1994, increased to 3.07% and 3.37%, respectively, for
fiscal 1995 and further increased to 3.60% and 3.99%, respectively, for fiscal
1996.
In addition to affecting interest income and expense, changes in
interest rates also can affect the market value of the Company's
interest-earning assets, which are comprised of fixed and adjustable-rate
instruments. Generally, the market value of fixed-rate instruments fluctuates
inversely with changes in interest rates. At December 31, 1997, the Company had
$4.1 million of investment securities and $49.4 million of mortgage-backed
securities which were classified as held to maturity in accordance with the
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terms of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115 ("SFAS No. 115").
Such designation effectively restricts the Company's ability to sell such assets
in order to meet its liquidity needs or in response to increases in interest
rates. Generally, the reclassification and sale of any of such assets could
result in the remainder of the Company's portfolio of investment and
mortgage-backed securities classified as held to maturity being reclassified as
available for sale. Pursuant to SFAS No. 115, securities classified as available
for sale must be reported at fair value, with unrealized gains or losses being
reported as a separate component of stockholders' equity. The Company's
investment and mortgage-backed securities (including securities classified as
available for sale) had an aggregate carrying value and market value of $104.4
million and $104.1 million, respectively, at December 31, 1997.
Changes in interest rates also can affect the average life of loans and
mortgage-related securities. Decreases in interest rates generally result in
increased prepayments of loans and mortgage-backed securities, as borrowers
refinance to reduce borrowing costs. Under these circumstances, the Company is
subject to reinvestment risk to the extent that it is not able to reinvest such
prepayments at rates which are comparable to the rates on the maturing loans or
securities. A significant increase in the level of interest rates may also have
an adverse effect on the ability of certain of the Company's borrowers with
adjustable-rate loans to repay their loans.
Year 2000 Compliance
A critical issue facing the financial institution industry is concern
over the ability of computer systems to process year-date data in the year 2000.
Many of the Company's computer systems were originally designed to recognize
calendar years by their last two digits. Calculations performed using these
truncated fields will not work properly with dates from the year 2000 and
beyond. Unless corrected, this situation is expected to cause widespread
problems on January 1, 2000, when computer systems could process data
incorrectly or stop processing altogether. This issue could effect a variety of
the Company's systems. The Company has formed a project committee that meets
monthly to review the status of the Company's compliance. A comprehensive review
to identify the systems affected by this issue was completed and an
implementation plan is currently being executed. The Company's primary loan,
deposit and general ledger systems are provided by a third party service
provider. While such service provider has provided the Company continued updates
and assurances that the year 2000 compliance issues will be resolved on a timely
basis, there is no certainty that this will be the case. Many of the Company's
other systems, such as payroll and lease accounting are vendor-supplied and most
vendors have provided the Company with certification or a delivery commitment
letter. Related costs of compliance include additional training and testing of
third party systems providers, consultants and educational sessions for loan
customers. In addition, the Company is also subject to some degree of risk that
its borrowers will have problems with year 2000 issues which will affect their
ability to remain viable and repay outstanding loans. Management currently
estimates that the year 2000 compliance issues will not have a material impact
on the Company's operations. However, there can be no assurance that, if not
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properly addressed, such issues could result in interruptions in the Company's
business and materially affect results of operations.
Competition Within the Bank's Market Area
Competition in the banking and financial services industry is intense.
In its market area, the Company competes with commercial banks, savings
institutions, mortgage brokerage firms, credit unions, finance companies, mutual
funds, insurance companies, and brokerage and investment banking firms operating
locally and elsewhere. Many of these competitors have substantially greater
resources and lending limits than the Company and may offer certain services
that the Company does not or cannot provide. The profitability of the Company
depends upon its continued ability to successfully compete in its market area.
However, in order to maintain its competitive position, the Company may be
required to reduce rates charged on its various lending products while
maintaining the rate paid on its deposit liabilities (its principal source of
funds), which could result in a reduction in the Company's interest rate spread
and interest rate margin, which would adversely affect its profitability.
Dilution
Upon completion of the Offering, there will be an immediate dilution of
the net tangible book value per share of Common Stock purchased in the Offering
from the Price to Public. This dilution primarily results from the sale by the
Company of Common Stock in the Offering at a price above the current book value
per share. Without taking into account any changes in net tangible book value
after December 31, 1997, other than those resulting from the sale by the Company
of the Common Stock offered hereby (after deduction of underwriting discounts
and commissions and estimated Offering expenses), the pro forma net tangible
book value at December 31, 1997 would have been $7.16 per share (excluding any
value of tax benefits), representing a difference of $12.34 per share between
the Price to Public and the pro forma net tangible book value per share to
persons purchasing the Common Stock offered hereby at the Price to Public.
Dividends
The Company suspended dividend payments on the Common Stock after the
second quarter of 1990 in order to conserve its capital resources in light of
operating losses and the inability of the Bank to meet its risk-based capital
requirement at the time. However, due to an improvement in the Company's results
of operations and net proceeds from the Company's offering in 1996, the Company
initiated a quarterly cash dividend policy of $.02 per share beginning with the
third quarter of 1996, which was increased to $.03 per share in the third
quarter of 1997. Dividends are subject to determination and declaration by the
Board of Directors in its discretion, which will take into account the Company's
consolidated financial condition and results of operations, tax considerations,
industry standards, economic conditions, statutory and regulatory restrictions,
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general economic conditions and other factors. There can be no assurance that
dividends will not be reduced or eliminated in future periods. The Company's
ability to pay dividends on the Common Stock depends on the receipt of dividends
from the Bank. See "Market Price for Common Stock and Dividends."
Anti-takeover Provisions
Certain provisions of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws and the Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL"), as well as a
shareholder rights plan adopted by the Company, could have the effect of
discouraging non-negotiated takeover attempts which certain stockholders might
deem to be in their interest and making it more difficult for stockholders of
the Company to remove members of its Board of Directors and management. In
addition, various federal laws and regulations could affect the ability of a
person, firm or entity to acquire the Company or shares of its Common Stock. See
"Restrictions on Acquisition of the Company" and "Description of Capital Stock."
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BUSINESS OVERVIEW OF THE COMPANY
Set forth below is a brief overview of the business of the Company,
which should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to, the more detailed financial and other information contained in the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997,
including without limitation "Business," which is included as Item 1 thereof,
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operation" included in Item 7 thereof, and the Consolidated Financial Statements
of the Company, including the related Notes, included in Item 8 thereof and are
incorporated by reference to the Company's 1997 Annual Report to Stockholders.
See "Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference."
General
The Company is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Blue Bell,
Pennsylvania. The Company is a unitary thrift holding company and the sole
stockholder of the Bank, a federally-chartered savings bank, which has been
engaged in the thrift business since 1878. The Bank conducts its business
through eight banking offices located in Montgomery County, one banking office
in Delaware County, one banking office in Chester County and one banking office
in the Andorra section of Philadelphia, in southeastern Pennsylvania. At
December 31, 1997, the Company had total assets of $493.4 million, total
liabilities of $453.3 million, including total deposits of $340.8 million, and
total stockholders' equity of $25.1 million.
The Company's current business strategy is to operate as a profitable,
diversified financial institution providing a full range of banking services
with an emphasis on commercial business and commercial real estate loans to
small and medium-sized businesses, as well as residential construction and
consumer lending, funded primarily by customer deposits. As a complement to this
core business, the Company has expanded its business activities, to include
equipment leasing, commercial mortgage banking, asset management, managing a
fund which provides subordinated debt financing primarily to technology
companies in the Mid-Atlantic region, and communications and tele-marketing,
which provide a steady source of fee income. As a result of increased
acquisitions of small to medium-sized financial institutions by large bank
holding companies in southern Pennsylvania, the Company believes that there is a
significant market opportunity for the Bank to provide a full range of
commercial banking services to small to middle market commercial customers
seeking personalized service that is generally unavailable to such customers at
larger regional and national institutions.
Historically, the principal business of the Company consisted of
attracting deposits from the general public through its branch office network
and using such deposits to originate loans secured by first mortgage liens on
existing single-family residential real estate and existing multi-family
residential and commercial real estate, as well as to originate construction
loans (which included land acquisition and development loans). Prior to 1996,
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such lending activities comprised, in the aggregate, at least 80% of the
Company's total loan originations.
