SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement [ ] Confidential For Use of
the Commission Only (as
Permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Materials Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
SANTA FE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
-----------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
-----------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act
Rules 14a-6(I)(1) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which
the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) Total Fee Paid:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Filing Party:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Date Filed:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
SANTA FE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
820 MORAGA DRIVE
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90049
(310) 889-2500
---------------------------
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 1, 2001
To The Shareholders of Santa Fe Financial Corporation:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Santa Fe
Financial Corporation ("Santa Fe" or the "Company") will be held on February 1,
2001 at 2:30 P.M. at the Luxe Summit Hotel Bel Air located at 11461 Sunset
Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90049 for the purpose of considering and
acting on the following:
1. The election of three Directors to serve until the next Annual
Meeting or until successors have been duly elected and qualified.
2. To ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent
accountants for the Company for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001; and
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
Meeting, or any adjournment or adjournments thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on December 28, 2001 as
the record date for determining the shareholders having the right to vote at the
meeting or any adjournments thereof.
Your proxy is important to us whether you own a few or many shares. Please
complete, sign, date and promptly return the enclosed proxy in the self-
addressed, postage-paid envelope provided. Return the proxy even if you plan
to attend the meeting. You may always revoke your proxy and vote in person.
Dated: January 5, 2001
By Order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ Michael G. Zybala
Michael G. Zybala
Secretary
<PAGE>
SANTA FE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
820 MORAGA DRIVE
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90049
(310) 889-2500
----------------------------
PROXY STATEMENT
----------------------------
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD FEBRUARY 1, 2001
The Board of Directors of Santa Fe Financial Corporation (the "Company" or
"Santa Fe") is soliciting proxies in the form enclosed with this statement in
connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on February 1,
2001 or at any adjournment or adjournments thereof.
This Proxy Statement and the accompanying Proxy are first being sent to
Shareholders on or about January 11, 2001. Only shareholders of record at the
close of business on December 28, 2000 are entitled to notice of, and to vote
at, the Annual Meeting.
If you give us a proxy, you can revoke it at any time before it is used. To
revoke it, you may file a written notice revoking it with the Secretary of the
Company, execute a proxy with a later date or attend the meeting and vote in
person.
You may vote at the Annual Meeting only shares that you owned of record on
December 28, 2000. There were 1,192,310 shares of common stock and 63,600
shares of convertible voting preferred stock outstanding on that date. The
preferred shares are entitled to vote as if converted to common stock. Of the
total 1,255,910 voting shares outstanding, a majority, or 627,956 shares will
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the meeting. Each
share is entitled to one vote on each matter to be presented at the meeting.
Unless cumulative voting is elected as described under "Election of Directors"
below, the affirmative vote of the holders of the majority of the shares of
the Company's stock present or represented at the meeting and entitled to vote
is required to elect directors and ratify or approve the other item being
voted on at this time.
In addition to mailing this material to shareholders, the Company has asked
banks and brokers to forward copies to persons for whom they hold stock of the
Company and to request authority for execution of the proxies. The Company
will reimburse the banks and brokers for their reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses in doing so. Officers of the Company may, without being additionally
compensated, solicit proxies by mail, telephone, telegram or personal
contact. All proxy soliciting expenses will be paid by the Company. The
Company does not expect to employ anyone else to assist in the solicitation of
proxies.
<PAGE>
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Company's bylaws set the number of directors at three. We propose to
elect three directors, each to hold office until the next Annual Meeting of
Shareholders and until his or her successor is elected and qualified. The
Board of Directors has nominated John V. Winfield, John C. Love and William J.
Nance. The persons named in the enclosed form of proxy will vote it for the
election of the nominees listed below unless you instruct otherwise, or a
nominee is unable or unwilling to serve. The Board of Directors has no reason
to believe that any nominee will be unavailable. However, in that event, the
proxy may vote for another candidate or candidates nominated by the Board of
Directors.
The California Corporations Code, as applicable to the Company, provides that
a shareholder may cumulate votes if a shareholder gives notice, prior to the
voting, of an intention to cumulate votes. If such a notice is given, every
shareholder may cumulate votes. Cumulating votes means that you can take the
total number of votes you have for all directors and distribute them among one
or more nominees as you see fit. For example, assume you have 100 shares. We
have three directors so you have a total of 3 x 100 = 300 votes. You could
give all 300 votes to one person or 150 votes to each of two nominees, or 100
votes to each of three nominees. You can use this power only under the
circumstances described herein. If cumulative voting is elected, the enclosed
form of proxy gives the proxy discretion to cumulate votes so that he can
elect the maximum possible number of the nominees identified below.
