UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SCHEDULE
14A
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
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
Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-11(c) or § 240.14a-12
EUROBANCSHARES, INC.
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(Name
of Registrant as Specified in Its
Charter)
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(Name
of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the
Registrant)
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Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
x
No fee
required
¨
Fee computed
on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
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1)
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Title
of each class of securities to which transaction
applies:
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2)
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Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction
applies:
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3)
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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):
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4)
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Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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¨
Fee paid
previously by written 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.
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1)
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Amount
Previously Paid:
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2)
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Form
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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State
Road PR-1, Km. 24.5
Quebrada
Arenas Ward
San
Juan, Puerto Rico 00926
(787)
751-7340
April 13,
2009
Dear
Stockholder:
You are
cordially invited to attend the annual meeting of stockholders of
EuroBancshares, Inc. The meeting will be held on Thursday, May 28,
2009, at 10:00 a.m., local time, at the main office of EuroBancshares located at
State Road PR-1, Km. 24.5, Quebrada Arenas Ward, San Juan, Puerto Rico
00926.
We are
pleased to enclose the proxy statement for the 2009 annual meeting of the
stockholders of EuroBancshares. Also, a proxy card is available at
http://www.amstock.com/proxyservices/viewmaterials.asp
for the purpose of voting your shares of common stock of EuroBancshares via the
Internet in advance of the meeting. At the meeting, you and the other
stockholders will be asked to vote on the following matters:
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1.
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The
election of three directors assigned to Class A of the Board of Directors
of EuroBancshares for a three year term expiring at the 2012 annual
meeting of stockholders or until their successors are duly elected and
qualified; and
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2.
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The
transaction of such other business as may properly come before the annual
meeting or at any adjournment or postponement
thereof.
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Our Board
of Directors believes that an affirmative vote for all nominees named in the
proxy statement to serve as the directors of EuroBancshares is in the best
interests of EuroBancshares and its stockholders and has unanimously recommended
that the stockholders of EuroBancshares vote in favor of the
nominees.
I hope
that you will be able to attend the annual meeting to vote on this
matter.
Whether or
not you expect to attend the meeting in person, please mark your vote with
respect to the nominees for director on the enclosed proxy
card. Telephone and Internet voting are also
available. This will help to ensure that your shares of stock will be
represented and voted in accordance with your wishes at the annual
meeting.
In
addition to the proxy statement, proxy card and voting instructions, a copy of
EuroBanchares’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008,
which is not part of the proxy soliciting material, is available at
http://www.amstock.com/proxyservices/viewmaterials.asp
.
We
appreciate your interest and investment in EuroBancshares and look forward to
seeing you at the annual meeting.
Sincerely,
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/s/
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Rafael
Arrillaga-Torréns, Jr.
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Chairman
of the Board, President and Chief
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Executive
Officer
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This proxy statement and the electronic proxy card are being made
available to the stockholders of EuroBancshares, Inc. beginning on or about
April 13, 2009 at
http://www.amstock.com/proxyservices/viewmaterials.asp
.
State
Road PR-1, Km. 24.5
Quebrada
Arenas Ward
San
Juan, Puerto Rico 00926
(787)
751-7340
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS
To Be
Held on Thursday, May 28, 2009
NOTICE IS
HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
of EuroBancshares, Inc. for the year 2009 will be held at 10:00 a.m.,
local time, on Thursday, May 28, 2009, at the main office of EuroBancshares
located at State Road PR-1, Km. 24.5, Quebrada Arenas Ward, San Juan, Puerto
Rico 00926, to consider and act upon the following matters:
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1.
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The
election of three directors assigned to Class A of the Board of Directors
of EuroBancshares for a three year term expiring at the 2012 annual
meeting of stockholders or until their successors are duly elected and
qualified; and
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2.
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The
transaction of such other business as may properly come before the annual
meeting or at any adjournment or postponement thereof. Except
with respect to the procedural matters incident to the conduct of the
meeting, we are not aware of any other business to be brought before the
meeting.
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Only
stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 31, 2009 are
entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting or any adjournments
thereof. A list of stockholders will be available for inspection for
a period of 10 days prior to the annual meeting at the office of EuroBancshares
at State Road PR-1, Km. 24.5, Quebrada Arenas Ward, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and
will also be available for inspection at the meeting itself.
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By
Order of the Board of Directors
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/s/
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San
Juan, Puerto Rico
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Yadira
R. Mercado Piñeiro
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April
13, 2009
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Secretary
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YOU
ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN
PERSON. HOWEVER, WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL
MEETING IN PERSON, WE URGE YOU TO VOTE ON THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AT YOUR
EARLIEST CONVENIENCE. TELEPHONE AND INTERNET VOTING ARE ALSO
AVAILABLE. THIS WILL ENSURE THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM AT THE ANNUAL
MEETING AND THAT YOUR SHARES ARE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR
WISHES. YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE WILL HELP REDUCE THE COST OF SOLICITING
PROXIES, WHICH ARE PAID FOR BY EUROBANCSHARES.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page
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ABOUT
THE ANNUAL MEETING
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1
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SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
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4
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ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
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6
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Nominees
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6
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Other
Directors and Executive Officers
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7
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CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE REFORMS
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9
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Corporate
Governance Principles and Board Matters
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10
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Committees
of EuroBancshares
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12
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REPORT
OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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14
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COMPENSATION
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
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16
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REPORT
OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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23
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EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
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23
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Summary
Compensation Table
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23
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Grants
of Plan-Based Awards
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24
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Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
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24
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Option
Exercises
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25
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Payments
Made Upon Termination of Employment
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25
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Termination
upon a Change in Control
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26
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Termination
for Retirement, Death, Disability or Without Cause
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26
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Termination
With Cause
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27
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Stock
Option Plan
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27
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Change
in Control Agreements
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28
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Employment
Agreements
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29
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Health
and Insurance Benefits
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29
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Eurobank
Master Trust Retirement Plan Program for Employees
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29
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Restricted
Stock Grants
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30
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CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
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30
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SECTION
16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
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31
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INDEPENDENT
PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
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31
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OTHER
MATTERS
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32
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STOCKHOLDER
PROPOSALS FOR THE NEXT ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
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33
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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34
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APPROVAL
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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34
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EUROBANCSHARES,
INC.
State
Road PR-1, Km. 24.5
Quebrada
Arenas Ward
San
Juan, Puerto Rico 00926
PROXY
STATEMENT
FOR
ANNUAL
MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD ON THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2009
This
proxy statement contains information related to the annual meeting of
stockholders of EuroBancshares, Inc. to be held on Thursday, May 28, 2009,
beginning at 10:00 a.m., local time, at the main office of EuroBancshares
located at State Road PR-1, Km. 24.5, Quebrada Arenas Ward, San Juan, Puerto
Rico 00926 and at any postponements or adjournments
thereof. EuroBancshares anticipates that this proxy statement and the
related proxy card will be made available to stockholders commencing on or about
April 13, 2009 at
http://www.amstock.com/proxyservices/viewmaterials.asp
.
ABOUT
THE ANNUAL MEETING
Who
is soliciting my proxy?
Our Board
of Directors is sending you this proxy statement in connection with the
solicitation of proxies for use at the 2009 annual meeting of the stockholders
of EuroBancshares. Certain of our directors, officers, and employees
may also solicit proxies on our behalf by mail, telephone, facsimile or in
person.
Who
will bear the costs of soliciting proxies for the annual meeting?
We will
bear the cost of soliciting proxies for the annual meeting. We have
retained American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, who acts as our transfer
agent and registrar, to assist us in the solicitation of proxies for the annual
meeting. The fee to be paid to this firm for these services is
expected to be approximately $5,000, plus reimbursement of all reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses. We will also reimburse brokerage firms and
other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
incurred by them in sending proxy materials to the beneficial owners of our
shares of common stock. In addition to solicitations by mail, our
directors, officers and employees, including those of our subsidiaries, may
solicit proxies personally, by telephone or otherwise, but will not receive any
additional compensation for their services.
What
is the purpose of the annual meeting?
At the
annual meeting, stockholders will be voting on the election of three directors
assigned to Class A of the Board of Directors for a three year term expiring at
the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders or until their successors are duly
elected and qualified. In addition, our management will report on the
performance of EuroBancshares during 2008 and respond to appropriate questions
from stockholders. Except with respect to the procedural matters
incident to the conduct of the meeting, we are not aware of any other business
to be brought before the meeting.
Who
is entitled to vote at the annual meeting?
Only
stockholders of record as of the close of business on the record date, March 31,
2009, are entitled to receive notice of the annual meeting and to vote the
shares of common stock that they held on that date at the annual meeting or any
postponement or adjournment thereof. Each outstanding share of our
common stock entitles its holder to cast one vote on each matter to be voted
upon at the annual meeting. The total number of shares of our common
stock outstanding on the record date and eligible to cast votes at the annual
meeting is 19,499,515. On the record date, there were outstanding
430,537 shares of our 6.825% noncumulative preferred stock, series A, par value
$0.01 per share. The shares of our series A preferred stock are not
entitled to vote at the annual meeting.
Please
note that if you hold your shares in “street name” (that is, through a broker or
other nominee), you will need to bring appropriate documentation from your
broker or nominee to personally vote at the annual meeting.
How
many votes must be present to hold the annual meeting?
The
presence at the annual meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of
one-third of the shares of common stock outstanding on the record date, or
6,499,839 shares, will constitute a quorum at the annual meeting. For
purposes of determining a quorum, proxies received but marked as abstentions and
broker non-votes will be treated as shares that are present and entitled to
vote. A broker non-vote occurs when a broker or other nominee
indicates that it does not have discretionary authority to vote on a particular
matter.
How
do I vote?
You may
vote your shares either in person at the annual meeting or by proxy whether or
not you attend the annual meeting. Shares held in your name as the
stockholder of record may be voted in person at the annual
meeting. Shares held beneficially in street name may be voted in
person only if you obtain a legal proxy from the broker, trustee or nominee that
holds your shares giving you the right to vote the shares.
Even if you plan to attend the
annual meeting, we recommend that you also submit your proxy or voting
instructions as described in the Notice of Availability of Proxy Materials so
that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the
meeting.
To vote
by proxy, please follow the instructions on the Notice of Availability of Proxy
Materials or access proxy materials at
http://www.amstock.com/proxyservices/viewmaterials.asp
. Granting
a proxy will not affect your right to vote your shares if you attend the annual
meeting and want to vote in person; by voting in person you will revoke your
proxy. You may also revoke your proxy at any time before the vote at
the meeting by providing our Corporate Secretary written notice of your
revocation or by submitting a proxy bearing a later date. If you vote
on a proxy card but do not mark your voting preferences, the proxy holders will
vote your shares
FOR
the
election of each of the nominees for Class A director.
Can
I change my vote?
Yes. Even
after you have submitted your proxy, you may change your vote at any time before
the proxy is exercised at the annual meeting. If you are the
stockholder of record, you may change your vote by granting a new proxy bearing
a later date (which automatically revokes the earlier proxy), by providing a
written notice of revocation to our Corporate Secretary prior to your shares
being voted, or by attending the annual meeting and voting in
person. Attendance at the meeting will not cause your previously
granted proxy to be revoked unless you specifically so request. For
shares you hold beneficially in street name, you may change your vote by
submitting new voting instructions to your broker, trustee or nominee, or, if
you have obtained a legal proxy from your broker or nominee giving you the right
to vote your shares, by attending the meeting and voting in person.
How
are votes counted?
In the
election of directors, you may vote “FOR” all of the nominees or your vote may
be “WITHHELD” with respect to one or more of the nominees. If your
vote is withheld with respect to any nominee, your shares will be counted for
purposes of establishing a quorum, but will have no effect on the election of
that nominee. If you abstain from voting on any other proposals, your
shares will be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum, and the abstention
will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal.
If you
provide specific instructions with regard to certain items, your shares will be
voted as you instruct on such items. If you sign your proxy card or
voting instruction card without giving specific instructions, your shares will
be voted in accordance with the recommendations of our Board of Directors (“FOR”
all of EuroBancshares’ nominees to the Board of Directors and in the discretion
of the proxy holders on any other matters that properly come before the annual
meeting).
What
vote is required to elect directors?
The
affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast in person or by proxy at the
annual meeting is required for the election of directors. A properly
executed proxy marked “WITHHELD” with respect to the election of one or more
directors will not be voted with respect to the director or directors indicated,
although it will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a
quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no legal effect on
the election of directors.
Can
I vote on other matters?
The
matters presented at an annual meeting are limited to those properly presented
by the Board of Directors and those properly presented by
stockholders. We have not received notice from any stockholder as to
any matter to come before the annual meeting. If any other matter is
presented at the annual meeting, your signed proxy gives Rafael
Arrillaga-Torréns, Jr. and Ricardo Levy Echeandía, the proxy holders, authority
to vote your shares.
How
does the Board of Directors recommend I vote on the proposal?
Unless
you give other instructions on your proxy card, Rafael Arrillaga-Torréns, Jr.
and Ricardo Levy Echeandía, the proxy holders, will vote in accordance with the
recommendations of our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors
recommends a vote
FOR
the election of the nominated slate of directors.
With
respect to any other matter that properly comes before the meeting, the proxy
holders will vote as recommended by our Board of Directors, or if no
recommendation is given, in their own discretion.
Who
can help answer my questions?