Beginning in 1995, the Company started to change its focus and to
modify its operations to become more like a commercial bank. The Company's
emphasis shifted to commercial business, commercial real estate and construction
lending and equipment leasing, with a focus on providing such banking services
to small to medium-sized businesses, including companies in the technology
sector. The Company's shift in focus coincided with the recent acquisitions of
small to medium-sized banking institutions by larger bank holding companies and
the consolidation in the banking industry which has limited the number of
lenders available to small commercial borrowers. Since 1995, the Company has not
emphasized residential lending and has only originated a limited amount of
single-family residential mortgage loans. As a consequence, single-family
residential loans declined from $100.0 million, or 48.1% of the Company's total
loan and lease portfolio, at December 31, 1994 to $56.6 million, or 17.2% of the
Company's total loan and lease portfolio, at December 31, 1997. During the same
time, commercial business and commercial real estate loans increased from $83.3
million, or 40.1% of the Company's total loan and lease portfolio, to $179.3
million, or 54.4% of the Company's total loan and lease portfolio. To assist the
Company's transition in business focus, several senior personnel have been
recruited with significant experience in specific areas of the Company's new
focus, including the technology sector.
Commercial Business Lending. The Bank's commercial banking division
provides customized loan, deposit and investment products, as well as cash
management services to small and middle-market businesses. Through the Bank, the
Company originates secured or unsecured loans for commercial, corporate,
business and agricultural purposes, which include the issuance of letters of
credit. At December 31, 1997, $69.3 million or 21.1% of the Company's total loan
and lease portfolio (including loans classified as held for sale) consisted of
commercial business loans.
As a result of increased acquisitions of small to medium-sized
financial institutions by large bank holding companies in southern Pennsylvania,
the Company believes that there is a large amount of small to middle market
commercial customers seeking the full range of commercial banking services that
the Bank offers combined with personalized service that is generally unavailable
to such customers at larger regional and national institutions. Due to this
consolidation, the Company believes it has an opportunity to expand its
commercial lending relationships and thereby continue to grow the Bank's
interest-earning assets, as well as increase its commercial deposits. In
addition, this consolidation has resulted in the availability of experienced
commercial lenders who do not remain with an institution after it is acquired.
The Company in the past has hired, and will look to hire in the future, high
quality experienced commercial lending officers who become available as a result
of such industry consolidation.
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The commercial banking division provides a full range of banking
services targeted to businesses with annual revenues of $1 million to $25
million located primarily in Bucks, Chester, Montgomery, Philadelphia and
Delaware Counties of Pennsylvania. The Company's commercial business loans
consist primarily of loans secured by various equipment, machinery and other
corporate assets, including accounts receivable. Commercial business loans also
are made to provide working capital to businesses in the form of lines of credit
which may be secured by inventory or other assets or are unsecured, as well as
for various other miscellaneous purposes.
The Bank has established a specialized lending division which provides
customized financial services to companies in the technology, healthcare and
insurance industries. The specialized lending division primarily focuses on
lending to technology-based companies in the greater Philadelphia geographic
area from Princeton, New Jersey to Wilmington, Delaware and west to Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania. The division seeks relationships with emerging technology-based
companies which have already received initial venture capital and have annual
revenues of at least $1.0 million. In addition to providing financing, the
Company often obtains a small equity position in the borrower in the form of
warrants to purchase common stock of the borrower. In December 1997, the Bank
and the Eastern Technology Council of Greater Philadelphia, a non-profit
technology-oriented trade group, entered into a three year agreement with the
Bank to serve as the Council's preferred lender program. Through the "TechBanc"
program, the Bank now has access to over 600 member organizations of the council
to provide lending and banking services.
At December 31, 1997, the Company's commercial business loan portfolio
consisted of approximately 355 loans with an average principal balance of
$188,900 and the Company's largest commercial loan had an outstanding balance of
$2.9 million. At December 31, 1997, the Company's commercial loan portfolio
included 50 loans with an average outstanding principal balance of $400,000
originated by the Bank's specialty lending division, with the largest loan
having an outstanding balance of $2.6 million. Commercial business loans
generally have terms of five years or less and interest rates which adjust in
accordance with a designated prime lending rate in order to increase the
Company's interest rate sensitivity of its assets. The Company generally obtains
personal guarantees of its commercial business loans from the principals of the
borrower.
At December 31, 1997, commitments under unused lines and standby and
commercial letters of credit amounted to $102.1 million.
Commercial Real Estate Activities. The Company originates commercial
real estate loans through the Bank and conducts commercial mortgage banking
activities through Progress Realty Advisors, Inc. ("PRA"), a subsidiary of the
Company. In evaluating whether a lending opportunity is originated for the
Bank's portfolio or placed with third parties through PRA, the Company considers
the following four factors: loan size, recourse provisions, geographic location
and business banking relationships.
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Commercial Real Estate Lending. The Bank originates mortgage loans
secured by multi-family residential and commercial real estate. At December 31,
1997, $109.9 million or 33.4% of the Company's total loan and lease portfolio
(including loans classified as held for sale) consisted of such loans.
Commercial real estate loans originated by the Bank are primarily
secured by office buildings, retail stores, warehouses and general purpose
industrial space. Commercial real estate loans also include multi-family
residential loans, substantially all of which are secured by apartment
buildings. A significant portion of such loans are secured by owner-occupied
properties and relate to borrowers which have an existing banking relationship
with the Bank through maintenance of commercial checking and other deposit
accounts as well as frequently having existing commercial business loans. At
December 31, 1997, $19.0 million or 17.3% of the Bank's total commercial real
estate loans were comprised of multi-family residential loans.
At December 31, 1997, the Bank's commercial real estate loan portfolio
consisted of approximately 222 loans with an average principal balance of
approximately $488,100 and the Bank's largest commercial real estate loan had an
outstanding balance of $3.0 million. Although terms vary, commercial real estate
loans secured by existing properties generally have maturities of ten years or
less and interest rates which adjust every one, three or five years in
accordance with a designated index.
At December 31, 1997, substantially all of the Bank's commercial real
estate loan portfolio was secured by properties located within its primary
market area. Loan-to-value ratios on the Bank's commercial real estate loans are
limited to 80% or lower, except in certain limited circumstances. In addition,
as part of the criteria for underwriting permanent commercial real estate loans,
the Bank generally imposes a debt service coverage ratio (the ratio of net cash
from operations before payment of debt service to debt service) of at least
1.2x. It is also the Bank's general policy to obtain personal guarantees of its
commercial real estate loans from the principals of the borrower.
Commercial real estate lending is generally considered to involve a
higher degree of risk than single-family residential lending. Such lending
typically involves large loan balances concentrated in a single borrower or
groups of related borrowers. In addition, the payment experience on loans
secured by income-producing properties is typically dependent on the successful
operation of the related real estate project and thus may be subject to a
greater extent to adverse conditions in the real estate market or in the economy
generally. The Bank generally attempts to offset the risks associated with
commercial real estate lending by, among other things, lending primarily in its
market area, periodically inspecting each property, using conservative
loan-to-value ratios in the underwriting process and obtaining financial
statements and rent rolls from all commercial and multi-family borrowers on at
least an annual basis.
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Commercial Mortgage Banking. The Company conducts commercial mortgage
banking and brokerage services through PRA and its divisions. PRA was formed as
a complement to the Bank's commercial lending activities in order to provide
lending services for borrowers where borrowing needs are not consistent with the
Bank's lending operations due to, among other things, the amount of financing
required, the location of the borrower and recourse provisions. PRA specializes
in originating, underwriting and closing commercial real estate financing for
residential, multi-family and commercial properties for other financial
institutions, insurance and finance companies for a brokerage fee.
During the year ended December 31, 1997, the Company placed
approximately $123.8 million of loans and earned brokerage and advisory fees of
$842,000 compared to placing approximately $93.1 million of loans and earning
fees of $645,000 in 1996.
During 1997, PRA significantly expanded its loan origination network
through the acquisition of two commercial mortgage banking firms. PRA now
maintains origination offices in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, Woodbridge, New
Jersey, Richmond, Virginia and Chesapeake, Virginia, allowing it to serve a
market area extending from southern Connecticut to southern Virginia.
Construction Lending. Through the Bank, the Company also offers both
residential construction loans and, to a lesser extent, commercial construction
loans. At December 31, 1997, construction loans amounted to $26.7 million or
8.1% of the Company's total loan and lease portfolio (including loans classified
as held for sale), all of which consisted of loans for the construction of
residential property. At December 31, 1997, the Company's construction loan
portfolio consisted of approximately 53 loans with an average principal balance
of approximately $453,000 and the Company's largest construction loan had an
outstanding balance of $1.1 million.
