UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.)

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Flagstar Bancorp, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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April 27, 2009

 

To our stockholders:

 

We invite you to attend our Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. to be held at the national headquarters of the Company, 5151 Corporate Dr., Troy, Michigan on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at 1:00 p.m., local time.

 

On January 30, 2009, we announced that the United States Department of the Treasury, pursuant to the TARP Capital Purchase Program, purchased 266,657 shares of our preferred stock, and warrants to purchase 64,513,790 shares of common stock of the Company, for approximately $266.6 million. In addition, we raised an aggregate of approximately $255.3 million through the sale of equity securities to MP Thrift Investments L.P. (“MatlinPatterson”), an entity formed by MP (Thrift) Global Partners III LLC, an affiliate of MatlinPatterson Global Advisers LLC, for $250 million and through the sale of common stock to Mark T. Hammond, our Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, to various directors and members of management and to me for $5.3 million. With the proceeds of these offerings, we fortified our balance sheet and strengthened our regulatory capital position, such that we are positioned to grow our banking franchise and to continue our mission of being a top national originator and servicer of high quality residential mortgage loans.

 

In the offering to MatlinPatterson, we sold 250,000 shares of our convertible participating voting preferred stock with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share for a total of $250 million. Subsequent to the offering, we sold to MatlinPatterson an additional 50,000 shares of our convertible participating voting preferred stock with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share for $50 million and also expect to sell to MatlinPatterson trust preferred securities having an aggregate liquidation preference of $50 million for a total of $100 million. Upon approval by our stockholders of the proposals at the Annual Meeting, the total of 300,000 shares of convertible preferred stock held by MatlinPatterson will automatically convert into approximately 375,000,000 shares of our common stock, based upon a per share conversion price of $0.80. As a result of these offerings, MatlinPatterson obtained the power to control our affairs and operations.

 

At the Annual Meeting, holders of our shares of common stock and certain other holders entitled to vote will be asked to consider and vote on proposals to, among other things, elect directors, approve an increase in the number of our authorized shares of common stock, approve other related matters which are required to be presented pursuant to the transactions described above and approve matters submitted at the direction of our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors (as constituted prior and subsequent to the offerings) unanimously approved these proposals and recommended that our stockholders vote for these proposals. Many of our directors and officers as well as representatives of Virchow, Krause & Company, LLP, our registered public accountants for 2008, will be present at the Annual Meeting to respond to questions that you may have.

 

Please read the attached proxy statement carefully for information about the matters you are being asked to consider and vote upon. Your vote is very important to us. On behalf of the Board of Directors, we urge you to sign, date and return the enclosed proxy as soon as possible, even if you currently plan to attend the Annual Meeting. This will not prevent you from voting in person, but will assure that your vote is counted if you are unable to attend the Annual Meeting.

 

Thank you for your continuing support.

 

Sincerely,

 

Thomas J. Hammond

Chairman of the Board

 

FLAGSTAR BANCORP, INC.

5151 CORPORATE DR.

TROY, MI 48098

(248) 312-2000

 

 

 

 

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 26, 2009

 

 

 

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at 1:00 p.m., local time, at the national headquarters of the Company, 5151 Corporate Dr., Troy, Michigan.

 

A proxy card and a proxy statement for the Annual Meeting are enclosed. We are also enclosing a copy of our 2008 Annual Report to Stockholders.

 

The Annual Meeting is for the purpose of considering and acting upon the following matters:

 

1. to elect ten directors to the Board of Directors to hold office for a term of two years and until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified;

 

2. to amend the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock from 150,000,000 shares to 750,000,000 shares, as the number of common stock currently authorized is insufficient to provide for the conversion of the May Investor Warrants, the Treasury Warrant, the Investor Securities and the Additional Investor Securities (all of which are described in the attached proxy statement);

 

3. to amend the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to revise Article IX(B) thereof to delete the requirement to divide the Board of Directors into two classes of directors;

 

4. to amend the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to delete references to Chapter 7B of the Michigan Business Corporation Act, which has been rescinded by the Michigan legislature;

 

5. to approve the issuance of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrant issued to the United States Department of the Treasury in connection with the TARP Capital Purchase Program, as described in the attached proxy statement;

 

6. to approve the issuance of common stock upon exercise of the May Investor Warrants that were issued in connection with amendments to the Purchase Agreement dated May 14, 2008. The May Investor Warrants were issued to certain institutional investors as described in the attached proxy statement;

 

7. to amend the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to require majority voting for the election of directors in non-contested elections;

 

8. to amend the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to reduce, to a majority of the Board of Directors, the vote required by directors to adopt, repeal, alter, amend and rescind the Company’s bylaws;

 

9. to ratify the appointment of Virchow, Krause & Company, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accountants for the year ending December 31, 2009;

 

10. to consider and approve an advisory (non-binding) proposal relating to the executive pay-for-performance compensation employed by the Company;

 

11. to approve amendments to the Company’s 2006 Equity Incentive Plan to increase the maximum number of shares available for awards and to increase the individual award limits; and

 

12. to transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting.