If you
have any questions about the annual meeting or how to vote or revoke your proxy,
or if you should need additional copies of this proxy statement or voting
materials, please contact:
Yadira R.
Mercado Piñeiro
Executive
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
State
Road PR-1, Km. 24.5
Quebrada
Arenas Ward
San Juan,
Puerto Rico 00926
(787)
751-7340
How
do I get copies of the exhibits filed with EuroBancshares’ Form
10-K?
A copy of
EuroBancshares’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2008 and consolidated financial
statements, was made available to you with this proxy
statement. EuroBancshares will provide to any stockholder as of the
record date, who so specifically requests in writing, copies of the exhibits
filed with EuroBancshares’ Form 10-K for a reasonable fee. Requests
for such copies should be directed to Corporate Secretary, EuroBancshares, Inc.,
State Road PR-1, Km. 24.5, Quebrada Arenas Ward, San Juan, Puerto Rico
00926. In addition, copies of all exhibits filed electronically by
EuroBancshares may be reviewed and printed from the SEC’s website at:
http://www.sec.gov.
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The
following table sets forth information regarding beneficial ownership based on
19,499,515 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2009 by (1) each
stockholder known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the
outstanding shares of our common stock, (2) each of our directors, (3) each of
our named executive officers, and (4) all of our directors and named executive
officers as a group.
Beneficial
ownership is determined according to the rules of the SEC and generally includes
any shares over which a person possesses sole or shared voting or investment
power and options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60
days. Each director, officer or 5% or more stockholder, as the case
may be, has furnished to us information with respect to beneficial ownership.
Except as otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table, we believe that
the beneficial owners of common stock listed below, based on information each of
them has provided to us, have sole investment and voting power with respect to
their shares.
Shares of
common stock subject to options currently exercisable or exercisable within 60
days of March 31, 2009 are deemed outstanding for the purpose of calculating the
percentage ownership of the person holding these options, but are not treated as
outstanding for the purpose of calculating the percentage ownership of any other
person. Unless otherwise noted, the address for each stockholder
listed below is: c/o EuroBancshares, Inc., State Road PR-1, Km. 24.5, Quebrada
Arenas Ward, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00926.
Name
and
address
of
Beneficial
Owner
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Amount and nature of
beneficial
ownership
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Percent
of
class
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Greater
than 5% stockholders:
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FMR
LLC
(1)
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1,103,421
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5.66
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%
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82
Devonshire Street
Boston,
Massachusetts
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Juan
Gómez-Cuétara Fernández
(2)
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1,108,682
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5.69
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%
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Andrés
Llorente 1-3A
Alcalá
de Henáres
Madrid,
Spain
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Fideicomiso
González Muñoz
(3)
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1,652,746
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8.48
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%
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270
Muñoz Rivera Avenue
Mezzanine
Hato
Rey, Puerto Rico 00918
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Directors
and Named Executive Officers:
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Rafael
Arrillaga-Torréns, Jr.
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592,731
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(4)
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3.03
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%
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Yadira
R. Mercado Piñeiro
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158,702
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(5)
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*
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Luis
J. Berríos López
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8,020
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(6)
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*
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Carlos
Rom, Jr.
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—
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*
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Félix
M. León León
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5,700
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(7)
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*
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Antonio
R. Pavía Bibiloni
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86,806
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(8)
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*
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Jaime
Sifre Rodríguez
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20,000
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*
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Juan
Ramón Gómez-Cuétara Aguilar
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8,745
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(9)
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*
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Luis
F. Hernández Santana
|
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8,525
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(10)
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*
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Pedro
Feliciano Benítez
|
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5,434,386
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(11)
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27.85
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%
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Plácido
González Córdova
|
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303,658
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(12)
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1.56
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%
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Ricardo
Levy Echeandía
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820,854
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(13)
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4.21
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%
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William
Torres Torres
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561,650
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(14)
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2.88
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%
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All
directors and executive officers as a group (13 persons)
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8,009,777
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(15)
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40.68
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%
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* Represents
less than 1% of total shares outstanding.
(1)
|
The
information regarding beneficial ownership in included in reliance on
Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February
14, 2008 by FMR LLC. FMR LLC reported that it has the sole
power to dispose or direct the disposition of all 1,103,421
shares.
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(2)
|
Juan
Ramón Gómez-Cuétara Fernández is the father of director Juan Ramón
Gómez-Cuétara Aguilar. Mr. Gómez-Cuétara Fernández personally
owns 122,112 shares of our common stock. In addition, a foreign
corporation wholly owned by him owns 986,570 shares of our common
stock.
|
(3)
|
On
January 15, 2008, Plácido González Córdova, a director, transferred
1,652,746 shares by gift to the Fideicomiso González Muñoz, a fiduciary
trust for the benefit of Mr. González's grandchildren, as part of Mr.
González’s estate planning. No consideration was paid by the
trust to Mr. González for the gift of these shares. Mr.
González is not a trustee of the trust and does not have any pecuniary
interest in the trust.
|
(4)
|
Includes
52,974 shares of common stock held by Mr. Arrillaga’s wife and 56,640
stock options that are presently
exercisable.
|
(5)
|
Includes
49,640 stock options that are presently
exercisable.
|
(6)
|
Includes
6,500 stock options that are presently
exercisable.
|
(7)
|
Includes
4,200 stock options that are presently
exercisable.
|
(8)
|
Includes
12,000 stock options that are presently
exercisable.
|
(9)
|
Includes
6,835 stock options that are presently
exercisable.
|
(10)
|
Includes
6,835 stock options that are presently
exercisable.
|
(11)
|
Includes
12,000 stock options that are presently
exercisable.
|
(12)
|
Includes
28,658 shares of our common stock held by a corporation controlled by Mr.
González and 12,000 stock options that are presently
exercisable. Does not include 5,571 shares owned by Mr.
González’s daughter. Mr. González disclaims voting and investment powers
over the shares owned by his
daughter.
|
(13)
|
A
corporation, controlled by Mr. Levy’s family, which employs Mr. Levy as an
executive officer, owns 432,246 shares of our common stock. In
addition, Mr. Levy’s mother owns 146,436 shares. Because of Mr.
Levy’s voting power over the shares owned by the corporation and those
owned by his mother, these have been included as controlled by Mr. Levy
for purposes of the above table. Includes 12,000 stock options
that are presently exercisable.
|
(14)
|
Two
corporations controlled by Mr. Torres own 531,650 shares and 18,000
shares, respectively. Because of Mr. Torres’ voting power over
the shares owned by these corporations, they have been included as
controlled by Mr. Torres for purpose of the above
table. Includes 12,000 stock options that are presently
exercisable.
|
(15)
|
Includes
190,650 stock options that are presently
exercisable.
|
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
Nominees
Our
amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the terms of
office of the members of our Board of Directors be divided into three classes,
Class A, Class B and Class C, the members of which serve for a staggered
three-year term. The terms of the current Class A, Class B and Class
C directors are set to expire at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2009,
2010 and 2011, respectively. Our amended and restated bylaws
authorize our Board of Directors to fix the number of directors at not less than
seven or more than eleven. Our Board of Directors presently consists
of nine members, with three directors serving in each class. The
number of directors has been fixed at nine in connection with the annual
meeting. At the annual meeting, three directors comprising the Class
A directors are to be elected. The Board of Directors has proposed
the nominees listed below for election as Class A directors to serve until the
2012 annual meeting or until their successors are duly elected and
qualified. All of the nominees listed below currently serve as Class
A directors on our Board of Directors and all of the nominees were recommended
for reelection by the Nominating and Governance Committee of our Board of
Directors.
Unless
otherwise specified in your proxy, proxies solicited hereby will be voted for
the election of the nominees listed below. Each of the nominees has
agreed to serve for a three-year term. If any of them should become
unable to serve as a director, the Board of Directors may designate a substitute
nominee. In that case, the proxies shall be voted for the substitute
nominee or nominees to be designated by the Board of Directors. If no
substitute nominees are available, the size of the Board of Directors will be
reduced.
There are
no arrangements or understandings between EuroBancshares and any person pursuant
to which such person has been elected as a director. Each of these
nominees is considered independent under the applicable NASDAQ
rules.
Set forth
below is certain information with respect to each nominee for election as a
Class A director:
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position Held with Eurobank
|
|
Position Held with
EuroBancshares
|
Ricardo
Levy Echeandía.
|
|
52
|
|
Director
|
|
Class
A Director, Lead Independent Director
|
Luis
F. Hernández Santana
|
|
49
|
|
Director
|
|
Class
A Director
|
Jaime
Sifre Rodríguez
|
|
61
|
|
Director
|
|
Class
A
Director
|
Ricardo Levy
Echeandía
. Mr. Levy has been a member of our Board of
Directors and a member of the Board of Directors of Eurobank since
2002. Currently, he is President of Francisco Levy Hijos, Inc., a
general contractor and developer, and has served in that capacity since
2002. From 1999 until 2002, Mr. Levy served as Executive Vice
President and Treasurer of Francisco Levy Hijos, Inc.
Luis F. Hernández Santana
.
Mr. Hernández has been a member of our Board of Directors and the Board of
Directors of Eurobank since 2006. Also, he has served as the Chairman
of the Audit Committee of EuroBancshares’ Board of Directors. Mr.
Hernández, a certified public accountant, is the managing partner of Torres,
Hernández & Punter, CPA, CSP, a position he has held since
2004. Between 1998 and 2004, Mr. Hernández served as partner of
Torres CPA Group.
Jaime Sifre
Rodríguez
. In January 2008, Mr. Sifre was appointed by our
Board to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Diana López Feliciano in
December 2007 and to serve on the Board of Eurobank. Mr. Sifre is an
attorney at law and notary public, founding partner of Sánchez Betances, Sifre
& Muñoz Noya, PSC, formerly Sánchez-Betances & Sifre, partnership, a
position he has held since 1974.
Other
Directors and Executive Officers
The
following table sets forth information concerning our Class C and Class B
directors and our executive officers:
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position Held with Eurobank
|
|
Position Held with
EuroBancshares
|
Rafael
Arrillaga-Torréns, Jr
|
|
60
|
|
Director,
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive
Officer
|
|
Class
C Director, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive
Officer
|
Pedro
Feliciano Benítez
|
|
66
|
|
Director
|
|
Class
C Director
|
Plácido
González Córdova
|
|
87
|
|
Director
|
|
Class
C Director
|
Antonio
R. Pavía Bibiloni
|
|
61
|
|
Director
|
|
Class
B Director
|
Juan
Ramón Gómez-Cuétara Aguilar
|
|
33
|
|
Director
|
|
Class
B Director
|
William
Torres Torres
|
|
55
|
|
Director
|
|
Class
B Director
|
Yadira
R. Mercado Piñeiro
|
|
49
|
|
Executive
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate
Secretary
|
|
Executive
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate
Secretary
|
Luis
J. Berríos López
|
|
62
|
|
Executive
Vice President and Chief Lending Officer
|
|
None
|
Carlos
Rom, Jr.
|
|
52
|
|
Executive
Vice President
|
|
None
|
Félix
M. León León
|
|
66
|
|
Executive
Vice President of Operations
|
|
None
|
Jorge
E. Sepúlveda Estrada
|
|
54
|
|
Senior
Vice President and Treasurer
|
|
Senior
Vice President and Treasurer
|
Luis
S. Suau Hernandez
|
|
58
|
|
Senior
Vice President
San
Juan-Metropolitan Area
|
|
None
|
Fausto
Peña Villegas
|
|
56
|
|
Senior
Vice President
Northern
Region
|
|
None
|
Roberto
Carreras Sosa
|
|
54
|
|
Senior
Vice President
Eastern
Region
|
|
None
|
Brenda
I. Medina Alameda
|
|
43
|
|
Senior
Vice President
Western
Region
|
|
None
|
Rafael Arrillaga-Torréns,
Jr.
Mr. Arrillaga has served as Chairman of Eurobank’s Board
of Directors and President and Chief Executive Officer of Eurobank since
1993. He also has served in those same capacities with EuroBancshares
since 2002. Before being named President and Chief Executive Officer of
Eurobank, Mr. Arrillaga practiced law from 1974 until 1993, specializing in
banking, tax and corporate law. Mr. Arrillaga was involved in the
organization of Eurobank, and has served as a director of Eurobank since
1979.
Pedro Feliciano
Benítez.
Mr. Feliciano has been a member of the Board of
Directors of Eurobank since 1999 and has served as a director of the Board of
EuroBancshares since 2002. Mr. Feliciano has served as President of
Las Piedras Construction Corp., a civil works construction company, since he
founded the company in 1970.
Plácido González
Córdova.
Mr. González has been a member of the Board of
Directors of Eurobank since 1997 and has served as a director of EuroBancshares
since 2002. Prior to joining Eurobank’s Board of Directors, Mr.
González was a founder and director of Banco del Comercio de Puerto Rico, a full
service commercial bank in Puerto Rico that was acquired by Eurobank in
1997.
Antonio R. Pavía
Bibiloni
. Mr. Pavía has been a member of the Board of
Directors of Eurobank since 1998 and has served as a director of EuroBancshares
since 2002. Mr. Pavía has held a number of senior executive and
management positions in various financial institutions. He currently
serves as President of Bartolo, Inc., a large gasoline station operations
company, and has held this position since 1996.
Juan Ramón Gómez-Cuétara
Aguilar
. Mr. Gómez-Cuétara has been a member of our Board and
the Board of Directors of Eurobank since January 2007. Mr.