Construction loans generally offer higher yields and afford the Company
the opportunity to increase the interest rate sensitivity of its loan portfolio.
Construction financing is generally considered to involve a higher degree of
risk of loss than long-term financing on improved, owner-occupied real estate.
Risk of loss on a construction loan is dependent in large part upon the accuracy
of the initial estimate of the property's value at completion of construction or
development, the estimated cost (including interest) of construction and the
financial strength of the borrower. During the construction phase, a number of
factors could result in delays and cost overruns. If the estimate of
construction costs proves to be inaccurate, the Company may be required to
advance funds beyond the amount originally committed to permit completion of the
development. If the estimate of value proves to be inaccurate, the Company may
be confronted, at or prior to the maturity of the loan, with a project having a
value which is insufficient to assure full repayment, in which case the Company
would have to rely upon the borrower's financial ability.
The Company generally attempts to address the additional risks
associated with construction lending by, among other things, lending primarily
in its market area, periodically inspecting each property during the
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construction period, using conservative loan-to-value ratios in the underwriting
process and generally requiring personal guarantees. At December 31, 1997, all
of the Company's construction loans were secured by properties located within
the Company's primary market area. In addition, residential construction loans
are generally made for 80% or less of the appraised value of the property upon
completion (75% in the case of land loans). Moreover, the Company does not
originate loans for the construction of speculative (or unsold) residential
properties. Prior to making a commitment to fund a construction loan, the
Company requires both an appraisal of the property by independent appraisers
approved by the Board of Directors and a study of the feasibility of the
proposed project.
Construction loans, including land loans, generally have maturities of
12 to 24 months (up to three years in the case of land loans). Interest rates on
construction loans generally adjust in accordance with a designated index.
Advances are generally made to cover actual construction costs, and generally
include a reserve for paying the stated interest due on the loan during the life
of the loan. Loan proceeds are disbursed as inspections of construction progress
warrants and as pre-construction sale and leasing requirements generally imposed
by the Company are met.
Equipment Leasing. As part of the strategy to be a full-service
commercial lender, the Company acquired an equipment leasing company in 1996 in
order to provide diversified equipment leasing services to small to middle
market business companies. At December 31, 1997, $41.1 million or 12.5% of the
Company's total loan and lease portfolio (including loans classified as held for
sale) consisted of lease financings. In January 1998, the Company further
expanded its leasing capacity through the acquisition of an additional leasing
company.
Equipment lease financing is provided through the Bank's subsidiaries,
the Equipment Leasing Company ("ELC"), located in Baltimore, Maryland, Quaker
State Leasing Company ("QSLC"), a division of ELC located in Blue Bell,
Pennsylvania, and PAM Financial Corporation ("PAM"), located in Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania. Through this network, the Company provides lease financing
throughout the mid-Atlantic region with a current concentration on Pennsylvania,
New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia. The Company provides leasing either
directly to the business customer or through regional vendor sponsored programs.
The Company provides lease financing for a wide variety of business
equipment, including computer systems, telephone systems, furniture, landscaping
and construction equipment, medical equipment, dry cleaning equipment and
graphic systems equipment.
During 1997, the first full year of leasing operations, the Company
originated $31.4 million of lease contracts with QLSC's portfolio increasing
from 149 contracts and $6.0 million in receivables at December 31, 1996 to 850
contracts and $22.0 million in receivables at December 31, 1997. During the same
period, ELC's portfolio remained constant at $19.7 million in receivables. The
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average lease transaction during 1997 was approximately $27,000 for QSLC and
approximately $19,000 for ELC. Such contracts are generally for two to three
year terms with options for the lessee to purchase the equipment at lease end,
which options are frequently exercised.
The majority of the Company's leases are operating leases whereby the
Company retains the residual value of the leased property upon expiration of the
lease. In the event that the residual value is less than provided for in the
lease, the Company may have a loss related to the disposition of such property.
However, because a majority of the Company's leases are bought out or extended
at the end of their terms, the Company has not experienced any material losses
in this area to date. At December 31, 1997, the total residual value of the
Company's lease portfolio was $4.6 million.
For the year ended December 31, 1997, the Company's leasing segment had
net income of $927,000 and revenues of $5.5 million.
Consumer Lending. Subject to restrictions contained in applicable
federal laws and regulations, the Bank is authorized to make loans for a wide
variety of personal or consumer purposes. At December 31, 1997, $25.6 million or
7.8% of the Company's total loan and lease portfolio (including loans classified
as held for sale) consisted of consumer loans, consisting primarily of home
equity loans.
The Bank has been emphasizing a variety of consumer loans in recent
years in order to provide a full range of financial services to its customers
and because such loans generally have shorter terms and higher interest rates
than traditional first mortgage loans. The consumer loans offered by the Bank
include home equity loans and lines of credit, deposit account secured loans and
loans that are secured by personal property, including automobiles.
Home equity loans are originated by the Bank for up to 80% of the
appraised value, less the amount of any existing prior liens on the property.
The Bank also offers home equity lines of credit in amounts up to 80% of the
appraised value, less the amount of any existing prior liens. Home equity loans
have a maximum term of 15 years, and the interest rate is dependent upon the
term of the loan. The Bank secures the loan with a mortgage on the property
(generally a second mortgage) and will originate the loan even if another
institution holds the first mortgage. At December 31, 1997, home equity loans
and lines of credit totalled $23.1 million.
Consumer loans generally have shorter terms and higher interest rates
than mortgage loans but generally involve more credit risk than mortgage loans
because of the type and nature of the collateral and, in certain cases, the
absence of collateral. In addition, consumer lending collections are dependent
on the borrower's continuing financial stability, and thus are more likely to be
adversely effected by job loss, divorce, illness and personal bankruptcy. In
most cases, any repossessed collateral for a defaulted consumer loan will not
27
<PAGE>
provide an adequate source of repayment of the outstanding loan balance. The
Company believes that the generally higher yields earned on consumer loans
compensate for the increased credit risk associated with such loans and that
consumer loans are important to its efforts to increase rate sensitivity,
shorten the average maturity of its loan portfolio and provide a full range of
services to its customers.
Other Activities. Progress Capital, Inc. ("PCI"), a subsidiary of the
Company, is the corporate general partner of the Ben Franklin/Progress Capital
Fund, L.P., a $8.8 million fund managed by Progress Capital Management, Inc.,
also a subsidiary of the Company, which commenced operations in late 1997 and
provides subordinated debt financing to early-stage Mid-Atlantic based
technology companies with proven, innovative products and an existing revenue
stream. In addition, the fund generally receives warrants to purchase equity of
the borrowers in connection with such lending. The Company earns a fee for
managing the fund as well as maintaining an equity interest. PCI also invests in
middle market companies that are prospects or customers of the Company and
companies who have demonstrated a superior track record in their area of
expertise.
Procall Teleservices, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company, is an
interactive communications and marketing firm, which provides a full range of
business-to-business teleservices, including customer service, market research
and telesales. Procall, which began operations in the second quarter of 1997,
provides marketing support to a variety of businesses, from start up companies
to Fortune 500 companies as well as the subsidiaries of the Company. Procall
also manages the call center for the Bank.
In February 1998, the Company formed a joint venture partnership,
Progress Development LP, which acquired an interest in NewSeasons Assisted
Living Communities. NewSeasons owns, acquires, develops and operates assisted
living residences for the elderly. NewSeasons will have seven projects
operational by the second quarter of 1998 and has plans for a total of 21
projects within the next three years. In addition to owning an equity interest
in NewSeasons, Progress Development will provide fee based development,
construction management and financial services to NewSeasons.