 

NOTE:  The Board of Directors is not aware of any other business to come before the Annual Meeting.

 

These items of business are more fully described in the proxy statement accompanying this Notice. Submission of Proposals 2, 3, 4, and 11 to our stockholders is required under the terms of the Investment

Agreement dated as of December 17, 2008 between the Company and to MP Thrift Investments L.P., an entity formed by MP (Thrift) Global Partners III LLC, an affiliate of MatlinPatterson Global Advisers LLC, in connection with our recent January 2009 equity investment transaction, submission of Proposals 5 and 6 is required by the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, submission of Proposal 10 is required by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and submission of the remaining proposals is made at the direction of the Board of Directors.

 

The Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote FOR all of the proposals.

 

Any action may be taken on any one of the foregoing proposals at the Annual Meeting on the date specified above or on any date or dates to which, by original or later adjournments, the Annual Meeting may be adjourned. Stockholders of record of our common stock and certain holders of our preferred stock at the close of business on April 7, 2009 will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.

 

You are requested to fill in and sign the enclosed form of proxy, which is solicited by the Board of Directors, and to mail it promptly in the enclosed envelope. This will ensure the presence of a quorum at the Annual Meeting and will save us the expense of additional solicitations. The proxy will not be used if you attend and choose to vote in person at the Annual Meeting.

 

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Mary Kay Ruedisueli

Secretary

 

Troy, Michigan

April 27, 2009

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PROXY STATEMENT

OF

FLAGSTAR BANCORP, INC.

5151 CORPORATE DR.

TROY, MI 48098

(248) 312-2000

 

 

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

MAY 26, 2009

 

This proxy statement (“Proxy Statement”) and the enclosed Proxy Card are furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”). They will be used at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at 1:00 p.m., local time, at the national headquarters of the Company and Flagstar Bank, fsb (the “Bank”), 5151 Corporate Dr., Troy, Michigan. The accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting, this Proxy Statement, and the Proxy Card are being first mailed to stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting on or about April 27, 2009. As used in this Proxy Statement, the terms “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to the Company.

 

Although certain aspects of our business model performed well in 2008, the market outlook for continuing weak domestic economic conditions caused us to take steps to increase capital levels that could help us weather the current economic downturn. In this regard, we recently participated in an investment by the United States Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”) under its Troubled Asset Relief Program Capital Purchase Program (the “TARP Capital Purchase Program”) established pursuant to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. The TARP Capital Purchase Program allows Treasury to invest in preferred stock and warrants of U.S. financial institutions. On December 19, 2008, we were preliminarily approved by Treasury (the “Preliminary Approval”) for participation in the TARP Capital Purchase Program through an investment by Treasury in our preferred stock and warrants in the amount of approximately $266.6 million. As a condition of the Preliminary Approval, we were required to raise an aggregate of not less than $250 million in private capital, which we accomplished through the equity investment transaction defined and described below.

 

On December 17, 2008, we entered into an investment agreement (the “investment agreement”) to raise an aggregate of $250 million through the direct sale of equity securities to an institutional investor, MP Thrift Investments L.P. (“MatlinPatterson”), an entity formed by MP (Thrift) Global Partners III LLC, an affiliate of MatlinPatterson Global Advisers LLC, and to raise approximately $5 million by the sale of common stock to individual investors, including Thomas J. Hammond, our Chairman, Mark T. Hammond, our Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and certain other members of management and the Board (the “Individual Investors,” and together with MatlinPatterson, the “Investors”). As a condition to the investment by MatlinPatterson, we were required to raise at least $250 million in capital through the TARP Capital Purchase Program.

 

The approximately $266.6 million investment by Treasury, the $250 million investment by MatlinPatterson and the $5.3 million investment by the Individual Investors were closed on January 30, 2009. Pursuant to the TARP Capital Purchase Program, Treasury acquired 266,657 shares of our Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C (the “Treasury Preferred Stock”) at a purchase price and liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, and a warrant to purchase 64,513,790 shares of our common stock (the

“Treasury Warrant” and together with the Treasury Preferred Stock, the “Treasury Securities”) with an exercise price of $0.62 per share, subject to anti-dilution provisions and certain other adjustments. Pursuant to the investment agreement, MatlinPatterson acquired 250,000 shares of our Convertible Participating Voting Preferred Stock, Series B (the “Investor Preferred Stock”), at a purchase price and liquidation preference of $1,000 per share and convertible into common stock at $0.80 per share. In addition, we issued 6,650,000 shares of our common stock (the “Investor Common Stock” and, together with the Investor Preferred Stock, the “Investor Securities”) to the Individual Investors at a price of $0.80 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $5.3 million. On January 30, 2009, the closing price of our common stock was $0.60 per share. We refer to the transaction pursuant to the TARP Capital Purchase Program as the “TARP transaction” and transactions contemplated by the investment agreement as the “equity investment transaction,” and we refer to the Treasury Preferred Stock and the Investor Preferred Stock collectively herein as the “Preferred Stock.”