Gómez-Cuétara is currently the Chief Financial Officer of Risi, S.A., a Spanish
company involved in the manufacture and processing of snack foods, and he has
served in that capacity since 2003. Prior to joining Risi, he was an
auditor with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Madrid, Spain from 2001 to
2003. Mr. Gómez-Cuétara received his degree in business
administration from the Universidad CEU San Pablo in Madrid, Spain in
2001.
William Torres
Torres
. Mr. Torres has been a member of the Board of Directors
of Eurobank since 1999 and has served as a director of EuroBancshares since
2002. Mr. Torres, a certified public accountant, is the managing
partner of Torres CPA Group, the consulting firm he founded in
1981.
Yadira R. Mercado
Piñeiro
. Ms. Mercado currently serves as our Executive Vice
President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary, positions she has
held since 1993. She served as Senior Vice President of Finance and
Operations at Eurobank from 1991 to 1993. Prior to joining Eurobank
in 1991, Ms. Mercado held various executive officer positions with several
banking institutions in Puerto Rico.
Luis J. Berríos
López
. Mr. Berríos rejoined Eurobank in August 2006 to serve
as Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer, position he held from
1993 through 1998. He has over 35 years of experience in the
commercial lending business in Puerto Rico. Before rejoining the
bank, he served as the President of Commercial Credit Solutions, Inc. since 2000
and as the President and Chief Lending Officer of Banco Financiero de Puerto
Rico between 1998 and 2000.
Carlos Rom,
Jr.
Mr. Rom joined Eurobank in January 2008 to serve as
Executive Vice President, primarily responsible for managing and administering
the branch network, marketing and strategic planning. Prior to
joining Eurobank, since April 1, 2000, Mr. Rom was the managing partner of Edge
Group, a consulting firm where he served as a strategic, management and
marketing consultant to businesses, primarily in Puerto Rico, but also in the
Caribbean and Central America. From 1986 to 1994 and from 1995
to 2000, Mr. Rom held various executive positions with Popular, Inc., and its
banking subsidiary Banco Popular, including vice-president and marketing
director of Banco Popular.
Felix M. León
León.
Mr. Leon currently serves as Eurobank’s Executive Vice
President of Operations, a position he has held since late
2004. Prior to joining Eurobank, Mr. Leon served as a financial
consultant with Leon Consulting from 2003 to 2004. From 1997 through
2003, Mr. Leon served as the Regional Manager for Banco Popular de Puerto Rico
where he supervised the Easter Region of the bank. Mr. Leon received
his BBA in 1964 and his JD in 1984 from the University of Puerto
Rico.
Jorge E.
Sepúlveda-Estrada
. Mr. Sepúlveda-Estrada has served as
Eurobank’s Senior Vice President-Treasurer since 1993, overseeing Eurobank’s
management and investment strategies, and has served in the same capacity with
EuroBancshares since 2002. He has over thirty years of banking
experience, including previous experience as a financial consultant, bank
treasurer and investment officer.
Luis S. Suau
Hernandez
. Mr. Suau currently serves as Eurobank’s Senior Vice
President for the San Juan-Metropolitan Region, a position he has held since
2003. He previously served as Vice President and Manager of our San
Juan branch office from 1997 to 2003. Mr. Suau has over 30 years of
experience in the banking industry.
Fausto Peña
Villegas
. Mr. Peña currently serves as Eurobank’s Senior Vice
President for the Northern Region, a position he has held since
2001. He previously served as Assistant Vice President for Banco
Santander de Puerto Rico from 1997 to 2001. Mr. Peña has over 25
years of experience in the banking industry, including officer positions with
Banco Central Hispano Puerto Rico and Banco Santander de Puerto
Rico.
Roberto Carreras
Sosa
. Mr. Carreras is Eurobank’s Senior Vice President for the
Eastern Region, a position he has held since 2002. Mr. Carreras has
over 25 years of banking experience including positions with the Banco Popular
de Puerto Rico from 1997 to 2001 and Roig Commercial Bank from 1988 to
1997.
Brenda I. Medina
Alameda
. Ms. Medina currently serves as Eurobank’s Senior Vice
President for the Western Region, a position she has held since January
2006. She previously served as Vice President and Manager of Mayagüez
Branch from 2003 to 2005. Mrs. Medina received her master degree in
business administration from the Interamerican University, Puerto Rico in
1990. She has over 20 years of experience in the banking industry
including positions with Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria and The Bank &
Trust of Puerto Rico.
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE REFORMS
Because
our common stock is quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, we are subject to
a host of corporate governance and related requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 (“Sarbanes-Oxley”), the SEC’s rules implementing Sarbanes-Oxley and
the enhanced corporate governance listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market,
Inc.
Sarbanes-Oxley
imposes on public companies a variety of requirements, prohibitions and
disclosure obligations, including, but not limited to:
|
·
|
certifications
by the chief executive officer and chief financial officer as to the
accuracy and adequacy of periodic reports filed with the
SEC;
|
|
·
|
implementation
and evaluation of the company’s systems of disclosure controls and
procedures and internal control over financial
reporting;
|
|
·
|
auditing
related restrictions, including prohibition on auditors providing certain
non-audit services to public companies, mandatory audit partner rotation
and restrictions on hiring employees of former
auditors;
|
|
·
|
independence
requirements and increased responsibilities for the audit committee,
including responsibility for the engagement of the company’s auditor,
pre-approval of all services provided by the auditor, establishment of
procedures for addressing accounting-related complaints and company
disclosure of whether any member of the audit committee qualifies as an
“audit committee financial
expert”;
|
|
·
|
disclosure
of whether the company has a code of ethics applicable to the chief
executive officer and senior financial officers;
and
|
|
·
|
prohibition
on the extension of personal loans to executive officers and directors
(subject to certain
exemptions).
|
In
addition, The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. implemented a number of additional
listing requirements concerning director independence, board nominations,
executive compensation and related corporate governance
matters.
Corporate
Governance Principles and Board Matters
We are
committed to having sound corporate governance principles, both at the holding
company level and at Eurobank. Such principles are essential to
running our business efficiently and to maintaining our integrity in the
marketplace. We have adopted a set of Corporate Governance Guidelines
that embodies these principles. EuroBancshares and Eurobank have also adopted a
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all officers (including the
Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and the Corporate
Comptroller), directors, employees and consultants, in accordance with Item 406
of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)
and the applicable NASDAQ rules. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines
and the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics are posted on our Internet website
under the Corporate Governance page
(http://investor.eurobankpr.com/).
Directors’
Compensation
Meetings
of our Board of Directors are held as often as required, but at least
quarterly. Directors are not compensated for attending regular
meetings of the Board of Directors of EuroBancshares. Meetings of the
Board of Directors of Eurobank are held regularly each month. During
2008, directors of Eurobank received fees of $2,000 per meeting for attendance
at a meeting of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors of
each of EuroBancshares and Eurobank also have several
committees. Except for the Audit Committee meetings, during 2008, the
directors received $500 for attending each committee meeting or special meeting
of the Board of Directors. During 2008, members of our Audit
Committee received $600 for attending each Audit Committee
meeting. In addition, the Chairman of the Audit Committee and the
Strategic Planning Committee receives an annual retention fee of $6,000 and
$2,000, respectively, while the Chairman of the Compliance Committee and the
Compensation, Governance and Nominating Committee receives an annual retention
fee of $3,000. Directors who are employees or officers of
EuroBancshares or Eurobank do not receive fees for attending Board of Directors
or committee meetings.
The
following table provides compensation information for non-employee directors of
EuroBancshares and Eurobank during 2008.
DIRECTOR SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
|
|
|
|
Fees Earned or Paid
|
|
Name
|
|
in
Cas
h
(1)
|
|
Antonio
R. Pavía Biblioni
|
|
$
|
66,300
|
|
Jaime
Sifre Rodríguez
|
|
|
60,933
|
|
Juan
Ramón Gómez-Cuétara Aguilar
|
|
|
24,500
|
|
Luis
F. Hernández Santana
|
|
|
76,300
|
|
Pedro
Feliciano Benítez
|
|
|
34,000
|
|
Plácido
González Córdova
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
Ricardo
Levy Echeandía
|
|
|
59,500
|
|
William
Torres Torres
|
|
|
67,500
|
|
(1)
|
Represents
the fees paid to non-employee directors for attending Board and committees
and the annual retainer, excluding any amounts involved in transactions
with related persons, as defined in Item 404(a) of Regulation
S-K. For more information on transactions with related persons,
refer to the section captioned
“Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions”
of this Proxy Statement on Schedule
14A.
|
Board
Independence
Our Board
of Directors has determined that each of our current directors, except Messrs.
Arrillaga and Torres, is independent under the applicable NASDAQ
rules. Mr. Arrillaga is an executive officer of both EuroBancshares
and Eurobank. Mr. Torres is the owner of certain real estate of which
portions are leased to Eurobank and also serves as a consultant to Eurobank, as
explained further below.
A
corporation controlled by Mr. Torres received lease payments from us totaling
approximately $109,000 during 2008. In addition, during 2008, a total
of $92,000 in consulting fees on lean processes re-engineering was paid to a
corporation controlled by Mr. Torres.
Ricardo
Levy Echeandía is the Lead Independent Director, responsible of coordinating the
activities of our independent directors, serving as the principal liaison
between our independent directors and the chairman, and to preside over the
meetings of our independent directors.
Independent
Director Meetings
The
independent members of our Board of Directors meet regularly, separate from the
full Board of Directors and outside the presence of our management in executive
session. During 2008, the independent members of our Board of
Directors held four meetings.
Directors’
Qualifications
We
believe that our directors should have the highest professional and personal
ethics and values, consistent with our longstanding values and
standards. They should have broad experience at the policy-making
level in business, government or banking. They should be committed to
enhancing stockholder value and should have sufficient time to carry out their
duties and to provide insight and practical wisdom based on
experience. Their service on other boards of public companies should
be limited to a number that permits them, given their individual circumstances,
to perform responsibly all director duties for us. Each director must
represent the interests of all stockholders. When considering
potential director candidates, the Board also considers the candidate’s
character, judgment, diversity, age, skills, including financial literacy and
experience in the context of our needs and the needs of the Board of
Directors.
Stockholders’
Communications with Our Board of Directors
Our Board
of Directors has established a process for stockholders to communicate with the
Board of Directors or with individual directors. Stockholders who
wish to communicate with our Board of Directors or with individual directors
should direct written correspondence to our Corporate Secretary at our principal
executive offices located at State Road PR-1, Km. 24.5, Quebrada Arenas Ward,
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00926. Any such communication must
contain:
|
·
|
a
representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of our capital
stock;
|
|
·
|
the
name and address, as they appear on our books, of the stockholder sending
such communication; and
|
|
·
|
the
class and number of shares of our capital stock that are beneficially
owned by such stockholder.
|
The
Corporate Secretary will forward such communications to our Board of Directors
or the specified individual director to whom the communication is directed
unless such communication is unduly hostile, threatening, illegal or similarly
inappropriate, in which case the Corporate Secretary has the authority to
discard the communication or to take appropriate legal action regarding such
communication.
Board
Structure and Committee Composition
As of the
date of this proxy statement, our Board has nine directors and the following
committees: Audit; Compensation, Governance and Nominating;
Compliance; and Strategic Planning.
The
membership during the last fiscal year and the function of each of the
committees are described below. Our Board of Directors meets at least quarterly
and the Board of Directors of Eurobank meets at least once each
month. During the fiscal year 2008, our Board held 12 meetings and
the Eurobank Board held 12 meetings. Each director attended at least
90% of the total of all Board and applicable committee
meetings. Directors are encouraged to attend annual meetings of our
stockholders although we have no formal policy. All directors
attended the last annual meeting of our stockholders.
Committees
of EuroBancshares
Audit
Committee
Our Board of Directors has established an Audit Committee to assist the Board in
fulfilling its responsibilities for general oversight of the integrity of our
consolidated financial statements, compliance with legal and regulatory
requirements, the independent auditors’ qualifications and independence, the
performance of independent auditors and our internal audit function, and risk
assessment and risk management. The duties of the Audit Committee
include:
|
·
|
appointing,
evaluating and determining the compensation of our independent
auditors;
|
|
·
|
reviewing
and approving the scope of the annual audit, the audit fee and the
financial statements;
|
|
·
|
reviewing
disclosure controls and procedures, internal control over financial
reporting, the internal audit function and corporate policies with respect
to financial information;
|
|
·
|
reviewing
other risks that may have a significant impact on our financial
statements;
|
|
·
|
preparing
the Audit Committee report for inclusion in the annual proxy
statement;
|
|
·
|
establishing
procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints
regarding accounting and auditing matters;
and
|
|
·
|
evaluating
annually the Audit Committee charter and the committee’s
performance.
|
The Audit Committee works closely with management as well as our independent
auditors. The Audit Committee has the authority to obtain advice and
assistance from, and receive appropriate funding from us for, outside legal,
accounting or other advisors as the Audit Committee deems necessary to carry out
its duties.
Our Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee
meeting applicable standards of the SEC and NASDAQ. The members of
the Audit Committee are CPA Luis F. Hernández Santana, Antonio R. Pavía Bibiloni
and Jaime Sifre Rodríguez, attorney at law. Mr. Hernández serves as
Chairman of the Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee meets regularly and held 24 meetings during fiscal year
2008. The Board of Directors has determined that the Audit Committee
satisfies the independence and other composition requirements of the SEC and
NASDAQ. Our Board has determined that Mr. Hernández qualifies as an
“audit committee financial expert” under Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K under
the Exchange Act, and has the requisite accounting or related financial
expertise required by applicable NASDAQ rules.