28
<PAGE>
Lending Activities
At December 31, 1997, the Company's net loan and lease portfolio
(including loans classified as held for sale) totalled $325.9 million,
representing approximately 66.1% of its $493.4 million of total assets at that
date. The principal categories of loans in the Company's portfolio are
residential real estate loans, which are secured by single-family (one-to-four
units) residences; commercial real estate loans, which are secured by
multi-family (over five units) residential and commercial real estate; loans for
the construction of single-family properties, including land loans; commercial
business loans; and consumer loans. The following table sets forth information
concerning the Company's loan and lease portfolio by type of loan at the dates
indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31,
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
----------------- ------------------ ----------------- -------------------- ----------------
Amount Percent Amount Percent Amount Percent Amount Percent Amount Percent
------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ -------
(Dollars in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Real estate loans:
Single family
residential(1)... $56,565 17.18% $64,259 25.17% $91,091 40.21 $99,917 48.12% $80,196 45.25%
Commercial
real estate...... 109,938 33.40 90,350 35.38 81,535 36.00 71,273 34.33 68,530 38.69
Construction...... 26,695 8.11 20,692 8.10 14,230 6.28 5,379 2.59 3,922 2.22
-------- ------ -------- ----- -------- ----- -------- ----- -------- ------
Total real
estate loans.... 193,198 58.69 175,301 68.65 186,856 82.49 176,569 85.04 152,648 86.17
-------- ------ -------- ----- -------- ----- -------- ----- -------- ------
Commercial
business.......... 69,312 21.05 30,384 11.90 17,244 7.61 12,005 5.78 9,250 5.22
-------- ------ -------- ----- -------- ----- -------- ----- -------- ------
Lease financing.... 41,137 12.50 25,870 10.13 -- -- -- -- -- --
-------- ------ -------- ----- -------- ----- -------- ----- -------- ------
Consumer loans:
Consumer.......... 24,639 7.48 22,898 8.97 21,666 9.57 19,027 9.17 15,257 8.61
Credit card
receivables...... 918 .28 885 .35 757 .33 24 .01 -- --
-------- ------ -------- ----- -------- ----- -------- ----- -------- ------
Total consumer
loans........... 25,557 7.76 23,783 9.32 22,423 9.90 19,051 9.18 15,257 8.61
-------- ------ -------- ----- -------- ----- -------- ----- -------- ------
Total loans and
leases............ $329,204 100.00% $255,338 100.0% $226,523 100.0% $207,625 100.0% $177,155 100.00%
======== ====== ======== ===== ======== ===== ======== ===== ======== ======
Allowance for
possible
loan and lease
losses............ (3,287) (3,177) (1,720) (1,503) (2,113)
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net loans and
leases........... $325,917 $252,161 $224,803 $206,122 $175,042
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
- ----------
(1) Includes $373,000, $599,000, $3.2 million, $351,000 and $16.8 million
of loans classified as held for sale at December 31, 1997, 1996, 1995,
1994 and 1993, respectively.
29
<PAGE>
The following table shows total loans and leases originated, purchased,
sold and repaid during the period ended December 31 for the years indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31,
----------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995
-------- -------- -------
(In thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Loan originations:
Single family residential...................................... $ 3,692 $ 17,018 $18,404
Commercial real estate(1)...................................... 42,155 25,503 23,773
Construction................................................... 35,300 25,711 21,798
Lease financing................................................ 31,381 9,059 --
Commercial business............................................ 52,390 33,024 11,201
Consumer....................................................... 7,168 11,643 9,398
-------- -------- -------
Total loans and leases originated.............................. 172,086 121,958 84,574
-------
Leases acquired through the purchase of The Equipment Leasing
Company........................................................ -- 20,025 --
Purchases........................................................ -- -- 447
-------- -------- -------
Total loans and leases originated and purchased................ $172,086 $141,983 $85,021
======== ======== =======
Sales and loan/lease principal reductions:
Loans and leases sold(2)....................................... 3,347 30,787 16,230
Loan and lease principal reductions............................ 89,665 80,640 49,205
-------- -------- -------
Total loans/leases sold and principal reductions............. $ 93,012 $111,427 $65,435
======== ======== =======
Net change due to other items.................................... (5,208) (1,741) (688)
-------- -------- -------
Net increase (decrease) in loan and leases, net of unearned income $ 73,866 $ 28,815 $18,898
======== ======== =======
</TABLE>
- ----------
(1) Does not include loans placed by PRA.
(2) For the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995, $10.0 million and
$241,000, of loans, respectively, were converted into mortgage-backed
securities and subsequently sold.
30
<PAGE>
USE OF PROCEEDS
Net proceeds retained by the Company will be used for general corporate
purposes, including contributions to its subsidiaries for growth and expansion
of their businesses both through internally generated growth and possible future
acquisitions. Initially, the net proceeds from the Offering will be invested in
short-term investment grade securities. The Company intends to invest
approximately $6.0 million of the net proceeds of the Offering in equity of the
Bank. The Bank intends to use such additional capital to increase its regulatory
capital levels in order to support additional lending and an increase in its
asset base.
The estimated net proceeds to be raised in the Offering depends on the
amount of the actual expenses incurred in the Offering, which may differ from
the estimates herein.
The following table shows estimated gross and net proceeds based upon
the sale of 750,000 shares of Common Stock in the Offering.
(In thousands)
--------------
Gross proceeds from the Offering........ $14,625
Less: estimated Offering
expenses and discounts........... 1,142
-------
Net proceeds from the
Offering(1)....................... $13,483
=======
- ----------
(1) Does not include the exercise of the option for 75,000 additional
shares granted to the Underwriters to cover over-allotments. If the
option is exercised in full, total net proceeds are estimated to be
$14.9 million.
31
<PAGE>
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth the consolidated capitalization of the
Company at December 31, 1997, and the pro forma consolidated capitalization of
the Company at such date after giving effect to the Company's receipt of all of
the estimated net proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock offered hereby,
based on the assumptions set forth in "Use of Proceeds" and in the notes below.
For a tabular presentation of the estimated pro forma effects of the Offering on
the regulatory capital ratios of the Bank, see "Regulatory Capital."
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31, 1997
--------------------------
Actual As Adjusted
-------- ------------
(In thousands, except
per share amounts)
<S> <C> <C>
Deposits........................................................... $340,761 $340,761
Advances from the FHLB of Pittsburgh............................... 33,450 33,450
Other borrowings(1)................................................ 37,722 37,722
-------- --------
Total deposits and borrowed funds................................ $411,933 $411,933
======== ========
Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable
capital securities of subsidiary trust
holding solely junior subordinated
debentures of the Company........................................ $ 15,000 $ 15,000
======== ========
Stockholders' equity:
Serial Preferred Stock (authorized: 1,000,000
shares, par value $.01; outstanding: none)..................... $ -- $ --
Common Stock (authorized: 6,000,000 shares, par
value $1.00; issued: 4,063,778 shares and 4,813,778
shares, as adjusted)(2).......................................... 4,064 4,814
Capital surplus .................................................. 20,511 33,244
Unearned ESOP shares............................................... (164) (281)
Retained earnings.................................................. 244 244
Unrealized gain on securities available for
sale, net of deferred income taxes............................... 460 460
-------- --------
Total stockholders' equity..................................... $ 25,115 $ 38,481
======== ========
Book value per share of Common Stock(3)............................ $ 6.18 $ 7.99
======== ========
</TABLE>
(Footnotes on following page)
32
<PAGE>
- ----------
(1) Includes $3.0 million of Subordinated Notes due 2004.
(2) Does not reflect 75,000 shares which may be issued upon exercise of the
over-allotment option granted to the Underwriters in connection with the
Offering. See "Underwriting."
(3) Book value per share of Common Stock is determined by dividing the
Company's actual and as adjusted consolidated total stockholders' equity at
December 31, 1997 by 4,063,778 shares of issued and outstanding Common
Stock and 4,813,778 shares of Common Stock, as adjusted, respectively.
REGULATORY CAPITAL
Under regulations adopted by the OTS, each savings institution is
currently required to maintain tangible and core capital equal to at least 1.5%
and 3.0%, respectively, of its adjusted total assets, and total capital equal to
at least 8.0% of its risk-weighted assets.
The following table sets forth the actual regulatory capital ratios of
the Bank at December 31, 1997 and as adjusted to give effect to the receipt of
the estimated net proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock offered hereby,
based on the Company's contribution of approximately $6.0 million of the net
proceeds to the Bank.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
As Adjusted
Historical Pro Forma
at December 31, 1997 at December 31, 1997
----------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Capital Excess Capital Excess
Capital Requirement Capital Capital Requirement Capital
------- ----------- ------- ------- ----------- -------
(Dollars in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Dollar basis:
Tangible................. $31,433 $ 7,252 $24,181 $37,433 $ 7,342 $30,091
Core(1).................. 31,433 14,503 16,930 37,433 14,683 22,750
Risk-based(2)(3)......... 34,719 27,774 6,945 40,719 27,870 12,849
Percentage basis:
Tangible................. 6.50% 1.50% 5.00% 7.65% 1.50% 6.15%
Core(1).................. 6.50 3.00 3.50 7.65 3.00 4.65
Risk-based(2)(3)......... 10.00 8.00 2.00 11.69 8.00 3.69
</TABLE>
- ----------
(1) Does not reflect the 4.0% requirement to be met in order for an institution
to be deemed "adequately capitalized" under applicable laws and
regulations.