 

In addition, we entered into a closing agreement (the “closing agreement”) dated as of January 30, 2009 with MatlinPatterson which, among other things, waived certain conditions to closing that had not been and could not be satisfied and which obligated MatlinPatterson to acquire subsequent to the closing of the equity investment transaction (i) an additional 50,000 shares of our Convertible Participating Voting Preferred Stock, Series B (the “Additional Investor Preferred Stock”) for $50 million and (ii) trust preferred securities (the “Trust Preferred Securities” and together with the Additional Investor Preferred Stock, the “Additional Investor Securities”) for $50 million. The Additional Investor Securities are convertible into shares of our common stock.

 

As a condition to our sale of the Investor Preferred Stock, we agreed to seek stockholder approval, at a meeting of stockholders, to amend our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (our “articles of incorporation”) to increase the number of our authorized shares of common stock to an amount that will allow for the conversion of the Investor Preferred Stock, to delete the requirement to divide our Board into two classes of directors, to opt out of Chapter 7B of the Michigan Business Corporation Act (the “MBCA”), which Chapter had previously been rescinded from the Act and to amend our 2006 Equity Incentive Plan These proposals are contained in this Proxy Statement (Proposals 2, 3, 4 and 11) and are sometimes referred to herein as the “Investor Proposals.” In addition, we are seeking stockholder approval of Proposal 2, as well as Proposal 5, required by the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), allowing for the full exercise of the Treasury Warrant. Moreover, as a condition to obtaining waivers from certain investors (the “May Investors”) in our May 2008 private placement capital raise relating to the anti-dilution provisions applicable to them, we are required by the rules of the NYSE to seek stockholder approval allowing for the full exercise of the common stock warrants (the “May Investor Warrants”) that we granted to the May Investors in connection with obtaining those waivers and we are doing so through Proposal 6. We are also seeking, at the direction of the Board, approval of amendments to our articles of incorporation to provide for majority voting for the election of directors in non-contested elections (Proposal 7) and to reduce the vote required by directors to amend our bylaws (Proposal 8). Lastly, we are seeking an advisory vote on our executive pay-for-performance compensation (Proposal 10).

 

Accordingly, the Board is providing these proxy materials to you in connection with the Annual Meeting to be held on May 26, 2009. As a stockholder of record of our common stock on the Record Date, you are invited to attend the Annual Meeting and are entitled and requested to vote on the items of business described in this Proxy Statement. In addition to the proposals discussed above, you will be voting on the election of ten members to our Board and the ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accountants. Pursuant to the Michigan Business Corporation Act, holders of the Preferred Stock are also receiving these proxy materials. Holders of the Treasury Preferred Stock are not entitled to vote those shares with respect to these proposals, but the holder of the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock is entitled to vote those shares on an as-converted basis (i.e. equal to 375 million shares of common stock) with respect to these proposals together with the holders of our common stock. Many of our directors and officers as well as representatives of Virchow, Krause & Company, LLP, our independent registered public accountants for 2008, will be present to respond to questions that you may have.

 

See “BACKGROUND TO CERTAIN OF THE PROPOSALS” for more information relating to the TARP transaction and the equity investment transaction.

 

Only holders of record of the common stock, the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock at the close of business on April 7, 2009 (the “Record Date”) will be entitled to notice of and vote at the Annual Meeting.

 

This information relates to the proposals to be voted on at the Annual Meeting, compensation of our directors and senior executive officers, the voting process and certain other information required to be disclosed in this Proxy Statement.

 

The Board is soliciting your vote at the Annual Meeting. In addition, certain of our officers and employees may solicit, or be deemed to be soliciting, your vote.

 

As of the Record Date, we had 90,380,043 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote. In addition, the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock are entitled to vote on an as-converted basis together with our common stock on all matters on which our common stock is entitled to vote unless otherwise required by Michigan law. For voting purposes, the Investor Preferred Stock and Additional Investor Preferred Stock shall be entitled to an aggregate number of votes equal to 375 million shares of common stock. Our common stock outstanding on the Record Date and our common stock deemed issuable upon conversion of our Investor Preferred Stock and Additional Investor Preferred Stock are sometimes referred to collectively herein as our “voting stock.” Each outstanding share of voting stock will be entitled to one vote on each matter to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting. For information regarding security ownership by the beneficial owners of more than 5% of our voting stock and by management, see “SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS” and “SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT.”