A
copy of our Audit Committee charter can be found under the Corporate Governance
page on our Internet website (http://investor.eurobankpr.com/).
Compensation,
Governance and Nominating Committee
Our Board of Directors discharges its responsibilities related to compensation,
corporate governance and nomination through the Compensation, Governance and
Nominating Committee (the “CGN Committee”). The CGN Committee is
composed of four directors: Ricardo Levy Echeandía, Plácido González
Córdova, Juan Gómez-Cuétara Aguilar, and Pedro Feliciano Benítez. Mr.
Feliciano became a member of the CGN Committee on November 25,
2008. The Board has determined that each member of the CGN Committee
is independent under applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, NASDAQ and the
Internal Revenue Service. Mr. Levy serves as the Chairman of the CGN
Committee. The CGN Committee held three meetings during
2008.
Through the CGN Committee, the Board discharges its responsibilities relating to
compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, other “named executive officers”
(the “NEOs”) as defined in Item 402(a)(3) of Regulation S-K, other executive
officers and directors; produces an annual report on executive compensation for
inclusion in our annual proxy statement; and provides general oversight of
compensation structure, including our equity compensation plans and benefit
programs. In addition, the CGN Committee has the responsibility of
reviewing all Board-recommended and stockholder-recommended nominees,
determining each nominee’s qualifications and making a recommendation to the
full Board as to which persons should be our Board’s nominees. Other
specific duties and responsibilities of the CGN Committee include:
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reviewing
and approving objectives relevant to executive officer
compensation;
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evaluating
performance and determining the compensation of our Chief Executive
Officer and other executive officers in accordance with those objectives
(salary revisions for all of our executive officers and employees are made
every 12 months);
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approving
employment agreements for executive
officers;
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approving
and amending our stock option plans (subject to stockholder approval, if
required);
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approving
any changes to nonequity-based benefit plans involving a material
financial commitment by us or
Eurobank;
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recommending
to the Board the compensation for our directors and Eurobank’s
directors;
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evaluating
human resources and compensation
strategies;
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identifying
and recommending to our Board individuals qualified to become members of
our Board and to fill vacant Board
positions;
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recommending
to our Board the director nominees for the next annual meeting of
stockholders;
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recommending
to our Board director committee
assignments;
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reviewing
and evaluating succession planning for our Chief Executive Officer and
other executive officers;
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monitoring
the continuing education program for our
directors;
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developing
and recommending an annual self-evaluation process for our Board and its
committees; and
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evaluating
annually the CGN Committee charter and the CGN Committee’s
performance.
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Our Board of Directors believes that it is necessary that the majority of our
Board of Directors be comprised of independent directors and that it is
desirable to have at least one audit committee financial expert serving on the
Audit Committee. The CGN Committee considers these requirements when
recommending Board nominees. Our CGN Committee utilizes a variety of
methods for identifying and evaluating nominees for director. Our CGN
Committee will regularly assess the appropriate size of the Board, and whether
any vacancies on the Board are expected due to retirement or other
circumstances. When considering potential director candidates, the
CGN Committee also considers the candidate’s character, judgment, age, skills,
including financial literacy, and experience in the context of our needs, the
needs of Eurobank and the existing directors. While the CGN Committee
has the authority to do so, we have not, as of the date of this prospectus, paid
any third party to assist in identifying and evaluating Board
nominees.
Our Board of Directors has established a procedure whereby our stockholders can
nominate potential director candidates. The CGN Committee will
consider director candidates recommended by our stockholders in a similar manner
as those recommended by members of management or other directors, provided the
stockholder submitting such nomination has complied with procedures set forth in
our amended and restated bylaws. No candidate for election to our
Board has been recommended within the preceding year by a beneficial owner of 5%
or more of our common stock.
Up to
November 2007, the Board of Directors discharged its responsibilities related to
compensation through the Compensation Committee, and responsibilities related to
nomination and corporate governance through its Nominating and Governance
Committee. In November 2007, the Board of Directors consolidated the
responsibilities of the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Governance
Committee into the CGN Committee. Our Board is in the process of
consolidating the written charters of the Compensation Committee and the
Nominating and Governance Committee. A copy of our Compensation
Committee charter can be found under the Corporate Governance page on our
Internet website (
http://investor.eurobankpr.com/
). A
copy of our Nominating and Governance Committee charter was included with our
proxy statement for our 2008 annual meeting.
Compliance
Committee
The
Compliance Committee reviews the compliance of EuroBancshares and Eurobank with
laws and regulations applicable to bank holding companies and their subsidiary
banks. During 2008, the members of the Compliance Committee
were: Ricardo Levy Echeandía, Jaime Sifre Rodríguez, William Torres
Torres and Rafael Arrillaga-Torréns, Jr. Mr. Levy serves as the
Chairman of the Compliance Committee. The Compliance Committee held
16 meetings during 2008.
Strategic
Planning Committee
Our Board
has established a Strategic Planning Committee that is responsible for
delineating our future strategy and business goals. In addition, it
provides general guidance in the development of our strategic
plan. The members of the Strategic Planning Committee
are: William Torres Torres, Luis F. Hernández Santana, Pedro
Feliciano Benítez, Antonio R. Pavía Bibiloni, Rafael Arrillaga-Torréns, Jr. and
Yadira R. Mercado. Mr. Pavía became a member of the Strategic
Planning Committee on April 24, 2008. Ricardo Levy Echeandía served
as a member of the Strategic Planning Committee up to June 29,
2008. Mr. Torres serves as the Chairman of the Strategic Planning
Committee. During 2008, the Strategic Planning Committee held nine
meetings.
REPORT
OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The
information contained in this Report of the Audit Committee shall not be deemed
to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” or incorporated by reference in
future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or to be subject to
the liabilities of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to
the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference into a document
filed under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
In
accordance with its written charter, which was approved in its current form by
the Board of Directors on January 26, 2009, the Audit Committee assists the
Board in, among other things, oversight of our financial reporting process,
including the effectiveness of our internal accounting and financial controls
and procedures, and controls over the accounting, auditing, and financial
reporting practices. A copy of the Audit Committee charter can be
found on our Internet website (
http://investor.eurobankpr.com/
)
under the Corporate Governance page.
Our Board
of Directors has determined that all three members of the Committee are
independent based upon the standards adopted by the Board, which incorporate the
independence requirements under applicable laws, rules and
regulations.
Management
is responsible for the financial reporting process, the preparation of
consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America, the system of internal
controls, and procedures designed to insure compliance with accounting standards
and applicable laws and regulations. Our independent auditors are
responsible for auditing the financial statements. The Audit
Committee’s responsibility is to monitor and review these processes and
procedures. Except for Luis F. Hernández Santana, CPA, the members of
the Audit Committee are not professionally engaged in the practice of accounting
or auditing and are not professionals in those fields. The Audit
Committee relies, without independent verification, on the information provided
to us and on the representations made by management that the financial
statements have been prepared with integrity and objectivity and on the
representations of management and the opinion of the independent auditors that
such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
During
2008, the Audit Committee had 24 meetings. The Audit Committee’s
regular meetings were conducted in order to encourage communication among the
members of the Audit Committee, management, the internal auditors, and our
independent registered public accounting firm, Crowe Horwath
LLP. Among other things, the Audit Committee discussed with our
internal and independent auditors the overall scope and plans for their
respective audits. The Audit Committee separately met with each of
the internal and independent auditors, with and without management, to discuss
the results of their examinations and their observations and recommendations
regarding our internal controls. The Audit Committee also discussed
with our independent auditors all matters required by generally accepted
auditing standards, including those described in Statement on Auditing Standards
No. 114, as amended, “The Auditor’s Communication With Those Charged With
Governance.”
The Audit
Committee reviewed and discussed our audited consolidated financial statements
as of and for the year ended December 31, 2008 with management, the
internal auditors, and our independent registered public accounting
firm. Management’s discussions with the Audit Committee included a
review of critical accounting policies.
The Audit
Committee obtained from the independent registered public accounting firm a
formal written statement describing all relationships between us and our
auditors that might bear on the auditors’ independence consistent with
Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, “Independence Discussions with
Audit Committees.” The Audit Committee discussed with the independent
registered public accounting firm any relationships that may have an impact on
their objectivity and independence and satisfied itself as to the auditors’
independence. The Audit Committee has reviewed and approved the
amount of fees paid to Crowe Horwath LLP, for audit and non-audit services, and
concluded that the provision of services by independent registered public
accounting firms is compatible with the maintenance of auditor’s
independence.
At four
of its meetings during 2008, the Audit Committee met with members of senior
management and the independent registered public accounting firm to review the
certifications provided by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer under the Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the
rules and regulations of the SEC and the overall certification
process. At these meetings, company officers reviewed each of the
Sarbanes-Oxley certification requirements concerning internal control over
financial reporting and any fraud, whether or not material, involving management
or other employees with a significant role in internal control over financial
reporting.
Based on
the above-mentioned review and discussions with management, the internal
auditors, and the independent registered public accounting firm, and subject to
the limitations on our role and responsibilities described above and in the
Audit Committee Charter, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of
Directors that our audited consolidated financial statements be included in our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2008, for filing with the SEC.
Audit
Committee of the Board of Directors
Luis F.
Hernández Santana, CPA (Chairman)
Antonio
R. Pavía Bibiloni
Jaime
Sifre Rodríguez, Esq.
Dated: March
26, 2009
COMPENSATION
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Overview
and Scope of Authority
This is a
report of the Company and its senior management team. It is not the
report of the Compensation, Governance and Nominating Committee of our Board of
Directors (the “CGN Committee”). In this Compensation Discussion and
Analysis section of the Proxy Statement, the terms “we,” “our,” and “us” refer
to the Company and, when the context requires, to such senior management
officials.
Compensation
Philosophy and Objectives
The
purpose of EuroBancshares’ compensation program has been, and is, to achieve our
primary objective: to build shareholder value. We seek to
attract and retain a highly qualified management team and promote a strong
pay-for-performance culture by aligning compensation with superior short and
long-term performance that builds shareholder value. In addition, to
aligning compensation with performance, we also recognize that notwithstanding
its size compared to its local peers, compensation must be generally competitive
in order to attract, retain and motivate talented executives.
EuroBancshares
uses a compensation framework with multiple payment components to balance
various short-term and long-term objectives. This framework is
designed to reward favorable total shareholder returns and to balance the
executives’ need for current cash and security through vehicles such as salary
and annual incentives, with the need to align executives’ long-term interests
with those of shareholders through vehicles such as equity grants.
Our Board
of Directors believes that compensation should:
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relate
to the value created for shareholders by being directly tied to the
financial performance and condition of the Company and each executive
officer’s contribution thereto;
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reward
individuals who help the Company achieve its short-term and long-term
objectives and thereby contribute significantly to the success of
Company;
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help
to attract and retain the most qualified individuals available by being
competitive in terms of compensation paid to persons having similar
responsibilities and duties in other companies in the same and
closely-related
industries; and
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reflect
the qualifications, skills, experience and responsibilities of each
executive officer.
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Base
salary and perquisites are designed to provide some degree of security to each
executive at the base threshold level of compensation, providing such executives
with a reasonable standard of living and a base wage at a level compared to our
peers and to encourage the executives’ day-to-day productivity. Annual cash
incentives are designed to motivate executives to focus on our annual goals,
while long-term incentives are designed to motivate the executives to focus on
long-term strategic goals that will produce shareholder value and long-term
rewards for the executives.
EuroBancshares’
compensation framework is also designed to ensure direct supervision and
accountability with regard to performance evaluations at each level of the
organization. For this reason, the CGN Committee is directly
responsible for determining the total compensation level and individual
components of the named executive officers’ (the “NEOs” as defined in Item
402(a)(3) of Regulation S-K) compensation package, based upon various factors,
including a review of the Company’s performance, and such officer’s individual
performance. The CGN Committee exercises independent discretion in
respect of executive compensation matters, subject to approval of their
recommendations by the Board of Directors with respect to certain
matters.
The
management group comprised of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial
Officer, the Chief Lending Officer, and the Human Resources Department Director,
in turn is directly responsible for conducting a similar review of the other
executives and employees of Company and then recommending an appropriate
compensation package, which is discussed by the CEO with the CGN
Committee. This system continues in sequence throughout the Company’s
chain-of-command, so that the compensation of each employee is always based upon
an evaluation of the employee’s performance by the employee’s direct supervisor,
subject to approval by the next higher level of management, and an overall
review by Company’s Human Resources Department. In practice, this
management group generally recommends the compensation of all other employees of
the company.
The
appropriate level of compensation for each officer or employee of the Company is
expected to vary based upon EuroBancshares’ overall performance, our financial
performance and an individual’s attainment of their personal objectives and
contribution to the attainment of the Company’s objectives. Specific items of
the Company’s performance taken into account when making compensation decisions
include:
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growth
in total assets;
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growth
in loan originations and loan origination
fees;
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growth
in total loans receivable;
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growth
in total deposits;
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growth
in fees and service charges income;
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return
on average equity;
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return
on average assets;
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maintenance
of asset quality;
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successful
completion and integration of acquisitions;
and
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performance
of our stock price.