(2) Does not reflect proposed amendments to the risk-based capital requirement.
(3) Assumes the net proceeds are initially invested in 20% risk-weighted assets.
33
<PAGE>
MARKET PRICE FOR COMMON STOCK AND DIVIDENDS
Market Price for Common Stock
The Common Stock is traded on the National Market of the Nasdaq Stock
Market under the symbol "PFNC." The following table sets forth the high and low
sales prices of the Common Stock as reported by the Nasdaq National Market and
the cash dividends declared per share of Common Stock during the periods
indicated.
Sales Price
------------------------------ Dividends
High Low Per Share
----------- ---------- --------------
1996
- --------------------------
First Quarter ............ $7.250 $5.250 $ --
Second Quarter............ 7.250 6.250 --
Third Quarter............. 6.375 5.375 .02
Fourth Quarter............ 8.750 6.375 .02
1997
- --------------------------
First Quarter............. 8.688 7.859 .02
Second Quarter............ 10.000 7.672 .02
Third Quarter............. 15.125 9.766 .03
Fourth Quarter............ 16.500 13.875 .03
1998
- --------------------------
First Quarter............. 18.500 15.250 .03
Second Quarter............ 22.750 17.750 .03
(through May 6, 1998)
On May 6, 1998, the last trading day before the commencement of the
Offering, the closing sale price of a share of Common Stock on the Nasdaq Stock
Market was $20.75.
As of December 31, 1997, there were 4,063,778 shares of Common Stock
outstanding, which were held by approximately 1,500 holders of record. The
number of holders of record does not reflect the number of persons or entities
who or which hold their stock in nominee or "street" name through various
brokerage firms or other entities.
34
<PAGE>
Dividends
The Company suspended dividend payments on the Common Stock after the
second quarter of 1990, in order to conserve its capital resources in light of
operating losses and the inability of the Bank to meet its risk-based capital
requirement at the time. However, due to an improvement in the Company's results
of operations and net proceeds from the Company's offering in 1996, the Company
initiated a quarterly cash dividend policy of $.02 per share beginning with the
third quarter of 1996, which was increased to $.03 per share in the third
quarter of 1997. The Company's ability to pay dividends on the Common Stock will
depend on the receipt of dividends from the Bank. In addition, the Company's
ability to pay dividends on the Common Stock will be affected by its obligation
to pay interest on the $3.0 million of 8.25% Subordinated Notes due 2004 (the
"Notes") issued in June 1994 as well as dividends on its $15.0 million of 10.50%
Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2027 issued in connection with the issuance
of 10.50% Capital Securities of Progress Capital Trust I in June 1997. Interest
expense on the Notes amounts to approximately $248,000 per year and interest
expense on the Junior Subordinated Debentures amounts to approximately $1.6
million per year.
Applicable rules and regulations of the OTS impose limitations on
capital distributions by savings institutions. Savings institutions, such as the
Bank, which have capital in excess of all fully phased-in capital requirements
before and after the proposed capital distribution are permitted, after giving
prior notice to the OTS, to make capital distributions during a calendar year up
to the greater of (i) 100% of net income to date during the calendar year, plus
the amount that would reduce by one-half its "surplus capital" (excess capital
over its fully phased-in capital requirements) at the beginning of the calendar
year or (ii) 75% of its net income over the most recent four-quarter period.
However, such capital distribution may not reduce surplus capital below the
fully phased-in capital requirement at the date of the capital distribution.
Institutions with less capital are more restricted in the payment of dividends
and no institution can pay dividends if such payment would cause the institution
to no longer satisfy its capital requirements. Furthermore, institutions may not
be permitted by the OTS to distribute the full amount of dividends otherwise
permitted under the regulations due to safety and soundness concerns. The OTS
has proposed to amend its capital distribution regulations. Under the proposal,
the "tiered" approach described above would be replaced and savings institutions
would be permitted to make capital distributions that would not result in their
capital being reduced below the level required to remain "adequately
capitalized," as defined by OTS regulations. Irrespective of compliance with
minimum capital requirements, OTS approval would be required for a distribution
that would, when aggregated with all distributions in the current year, exceed
the saving association's net income for the current year and the retained net
income for the prior two years. Under the proposal, savings associations which
are held by a savings and loan holding company would continue to be required to
provide advance notice of the capital distribution to the OTS. The Company does
not believe that the proposal will adversely affect the Bank's ability to make
capital distributions if it is adopted substantially as proposed.
As a Delaware corporation, the Company is subject to the Delaware
General Corporation Law which generally provides that, subject to any
restrictions in the corporation's Certificate of Incorporation, dividends may be
35
<PAGE>
declared from the corporation's surplus or, if there is no surplus, from its net
profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and the preceding
fiscal year. However, if the corporation's capital has been diminished to an
amount less than the aggregate amount of the capital represented by the issued
and outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution
of assets, dividends may not be declared and paid out of such net profits until
the deficiency in such capital has been repaired.
MANAGEMENT AND PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
Board of Directors
The following table sets forth certain information regarding each
director of the Company, including information regarding their age and the
number and percent of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such persons
as of March 6, 1998. No director is related to any other director or executive
officer of the Company or the Bank by blood, marriage or adoption, and there
were no arrangements or understandings between a director and any other person
pursuant to which such person was elected as a director.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year of Amount and Percentage of
Director Expiration Shares Beneficially Owned
Name Age Since of Term as of March 6, 1998
- ---------------------- -------- --------- ------------ -----------------------------
Amount Percentage
------ ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
John E. F. Corson 57 1991 1999 13,798(1) *
William O. Daggett, Jr. 57 1990 1998 98,653(2) 2.4%
Donald F. U. Goebert 61 1987 1999 202,516(3) 4.8
H. Wayne Griest 49 1996 1998 20,075(4) *
Joseph R. Klinger 55 1992 1998 9,298(1) *
Paul M. LaNoce 38 1991 1999 35,348(1) *
A. John May, III 42 1993 2000 15,280(5) *
William L. Mueller 46 1990 1998 91,774(6) 2.1
Janet E. Paroo 43 1996 1999 24,687(7) *
Charles J. Tornetta 67 1991 2000 67,056(8) 1.6
W. Kirk Wycoff 40 1991 2000 354,337(9) 8.1
</TABLE>
- ----------
* Represents less than 1% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock of the
Company.
(1) Includes 6,298 shares subject to stock options which are exercisable within
60 days of March 6, 1998.
(Footnotes continued on following page)
36
<PAGE>
(2) Includes 79,230 shares owned by companies of which Mr. Daggett is a
director, officer and 10% stockholder and 13,125 common stock warrants and
6,298 shares subject to stock options, in each case which are exercisable
within 60 days of March 6, 1998.
(3) Includes 143,718 shares owned by companies of which Mr. Goebert is a
director, officer and 10% stockholder and 52,500 common stock warrants and
6,298 shares subject to stock options, in each case which are exercisable
within 60 days of March 6, 1998.
(4) Includes 4,411 shares subject to stock options which are exercisable within
60 days of March 6, 1998.
(5) Includes 2,000 shares which are held jointly by Mr. May with or for the
benefit of certain family members and 2,887 shares subject to stock options
which are exercisable within 60 days of March 6, 1998.
(6) Includes 60,226 shares held jointly by Mr. Mueller with or for the benefit
of certain family members and 25,250 common stock warrants and 6,298 shares
subject to stock options, in each case which are exercisable within 60 days
of March 6, 1998.
(7) Includes 2,887 shares subject to stock options which are exercisable within
60 days of March 6, 1998.
(8) Includes 26,250 common stock warrants and 6,298 shares subject to stock
options, in each case which are exercisable within 60 days of March 6,
1998.
(9) Includes 12,600 shares which are held jointly by Mr. Wycoff with or for the
benefit of certain family members and 13,125 common stock warrants and
237,300 shares subject to stock options, in each case which are exercisable
within 60 days of March 6, 1998.
37
<PAGE>
Principal Stockholders
The following table sets forth certain information relating to the only
persons known to the Company to be the beneficial owners of 5% or more of the
Company's Common Stock as of March 6, 1998, and the amount of Common Stock of
the Company held by all directors and executive officers of the Company as a
group as of such date. The information below is based upon filings made pursuant
to the Exchange Act and information furnished by the respective individuals.