 

You are voting on the following matters:

 

1. to elect ten directors to the Board. Our nominees are Walter N. Carter, James D. Coleman Gregory Eng, Lesley Goldwasser, Mark T. Hammond, Jay J. Hansen, David J. Matlin, Mark Patterson, B. Brian Tauber, and David L. Treadwell. Each will serve a term of two years. No other nominations have been received;

 

2. to amend our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock from 150,000,000 shares to 750,000,000 shares, as the number of common stock currently authorized is insufficient to provide for the conversion of the May Investor Warrants, the Treasury Warrant, the Investor Securities and the Additional Investor Securities (all of which are described in greater detail herein);

 

3. to amend our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to revise Article IX(B) thereof to delete the requirement to divide our Board into two classes of directors;

 

4. to amend our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to delete references to Chapter 7B of the MBCA, which has been rescinded by the Michigan legislature;

 

5. to approve the issuance of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Treasury Warrant;

 

6. to approve the issuance of common stock issuable upon exercise of the May Investor Warrants, which were issued in connection with amendments to the Purchase Agreement dated May 14, 2008;

 

7. to amend our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to require majority voting for the election of directors in non-contested elections;

8. to amend our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to reduce, to a majority of the Board, the vote required by directors to adopt, repeal, alter, amend and rescind our bylaws;

 

9. to ratify the appointment of Virchow, Krause & Company, LLP as our independent registered public accountants for the year ending December 31, 2009;

 

10. to consider and approve an advisory (non-binding) proposal relating to the executive pay-for-performance compensation employed by us; and

 

11. to approve amendments to our 2006 Equity Incentive Plan to increase the maximum number of shares available for awards and to increase the individual award limits.

 

You will also be entitled to vote on any other business that properly comes before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof.

 

We issued a total of 266,657 shares of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C (the “Treasury Preferred Stock”), and we also issued a warrant to purchase 64,513,790 shares of our common stock (the “Treasury Warrant”) in the TARP transaction. The Treasury Preferred Stock, which is not convertible into our common stock, has a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, and the Treasury Warrant is exercisable at $0.62 per share, subject to anti-dilution provisions and certain other adjustments.

 

We issued a total of 250,000 shares of Investor Preferred Stock and a total of 6,650,000 shares of common stock in the equity investment transaction. The Investor Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share and is automatically convertible, subject to anti-dilution provisions, into 312,500,000 shares of our common stock, based on a conversion price of $0.80 per share of common stock, upon receipt of stockholder approval of Proposal 2.

 

Pursuant to the closing agreement, we issued a total of 50,000 shares of our Additional Investor Preferred Stock and expect to issue 50,000 shares of our Trust Preferred Securities in the future. The Additional Investor Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share and will automatically convert, subject to anti-dilution provisions, into 62,500,000 shares of our common stock, based on a conversion price of $0.80 per share of common stock, upon receipt of stockholder approval of Proposal 2. The Trust Preferred Securities will have an aggregate liquidation preference of $50 million and, subject to stockholder approval of Proposal 2, will be convertible into shares of our common stock, in whole or in part, at the option of the holder on April 1, 2010 at a conversion price equal to 90% of the volume-weighted average price per share of our common stock during the period from February 1, 2009 to April 1, 2010, subject to a per share conversion price minimum of $0.80 and maximum of $2.00.

 

Upon receipt of stockholder approval of Proposal 2, each share of Investor Preferred Stock and Additional Investor Preferred Stock will automatically convert into a number of shares of common stock determined by dividing (i) $1,000 (the purchase price per share of the Investor Preferred Stock and of the Additional Investor Preferred Stock) by (ii) the conversion price of the Preferred Stock then in effect, subject to certain adjustments. For example, the initial conversion price of the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock is $0.80 per share, which would result in an initial conversion rate of 1,250 shares of common stock for each share of Investor Preferred Stock or Additional Investor Preferred Stock.

 

Our Board is seeking stockholder approval of Proposals 2, 3, 4 and 11 in order to fulfill the requirements of the investment agreement and the closing agreement. Proposal 2 authorizes sufficient common stock to provide for the conversion of the Investor Securities and the Additional Investor Securities and, should they be exercised, the May Investor Warrants and the Treasury Warrant. The number of shares of common stock currently authorized is 150,000,000, which is insufficient to provide for the conversion of the Investor Securities and the Additional Investor Securities and, should they be exercised, the May Investor Warrants and the Treasury Warrant Proposals 3 and 4 effect corporate governance changes required under the investment agreement. With respect to Proposal 11, we are required to receive stockholder approval pursuant to Section 312.03 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual (the “NYSE Manual”), because we are increasing the number shares of common stock issuable under and otherwise materially amending the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

With respect to Proposals 5 and 6, Section 312.03 of the NYSE Manual requires stockholder approval prior to any issuance or sale of common stock, or securities convertible into or exercisable for common stock, in any transaction or series of transactions (i) if the common stock to be issued has, or will have upon issuance, voting power equal to 20% or more of the voting power outstanding before the issuance, or (ii) if the number of shares of common stock to be issued is, or will be upon issuance, equal to 20% or more of the number of shares of common stock outstanding before the issuance. The exercise of each of the Treasury Warrant and the May Investor Warrants falls under this rule because the aggregate amount of shares of common stock to be issued upon conversion of (i) the Treasury Warrant or (ii) the May Investor Warrants combined with the common stock issued to the May Investors in the May 2008 private placement, will exceed 20% of both the voting power and number of shares of our common stock outstanding before either such issuance.