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The
exercise of discretion by the CGN Committee in the setting of the various
elements of compensation also is an important feature of the Company’s
compensation philosophy. The Company believes it is important that
the CGN Committee have sufficient flexibility to respond to: (i) the Company’s
unique circumstances; (ii) prevailing market trends; and (iii) the rapidly
evolving economic environment in which the Company operates. The
Company also believes it is in the best interest of the Company and its
stockholders that the CGN Committee has sufficient discretion to establish
performance goals and objectives recognizing and rewarding extraordinary
individual performance. These may or may not directly affect the
Company’s achievement of specific financial metrics for a particular year
relative to its peer companies, but are nevertheless important to long-range
growth and enhancement of shareholder value.
Although
the current value of historical awards may also be taken into account, the
primary objective is to reward the Company’s management team for their current
performance and provide incentive for future performance. Because
there is no specific weighting applied to the factors considered, the CGN
Committee and each supervising manager are expected to use their own judgment
and expertise in determining appropriate compensation packages that meet the
Company’s overall objectives.
Role
of CGN Committee
Composition.
The
CGN Committee, which is composed of three independent, non-employee directors,
is responsible for performing compensation committee functions, as provided
under the rules of the SEC, including administration of the compensation of NEOs
and directors. As stated above, the actions taken by the CGN
Committee are subject to review and appropriate approval of our Board of
Directors. The current members of the CGN Committee are: Ricardo Levy
Echeandía (Chairman), Plácido González Córdova, Juan Gómez-Cuétara Aguilar, and
Pedro Feliciano Benítez. Each of these members has been determined to
be independent as defined by applicable NASDAQ rules.
Purpose.
The
primary purpose of the CGN Committee is to conduct reviews of the Company’s
general executive compensation policies and strategies and oversee and evaluate
our overall compensation structure to ensure the Company’s compensation
objectives are fulfilled.
Direct
responsibilities of the CGN Committee include, but are not limited
to:
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evaluating
and approving goals and objectives relevant to compensation of the CEO and
other NEOs, other executive officers and employees, and evaluating the
performance of the executives in light of those goals and
objectives;
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determining
and approving the compensation level for the CEO and other
NEOs;
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approving
or reviewing the compensation structure for other key executive
officers;
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evaluating
and approving all grants of equity-based compensation to the CEO, NEOs and
other executive officers;
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recommending
to the Board compensation policies for
directors; and
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reviewing
performance-based and equity-based incentive plans for the CEO, other NEOs
and other executive officers and reviewing other benefit programs the CEO
presents to the CGN Committee on behalf of upper
management.
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Process.
The CGN
Committee meets regularly in executive session and assesses a number of factors,
without giving specific weight to any one factor, in designing and evaluating
Company’s compensation framework. Although the CGN Committee utilizes
its independent judgment in assessing the compensation programs for the CEO and
other NEOs, it considers, from time to time, the advice of outside independent
compensation consultants on its compensation policies, as discussed further
below. Typically, compensation decisions for each calendar year are
made at the commencement of the current calendar year in the case of the CEO and
other NEOs. During 2008, the CGN Committee met two times to review,
discuss and approve compensation decisions for the Company.
Executive
management contributes to the compensation process through his consultation with
the CGN Committee. The CEO works with the CGN Committee in
establishing individual and overall performance objectives and strategic target
parameters for other NEOs. Also, the CEO and the CGN Committee review
the compensation programs of other NEOs to ensure that they are aligned with the
performance objectives and strategic target parameters
established. While the CEO participates from time to time at the CGN
Committee meetings, the CEO is excluded from all discussions regarding his own
compensation program and the compensation programs for other NEOs.
Independent
Consultants.
The CGN Committee retains sole authority to
engage, approve compensation, determine the nature and scope of such engagement,
and terminate the services of its independent compensation
consultants. Notwithstanding the independent discretion generally
vested in the CGN Committee, in benchmarking to set compensation parameters for
the directors and NEOs, which generally also results in setting parameters for
other officers and employees. The CGN Committee usually retains,
every year for NEO’s every other year for directors, an independent human
resources and compensation firm. This independent firm is instructed
to report to the CGN Committee on market data on executive pay levels and
incentive program designs, its role being to provide independent, third-party
advice and expertise in executive compensation issues. However, in
2008, the CGN Committee determined that it was not necessary to retain such firm
to advise it on compensation matters, as the members of the Committee had kept
themselves up to date as to local practices in the industry.
In
November 2007, the CGN Committee engaged the Compensation Group of Clark
Consulting, a subsidiary of AEGON USA, to review executive compensation of the
Company and to recommend potential improvements regarding its existing
practices. In December 2007, Clark Consulting delivered a
compensation review report to the CGN Committee that the committee used and
considered in making its compensation decisions for 2008. Similar to
the report prepared by Frederick W. Cook & Co., Inc. in 2006, the Clark
Consulting report reviewed the compensation structure of EuroBancshares against
that of a designated peer group consisting of certain banks with assets ranging
from $1.0 billion to $7.0 billion in total assets and located in metropolitan
areas. As an additional reference point, Clark Consulting compared
the compensation structure of EuroBancshares against six other Puerto Rico-based
publicly-traded financial companies, including: Popular Inc, First
Bancorp, W Holding Company, Inc., Doral Financial Corporation, Santander
BanCorp, and Oriental Financial Group, Inc. When compared to its
customized peer group, the report concluded that our total compensation for our
CEO and other NEOs was approximately 20% below the market for our peer
group.
Role
of Management
The role
of our management is to provide reviews and recommendations for the CGN
Committee’s consideration, and to manage the Company’s executive compensation
programs, policies and governance. Direct responsibilities of
management include, but are not limited to:
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consulting
with the CGN Committee to establish performance criteria, targets and
objectives;
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assist
in the evaluation of performance of other
officers;
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providing
an ongoing review of the effectiveness of the compensation programs,
including competitiveness, and alignment with EuroBancshares’
objectives;
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recommending
changes, if necessary to ensure achievement of all program
objectives; and
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recommending
pay levels, payout and/or awards for key executive officers other than the
CEO and NEOs.
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Components
of Compensation
Our
executive compensation program is built upon a framework that includes the
following key components:
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Base
Salary - Fixed compensation that takes into account the individual’s role
and responsibilities, experience, expertise and individual
performance.
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Annual
Cash Incentive Compensation - Variable compensation that is designed to
reward the individual for specific performance
achievements.
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Long-Term
Incentive Compensation - Equity-based awards primarily in the form of
stock options that are designed to align the interests of management with
the interests of the stockholders by providing incentive awards that a
tied to measures that are meaningful to
stockholders.
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Other
Benefits and Perquisites - Other employee benefit plans and perquisites
typically offered to executives of similar
corporations.
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Base Salary.
The
Company pays its executives cash salaries intended to be competitive and take
into account the individual’s qualifications, experience, performance,
responsibilities, and past and potential contribution to the
company. When determining base salary levels of the CEO and other
NEOs, the CGN Committee considered, among others, the following specific
factors:
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an
assessment of the scope of CEO and other NEOs responsibilities and
leadership;
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the
CEO and other NEOs expertise and experience within the
industry;
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the
competitive market compensation paid to executive officers in similar
positions at publicly-traded companies that are our
peers;
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the
Company’s overall financial and business performance, considering external
factors such as the interest rate environment and general economic
conditions for Puerto Rico, as well as the fact that our overall long-term
objective may inherently impair performance for any give fiscal year;
and
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the
CEO and other NEOs contributions to the
Company.
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Annual Cash Incentive
Compensation.
EuroBancshares maintains an Annual Cash
Incentive Compensation Program. The annual component of this program
is intended to encourage and reward the achievement of growth in
Company’s: (1) reported earnings; (2) total assets;
(3) return on average assets; and (4) return on average
equity. These criteria are deemed by the CGN Committee to be critical
in increasing shareholder value on both a short-term and long-term
basis. The program also is designed to assist in attracting and
retaining qualified employees and to further link the financial interests and
objectives of employees with those of shareholders. In determining
annual cash incentive compensation, the CGN Committee evaluates the CEO and
other NEOs contributions to their individual and overall performance objectives
and strategic target parameters.
Long-Term Incentive
Compensation.
The CGN Committee believes that long-term
incentive plans, such as the Stock Option Plan, provide a competitive incentive
that links the achievement of financial goals and individual performance,
resulting in greater shareholder value. The purpose of these plans is
to encourage the ownership of the Company’s common stock, attract and retain
qualified employees, develop and maintain strong management and employee
loyalty, and give suitable recognition to an individual’s material contributions
to our success.
When
determining the quantity and amount of awards to be granted, the CGN Committee
assesses the same factors considered in setting base salary, but with a greater
emphasis on long-term growth measurements, such as return on average assets and
return on average equity, CEO and other NEOs contributions to their individual
and overall performance objectives and strategic target parameters, and the
expansion of the Company’s entire delivery system. Components of our
delivery system that are considered include: growth in the number of
total branches; increases in the number of personnel; and achievement of
specific components of the Company’s strategic plan. Historically,
the CGN Committee has granted stock options at calendar year end.
Retirement Plans and
Perquisites.
All full-time officers and employees are covered
by a defined contribution plan (the “Plan”) under section 1165(e) of the Puerto
Rico Internal Revenue Code. All NEOs are eligible to participate in
the Plan. Under the Plan, employees may contribute up to 10% of their
compensation each year after deduction social security, up to
$8,000. The Company matches each employee’s contribution up to 3% of
their base compensation that they contribute to the plan, up to a maximum of
3,000 per year. Participants become vested in the Company’s
contributions plus actual earnings on such contributions after three yeas of
service. There are no other retirement plans for NEOs other than the
above.
Certain
key employees of EuroBancshares receive benefits that are designed to reward
their contributions to the Company and to encourage their productivity and
continued service. Certain of the perquisites provided to the CEO and other
NEOs, such as club memberships, are deemed to provide business value to the
Company because they provide a place for executives to continue interacting with
customers and develop business during non-business hours. Perquisites
provided to certain NEOs during 2008 included auto allowance or a company-owned
vehicle, and payment of club dues.
2008
Compensation Analysis
For performance year 2008, the Company
faced a challenging economic and business environment, and the Company did not
meet any of its financial objectives during the year. The Company
experienced an increase in the provision for loan and lease losses, and
deterioration in its capital position. Nonetheless, management
reacted quickly to the weakening economic environment by implementing
reengineering initiatives to help protect profitability in the near
term.
The CGN Committee made its 2008 annual
compensation decision at a private session on March 24, 2009. The CGN
Committee determined that due to the Company’s overall financial performance no
stock incentive compensation would be paid to NEOs and directors for their
performance in 2008. The CGN Committee noted that members of
executive management had performed well through the challenges of 2008 and
guided it through a critical period. The CGN Committee also noted
that the base salaries paid to the CEO and certain other NEOs were below those
paid to their local peers. The CGN Committee also determined that
these considerations required that base salaries of the CEO and certain other
NEOs be leveled to similar salary levels of local peer companies taking into
consideration the size of the Company. Accordingly, bonuses were
granted to certain members of senior management to offset the
foregoing. These bonuses were lower than those paid in 2007 and
2006. No salary increases were approved for 2009.
In 2008,
short- and long-term pay for the CEO and some NEOs continued on the low end of
the market competitive range, while the total compensation for other NEOs were
below the range when compared to our custom peer group and other local financial
institutions. In determining the total compensation for 2008, the CGN
Committee considered the Company’s total compensation levels and the current
economic environment, realigning its compensation philosophy to follow a more
retention-based approach for the CEO and NEOs in order to appropriately respond
to this time so that their total compensation for 2008 essentially equates
salaries of their local peers.
Base
Salaries.
During 2008, the compensation of the CEO and other
NEOs was based on the general principles of the executive compensation
program. In determining the salary and other forms of compensation
for the CEO and other NEOs, the CGN Committee took into consideration their
experience and standing in the industry in general and with the Company in
particular. For the CEO, the CGN Committee also considered his
increased responsibilities as a result of Company’s diversification and growth
in recent years. The CGN Committee believes that the CEO and other
NEOs compensation appropriately reflect their contributions to their individual
and overall performance objectives and strategic target parameters of the
Company in a difficult interest rate and economic environment.
Cash Incentive
Compensation.
In determining annual cash incentive
compensation for 2008, the CGN Committee gave significant weight to the
individual contributions by the CEO and other NEOs to the strategic target
parameters in light of the long-term goals of the Company, recognizing that
under current market conditions, such as the prime rate cuts and Puerto Rico’s
economy crisis, our long-term objectives may have inherently impaired the
EuroBancshares’ performance during 2008 using the traditional methods to measure
performance.
Stock Option
Awards.
As previously mentioned, no stock incentive
compensation was granted to NEOs and directors for their performance in
2008.
Change in Control
Agreements.