Amount of Common
Stock
Name and Address of Beneficially Owned Percent of
Beneficial Owner as of March 6, 1998 Common Stock
- ------------------- ------------------- ------------
Wellington Management 269,250 6.1%
Company, LLP
75 State Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Directors and executive 958,063(1) 18.7
officers of the Company
as a group (14 persons)
- ----------
(1) Includes 12,600 shares which are held jointly by Mr. Wycoff with or for the
benefit of certain family members, 79,230 shares which are owned by
companies of which Mr. Daggett is a director, officer or 10% stockholder,
143,718 shares owned by companies of which Mr. Goebert is a director,
officer or 10% stockholder and 60,226 shares held jointly by Mr. Mueller
with or for the benefit of certain family members. Also includes 314,469
shares subject to stock options and 130,250 common stock warrants held by
the group, in each case which are exercisable within 60 days of March 6,
1998.
38
<PAGE>
RESTRICTIONS ON ACQUISITION OF THE COMPANY
General
The Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company, the DGCL
and applicable federal laws and regulations contain certain provisions which may
be deemed to have a potential anti-takeover effect. Such provisions may have the
effect of discouraging a future takeover attempt which is not approved by the
Board of Directors but which the Company's stockholders may deem to be in their
best interest or in which stockholders may receive a substantial premium for
their shares over then current market prices. As a result, stockholders who
might desire to participate in such a transaction may not have an opportunity to
do so. Certain of such provisions also may make it more difficult for
stockholders of the Company to remove members of its Board of Directors and
management. The Company is not aware of any existing or threatened effort to
acquire control of the Company.
The following brief description of certain provisions of the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company, the DGCL and applicable
federal laws and regulations is qualified by reference to such Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws, the DGCL and applicable federal laws and regulations.
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
Authorized but Unissued Shares of Capital Stock. The Company currently
has 1,000,000 authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and 6,000,000
authorized shares of Common Stock, of which 4,063,778 shares were issued and
outstanding as of December 31, 1997. The Company has adopted an amendment to its
Certificate of Incorporation, which was approved by stockholders at the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders on May 6, 1998, to increase the number of authorized
shares of Common Stock to 12,000,000 shares, which will be effective upon filing
of Articles of Amendment with the Delaware Secretary of State. As a general
matter, the existence of unissued and unreserved shares of capital stock
provides a board of directors with the ability to cause the issuance of shares
of capital stock under circumstances that might prevent or render more difficult
or costly the completion of a takeover of a company by diluting the voting or
other rights of any proposed acquiror, by creating a substantial voting block in
institutional or other hands that might undertake to support the position of a
board of directors, or by effecting an acquisition that might complicate or
preclude a takeover or otherwise.
The Board of Directors also has the authority to issue shares of
Preferred Stock with such terms as it deems advisable. In the event of a
proposed merger, tender offer or other attempt to gain control of the Company
which the Board of Directors does not approve, the Board of Directors could
authorize the issuance of a series of Preferred Stock with rights and
preferences which could impede the completion of such a transaction. An effect
39
<PAGE>
of the possible issuance of Preferred Stock, therefore, may be to deter a future
takeover attempt. See "Description of Capital Stock - Preferred Stock."
In addition to the authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock and
Preferred Stock, the Company has adopted a shareholder rights plan which
generally would cause substantial dilution to a person or group that acquires
20% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. See "Description of
Capital Stock - Preferred Stock Purchase Rights."
Board of Directors. The Certificate of Incorporation provides that the
Board of Directors of the Company shall be divided into three classes as nearly
equal in number as the then total number of directors permits, with one class to
be elected annually for a term of three years and until their successors are
elected and qualified. See "Management and Principal Stockholders - Board of
Directors and Executive Officers." Vacancies occurring in the Board of Directors
of the Company by reason of an increase in the number of directors may be filled
by a vote of 67% of the remaining directors, and any directors so chosen shall
hold office until the next election of directors by stockholders and until their
successors are elected and qualified. Any other vacancy in the Board of
Directors, whether by reason of death, resignation, disqualification, removal or
other cause, may be filled by a vote of 67% of the remaining directors, and any
directors so chosen shall hold office until the next election of the class for
which such directors shall have been chosen and until their successors are
elected and qualified.
Directors of the Company may be removed from office only for cause by
the affirmative vote of the holders of 67% or more of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. Cause for
removal exists only if the director whose removal is proposed either has been
convicted of a felony or has been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction
to be liable for gross negligence or misconduct in the performance of such
directors' duty to the Company.
Meetings of Stockholders. Special meetings of stockholders of the
Company, for any purpose or purposes, may be called only upon the affirmative
vote of 67% of the Board of Directors and may not be called by the stockholders
of the Company.
Stockholder Nominations and Proposals. The Certificate of Incorporation
of the Company generally provides that stockholders must provide the Company
with written notice of stockholder nominations for election of directors and
stockholder proposals not later than 30 days prior to the date of the scheduled
annual meeting; provided, however, that if fewer than 21 days' notice of the
meeting is given to stockholders, such written notice must be received not later
than the close of the tenth day following the day on which notice of the meeting
was mailed to stockholders. Stockholder proposals which are proposed to be
included in the Company's proxy materials must be submitted in accordance with
the notice and other requirements of Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act. In each
40
<PAGE>
case the stockholder also is required to submit specified information regarding
such stockholder and the proposed nominee(s) and/or business to be acted upon at
a meeting of stockholders.
Supermajority Provision. The Certificate of Incorporation of the
Company includes a provision which generally requires the affirmative vote of
67% of the Company's stockholders to approve a merger or consolidation involving
the Company or the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company. This voting requirement is not
applicable, however, if the Board of Directors of the Company shall have
approved the transaction by a vote of 67% of the entire Board.
Fair Price Provision. The Certificate of Incorporation includes a
provision which governs any proposed "business combination" (defined generally
to include certain sales, purchases, exchanges, leases, transfers, dispositions
or acquisitions of assets, mergers or consolidations, or certain
reclassifications of securities of the Company) between the Company or its
subsidiaries, on the one hand, and a "Related Person," on the other hand. A
"Related Person" is defined generally to include any person, partnership,
corporation, group or other entity (other than the Company and its subsidiaries)
which is the beneficial owner (as defined) of 10% or more of the shares of the
Company entitled to vote generally in an election of directors ("Voting
Shares").
Under the Certificate of Incorporation, if certain specified conditions
are not met, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries may become a party
to any business combination with a Related Person without the prior affirmative
vote at a meeting of the Company's stockholders by the holders of at least 80%
of all shares outstanding and entitled to vote thereon (the Company's "Voting
Shares"), voting separately as a class, and by an "Independent Majority of
Stockholders," which is defined to mean the holders of a majority of the
outstanding Voting Shares that are not beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by a Related Person. If such approval were obtained, the specific
conditions would not have to be met. Such conditions also would not have to be
met if the Board of Directors approved the business combination at times and by
votes specified in the Certificate of Incorporation. The conditions necessary to
avoid the vote of 80% of the Company's outstanding Voting Shares and of an
Independent Majority of Stockholders include conditions providing that, upon
consummation of the business combination, the stockholders would receive at
least a certain minimum price per share for their shares.
Amendments to Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. The affirmative
vote of a majority of the issued and outstanding voting stock of the Company is
required to amend the Certificate of Incorporation, with the exception of
certain sections thereof, including provisions relating to business
combinations, which can only be amended by a vote of 67% of the whole Board of
Directors, a majority of the Continuing Directors, as defined, the vote of at
least 67% of the Voting Shares, and an Independent Majority of Stockholders
entitled to vote thereon.
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The Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed or new bylaws adopted by
the Board of Directors at a regular or special meeting upon the affirmative vote
of both 67% of the whole Board of Directors and a majority of the Continuing
Directors, as defined. The Bylaws may also be altered, amended or repealed by
the stockholders upon the affirmative vote of 67% of the outstanding Voting
Shares of the Company and by an Independent Majority of Stockholders.
Federal Laws and Regulations
Federal laws and regulations generally require any person who intends
to acquire control of a savings and loan holding company or savings institution
to give at least 60 days prior written notice to the OTS. "Control" is defined
as the power, directly or indirectly, to direct the management or policies of a
savings institution or to vote 25% or more of any class of voting securities of
the savings institution. In addition to the foregoing restrictions, a company
must secure the approval of the OTS before it can acquire control of a savings
institution. Under federal regulations, a person (including business entities)
is deemed conclusively to have acquired control if, among other things, such
person acquires: (a) 25% or more of any class of voting stock of the savings
institution; (b) irrevocable proxies representing 25% or more of any class of
voting stock of the savings institution; (c) any combination of voting stock and
irrevocable proxies representing 25% or more of any class of such institution's
voting stock; or (d) control of the election of a majority of the directors of
the savings institution. In addition, a rebuttable presumption of control arises
in the event a person acquires more than 10% of any class of voting stock (or
more than 25% of any class of non-voting stock) and is subject to one or more of
eight enumerated control factors. Such regulations also set forth rebuttable
presumptions of concerted action and the procedures to follow to rebut any such
presumptions. The OTS is specifically empowered to disapprove such an
acquisition of control if it finds, among other reasons, that (i) the
acquisition would substantially lessen competition; (ii) the financial condition
of the acquiring person might jeopardize the institution or its depositors; or
(iii) the competency, experience or integrity of the acquiring person indicates
that it would not be in the interest of the depositors, the institution or the
public to permit the acquisition of control by such person.