 

Our Board is seeking stockholder approval of (i) Proposal 7 to provide stockholders a more meaningful role in the election of our directors and (ii) Proposal 8 to provide greater flexibility to our Board in adopting, repealing, altering, amending and rescinding the provisions of our bylaws. Our Board is seeking approval of Proposal 10 as required by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The remaining proposals are being submitted at the direction of the Board.

 

If all stockholder approvals are received as noted above, there will be 750,000,000 shares of common stock authorized and 465,380,043 shares of common stock issued and outstanding, subject to issuance under the terms of the conversion features of the securities described.

 

The Board unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” each director nominee and “FOR” the approval of each of the proposals presented at this Annual Meeting.

 

In the current banking and credit environment, the Board determined that it would be necessary to seek significant equity capital in order to strengthen our capital ratios in light of the deteriorating conditions in the U.S. housing and credit markets and resulting elevated credit losses in our loan portfolio. The Board also concluded that in light of a variety of factors, including the weakening economy, increasing loan delinquencies, and capital markets volatility, it was important that we raise additional equity promptly and with a high degree of certainty of completion. After exploring and considering a broad range of potential financings and other alternatives, the Board determined that the TARP Capital Purchase Program and the equity investment transaction were the only means readily available to address our capital needs on a timely basis and was in the best interests of our stockholders. Accordingly, the Board unanimously recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” all of the proposals related to the TARP Capital Purchase Program and the equity investment transactions, as well as the other proposals set forth herein.

 

If, with respect to the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock, Proposal 2 is approved at the Annual Meeting, each share of Investor Preferred Stock and each share of Additional Investor Preferred Stock will automatically convert into the number of shares of common stock equal to $1,000 divided by the then-applicable conversion price (currently, $0.80 per share). Upon the conversion, all rights with respect to the Investor Preferred Stock and Additional Investor Preferred Stock will terminate and all shares of Investor Preferred Stock and Additional Investor Preferred Stock will be cancelled.

 

If Proposal 3 is approved, then beginning in 2010, each director nominee will be elected for one-year terms instead of two-year terms as currently provided. If Proposal 4 is approved, we will delete all references to Chapter 7B of the MBCA relating to “control share acquisitions” in our articles of incorporation. If Proposals 5 and 6, as well as Proposal 2, are approved at the Annual Meeting, the holders of the Treasury Warrant and the May Warrants will be entitled to exercise their warrants to purchase shares of our common stock at a price of $0.62 per share If Proposal 7 is approved, our directors may only be elected in the future by a majority vote of stockholders in non-contested elections; and if Proposal 8 is approved, a vote by only the majority of our directors will be required to adopt, repeal, alter, amend and rescind our bylaws. If Proposal 9 is ratified, we may retain Virchow, Krause & Company, LLC as our independent registered public accountants for the year ended December 31, 2009. If Proposal 10, which is an advisory vote only, is approved, our Compensation Committee will consider the vote in determining the compensation of our executives in the future. If Proposal 11 is approved, additional shares of common stock will be issuable under the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan and the individual plan limits will be increased.

 

If stockholder approval of Proposal 2 is not received at the Annual Meeting, the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock will remain outstanding in accordance with their terms and continue to rank senior to our common stock unless our stockholders approve similar proposals at a subsequent meeting. Moreover, if stockholder approval of Proposal 2 is not received by July 30, 2009, the exercise price of the Treasury Warrant will be reduced. We have agreed, pursuant to the investment agreement with MatlinPatterson and the securities purchase agreement with Treasury, to continue to seek to obtain stockholder approval until such approval of all the Investor Proposals is obtained. If Proposal 3 is not approved, the Board will continue to be classified and directors will continue to be elected for two-year terms. If Proposal 4 is not approved, we will continue to be subject to Chapter 7B of the MBCA relating to “control share acquisitions” as was in effect on the date of filing the articles of incorporation relating thereto (February 11, 1997).

 

If Proposal 5 or Proposal 6 is not approved at the Annual Meeting, the holders of the Treasury Warrant and May Warrants, as the case may be, will not be entitled to exercise their warrants. In addition, if stockholder approval of Proposal 5 is not received by July 30, 2009, the exercise price of the Treasury Warrant will be reduced. However, we have agreed, pursuant to the provisions of the Treasury Warrant (i.e, the securities purchase agreement with Treasury) and the May Warrants, to continue to seek to obtain stockholder approval until stockholder approval of Proposals 5 and 6 is obtained. If Proposal 7 is not approved, we will continue to elect our directors by a plurality of votes cast at the meetings set for their election. If Proposal 8 is not approved, we will continue to require a two-thirds vote of our directors to approve any changes to our bylaws proposed by the Board. If Proposal 9 is not ratified, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether to retain our independent registered public accountants for the year ended December 31, 2009. If Proposal 10 is not approved, our Compensation Committee will consider vote in determining the compensation of our executives in the future. If Proposal 11 is not approved, we have agreed, pursuant to the provisions of the investment agreement, to continue to seek to obtain stockholder approval until stockholder approval of Proposal 11 is obtained.