Additionally, given the heightened speculation of
consolidations in the Puerto Rico banking industry and the apparent increased
need among the Company’s local peers for talented officers due to several
resignations of the top executives of such peers, it was determined that it was
in the best interests of the Company to enter, on May 8, 2008, into a Change in
Control Agreement with Luis J. Berríos López, our Executive Vice President and
Chief Lending Officer. This agreement, which provides for a severance
payment resulting from a termination of employment either prior to or following
a change in control, is intended to ensure the best level of continuity in
operations should the Company consider consolidation and to allow for an even
greater impartial consideration of any consolidation proposal by such executive
by providing a level of security to the officer in the event of such
consolidation. Previously, on March 14, 2007, the Company had entered into
similar agreements with Rafael Arrillaga-Torréns, Jr., Chairman of the Board,
President and Chief Executive Officer, and Yadira R. Mercado Piñeiro, our
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
Pursuant
to the terms of the Change in Control Agreements, our Board of Directors is
permitted to terminate the agreements at any time prior to a change in control
by providing at least 90 days prior written notice to the executive
officer. If the termination is due to a constructive termination or
is a result of an involuntary termination, other than a termination for cause,
then the officer will be entitled to receive a severance payment on the date of
termination, plus accrued vacation and other benefits described therein. The
severance payment that would become payable to Mr. Arrillaga upon such a
termination would be equal to $1.5 million and the severance payment that would
become payable to Ms. Mercado and Mr. Berríos upon such a termination would be
equal to $750,000 and $500,000, respectively.
The
Agreements further provides that Mr. Arrillaga, Ms. Mercado and Mr. Berríos, as
applicable, will be entitled to receive a cash severance payment paid by
EuroBancshares and Eurobank upon his or her termination of employment with
Eurobank on or within two years after a change in control due to either (1) a
constructive termination or (2) his involuntary termination, other than a
termination for cause. In the event that Mr. Arrillaga, Ms. Mercado
or Mr. Berríos, as applicable, continues his or her employment with Eurobank for
the period commencing on the date of a change in control and ending on the
six-month anniversary of the change in control, then Mr. Arrillaga, Ms. Mercado
and Mr. Berríos, as applicable, will have the right to receive a cash severance
payment paid by EuroBancshares and Eurobank upon the voluntary termination of
his or her employment with Eurobank within 30 days following the expiration of
such period. In either case, the severance payment that would become
payable to Mr. Arrillaga upon such a termination would be equal to $1.5 million
and the severance payment that would become payable to Ms. Mercado and Mr.
Berríos upon such a termination would be equal to $750,000 and $500,000,
respectively.
Finally,
the Agreements provide that for a period of two (2) years following the date of
a change in control, Mr. Arrillaga, Ms. Mercado and Mr. Berríos, and their
dependents, will be entitled to certain continued health, dental, disability,
accident and life insurance benefits.
We
considered the following factors when selecting the events that trigger payment
in the Change in Control Agreements:
|
·
|
Our
recognition that, at some point in the future, the possibility of a Change
in Control, as defined in the Agreements, may exist, and that such
possibility, and the uncertainty and questions which it may raise among
management, may result in the departure or distraction of management
personnel to the detriment of EuroBancshares and its stockholders;
and
|
|
·
|
The
executive’s desire of assurance that in the event of any Change in Control
of EuroBancshares or Eurobank, he/she will continue to have the
responsibility and stature he/she has earned within Eurobank, or in the
alternative, if terminated that he/she be adequately compensated as
provided in the Change in Control
Agreement.
|
Executive
Compensation Deductibility
Our CGN
Committee has considered the impact of the provisions of Section 162(m) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, that provides that compensation paid
to a corporation’s executive officers may not be deductible for federal income
tax purposes unless, in general, such compensation is performance-based, is
established by an independent committee of directors, is objective and the plan
or agreement providing for such performance-based compensation has been approved
in advance by the stockholders. Because a Puerto Rico corporation is
not required to pay federal income taxes except for any income related to the
conduct of a trade or business in the United States, Section 162(m) should not
limit the tax deductions available to us for executive compensation in the near
future.
CGN
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Except
for Rafael Arrillaga-Torréns, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, none
of our executive officers serves as a member of the board of directors or CGN
Committee, or other committee serving an equivalent function, of any other
entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of our
Board of Directors or CGN Committee. None of the current members of
our CGN Committee has ever been an employee of ours or any of our
subsidiaries. Eurobank has made loans to some of our directors,
including members of the CGN Committee. The loans to such persons
were made in the ordinary course of business, were made on substantially the
same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the
time for comparable transactions with other persons, and did not involve more
than the normal risk of collectibility or present other unfavorable
features.
REPORT
OF THE COMPENSATION, GOVERNANCE AND NOMINATING COMMITTEE OF THE
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
The
Compensation, Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board has reviewed and
discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (the “CD&A”) with
management and, based on the review and discussions, the Committee recommended
to our Board of Directors that the CD&A be included in this Proxy Statement
on Schedule 14A.
Compensation,
Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors
Ricardo
Levy Echeandía (Chairman)
Plácido
González Córdova
Juan
Gómez-Cuétara Aguilar
Pedro
Feliciano Benítez
Dated: April
3, 2009
The
information contained in this Report of the Compensation Committee shall not be
deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” or incorporated by reference
in future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or to be subject
to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except
to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference into a document
filed under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
Summary
Compensation Table
The
following table outlines cash compensation awarded, together with the accounting
cost to the Company of previously granted equity awards and other non-cash
compensation to NEOs for year ended December 31, 2008.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
All
Other
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
|
|
|
Bonus
|
|
|
Awards
(1)
|
|
|
Compensation
(2)
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rafael
Arrillaga-Torréns, Jr.
|
|
2008
|
|
$
|
420,000
|
|
|
$
|
130,600
|
|
|
$
|
57,841
|
|
|
$
|
65,774
|
|
|
$
|
674,215
|
|
Chairman
of the Board, President
|
|
2007
|
|
|
400,000
|
|
|
|
190,450
|
|
|
|
44,575
|
|
|
|
56,173
|
|
|
|
691,198
|
|
and
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
2006
|
|
|
400,000
|
|
|
|
256,300
|
|
|
|
29,320
|
|
|
|
62,850
|
|
|
|
748,470
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yadira
R. Mercado Piñeiro
|
|
2008
|
|
|
285,000
|
|
|
|
110,600
|
|
|
|
50,484
|
|
|
|
81,369
|
(5)
|
|
|
527,453
|
|
Executive
Vive President,
|
|
2007
|
|
|
275,000
|
|
|
|
125,450
|
|
|
|
39,280
|
|
|
|
19,850
|
|
|
|
459,580
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer and
|
|
2006
|
|
|
230,200
|
|
|
|
150,300
|
|
|
|
21,095
|
|
|
|
22,500
|
|
|
|
424,095
|
|
Corporate
Secretary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Luis
J. Berríos López
(3)
|
|
2008
|
|
|
275,000
|
|
|
|
60,600
|
|
|
|
11,820
|
|
|
|
9,824
|
|
|
|
357,244
|
|
Executive
Vive President and
|
|
2007
|
|
|
260,000
|
|
|
|
70,000
|
|
|
|
6,346
|
|
|
|
9,975
|
|
|
|
346,321
|
|
Chief
Lending Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carlos
Rom, Jr.
(4)
|
|
2008
|
|
|
250,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
19,306
|
|
|
|
269,306
|
|
Executive
Vive President
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Féliz
M. León León
|
|
2008
|
|
|
180,000
|
|
|
|
18,100
|
|
|
|
7,750
|
|
|
|
7,783
|
|
|
|
213,633
|
|
Executive
Vice President,
|
|
2007
|
|
|
154,500
|
|
|
|
25,450
|
|
|
|
5,434
|
|
|
|
9,000
|
|
|
|
194,384
|
|
Operations
|
|
2006
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
|
25,300
|
|
|
|
1,885
|
|
|
|
12,000
|
|
|
|
189,185
|
|
(1)
|
The
values shown in the table reflect the accounting compensation cost
incurred during year ended December 31, 2008 in accordance with FAS 123R
for option awards earned in prior
years.
|
(2)
|
The
values shown in the table include the value of perquisites or other
personal benefits, such as auto allowance or a company-owned vehicle and
payment of club dues. The total value of perquisites awarded to
Mr. Arrillaga includes $34,696, $29,665 and $34,000 related to personal
security paid during 2008, 2007 and 2006,
respectively.
|
(3)
|
Mr.
Berríos became a NEO in 2007.
|
(4)
|
Mr.
Rom became a NEO in 2008.
|
(5)
|
Includes
$65,226 on liquidated accrued
vacations.
|
Grants
of Plan-Based Awards
No stock
options were awarded to our NEOs during 2008.
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The
following table sets forth certain information with respect to the value of all
unexercised stock options previously awarded to the NEOs.
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities
|
|
|
Securities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying
|
|
|
Underlying
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unexercised
|
|
|
Unexercised
|
|
|
Option
|
|
Option
|
|
|
|
Options (#)
|
|
|
Options (#)
|
|
|
Exercise
|
|
Expiration
|
|
Name
|
|
Exercisable
|
|
|
Unexercisable
|
|
|
Price
($)
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rafael
Arrillaga-Torréns, Jr.
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
8.13
|
|
02/22/09
|
(1)
|
|
|
|
25,400
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
21.00
|
|
02/27/10
|
(1)
|
|
|
|
10,160
|
|
|
|
15,240
|
|
|
|
14.17
|
|
02/28/16
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
5,000
|
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
|
8.60
|
|
02/26/17
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
6,000
|
|
|
|
24,000
|
|
|
|
4.00
|
|
12/31/17
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yadira
R. Mercado Piñeiro
|
|
|
45,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
8.13
|
|
02/22/09
|
(1)
|
|
|
|
22,400
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
21.00
|
|
02/27/10
|
(1)
|
|
|
|
8,960
|
|
|
|
13,440
|
|
|
|
14.17
|
|
02/28/16
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
4,400
|
|
|
|
17,600
|
|
|
|
8.60
|
|
02/26/17
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
5,000
|
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
|
4.00
|
|
12/31/17
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Luis
J. Berríos López
|
|
|
2,000
|
|
|
|
8,000
|
|
|
|
8.60
|
|
02/26/17
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
2,500
|
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
|
4.00
|
|
12/31/17
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carlos
Rom, Jr.
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Félix
M. León León
|
|
|
800
|
|
|
|
1,200
|
|
|
|
14.17
|
|
02/28/16
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
|
|
4,000
|
|
|
|
8.60
|
|
02/26/17
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
|
|
4,000
|
|
|
|
4.00
|
|
12/31/17
|
(2)
|
(1)
|
Stock
options were granted under the 2002 EuroBancshares Stock Option
Plan.
|
(2)
|
Stock
options were granted under the 2005 EuroBancshares Stock Option
Plan.
|
Option
Exercises
The
following table includes certain information with respect to the stock options
exercised by the NEOs during 2008. The value realized upon exercise
of the options was computed by determining the difference between the market
price of the options at exercise and the exercise price of the
options.
OPTION
EXERCISES
|
|
|
|
Number of Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquired on
|
|
|
Value Realized
|
|
Name
|
|
Exercise (#)
|
|
|
on Exercise ($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rafael
Arrillaga-Torréns, Jr.
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
$
|
7,500
|
|
Yadira
R. Mercado Piñeiro
|
|
|
36,000
|
|
|
|
5,400
|
|
Luis
J. Berríos López
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Carlos
Rom, Jr.
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Félix
M. León León
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Payments
Made Upon Termination of Employment
Regardless
the manner NEOs terminate their employment, they are entitled to receive the
amounts contributed to the defined contribution plan under section 1165(e) of
the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code, including the vested portion of the
employer match.
Additional
amounts that NEOs are entitle to receive upon exercise of stock
options:
|
·
|
In
case of change in control, as defined in the stock option plans, all
remaining unvested stock options shall become vested and shall become
subject to an adjustment, as defined in the stock option plans, upon
changes in capitalization, merger and change in
control.
|
|
·
|
In
case of retirement under a retirement plan sponsored by EuroBancshares or
Eurobank, stock options granted under the 2002 Stock Option Plan that are
exercisable as of the date of retirement shall be exercisable
for the lesser of: (a) the remainder of the term of the option;
or (b) the date that is twelve months after the date of
retirement. Stock options granted under the 2005 Stock Option
Plan that are exercisable as of the date of retirement shall be
exercisable for the lesser of: (a) the remainder of the term of
the option; or (b) the date that is three months after the date of
retirement.
|
|
·
|
In
case of resignation, stock options granted under the 2002 Stock Option
Plan that are exercisable as of the date of resignation shall be
exercisable for the lesser of: (a) the remainder of the term of
the option; or (b) thirty days after the date of
resignation. Stock options granted under the 2005 Stock Option
Plan that are exercisable as of the date of resignation shall be
exercisable for the lesser of: (a) the remainder of the term of
the option; or (b) the date that is ninety days after the date of
resignation.
|
|
·
|
In
case of death, disability or resignation because of health problems, all
unvested stock options granted under the 2002 Stock Option Plan shall
become exercisable as of the date of termination and, in conjunction with
vested stock options, shall be exercisable for the remainder term of the
option. Under the 2005 Stock Option Plan, if the optionee
ceases to be an eligible person, as defined in the plan, the optionee’s
estate, heirs or legatees, as the case may be, shall have the right of a
beneficiary. In case of disability or resignation because of
health problems, stock options granted under the 2005 Stock Option Plan
that are exercisable as of the date of termination shall be exercisable
for the lesser of: (a) the remainder of the term of the option;
or (b) the date that is twelve months after the date of
termination.
|
|
·
|
In
case of termination with cause, all stock options, vested or unvested,
shall terminate immediately and any unexpired stock option shall be
forfeited.
|
Termination
upon a Change in Control
On
March 14, 2007, EuroBancshares entered into a Change in Control Agreements (the
“Agreements”) with Rafael Arrillaga-Torréns, Jr., Chairman of the Board,
President and Chief Executive Officer, and Yadira R. Mercado Piñeiro, our
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. The Agreement signed
with Ms. Mercado superseded and replaced her Executive Severance Compensation
Agreement (the “Severance Payment Agreement”), dated as of April 12,
1999. In addition, on May 8, 2008, we entered into a similar Change
in Control Agreement with Luis J. Berríos López, our Executive Vice President
and Chief Lending Officer. The Agreements are intended to
ensure the best level of continuity in operations should the Company consider
consolidation and to allow for an even greater impartial consideration of any
consolidation proposal by such executive by providing a level of security to the
officer in the event of such consolidation. Except for the Agreements
described above, as of December 31, 2008, we did not have any other employment
agreements with any of our NEOs.