Delaware General Corporation Law
Section 203 of the DGCL generally provides that a Delaware corporation
shall not engage in any "business combination" with an "interested stockholder"
for a period of three years following the date that such stockholder became an
interested stockholder unless (1) prior to such date the board of directors of
the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction
which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; or (2)
upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming
an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the
voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction
commenced, excluding for this purpose, shares owned by persons who are directors
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and also officers and shares owned by employee stock ownership plans in which
employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether
the shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender offer or
exchange offer; or (3) on or subsequent to such date, the business combination
is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special
meeting of stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the
outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder. The
three-year prohibition on business combinations with an interested stockholder
does not apply under certain circumstances, including business combinations with
a corporation which does not have a class of voting stock that is (i) listed on
a national securities exchange, (ii) authorized for quotation on an inter-dealer
quotation system of a registered national securities association, or (iii) held
of record by more than 2,000 stockholders, unless in each case this result was
directly or indirectly caused by the interested stockholder.
An "interested stockholder" generally means any person that (i) is the
owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation or (ii)
is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and was the owner of 15% or more
of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation at any time within the
three-year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be
determined whether such person is an interested stockholder; and the affiliates
and associates of such a person. The term "business combination" is broadly
defined to include a wide variety of transactions, including mergers,
consolidations, sales of 10% or more of a corporation's assets and various other
transactions which may benefit an interested stockholder.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The Company is currently authorized to issue up to 6,000,000 shares of
Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, and 1,000,000 shares of Preferred
Stock, par value $.01 per share. The Company has adopted an amendment to its
Certificate of Incorporation, which was approved by stockholders at the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders on May 6, 1998, to increase the number of authorized
shares of Common Stock to 12,000,000 shares, which will be effective upon filing
of Articles of Amendment with the Delaware Secretary of State. At December 31,
1997, the Company had 4,063,778 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding
and no shares of Preferred Stock issued or outstanding. The capital stock of the
Company does not represent or constitute a savings account or deposit of the
Company or the Bank and is not insured by the FDIC or any other governmental
agency.
Common Stock
General. Each share of Common Stock has the same relative rights and is
identical in all respects with each other share of Common Stock. The Common
Stock is not subject to call for redemption and, upon receipt by the Company of
the full purchase price therefor, each share of Common Stock offered hereby will
be fully paid and non-assessable.
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Voting Rights. Except as provided in any resolution or resolutions
adopted by the Board of Directors establishing any series of Preferred Stock,
the holders of Common Stock possess exclusive voting rights in the Company. Each
holder of Common Stock is entitled to one vote for each share held on all
matters voted upon by stockholders. Stockholders are not permitted to cumulate
votes in elections of directors.
Dividends. The holders of the Common Stock are entitled to such
dividends as may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors of the
Company out of funds legally available therefor. For a discussion of the
requirements and limitations relating to the Company's ability to pay dividends
to stockholders and the ability of the Bank to pay dividends to the Company, see
"Market Price for Common Stock and Dividends."
Pre-emptive Rights. Holders of the Common Stock do not have any
pre-emptive rights with respect to any shares which may be issued by the Company
in the future; the Company, therefore, may sell shares of Common Stock without
first offering them to its then-existing stockholders.
Liquidation. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up
of the Company, the holders of the Common Stock would be entitled to receive,
after payment of all debts and liabilities of the Company, all assets of the
Company available for distribution, subject to the rights of the holders of any
Preferred Stock which may be issued with a priority in liquidation or
dissolution over the holders of the Common Stock.
Preferred Stock
The Board of Directors of the Company is authorized to issue Preferred
Stock and to fix and state voting powers, designations, preferences or other
special rights of such shares and the qualifications, limitations and
restrictions thereof. The Preferred Stock may be issued in distinctly designated
series, may be convertible into Common Stock and may rank prior to the Common
Stock as to dividend rights, liquidation preferences, or both.
The authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock (as well as the
authorized but unissued and unreserved shares of Common Stock) are available for
issuance in future mergers or acquisitions, in a future public offering or
private placement or for other general corporate purposes. Except as otherwise
required to approve the transaction in which the additional authorized shares of
Preferred Stock would be issued, stockholder approval generally would not be
required for the issuance of these shares. Depending on the circumstances,
however, stockholder approval may be required pursuant to the requirements for
continued listing of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market or the
requirements of any exchange on which the Common Stock may then be listed.
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Warrants to Purchase Common Stock
As of December 31, 1997, the Company had warrants to purchase 315,000
shares of Common Stock ("Warrants") outstanding (as adjusted for subsequent
stock dividends). The following is a summary of the material provisions of the
Warrants. The Warrants are not savings accounts or deposits of the Company or
the Bank and are not insured by the FDIC or any other governmental agency.
The Company issued 12 units consisting of subordinated debt and
Warrants in a private placement on June 30, 1994, with each unit consisting of
$250,000 of subordinated debt and Warrants to purchase 26,250 shares of Common
Stock (as adjusted for subsequent stock dividends). Because fractional units
were issued, there are currently 13 holders of the Warrants. Five of the
directors and executive officers of the Company own 131,250 Warrants. The
remaining 183,750 Warrants are held by eight individuals or entities.
Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of the
Common Stock at an exercise price (the "Exercise Price") of $5.71 (as adjusted
for subsequent stock dividends). The Warrants may be exercised, in whole or in
part, until 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on June 30, 1999.
The Exercise Price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of
certain events, including the issuance of Common Stock as a dividend or
distribution on the Common Stock and subdivisions, combinations and certain
reclassifications of Common Stock. No adjustment in the Exercise Price will be
required unless such adjustment would require a change of at least 1% of the
Exercise Price then in effect; provided, however, that any adjustment that would
otherwise be required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account
in any subsequent adjustment.
The Warrants do not confer upon the holders thereof any of the rights
or privileges of a stockholder. Accordingly, the Warrants do not entitle holders
thereof to receive any dividends, to vote, to call meetings or to receive any
distribution upon a liquidation of the Company. The Company has authorized and
reserved for issuance a number of shares of Common Stock sufficient to provide
for the exercise of the rights represented by the Warrants. Shares issued upon
exercise of the Warrants will be fully paid and non-assessable. Warrants not
exercised prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on June 30, 1999 shall become null
and void.
The Company has filed a registration statement with the Commission with
respect to the shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants and has agreed to
use its best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such registration
statement until the earlier to occur of the exercise of all the Warrants or June
30, 1999. In the event that the Company plans to repurchase or bid for shares of
Common Stock, whether on the open market or otherwise, the Company may request
that holders of Warrants that have not previously been sold, if any, suspend or
postpone the distribution thereof for a period of 45 days or more; provided,
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however, the aggregate amount of days during which the Company can delay the
offering or distribution of the Warrants shall not exceed 90 days during any 12
month period.
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
In April 1990, the Company's Board of Directors declared a dividend
distribution of one preferred stock purchase right ("Right") for each
outstanding share of Common Stock (including subsequently issued shares such as
those proposed to be issued in connection with the Offering). Each Right
entitles each registered holder, upon the occurrence of certain events, to
purchase from the Company a unit consisting of one one-hundredth of a share (a
"Rights Unit") of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.01
per share, at a purchase price of $40.00 per Rights Unit (the "Purchase Price"),
subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in
a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and American
Stock Transfer and Trust Company, as Rights Agent.
The Rights will separate from the Common Stock and be distributed on a
date ("Distribution Date") which will occur upon the earlier of (i) ten business
days following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons, other than employee benefit plans of the Company (an
"Acquiring Person"), has acquired beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (the "Stock Acquisition Date"), or (ii) ten
business days (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of
Directors of the Company prior to such time as any person becomes an Acquiring
Person) following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that
would result in a person or group beneficially owning 20% or more of such
outstanding shares of Common Stock.
Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the
Common Stock certificates and will be transferred with and only with such Common
Stock certificates, (ii) new Common Stock certificates issued after the Rights
were declared, including shares to be issued in the Offering, will contain a
notation incorporating by reference the Rights Agreement and (iii) the surrender
for transfer of any certificate for Common Stock outstanding will also
constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock
represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable after the Distribution
Date, separate certificates representing the Rights (the "Rights Certificates")
will be mailed to the holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of
business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights
Certificates alone will represent the Rights. The Rights will not be exercisable
until the Distribution Date and will cease to be exercisable at the close of
business on May 11, 2000, unless the Rights are earlier redeemed by the Company
as described below.
Unless the Rights are redeemed earlier pursuant to the Rights
Agreement, in the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date,
(i) the Company is involved in a merger or other business combination in which
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the Company is not the surviving corporation or in which the Common Stock of the
Company is changed into or exchanged for other securities of any other person or
cash or any other property, or (ii) 50% or more of the Company's assets or
earning power is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right shall thereafter
have the right to receive, upon exercise and payment of the Purchase Price,
common stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the
exercise price of the Right. In addition, unless the Rights are redeemed
pursuant to the Rights Agreement, in the event that any person or group of
affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, the Rights
Agreement provides that proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a
Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise and payment of
the Purchase Price, Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property
or other securities of the Company) having a value equal to two times the
exercise price of the Right. The events set forth in this paragraph are referred
to in the Rights Agreement as a "Triggering Event." Following the occurrence of
a Triggering Event, any Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances) were,
beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person shall immediately become null and
void.
At any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Company may
exchange all or part of the Rights (other than Rights which previously have been
voided as set forth above) for shares of Common Stock (an "Exchange") at an
exchange ratio of one share per Right, as such may be appropriately adjusted to
reflect any stock split or similar transaction.
In general, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in
part, at any time until ten days following the Stock Acquisition Date, at a
price of $.01 per Right ("Redemption Price"). Immediately upon the action of the
Board of Directors ordering redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate
and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption
Price. Until a Right is exercised or exchanged, the holder thereof, as such,
will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including the right to vote
or to receive dividends.
Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable. Each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to a minimum
preferential quarterly dividend payment of $1 per share but will be entitled to
an aggregate dividend of 100 times the dividend declared per share of Common
Stock. In the event of liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Stock will be
entitled to a preferential liquidation payment equal to the greater of $100 per
share or an aggregate payment of 100 times the payment made per share of Common
Stock. Each share of Preferred Stock will have 100 votes, voting together with
the Common Stock. Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other
transaction in which shares of Common Stock are exchanged, each share of
Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 100 times the amount received per
share of Common Stock.
The Rights may have certain antitakeover effects. The Rights would
cause substantial dilution to a person or group that acquires 20% or more of the
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outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company if a Triggering Event
thereafter occurs without the Rights having been redeemed or in the event of an
Exchange. However, the Rights should not interfere with any merger or other
business combination approved by the Board of Directors because the Rights are
redeemable under certain circumstances.
Transfer Agent
The transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock is American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company, New York, New York.
UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an Underwriting
Agreement among the Company, the Bank and Sandler O'Neill & Partners, L.P.
("Sandler O'Neill"), as Representative of the underwriters named herein (the
"Underwriters"), the Company has agreed to sell to the Underwriters, and the
Underwriters have severally agreed to purchase from the Company, the number of
shares of Common Stock set forth opposite their names below:
Number of
Name Shares
---- ---------
Sandler O'Neill & Partners, L.P......... 675,000
Ryan, Beck & Co......................... 75,000
-------
Total................................ 750,000
=======
Under the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, the
Underwriters are committed to take and pay for all the shares of Common Stock
offered hereby, if any are taken.
The Underwriters propose initially to offer the Common Stock directly
to the public at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover page
of this Prospectus, and to certain securities dealers at such price less a
concession of $0.73 per share. The Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may
reallow, a concession not in excess of $0.10 per share to certain brokers and
dealers. After the Common Stock is released for sale to the public, the offering
price and other selling terms may from time to time be varied by the
Representative.
The Company has granted the Underwriters an option, exercisable for 30
days after the date of this Prospectus, to purchase up to an aggregate of 75,000
additional shares of Common Stock solely to cover over-allotments, if any.
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The Company and the Bank have agreed to indemnify the Underwriters
against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
In connection with the Offering, the Underwriters may purchase and sell
shares of Common Stock in the open market. These transactions may include
over-allotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover syndicate
short positions created in connection with the Offering. Stabilizing
transactions consist of certain bids or purchases for the purpose of preventing
or retarding a decline in the market price of the shares of Common Stock; and
syndicate short positions involve the sale by the Underwriters of a greater
number of shares of Common Stock than they are required to purchase from the
Company in the Offering. The Underwriters also may impose a penalty bid, whereby
selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers in
respect of the securities sold in the Offering for their account may be
reclaimed by the syndicate if such shares of Common Stock are repurchased by the
syndicate in stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may
stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the shares of Common
Stock, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the
open market; and these activities, if commenced, may be discontinued at any
time. These transactions may be effected in the over-the-counter market or
otherwise.
Neither the Company nor the Underwriters makes any representation or
prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions
described above may have on the price of the Common Stock. In addition, neither
the Company nor the Underwriters makes any representation that the Underwriters
will engage in such transactions or that such transactions, once commenced, will
not be discontinued without notice.
The Underwriters may reserve for sale shares of Common Stock which may
be sold at the initial public offering price to directors, officers and
employees of the Company. The number of shares of Common Stock available for
sale to the general public will be reduced to the extent such persons purchase
such reserved shares. Any reserved shares of Common Stock not to be purchased
will be offered by the Underwriters on the same basis as the other shares of
Common Stock offered in the Offering.
Sandler O'Neill has provided from time to time, and expects to provide
in the future, investment banking services to the Company and its affiliates for
which the Representative has received or will receive customary fees and
commissions. The principals of Sandler O'Neill beneficially own an aggregate of
187,575 shares of Common Stock, or 4.6% of the Common Stock outstanding prior to
the Offering, and warrants to purchase an additional 50,000 shares of Common
Stock. In addition, Sandler O'Neill Asset Management LLC, which may be deemed to
be an affiliate of Sandler O'Neill, owns an aggregate of 168,075 shares of
Common Stock, or 4.1% of the Common Stock outstanding prior to the Offering.
The Company has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement and its executive
officers and directors have otherwise agreed not to sell, contract to sell or
otherwise dispose of any equity securities of the Company (or any securities
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exercisable for or convertible into such equity securities) for a period of 120
days after the consummation of the Offering without the prior written consent of
the Representative.
EXPERTS
The consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 and
the consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for
each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997, incorporated by
reference in this prospectus, have been incorporated herein in reliance on the
report of Coopers & Lybrand, L.L.P., independent accountants, given on the
authority of that firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters relating to the Common Stock will be passed upon
for the Company by Elias, Matz, Tiernan & Herrick L.L.P., 734 15th Street, N.W.,
12th Floor, Washington, D.C. and for the Underwriters by Thacher Proffitt &
Wood, New York, New York.
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No person has been authorized to give any information or make any
representations other than those contained in this Prospectus, and, if
given or made, such information or representations must not be relied
upon as having been authorized. This Prospectus does not constitute an
offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other
than the securities to which it relates or an offer to sell or a
solicitation of any offer to buy such securities in any circumstances
in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. Neither the delivery
of this Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall, under any
circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in
the affairs of the Company since the date hereof or that information
contained herein is correct as of any time subsequent to its date.
-------------------------
Table of Contents
-------------------------
Page
----
Available Information............................................ 3
Incorporation of Certain Documents
by Reference................................................... 3
Summary.......................................................... 5
Selected Consolidated Financial
and Other Data................................................. 10
Risk Factors..................................................... 13
Business Overview of the Company................................. 21
Use of Proceeds.................................................. 31
Capitalization................................................... 32
Regulatory Capital............................................... 33
Market Price for Common Stock
and Dividends.................................................. 34
Management and Principal
Stockholders................................................... 36
Restrictions on Acquisition
of the Company................................................. 39
Description of Capital Stock..................................... 43
Underwriting..................................................... 48
Experts.......................................................... 50
Legal Matters.................................................... 50
750,000 SHARES
PROGRESS
FINANCIAL
CORPORATION
COMMON STOCK
--------------------
PROSPECTUS
--------------------
May 6, 1998
Sandler O'Neill &
Partners, L.P.