Any shareholder executing the enclosed form of proxy may withhold authority to
vote for any one or more nominee by so indicating in the manner described in
the form of proxy. However, the number of votes authorized by the form of
proxy will not be affected and the named proxies could probably offset any
such action by using cumulative voting if they thought it necessary. Under
the California Corporations Code any shareholder or any person who claims to
have been denied the right to vote may apply to a state superior court for a
determination of the validity of any election or appointment of any director.
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the
Directors and Executive Officers of the Company. There is no relationship by
blood, marriage or adoption among the Directors and Officers. All Directors
serve one-year terms with their terms expiring at the Annual Meeting. All
Officers of the Company are elected or appointed by the Board of Directors and
hold office until the Annual Meeting or until replaced at the discretion of
the Board.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares of
Common Stock
Beneficially
Present Owned on Percent
Position Director December 28, of
Name Age With the Company Since 2000 Class(1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
John V. Winfield 54 Chairman, President 1995 681,996(2) 54.3%
and Chief Executive
Officer
William J. Nance 57 Director 1996 0(3) 0.0%
John C. Love 60 Director 1998 0 0.0%
Michael G. Zybala 47 Vice President,
Secretary, Treasurer
and General Counsel N/A 0 0.0%
All of the above as a group 681,996 54.3%
---------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) Based on 1,255,910 voting shares issued and outstanding, which consist of
1,192,310 shares of common stock and 63,600 shares of convertible voting
preferred stock.
(2) John V. Winfield is the sole beneficial owner of 49,400 shares of common
stock. The InterGroup Corporation ("InterGroup") is the beneficial owner
of 568,996 shares of common stock and 63,600 shares of preferred stock.
As the President, Chairman of the Board and a 52.4% shareholder of
InterGroup, Mr. Winfield has voting and dispositive power with respect to
the shares of Santa Fe owned of record and beneficially by InterGroup.
<PAGE>
Security Ownership of Management in Subsidiary
As of December 28, 2000, Santa Fe was the record and beneficial owner of 500,242
shares of the common stock of its 68.8%-owned subsidiary, Portsmouth Square,
Inc. The President and Chairman of the Board of Santa Fe has voting power with
respect to common shares of Portsmouth owned by Santa Fe. No other director
or executive officer of Santa Fe has a beneficial interest in Portsmouth's
shares.
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE:
The principal occupation and business experience during the last five years
for each of the Directors and Executive Officers of the Company are as
follows:
John V. Winfield - Mr. Winfield was first elected to the Board in May of 1995
and currently serves as the Company's Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer, having been appointed as such in April 1996. Mr.
Winfield is also the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company's subsidiary Portsmouth, having held those positions
since May of 1996. Mr. Winfield is Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
Executive Officer of The InterGroup Corporation ("InterGroup"), a public
company, and has held those positions since 1987. Mr. Winfield is also a
director of Healthy Planet Products, Inc. ("HPP"), a public company, having
first been appointed on September 17, 1997. Mr. Winfield was elected Chairman
of the Board of HPP on August 5, 1998. Mr. Winfield also serves as Chairman of
the Board of Etz Lavud, Ltd., a public company.
William J. Nance - Mr. Nance was first elected to the Board in May of 1996.
Mr. Nance is also a director of Portsmouth. Mr. Nance is the President and
CEO of Century Plaza Printers, Inc., a company he founded in 1979. He has
also served as a consultant in the acquisition and disposition of multi-family
and commercial real estate. Mr. Nance is a Certified Public Accountant and,
from 1970 to 1976, was employed by Kenneth Leventhol & Company where he was a
Senior Accountant specializing in the area of REITS and restructuring of real
estate companies, mergers and acquisitions, and all phases of real estate
development and financing. Mr. Nance is a Director and the Treasurer of The
InterGroup Corporation, a public company, and has held such positions since
1984. Mr. Nance also serves as a Director of HPP, having first been elected on
August 5, 1998.