The value shown in the tables for termination upon change in control represents
the amounts of cash or benefits Mr. Arrillaga, Ms. Mercado and Mr. Berríos would
had received on December 31, 2008, as stipulated in the Agreements.
Stock
Options
The values shown in the tables for stock options was computed by determining the
difference between the market price of the options at December 31, 2008 and the
exercise price of the options.
The following tables detail the compensation each NEO would receive upon
termination of employment, and are presented assuming the termination of
employment occurred on December 31, 2008.
Termination
upon a Change in Control
CHANGE IN
CONTROL
|
|
|
|
Change in
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
Name
|
|
Control
|
|
|
Options ($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rafael Arrillaga-Torréns,
Jr.
|
|
$
|
1,532,565
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Yadira
R. Mercado Piñeiro
|
|
|
782,565
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Luis
Berríos López
|
|
|
517,880
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Carlos
Rom, Jr.
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Félix
M. León León
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Termination
for Retirement, Death, Disability or Without Cause
RETIREMENT, DEATH, DISABILITY
OR WITHOUT CAUSE
|
|
|
|
Change in
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
Name
|
|
Control
|
|
|
Options ($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rafael
Arrillaga-T orréns, Jr.
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Yadira
R. Mercado Piñeiro
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Luis
J. Berríos López
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Carlos
Rom, Jr.
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Félix
M. León León
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Termination
With Cause
TERMINATION WITH
CAUSE
|
|
|
|
Change
in
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
Name
|
|
Control
|
|
|
Options ($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rafael
Arrillaga-Torréns, Jr.
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Yadira
R. Mercado Piñeiro
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Luis
J. Berríos López
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Carlos
Rom, Jr.
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Félix
M. León León
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Stock
Option Plan
In
1997, Eurobank’s Board of Directors adopted a long-term incentive compensation
program in the form of a stock option plan (the “1997 Stock Option
Plan”). Both executive officers and directors were eligible to
participate in the 1997 Stock Option Plan. The 1997 Stock Option Plan
permitted a maximum number of 1,100,000 shares to be issued upon the exercise of
stock options granted under the plan.
In
2002, our Board of Directors adopted a long-term incentive compensation plan
(the “2002 Stock Option Plan”) that became effective when we became a holding
company for Eurobank. At that time, all of the Eurobank options
granted under the 1997 Stock Option Plan were assumed by EuroBancshares under
the 2002 Stock Option Plan and became options to purchase shares of
EuroBancshares common stock. The aggregate number of shares of common
stock that were permitted to be issued pursuant to the exercise of all options
granted under the 2002 Stock Option Plan could equal but not exceed 1,982,864
shares, which amount was comprised of (i) options to acquire 1,500,000 shares of
common stock authorized under this plan, and (ii) options that previously
represented the right to acquire 482,864 shares of common stock of Eurobank and
have been assumed by EuroBancshares and converted into options to acquire a like
number shares of common stock of EuroBancshares.
At
our 2005 annual meeting, our stockholders approved the 2005 Stock Option Plan
pursuant to which we are authorized to issue options to purchase up to 700,000
shares of our common stock, of which 440,000 shares are specifically set aside
for the purpose of granting incentive stock options under the
plan. As a result of the adoption of the 2005 Stock Option Plan, no
further options to acquire shares of our common stock are being issued under the
2002 Stock Option Plan.
As
of December 31, 2008, all outstanding options granted under our 2002 Stock
Option Plan were 100% vested. As of the same date, a total of 117,290
outstanding options granted under our 2005 Stock Option Plan were 100% vested,
while 147,680 outstanding options remained unvested. In addition,
during 2008, 407,000 shares of common stock have been issued pursuant to the
exercise of options granted under the 2002 Stock Option Plan. As of
December 31, 2008, 400,130 shares of our common stock remained available for
option grants under the 2005 Stock Option Plan.
The
2005 Stock Option Plan is intended to provide our directors, executive officers
and employees the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the success
of EuroBancshares by granting stock options to such directors, executive
officers and employees. Specifically, the plan is intended to advance
the interests of EuroBancshares by (1) enabling us to attract and retain the
best available individuals for positions of substantial responsibility; (2)
providing additional incentive to such persons by affording them an opportunity
for equity participation in our business; and (3) rewarding directors, executive
officers and employees for their contributions to our business.
The
2005 Stock Option Plan is administered by our Compensation
Committee. The Compensation Committee has authority with respect to
the stock option plan to:
|
·
|
adopt,
amend and rescind administrative and interpretive rules relating to the
plan;
|
|
·
|
accelerate
the time of exercisability of any stock option that has been
granted;
|
|
·
|
construe
the terms of the plan and any related agreement (including those terms
governing eligibility); and
|
|
·
|
make
all other determinations and perform all other acts necessary or advisable
for administering the plan, including the delegation of such ministerial
acts and responsibilities as the Compensation Committee deems
appropriate.
|
Both
“Incentive Stock Options” and “Nonstatutory Options” may be granted under the
2005 Stock Option Plan from time to time. Incentive Stock Options are
stock options intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 1046 of the Puerto
Rico Internal Revenue Code. Nonstatutory Options are stock options
that do not satisfy the requirements of Section 1046 of the Puerto Rico Internal
Revenue Code.
Under
our 2002 Stock Option Plan and the 2005 Stock Option Plan, the aggregate fair
market value (determined as of the date an option is granted) of the shares with
respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by
any optionee during any calendar year may not exceed $100,000. Shares
acquired upon the exercise of Nonstatutory Options may not be sold for a period
of one year after such options are exercised.
The
option price to be paid upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option will not be
less than the greater of: (1) the par value per share of our
common stock; or (2) 100% of the fair market value per share of our common stock
on the date of the grant of the Incentive Stock Option. The option
price to be paid upon exercise of a Nonstatutory Option will be determined by
the Compensation Committee at the time of grant.
Each
option (including Incentive Stock Options and Nonstatutory Options) granted
under the 2005 Stock Option Plan has an expiration term of ten years after the
date the option is granted, unless a shorter period is determined by the
Compensation Committee. Each option may be exercised upon such terms
and conditions as the Compensation Committee determines. In making
any determination as to whom options shall be granted, and as to the number of
shares to be covered by such options, the Compensation Committee considers the
duties of the respective employees, their present and potential contributions to
our success, profitability and growth, and such other factors as the
Compensation Committee deems relevant in connection with accomplishing the
purposes of our 2005 Stock Option Plan.
Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123,
Share-Based Payment
(Revised
2004), establishes standards for the accounting for transactions in which an
entity (i) exchanges its equity instruments for goods or services, or (ii)
incurs liabilities in exchange for goods or services that are based on the fair
value of the entity’s equity instruments or that may be settled by the issuance
of the equity instruments. SFAS 123R eliminated the ability to
account for stock-based compensation using APB 25 and required that such
transactions be recognized as compensation cost in the income statement based on
their fair values on the measurement date, which is generally the date of the
grant.
Change
in Control Agreements
On
March 14, 2007, EuroBancshares, Inc. (“EuroBancshares”) entered into Change In
Control Agreements (the “Agreement”) with each of Rafael Arrillaga-Torréns, Jr.,
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of EuroBancshares, and Yadira R.
Mercado Piñeiro, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
EuroBancshares, which provides for a severance payment resulting from a
termination of employment either prior to or following a Change in Control (as
defined in the Agreement) of EuroBancshares or its subsidiary,
Eurobank. In addition, on May 8, 2008, we entered into a similar
Change in Control Agreement with Luis J. Berríos López, our Executive Vice
President and Chief Lending Officer. The foregoing description of the
Agreements is qualified in its entirely by reference to the terms of the
Agreements, which were filed as Exhibit 10.3 and Exhibit 10.4 to the Current
Report on Form 8-K (File No. 000-50872) previously filed by EuroBancshares, Inc.
on March 16, 2007, and as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File
No. 000-50872) previously filed by EuroBancshares, Inc. on May 13,
2008.
Pursuant
to the terms of the Agreements, the Board of Directors of EuroBancshares is
permitted to terminate the Agreements at any time prior to a Change in Control
by providing at least ninety (90) days prior written notice to the executive
officer. If the termination is due to a Constructive Termination (as
defined in the Agreement) or is a result of an involuntary termination, other
than a Termination for Cause (as defined in the Agreement), then Mr. Arrillaga,
Ms. Mercado or Mr. Berríos, as applicable, will be entitled to receive a
severance payment on the date of termination, plus accrued vacation and other
benefits described therein. The severance payment that would become
payable to Mr. Arrillaga upon such a termination would be equal to $1.5 million,
while the severance payment that would become payable to Ms. Mercado and Mr.
Berríos upon such a termination would be equal to $750,000 and $500,000,
respectively.
The
Agreements further provides that Mr. Arrillaga, Ms. Mercado and Mr. Berríos, as
applicable, will be entitled to receive a cash severance payment paid by
EuroBancshares and Eurobank upon his or her termination of employment with
Eurobank on or within two (2) years after a Change in Control due to either (1)
a Constructive Termination or (2) his involuntary termination, other than a
Termination for Cause. In the event that Mr. Arrillaga, Ms. Mercado
or Mr. Berríos, as applicable, continues his or her employment with Eurobank for
the period commencing on the date of a Change in Control and ending on the
six-month anniversary of the Change in Control (the “Stay Put Period”), then Mr.
Arrillaga, Ms. Mercado and Mr. Berríos, as applicable, will have the right to
receive a cash severance payment paid by EuroBancshares and Eurobank upon the
voluntary termination of his or her employment with Eurobank within thirty (30)
days following the expiration of the Stay Put Period. In either case,
the severance payment that would become payable to Mr. Arrillaga upon such a
termination would be equal to $1.5 million, while the severance payment that
would become payable to Ms. Mercado and Mr. Berríos upon such a termination
would be equal to $750,000 and $500,000, respectively.
Finally,
the Agreements provide that for a period of two (2) years following the date of
a Change in Control, Mr. Arrillaga, Ms. Mercado and Mr. Berríos shall be
entitled to participate, and EuroBancshares or Eurobank shall continue to make
contributions on their behalf) in all health, dental, disability, accident and
life insurance plans or arrangements in which they or their dependents were
participating immediately prior to the date of termination as if they continued
to be employees of EuroBancshares or Eurobank. In the event that Mr.
Arrillaga, Ms. Mercado or Mr. Berríos accepts employment with another employer
during this two (2) year period, such additional benefits shall only be provided
to the extent not covered by his or her new employer.
For more
information on the Change in Control Agreements, refer to the
“Compensation Discussion and
Analysis”
section of this Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A.
Employment
Agreements
Other
than the Change in Control Agreements described above, we do not have any other
employment agreements with any of our NEOs. All of our NEOs serve at
the pleasure of our Board of Directors. We do not maintain any
“key-man” life insurance policies on any of our executive
officers. If any of these individuals leaves his or her respective
position, this could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition, results of operations, cash flows and/or future
prospects.
Health
and Insurance Benefits
Our
full-time officers and employees are provided hospitalization and major medical
insurance. We pay a substantial part of the premiums for these
coverages. All insurance coverage under these plans is provided under
group plans on generally the same basis to all full-time
employees. In addition, we maintain term life insurance, which
provides benefits to all employees who have completed three or more months of
full-time employment with us. The terms of our policy provide
benefits equal to three times the employee’s annual base earnings (exclusive of
overtime pay or bonuses) up to a maximum of $300,000.
Eurobank
Master Trust Retirement Plan Program for Employees
Effective
January 1, 2000, Eurobank adopted the Eurobank Master Trust Retirement Plan
Program, a defined contribution plan under Section 1165(e) of the Puerto Rico
Internal Revenue Code, covering all full-time employees of EuroBancshares who
have completed three months of service and are 18 years of age or
older. We give each prospective eligible employee written notice of
his or her eligibility to participate in the plan in sufficient time to enable
each of them to participate in the plan. Under the provisions of the
plan, employees may contribute up to 10% of their compensation each year after
deducting social security, up to a specific maximum established by
law. We match each employee’s contribution up to 3% of their base
compensation that they contribute to the plan, up to a maximum of
$3,000. Participants become vested in our contributions plus actual
earnings on such contributions after three years of service.
Restricted
Stock Grants
On
April 26, 2004, our Board voted and agreed to issue 3,700 shares of our common
stock (valued at $8.13 per share) to certain of our officers and employees in
consideration for prior service to us. These stock grants were
effected pursuant to the terms of certain Restricted Stock Purchase Agreements
between us and the officers and employees. Under the terms of these
Restricted Stock Purchase Agreements, the stock remains unvested until the
5
th
anniversary of the date of the grant. In the event the restricted
stock grantee leaves prior to the 5
th
anniversary, the restricted stock grantee forfeits all right, title and interest
in the restricted stock. As of December 31, 2008, after forfeitures,
a total of 2,300 stocks remain unvested. The Restricted Stock
Purchase Agreement also provides for the payment of a one-time cash bonus
pursuant to which we will withhold applicable taxes due as a result of the
restricted stock grant.