 

All of the Investors, who own or control approximately 84% of our voting stock and approximately 29% of our outstanding common stock on the Record Date, have indicated their intention to vote in favor of all

proposals for which they are entitled to vote, thereby assuring approval of the proposals except with respect to Proposal 2. Proposal 2 requires the affirmative vote of both a majority of our voting stock and a majority of our common stock, because Michigan law requires that the shares of a class, such as common stock, vote in favor of an increase in the aggregate number of authorized shares of such class. Failure to vote, broker non-votes and abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against this proposal.

 

In addition, pursuant to the investment agreement, MatlinPatterson is required to vote in favor of the Investor Proposals.

 

Quorum Requirement:  Michigan law and our bylaws provides that a quorum be present to allow any stockholder action at a meeting. A quorum consists of a majority of all of our outstanding voting stock that is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Therefore, at the Annual Meeting, the presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of at least 232,690,022 shares of our voting stock will be required to establish a quorum. Stockholders of record who are present at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy, but who abstain from voting are still counted towards the establishment of a quorum. This will include brokers holding customers’ shares of record even though they may abstain from certain votes.

 

Required Vote:

 

1. Proposal 1:

 

The ten nominees who receive the greatest number of votes cast for directors will be elected. There is no cumulative voting allowed on our director nominees.

 

2. Proposal 2:

 

This proposal will be approved if greater than a majority of the shares of both voting stock and common stock outstanding as of the Record Date are cast for it. Approval of a majority of our common stock is required, because Michigan law requires that the shares of a class vote in favor of an increase in the aggregate number of authorized shares of such class. Failure to vote, broker non-votes and abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against this proposal.

 

3. Proposals 3, 4, 7, and 8:

 

Each of these proposals will be approved if greater than a majority of the shares of voting stock outstanding as of the Record Date are cast for it. Failure to vote, broker non-votes and abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against these proposals.

 

4. Proposals 5, 6, 9, 10, and 11:

 

Each of these proposals will be approved if greater than a majority of the shares of voting stock represented at the Annual Meeting, either in person or by proxy, entitled to vote are cast for it. Failure to vote and broker non-votes will have no effect because these shares will not be considered shares entitled to vote and therefore will not be counted as votes for or against. However, abstentions will have the same effect as voting against the approval of these proposals.

 

If you hold your shares in “street name” through a broker or other nominee, whether the broker may vote your shares in its discretion depends on the proposals before the meeting. Under the rules of the NYSE, your broker may vote your shares in its discretion on “routine matters.” For example, election of directors and ratification of independent registered public accountants are currently considered routine matters. Proposals that are considered “non-routine” cannot be voted unless you specifically instruct your broker. The proposals being presented at the Annual Meeting are “non-routine matters” except Proposals 1 and 9. Accordingly, if your broker has not received your voting instructions with respect to these non-routine proposals, your broker cannot vote your shares on those proposals. This is referred to as a “broker non-vote.”

 

If you are the stockholder of record:  You may vote by one of the following methods:

 

1. in person at the Annual Meeting; or

 

2. by mail by completing the proxy card and returning it.

 

Whichever method you use, the proxies identified on the proxy card will vote the shares of which you are the stockholder of record in accordance with your instructions. If you submit a signed proxy card without giving specific voting instructions, the proxies will vote the shares as recommended by the Board.

 

If you own your shares in “street name,” that is, through a brokerage account or in another nominee form:  You must provide instructions to the broker or nominee as to how your shares should be voted. Brokers do not have the discretion to vote on the proposals considered “non-routine” and will only vote on such proposals at the direction of the underlying beneficial owners of the shares of voting stock. Accordingly, if you do not instruct your broker to vote your shares, your broker will not have the discretion to vote your shares. Your broker or nominee will usually provide you with the appropriate instruction forms at the time you receive this Proxy Statement. If you own your shares in this manner, you cannot vote in person at the Annual Meeting unless you receive a proxy to do so from the broker or the nominee, and you bring the proxy to the Annual Meeting.

 

If you are the record owner of your shares, you may revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the Annual Meeting by:

 

1. submitting a new proxy card bearing a later date;

 

2. delivering written notice to our Secretary prior to May 26, 2009, stating that you are revoking your proxy; or

 

3. attending the Annual Meeting and voting your shares in person.

 

If your shares are held in street name and you have instructed a broker, bank or other nominee to vote your shares of voting stock, you may revoke those instructions by following the directions received from your broker, bank or other nominee to change those instructions.

 

Please note that your attendance at the Annual Meeting will not, by itself, constitute revocation of your proxy.

 

We will bear the cost of preparing, printing and mailing the materials in connection with this solicitation of proxies. In addition to mailing these materials, our officers and regular employees may, without being additionally compensated, solicit proxies personally and by mail, telephone, facsimile or electronic communication. We usually reimburse banks and brokers for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners of stock or otherwise in connection with this solicitation.

 

Matthew I. Roslin and Mary Kay Ruedisueli, our inspectors of election for the Annual Meeting, will receive and tabulate the ballots and voting instruction forms.