John C. Love - Mr. Love was appointed a Director of the Company on March 5,
1998. Mr. Love is an international hospitality and tourism consultant based in
Orinda, California. He was formerly a partner in the national CPA and
consulting firm of Pannel Kerr and Forster. Mr. Love has extensive experience
in hotel development, acquisition and development. He is chairman emeritus of
Golden Gate University in San Francisco. Mr. Love is also a Director of
Portsmouth, having first been appointed in March 1998, and a Director of
InterGroup, having first been appointed in January 1998.
Michael G. Zybala - Mr. Zybala was appointed as Vice President and Secretary
of the Company on February 20, 1998 and Treasurer on May 16, 2000. He is also
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of Portsmouth. Mr. Zybala has
served as the Company's General Counsel since 1995 and has represented the
Company as its corporate counsel since August 1993. Mr. Zybala is a Director of
HPP and serves as the company's Secretary. He was first appointed as a Director
of HPP on June 17, 1998 and elected as Secretary on August 5, 1998. Mr. Zybala
also serves as Vice President Operations and Assistant Secretary of InterGroup,
having been appointed to those positions in January 1999.
<PAGE>
BOARD MEETINGS
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000, the Board of Directors held seven
meetings, with no incumbent director attending (whether in person,
telephonically or by written consent) fewer than 75 percent of the meetings held
during the period he or she has been a director.
Committees
The Company has established two standing committees, a Securities Investment
Committee and an Audit Committee. The Company does not have any standing
nominating or compensation committees of the Board of Directors.
On March 17, 1998, the Company established a Securities Investment Committee to
establish guidelines and to review the Company's investment policies. The
Committee consists of all the members of the Board, with Mr. Winfield serving as
Chairperson. During fiscal 2000, the Securities Investment Committee held two
meetings, in person, telephonically or by written consent with, all members
attending each meeting.
The Company is a Small Business Filer under SEC rules. The Company's Audit
Committee is comprised of Messrs. Nance (Chairperson) and Love, each of who are
independent directors (as independence is defined in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the
National Association of Securities Dealers' ("NASD") listing standards, as
applicable and as may be modified or supplemented. Each of these directors also
meets the financial management expertise test. The primary function of the
Audit Committee is to assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight
responsibilities by reviewing: the financial reports provided by the Company to
any governmental body or the public; the Company's system of internal controls
regarding finance, accounting, legal compliance and ethics that management and
the Board have established; and the Company's auditing, accounting and financial
processes generally. The Audit Committee held five meetings during the 2000
Fiscal Year. On June 8, 2000, the Company's Board of Directors adopted a
written charter for the Audit Committee. A copy of that written charter is
attached as Appendix A to this proxy statement.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The Audit Committee's primary duties and responsibilities are to: serve as an
independent and objective party to monitor the Company's financial reporting
process and internal control system; review and appraise the audit efforts of
the Company's independent accountants; and provide an open avenue of
communications among the independent accountants, financial and senior
management, and the Board of Directors.
During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000, the Audit Committee: (i) reviewed
and discussed the Company's audited financial statements with the Company's
management; (ii) discussed with the Company's independent auditors the matters
required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as may be
modified or supplemented; and (iii) received the written disclosures and the
letter from the Company's independent accountants required by Independence
Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1,
Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), as may be modified or
supplemented, and discussed with such independent accountant the independent
accountant's independence. In addition the Audit Committee has met with the
Company's independent accountants, prior to the filing of the Company's
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-QSB, to discuss the results of the independent
accountant's review of the financial information included in those reports.
In performing its oversight function, the Audit Committee relied upon advice and
information received in its discussions with the Company's management and
independent auditors. Based in part on the review and discussions with
management and the Company's independent auditors referred to above, the Audit
Committee recommended to the Company's Board of Directors that the audited
financial statements be included in the Company's Report on Form 10-KSB for the
transition period from January 1, 2000 to June 30, 2000 for filing with the
Commission.