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Under Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, it is now unlawful for any
issuer to extend, renew or arrange for the extension of credit in the form of a
personal loan to or for any director or executive officer of that
issuer. This prohibition does not apply to loans that were made on or
prior to July 30, 2002, or certain types of loans described in
Section 402 that are:
|
·
|
made
available by the issuer in the ordinary course of the issuer’s consumer
credit business;
|
|
·
|
of
a type generally made available by such issuer to the public;
and
|
|
·
|
made
by the issuer on market terms, or terms that are no more favorable than
those offered by the issuer to the general
public.
|
Section 402 also does not apply to loans by an insured depository
institution, if the loan is subject to the insider lending restrictions of
Section 22(h) of the Federal Reserve Act or the Federal Reserve’s
Regulation O.
Our Board has established the
Policy and Procedures With Respect
to Related Party Transactions
(the “Policy”) to ensure
that: (i) related party transactions do not represent a conflict of
interest that could give rise to situations where non-arm’s length parties are
treated more favorably than such parties would be treated in the ordinary
course; and (ii) EuroBancshares comply with applicable corporate governance
rules and regulations. The Policy applies to any transaction, in
which EuroBancshares was or is to be a participant, the amount involved exceeds
$120,000, and in which the related person had or will have a direct or indirect
material interest. A related person is any director or executive
officer of EuroBancshares, any shareholder with a beneficial ownership over 5%,
and any immediate family member of such related person. The Audit
Committee is generally responsible for supervising the implementation of the
Policy, including the review, approval or ratification of any related party
transaction.
In
determining whether to approve, ratify, disapprove or reject a related party
transaction, the Audit Committee shall consider, among other factors, if the
related party transaction is entered into on terms no less favorable to
EuroBancshares than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third-party
under the same or similar circumstances; the results of an appraisal, if any;
whether there was a bidding process and the results thereof; review of the
valuation methodology used and alternative approaches to valuating the
transaction; and the extent of the related person’s interest in the
transaction.
In
addition, the Policy establishes some related party transactions, which, under
certain circumstances, are deemed to be pre-approved and shall not require
review or approval by the Audit Committee, even if the
amount involved exceeds $120,000. Such transactions
include: employment of executive officers; director compensation;
certain transactions with other companies; ordinary course transactions; certain
charitable contributions; transactions where all shareholders receive
proportional benefits; and regulated transactions.
Certain
of our officers, directors and principal stockholders and their affiliates have
had transactions with Eurobank, including borrowings and investments in
certificates of deposit. Our management believes that all such loans
and investments have been and will continue to be made in the ordinary course of
business of Eurobank on substantially the same terms, including interest rates
paid and collateral required, as those prevailing at the time for comparable
transactions with unaffiliated persons, and do not involve more than the normal
risk of collectibles or present other unfavorable
features. Therefore, we believe that all of these transactions comply
with Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act or have been made pursuant to a
valid exception from Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
One of
our directors, William Torres Torres, is principal in a corporation that own
certain real estate of which portions are leased to Eurobank. The
corporation controlled by Mr. Torres received lease payments from us totaling
approximately $109,000 during 2008. Part of the lease agreement
between Eurobank and the corporation controlled by Mr. Torres was terminated in
2008. In addition, during 2008, a total of $92,000 in consulting fees
on lean processes re-engineering was paid to a corporation controlled by Mr.
Torres. The lease agreement between Eurobank and the corporation
controlled by Mr. Torres was approved in 2001complying with regulatory
requirements at the time the contracts were entered. Although we did
not have a formal policy during 2006, the consulting agreement between Eurobank
and the corporation controlled by Mr. Torres was reviewed and ratified by the
Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors. This review and
ratification was documented in the minutes to the Compensation
Committee. We believe that the terms of the lease and the consulting
agreement between Eurobank and the corporation controlled by Mr. Torres, are on
an arm’s-length basis.
During
2008, we maintained an employment relationship with Luis J. Berríos Caamaño,
Esq., Senior Vice President, Corporate Compliance and BSA. Mr.
Berríos-Caamaño is son of Luis J. Berríos López, Executive Vice President and
Chief Lending Officer of Eurobank. Total compensation for Mr.
Berríos-Caamaño during 2008 amounted to $141,000.
Additionally,
during 2008, we used, in the ordinary course of business, the legal services of
Rafael Arrillaga Romaní, Esq., son of Rafael Arrillaga-Torréns, Jr., the
Chairman, President and CEO of EuroBancshares and Eurobank, and the law firm J.
Fernández & Asociados, of which its partner, Julio Fernández, is the
son-in-law of William Torres, a director of EuroBancshares and Eurobank.
The fees paid to Mr. Arrillaga-Romaní and J. Fernández & Asociados for year
2008 amounted to approximately $255,000 and $262,000,
respectively. During 2008, approximately $234,000 of all fees paid to
Mr. Arrillaga-Romaní were paid by our clients in connection with commercial and
mortgage loan transactions. All fees paid to J. Fernández &
Asociados during 2008 were paid by our clients in connection with mortgage loan
transactions. Under Puerto Rico law, notary fees related to mortgage
transactions are established by law.
SECTION
16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires our officers
and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our
equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes of ownership with
the SEC. Our officers, directors and 10% shareholders are required by
SEC regulation to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms so
filed.
Based
solely on review of copies of such forms received and written representation
letters from executive officers and directors, we believes that, during the last
fiscal year, all filing requirements under Section 16(a) applicable to our
officers, directors and 10% shareholders were timely met.
INDEPENDENT
PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Our Audit
Committee appointed Crowe Horwath LLP, formerly Crowe Chizek and Company LLP, as
our independent auditors for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2008. In connection with the audit of our 2008 financial statements,
we entered into an engagement letter which sets for the terms by which Crowe
Horwath LLP will perform audit services for EuroBancshares. Through
this engagement letter, services to be provided by Crowe Horwath LLP were made
extensive to subsequent fiscal years, until either the Audit Committee or Crowe
Horwath LLP terminate the agreement or mutually agree to the modification of the
terms of said engagement contract.
Agreement
on terms by which audit services will be provided by Crowe Horwath LLP is
subject to alternative dispute resolution procedures and an exclusion of
punitive damages.
Auditor
Fees and Services
The
following table shows the fees paid or accrued by us for the audit and other
services provided by our independent auditors for fiscal years 2008 and
2007.
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Crowe
Horwath
|
|
|
Crowe
Chizek
|
|
Audit
Fees
|
|
$
|
707,500
|
|
|
$
|
624,200
|
|
Audit-Related
Fees
|
|
|
26,500
|
|
|
|
25,800
|
|
Tax
Fees
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
All
Other Fees
(1)
|
|
|
36,000
|
|
|
|
–
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
770,000
|
|
|
$
|
650,000
|
|
(1)
|
During
2008, these fees corresponded to expenses billed by our independent
auditor in connection with a Bank Secrecy Act compliance review (the “BSA
review”) for Eurobank, our wholly-owned banking subsidiary, for the year
2008. This BSA review included the evaluation of the
effectiveness of certain internal control and monitoring of certain
regulatory requirements through observation and interviews with key
personnel as well as testing of selected transactions to determine
compliance with applicable aspects of the BSA as directed by
management.
|
As
defined by the SEC, (i) “audit fees” are fees for professional services rendered
by the company’s principal accountant for the audit of the company’s annual
financial statements and review of financial statements included in the
company’s Form 10-Q, or for services that are normally provided by the
accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements
for those fiscal years; (ii) “audit-related fees” are fees for assurance and
related services by the company’s principal accountant that are reasonably
related to the performance of the audit or review of the company’s financial
statements and are not reported under “audit fees;” (iii) “tax fees” are fees
for professional services rendered by the company’s principal accountant for tax
compliance, tax advice, and tax planning; and (iv) “all other fees” are fees for
products and services provided by the company’s principal accountant, other than
the services reported under “audit fees,” “audit-related fees,” and “tax
fees.”
Under
applicable SEC rules, the Audit Committee is required to pre-approve the audit
and non-audit services performed by the independent auditors in order to ensure
that they do not impair the auditors’ independence. The SEC’s rules
specify the types of non-audit services that an independent auditor may not
provide to its audit client and establish the Audit Committee’s responsibility
for administration of the engagement of the independent auditors.
Consistent
with the SEC’s rules, the Audit Committee Charter requires that the Audit
Committee review and pre-approve all audit services and permitted non-audit
services provided by the independent auditors to us or any of our
subsidiaries.
OTHER
MATTERS
To the
best knowledge, information and belief of the directors, there are no other
matters which are to be acted upon at the annual meeting. If such
matters arise, the form of proxy provides that discretionary authority is
conferred on the designated persons in the enclosed form of proxy to vote with
respect to such matters.
We have
received no notice of any other items submitted for consideration at the meeting
and except for reports of operations and activities by management, which are for
informational purposes only and require no action of approval or disapproval,
and consideration of the minutes of the preceding annual meeting for approval,
which may involve technical corrections to the text where actions taken were
incorrectly recorded, but which require no action of approval or disapproval of
the subject matter, management neither knows of nor contemplates any other
business that will be presented for action by the stockholders at the annual
meeting. If any further business is properly presented at the annual
meeting, the persons named as proxies will act in their discretion on behalf of
the stockholders they represent.
STOCKHOLDER
PROPOSALS FOR THE NEXT ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Our 2010 annual meeting of stockholders is expected to be held in May
2010. We must receive by December 21, 2009 any stockholder proposal
intended to be presented at the next annual meeting of stockholders for
inclusion in our proxy materials. Proposals must comply with the
proxy rules relating to stockholder proposals, including Rule 14a-8 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, in order to be included in our proxy
materials. Proposals should be delivered to EuroBancshares, Inc.,
State Road PR-1 Km. 24.5, Quebrada Arenas Ward, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00926,
Attn: Corporate Secretary, prior to the specified deadline.
SEC rules and regulations provide that if the date of our 2010 annual meeting is
advanced or delayed more than 30 days from the date of the 2009 annual meeting,
stockholder proposals intended to be included in the proxy materials for the
2010 annual meeting must be received by us within a reasonable time before we
begin to print and mail the proxy materials for the 2010 annual
meeting. We will disclose that change in the earliest possible
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, upon our determination that the date of the 2010
annual meeting will be advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the date of
the 2009 annual meeting.
Under our bylaws, and as permitted by the rules of the SEC, certain procedures
are provided that a stockholder must follow to nominate persons for election as
directors or to introduce an item of business at an annual meeting of
stockholders. These procedures provide that nominations for director
and/or an item of business to be introduced at an annual meeting of stockholders
must be submitted in writing to our Secretary at our principal executive
offices. With respect to director nominations, we must receive the
notice of your intention to introduce a nomination at our 2010 annual meeting no
later than:
|
·
|
70
days in advance of the 2010 annual meeting if at least 80 days’ public
disclosure of the date of the meeting is given to the stockholders;
or
|
|
·
|
in
the event that less than 80 days’ notice of the date of the meeting is
given to our stockholders, the close of business on the 10
th
day following the earlier of (i) the day on which such notice of the
meeting is first made or (ii) the day on which public disclosure of the
date of the meeting is first made.
|
The notice of a nomination for election of a director must contain the following
information:
|
·
|
all
information relating to the nominee that is required to be disclosed in
solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise
required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including the nominee’s written consent
to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a
director if elected);
|
|
·
|
the
name and address of the stockholder making the nomination;
and
|
|
·
|
the
class and number of shares of our capital stock that are beneficially
owned by the stockholder making the
election.
|
With respect to other items of business, we must receive the notice of your
intention to introduce an item of business at our 2010 annual meeting no later
than 70 days in advance of the 2010 annual meeting; provided, however, that in
the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than 20 days
or delayed by more than 60 days from the anniversary date of this year’s
meeting, not later than the close of business on the later of (i) the 70
th
day
prior to such annual meeting or (ii) the 10
th
day
following the day on which public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting
is first made.
The notice of a proposed item of business must contain the following
information:
|
·
|
a
brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual
meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual
meeting;
|
|
·
|
the
name and address of the stockholder making the
nomination;
|
|
·
|
the
class and number of shares of our capital stock that are beneficially
owned by the stockholder making the election;
and
|
|
·
|
any
material interest of such stockholder in such
business.
|
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
A
copy of our 2008 annual report on Form 10-K is being made available with this
proxy statement to each stockholder of record. Stockholders not receiving
a copy of the annual report may obtain one without charge. Our 2008
annual report on Form 10-K is also accessible through our website at
http://www.eurobankpr.com
. Requests
and inquiries should be addressed to: Investor Relations, State Road
PR-1 Km. 24.5, Quebrada Arenas Ward, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00926, (787)
751-7340.
APPROVAL
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The contents of the proxy statement have been approved and our Board of
Directors has authorized the mailing thereof to our stockholders.
By Order of the Board of
Directors,
|
|
/s/
|
|
Rafael
Arrillaga-Torréns, Jr.
|
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
Executive
Officer
|
San Juan,
Puerto Rico
April 13,
2009
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