 

Your proxy will still be effective and may be voted at the postponed meeting. You will still be able to change or revoke your proxy until it is voted.

 

Your proxy confers discretionary authority on the persons named therein to vote with respect to the election of any person as a director where the nominee is unable to serve or for good cause will not serve, with respect to matters incident to the conduct of the Annual Meeting and with respect to any other matter presented to the Annual Meeting if notice of such matter has not been delivered to us in accordance with the articles of incorporation. For more information on submitting matters to us, see “STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 2010 ANNUAL MEETING” herein. If any other matters are properly brought before the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the proxy will vote the shares represented by such proxies on such matters as determined by a majority of the Board. Except for procedural matters incident to the conduct of the Annual Meeting, we do not know of any other matters that are to come before the Annual Meeting.

 

This Proxy Statement and the documents incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business and these statements are subject to risk and uncertainty. Forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, include those using words or phrases such as “believes,” “assumes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “trend,” “objective,” “continue,” “remain,” “pattern” or similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “might,” “can,” “may” or similar expressions.

 

There are a number of important factors that could cause future results to differ materially from historical performance and these forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, including: (1) our business has been and may continue to be adversely affected by conditions in the global financial markets and economic conditions generally; (2) general business, economic and political conditions may significantly affect our earnings; (3) we depend on our institutional counterparties to provide services that are critical to our business. If one or more of our institutional counterparties defaults on its obligations to us or becomes insolvent, it could have a material adverse affect our earnings, liquidity, capital position and financial condition; (4) defaults by another larger financial institution could adversely affect financial markets generally; (5) if we cannot effectively manage the impact of the volatility of interest rates our earnings could be adversely affected; (6) the value of our mortgage servicing rights could decline with reduction in interest rates; (7) certain hedging strategies that we use to manage our investment in mortgage servicing rights may be ineffective to offset any adverse changes in the fair value of these assets due to changes in interest rates; (8) we use estimates in determining the fair value of certain of our assets, which estimates may prove to be incorrect and result in significant declines in valuation; (9) changes in the fair value or ratings downgrades of our securities may reduce our stockholders’ equity, net earnings, or regulatory capital ratios; (10) current and further deterioration in the housing and commercial real estate markets may lead to increased loss severities and further increases in delinquencies and non-performing assets in our loan portfolios. Additionally, the performance of our standby and commercial letters of credit may be adversely affected as well. Consequently, our allowance for loan losses and guarantee liability may not be adequate to cover actual losses, and we may be required to materially increase our reserves; (11) our secondary market reserve for losses could be insufficient; (12) our home lending profitability could be significantly reduced if we are not able to resell mortgages; (13) our commercial real estate and commercial business loan portfolios carry heightened credit risk; (14) our ability to borrow funds, maintain or increase deposits or raise capital could be limited, which could adversely affect our liquidity and earnings; (15) our inability to realize our deferred tax assets may have a material adverse affect on our consolidated results of operations and our financial condition; (16) we may be required to raise capital at terms that are materially adverse to our stockholders; (17) our holding company is dependent on the Bank for funding of obligations and dividends; (18) future dividend payments and common stock repurchases are restricted by the terms of the Treasury’s equity investment in us; (19) we may not be able to replace key members of senior management or attract and retain qualified relationship managers in the future; (20) the network and computer systems on

which we depend could fail or experience a security breach; (21) our business is highly regulated; (22) our business has volatile earnings because it operates based on a multi-year cycle; (23) our loans are geographically concentrated in only a few states; (24) we are subject to heightened regulatory scrutiny with respect to bank secrecy and anti-money laundering statutes and regulations; and (25) we are a controlled company that is exempt from certain NYSE corporate governance requirements.

 

We do not undertake, and specifically disclaim any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

 

In September 2008, our Board determined that it would be necessary to seek significant additional capital in order to maintain our capital ratios at well above previous target levels, to address asset quality and liquidity challenges posed by continuing disruptions in the credit and housing markets, and to continue investing in our core businesses. Our Board also concluded that in light of a variety of factors, including capital markets volatility and general economic uncertainties, it was important that any process to raise additional common equity be executed promptly and with a high degree of certainty of completion.

 

At the direction of the Board, management began exploring its ability to raise additional capital. In October 2008, management met with a number of financial advisors, and, on October 14, 2008, engaged Keefe, Bruyette and Woods to act as our financial advisor. Also, on October 14, 2008, the United States Department of the Treasury announced the TARP Capital Purchase Program. With our financial advisor, we began exploring possible strategic and capital raise transaction options. As part of this process, our financial advisor made initial approaches to private equity and other investors (including MatlinPatterson) regarding a potential equity investment in us. These investors were selected based on their financial ability and likely level of interest in completing a transaction with us in the time frame that we required. Confidentiality agreements were executed by nineteen of these potential investors, and each of the investors commenced preliminary due diligence. After conducting preliminary due diligence, sixteen of the investors met in person or by telephone with our financial advisors, and, after such meetings, four of the investors met in person or by telephone with management. After the meetings with management, we believed that MatlinPatterson was the only party capable of moving forward with the capital raising process in the time frame required.