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE:
WILLIAM J. NANCE, CHAIRPERSON
JOHN C. LOVE
<PAGE>
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
As a small business issuer, Santa Fe has no compensation committee. Executive
officer compensation is set by disinterested members of the Board of
Directors. Set forth below is a summary compensation table concerning
compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to the Chief Executive Officer
("CEO"), and any qualifying Executive Officers and employees, for all services
to the Company and its subsidiaries, for fiscal years ended June 30, 2000, 1999
and 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Annual Compensation
---------------------------------------------
Name and Principal Other Annual
Position Year Salary Bonus Compensation
------------------ ---- ------ ----- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
John V. Winfield 2000 $240,000(1) $ 0 $12,000(2)
Chairman, President and 1999 $188,282(1) $ 0 $12,000(2)
Chief Executive Officer 1998 $121,319(1) $ 0 $12,000(2)
Michael G. Zybala 2000 $ 97,466(3) $15,000 -
Vice President, Secretary
and General Counsel
_______________________
</TABLE>
(1) Includes salary received from the Company's subsidiary, Portsmouth, in the
amounts of $90,000, $63,907 and $35,115 for fiscal years 2000, 1999 and 1998,
respectively.
(2) Amounts shown reflect regular director's fees paid by Santa Fe and
Portsmouth. During fiscal 2000 and 1999, the Company and Portsmouth paid annual
premiums of 24,900 and $16,600, respectively, for split dollar whole life
insurance policies, owned by, and the beneficiary of which are, a trust for the
benefit of Mr. Winfield's family. The Company has a secured right to receive,
from any proceeds of the policies, reimbursement of all premiums paid prior to
any payments to the beneficiary.
(3) Approximately $84,000 of Mr. Zybala's salary and bonus was allocated to
Portsmouth.
Santa Fe has no stock option plan or stock appreciation rights for its executive
officers. The Company has no pension or long-term incentive plans. There are
no employment contracts between Santa Fe and any executive officer, nor are
there any termination-of-employment or change-in-control arrangements.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The bylaws of Santa Fe permit directors to be paid a fixed sum for attendance
at each meeting of the Board or a stated salary as director. Each director is
paid a fee of $1,500 per quarter for a total annual compensation of $6,000.
This policy has been in effect since July 1, 1985.
<PAGE>
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
As of December 28, 2000, Santa Fe owned 68.8% of the common stock of Portsmouth,
and InterGroup and John V. Winfield, in the aggregate, owned approximately 54.3%
of the voting stock of Santa Fe. Certain costs and expenses, primarily
salaries, rent and insurance, are allocated between the Company, its subsidiary,
Portsmouth, and InterGroup based on management's estimate of the utilization of
resources. Effective June 30, 1998, certain accounting and administrative
functions of the Company and its subsidiaries, were transferred to the Los
Angeles, California offices of InterGroup. During the fiscal years ended June
30, 2000 and 1999, the Company and Portsmouth made payments to InterGroup in the
total amount of approximately $226,000 and $178,000, respectively, for
administrative costs and reimbursement of direct and indirect costs associated
with the management of the Companies and their investments, including the
partnership asset.
In September 1999, the Company's subsidiary, Woodland Village, obtained a 5-year
interest only note in the amount of $162,563 from InterGroup. The note carries
a 7.75% interest rate and matures on September 29, 2004.
During fiscal 2000, the Company paid $25,760 preferred stock dividends to
InterGroup.
The Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, John V. Winfield, directs
the investment activity of the Company in public and private markets pursuant to
authority granted by the Board of Directors. Mr. Winfield also serves as Chief
Executive Officer of Portsmouth and InterGroup and directs the investment
activity of those companies. An employee of InterGroup helps manage the
portfolios of the Company and Portsmouth in consultation with Mr. Winfield. The
Company and Portsmouth reimburse InterGroup for an allocated portion of the
compensation and benefits of such employee. Depending on certain market
conditions and various risk factors, the Chief Executive Officer, his family,
Portsmouth and InterGroup may, at times, invest in the same companies in which
the Company invests. The Company encourages such investments because it places
personal resources of the Chief Executive Officer and his family members, and
the resources of Portsmouth and InterGroup, at risk in connection with
investment decisions made on behalf of the Company. All of the Company's
Directors serve as directors of InterGroup and all three of the Company's
Directors serve on the Board of Portsmouth.
In December 1998, Board of Directors authorized the Company to obtain whole life
insurance and split dollar insurance policies covering the Company's President
and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Winfield. During fiscal years 2000 and 1999,
the Company paid annual premiums of 24,900 for the split dollar whole life
insurance policy, owned by, and the beneficiary of which is, a trust for the
benefit of Mr. Winfield's family. The Company has a secured right to receive,
from any proceeds of the policy, reimbursement of all premiums paid prior to any
payments to the beneficiary. During fiscal 2000 and 1999, Portsmouth paid
annual premiums of $16,600 for a split dollar policy also covering Mr. Winfield.
There are no other relationships or related transactions between the Company and
any of its officers, directors, five-percent security holders or their families,
which require disclosure.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's
officers and directors, and each beneficial owner of more than ten percent of
the Common Stock of the Company, to file reports of ownership and changes in
ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission and The Nasdaq Stock
Market. Officers, directors and greater than ten-percent shareholders are
required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section
16(a) forms they file.
Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received by it, or
written representations from certain reporting persons that no Form 5's were
required for those persons, the Company believes that during fiscal 2000 all
filing requirements applicable to its officers, directors, and greater than ten-
percent beneficial owners were complied with.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF JOHN V. WINFIELD,
JOHN C. LOVE AND WILLIAM J. NANCE AS DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY.
PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF EQUITY SECURITIES
The following table shows, as of December 28, 2000, the Common Stock owned by
every person owning of record (other than securities depositories), or known
by the Company to own beneficially, more than 5% of its outstanding common
shares. Any voting securities owned by directors or director nominees are
also disclosed under Election of Directors herein.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name and Address of Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Owner Beneficial Ownership(1) Percent of Class(2)
------------------- ---------------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Guinness Peat Group plc ("GPG") 82,858(3) 6.9%
Allied Mutual Insurance
Services ("AMI")
Second Floor, 21-26 Garlick Hill
London ECHV 2AU, England
The InterGroup Corporation 632,596(4) 50.4%
820 Moraga Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90049
John V. Winfield 49,400 4.1%
820 Moraga Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90049
The InterGroup Corporation and 681,996(5) 53.4%
John V. Winfield as a group
------------------------------
(1) Unless otherwise indicated, and subject to applicable community property
laws, each person has sole voting and investment power with respect to the
shares beneficially owned.
(2) Percentages are calculated on the basis of 1,192,310 shares of Common Stock
issued and outstanding as of December 28, 2000, plus any securities that the
person has aright to acquire within 60 days pursuant to options, warrants,
conversion privileges or other rights.
(3) Based on their Statement on Schedule 13D (Amendment No. 5) dated January 4,
1995, GPG and its wholly-owned subsidiary AMI claim shared power to vote, or to
direct the vote, and to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, 82,858
shares (post stock split) of Santa Fe's Common Stock owned beneficially and of
record by GPG and through AMI. Of that amount, 52,858 shares are beneficially
owned by GPG and 30,000 by AMI.
(4) InterGroup is the beneficial owner of 568,996 shares of Common Stock and
63,600 shares of convertible, voting preferred stock, which shares are entitled
to vote as if converted to Common Stock.
(5) Pursuant to a Voting Trust Agreement dated June 30, 1998, InterGroup has the
power to vote the 49,400 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Winfield. As
President, Chairman of the Board and a 52.4% shareholder of InterGroup, Mr.
Winfield has voting and dispositive power over the shares owned of record and
beneficially by InterGroup.
As of December 28, 2000, there were 1,192,310 shares of the Company's Common
Stock outstanding, which were held by approximately 522 shareholders of record.
<PAGE>
PROPOSAL II
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
The Board of Directors has selected the firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
certified public accountants, as the Company's independent accountants for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 2001 and recommends to shareholders that they vote
for the ratification of this selection. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has served as
the Company's independent accountants commencing with the audit for the year
ended December 31, 1997. Ratification requires the affirmative vote of a
majority of the shares represented and voted at the Annual Meeting. A
representative of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is expected to be present at the
Annual Meeting to make a statement, if desired, and to respond to appropriate
questions.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT
OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS THE INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS FOR THE COMPANY.
OTHER BUSINESS
As of the date of this statement, management knows of no business to be
presented at the meeting that is not referred to in the accompanying notice,
other than the approval of the minutes of the last shareholders' meeting, which
action will not amount to ratification of the actions taken at that meeting. As
to other business that may properly come before the meeting, it is intended that
the proxies properly executed and returned will be voted in respect thereof at
the discretion of the person voting the proxies in accordance with the best
judgment of the person voting the proxies.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
It is presently anticipated that the 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be
held on or around January 31, 2002. Any shareholder proposals intended to be
considered for inclusion in the proxy statement for presentation at the 2001
Annual Meeting must be received by the Company no later than August 30, 2001.
The proposal must be in accordance with the provisions of Rule 4a-8 promulgated
by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1934. It
is suggested that the proposal be submitted by certified mail - return receipt
requested.
FORM 10-KSB and ANNUAL REPORT
The Annual Report to Shareholders for the 2000 fiscal year accompanies this
proxy statement, but is not deemed a part of the proxy solicitation material. A
copy of the Company's Form 10-KSB for the transition period ended June 30, 2000,
as required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, excluding
exhibits, will be mailed to shareholders without charge upon written request to:
Michael G. Zybala, Secretary, Santa Fe Financial Corporation, 820 Moraga Drive,
Los Angeles, CA 90049. Such request must set forth a good-faith representation
that the requesting party was either a holder of record or a beneficial owner of
the common stock of the company on December 28, 2000. The Company's Form 10-KSB
and other reports are also available through the Securities and Exchange
Commission's world wide web site (http://www.sec.gov).
By Order of the Board of Directors
SANTA FE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
Michael G. Zybala
Secretary
Dated: Los Angeles, California
January 5, 2001
<PAGE>
APPENDIX-A
----------
AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF
SANTA FE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
CHARTER
--------------------
(Adopted June 8, 2000)
I. PURPOSE
The primary function of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board of Directors
in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities by reviewing: the financial reports
and other financial information provided by the Corporation to any governmental
body or the public; the Corporation's systems of internal controls regarding
finance, accounting, legal compliance and ethics that management and the Board
have established; and the Corporation's auditing, accounting and financial
reporting processes generally. Consistent with this function, the Audit
Committee should encourage continuous improvement of, and should foster
adherence to, the corporation's policies, procedures and practices at all
levels. The Audit Committee's primary duties and responsibilities are to:
* Serve as an independent and objective party to monitor the
Corporation's financial reporting process and internal control
system.
* Review and appraise the audit efforts of the Corporation's
independent accountants and internal accounting department.
* Provide an open avenue of communication among the independent
accountants, financial and senior management, and the Board of
Directors.
The Audit Committee will primarily fulfill these responsibilities by carrying
out the activities enumerated in Section IV. of this Charter.
II. COMPOSITION
The Audit Committee shall be comprised of two or more directors as determined by
the Board, the majority of which shall be independent directors, and free from
any relationship that, in the opinion of the Board, would interfere with the
exercise of his or her independent judgment as a member of the Committee. A
director will not be considered "independent" if, among other things, he or she
has:
<PAGE>
* been employed by the corporation or its affiliates in the current or past
three years;
* accepted any compensation from the corporation or its affiliates in excess
of $60,000 during the previous fiscal year (except for board service,
retirement plan benefits, or non-discretionary compensation;
* an immediate family member who is, or has been in the last three years,
employed by the corporation or its affiliates as an executive officer;
* been a partner, controlling shareholder or an executive officer of any
for-profit business to which the corporation made, or from which it
received, payments (other than those which arise solely from investments
in the corporation's securities) that exceed five percent of the
organization's consolidated gross revenues for that year, or $200,000,
whichever is more, in any of the past three years; or
* been employed as an executive of another entity where any of the company's
executives serve on that entity's compensation committee.
<PAGE>
All members of the Committee shall have a working familiarity with basic finance
and accounting practices, and at least one member of the Committee shall have
accounting or related financial management expertise. Committee members may
enhance their familiarity with finance and accounting by participating in
educational programs conducted by the Corporation or an outside consultant.
The members of the Committee shall be elected by the Board at the annual meeting
of the Board of Directors or until their successors shall be duly elected and
qualified. Unless a Chair is elected by the full Board, the members of the
Committee may designate a Chair by majority vote of the full Committee
membership.
III. MEETINGS
The Committee shall meet at least four times annually, or more frequently as
circumstances dictate. As part of its job to foster open communication, the
Committee should meet at least annually with management, the director of the
internal auditing department and the independent accountants in separate
executive sessions to discuss any matters that the Committee or each of these
groups believe should be discussed privately. In addition, the Committee or at
least its Chair should meet with the independent accountants and management
quarterly to review the Corporations financials consistent with IV.4. below).
IV. RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
To fulfill its responsibilities and duties the Audit Committee shall:
Documents/Reports Review
------------------------
1. Review and update this Charter periodically, at least annually, as
conditions dictate.
2. Review the organization's annual financial statements and any reports
or other financial information submitted to any governmental body, or
the public, including any certification, report, opinion, or review
rendered by the independent accountants.
3. Review the regular internal reports to management prepared by the
internal accounting department and management's response.
4. Review with financial management and the independent accountants the
10-QSB prior to its filing or prior to the release of earnings. The
Chair of the Committee may represent the entire Committee for purposes
of this review.
Independent Accountants
-----------------------
5. Recommend to the Board of Directors the selection of the independent
accountants, considering independence and effectiveness and approve the
fees and other compensation to be paid to the independent accountants.
On an annual basis, the Committee should review and discuss with the
accountants all significant relationships the accountants have with the
Corporation to determine the accountants' independence.
6. Review the performance of the independent accountants and approve any
proposed discharge of the independent accountants when circumstances
warrant.
7. Periodically consult with the independent accountants out of the
presence of management about internal controls and the fullness and
accuracy of the organization's financial statements.
<PAGE>
Financial Reporting Processes
-----------------------------
8. In consultation with the independent accountants and the internal
accountants, review the integrity of the organization's financial
reporting processes, both internal and external.
9. Consider the independent accountants' judgments about the quality and
appropriateness of the Corporation's accounting principles as applied
in its financial reporting.
10. Consider and approve, if appropriate, major changes to the
Corporation's auditing and accounting principles and practices as
suggested by the independent accountants, management, or the internal
accounting department.
Process Improvement
-------------------
11. Establish regular and separate systems of reporting to the Audit
Committee by each of management, the independent accountants and the
internal accountants regarding any significant judgments made in
management's preparation of the financial statements and the view of
each as to appropriateness of such judgments.
12. Following completion of the annual audit, review separately with
management, the independent accountants and the internal accounting
department any significant difficulties encountered during the course
of the audit, including any restrictions on the scope of work or access
to required information.
13. Review any significant disagreement among management and the
independent accountants or the internal accounting department in
connection with the preparation of the financial statements.
14. Review with the independent accountants, the internal accounting
department and management the extent to which changes or improvements
in financial or accounting practices, as approved by the Audit
Committee, have been implemented. (This review should be conducted at
an appropriate of time subsequent to implementation of changes or
improvements, as decided by the Committee.)
Ethical and Legal Compliance
----------------------------
15. Review management's monitoring of the corporation's compliance
requirements and ensure that management has the proper review system in
place to ensure that corporation's financial statements, reports and
other financial information disseminated to governmental organizations,
and the public satisfy legal requirements.
16. Review activities, organizational structure, and qualifications of the
internal audit department.
17. Review, with the organization's counsel, legal compliance matters any
legal matter that could have a significant impact on the organization's
financial statements.
18. Perform any other activities consistent with this Charter, the
Corporation's By-laws and governing law, as the Committee or the Board
deems necessary or appropriate.
<PAGE>
PROXY PROXY
SANTA FE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD FEBRUARY 1, 2001
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints John V. Winfield and Michael G. Zybala, or
either of them, as proxies, with power of substitution to each proxy and
substitute, to vote the Common Stock of the undersigned at the 2000 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders of Santa Fe Financial Corporation and at any
adjournments thereof, as indicated on the reverse hereof and the proposals for
Election of Directors, Ratification of Appointment of Independent Accountants
and as said proxies may determine in the exercise of their best judgment on any
other matters which may properly come before the meeting.
IF PROPERLY EXECUTED AND RETURNED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS SPECIFIED OR, IF
NOT SPECIFIED, WILL BE VOTED FOR ELECTING ALL NOMINEES AND FOR THE RATIFICATION
OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS.
PLEASE SIGN ON THE REVERSE SIDE AND MAIL PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE
-----------
SEE REVERSE
-----------
1. Election of Directors: NOMINEES: John V. Winfield, John C. Love and William
J. Nance.
CHECK ONE: [ ] FOR ALL NOMINEES [ ] WITHHELD FROM ALL NOMINEES
[ ] ---------------------------------------------------
FOR, EXCEPT VOTE WITHHELD FROM THE ABOVE NOMINEE(S)
2. To ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent
accountants for the Company for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001.
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME APPEARS. IF ACTING IN A REPRESENTATIVE
CAPACITY, SIGN NAME AND TITLE. IF JOINT TENANTS, BOTH SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD SIGN.
Dated: _______________, 2001
____________________________
Signature
____________________________
Signature if held jointly
</TABLE>