 

In addition to our pursuit of private equity capital, on October 24, 2008, we filed an application to participate in the TARP Capital Purchase Program with our primary regulator, the Office of Thrift Supervision (the “OTS”). During the following weeks, we worked diligently to provide the OTS with the information necessary to support our application. However, in November 2008, based on informal discussions with the OTS and on market events, management believed that the acceptance of our application for participation in the TARP Capital Purchase Program would be materially enhanced by the execution of a definitive agreement with a private equity investor. As a result, we worked diligently to finalize an agreement with MatlinPatterson pursuant to which we would sell equity securities in an aggregate dollar amount approximating the aggregate dollar amount of the equity securities that we proposed to sell under the TARP Capital Purchase Program. On December 17, 2008, we entered into the investment agreement with MatlinPatterson. Upon execution of the investment agreement, we submitted a copy to the OTS for consideration in connection with our application for participation in the TARP Capital Purchase Program.

 

Pursuant to the investment agreement, we agreed to issue to MatlinPatterson 250,000 shares of the Investor Preferred Stock at a purchase price and liquidation preference of $1,000 per share based upon a conversion stock price of $0.80 per share of common stock. This issuance would result in MatlinPatterson having control of approximately 70% of our common stock on a fully-diluted basis. In addition, as a condition of closing under the investment agreement, on January 30, 2009, we entered into separate subscription agreements with each of Thomas J. Hammond, our Chairman, Mark T. Hammond, our Vice-Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and other members of senior management and the Board to issue $5.3 million shares of our common stock at a price of $0.80 per share.

 

As a further condition to closing the equity investment transaction, we were required to apply for and did receive an exception from the NYSE stockholder approval requirements that usually apply to change-in-control transactions. Paragraph 312.03 of the NYSE Manual provides that stockholder approval is required prior to issuing stock in a transaction that would, among other things, constitute a change in control, as is the case with the equity investment transaction, since MatlinPatterson would then control approximately 70% of our outstanding voting power on a fully-diluted basis. However, Paragraph 312.05 of the NYSE Manual provides that the NYSE may make an exception if the delay in securing stockholder approval would seriously jeopardize the financial viability of the affiliated company and if our reliance on this exception is expressly approved by the audit committee of the Board. At a meeting on December 16, 2008, our audit committee reached this conclusion after considering factors specific to us and factors of general applicability, such as the highly uncertain economic, financial and political environment and the experience of other financial institutions. The audit committee believed that without the immediate receipt of additional capital, rather than awaiting stockholder approval, significant disruption to our operations could result as our business model is reliant on selling assets, hedging interest rate risk and obtaining funding from counterparties, including the government sponsored entities, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis and certain depositors and other customers, who are increasingly seeking to do business with financial institutions operating at enhanced capital levels due to the uncertainty in the current marketplace. Further, our audit committee believed that the immediate receipt of private equity capital would enhance our position with banking regulators and the Treasury in connection with our application to participate in the TARP Capital Purchase Program. The Board concurred with the determination of the audit committee.

 

On December 31, 2008, we were notified by the NYSE that it had approved our application for an exception from the NYSE stockholder approval requirements. Also, on December 31, 2008, we were notified that, effective on December 19, 2008, we received preliminary approval from Treasury to issue 266,657 shares of Treasury Preferred Stock at a purchase price and liquidation preference of $1,000 per share. As a condition of the Preliminary Approval, we were required to raise an aggregate of not less than $250 million of private capital prior to the closing of the TARP transaction, which we accomplished pursuant to the investment agreement. Pursuant to the TARP transaction, we were also required to issue the Treasury Warrant to purchase 64,513,790 shares of common stock at a price per share of $0.62. Further, in anticipation of the preliminary approval and in full satisfaction of the May Investors’ anti-dilutions protections, we agreed with the May Investors to issue to them the May Investors Warrants on December 16 and 17, 2008, upon the consummation of the TARP transaction. Under the May Investor Warrants, the May Investors are entitled to purchase 14,259,794 shares of common stock at a price of $0.62 per share.

 

On January 29, 2009, MatlinPatterson received the OTS approvals necessary to close the equity investment transaction, and the closing of the TARP transaction and the equity investment transaction occurred on January 30, 2009 (the “Closing”). Also on January 30, 2009, we entered into the closing agreement with MatlinPatterson to waive certain closing conditions and which obligated MatlinPatterson to acquire, subject to customary terms and conditions, the Additional Investor Securities for $100 million.

 

The shares of Treasury Preferred Stock, Investor Preferred Stock and common stock issued and sold to the Individual Investors, and the Additional Investor Securities, were issued from our authorized share capital, and stockholders are not being asked to vote upon the issuance and sale of those securities. However, stockholders are voting on an increase in the number of our authorized shares of common stock in order to permit (i) the automatic conversion of the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Securities into shares of our common stock and (ii) the full exercise of the Treasury Warrant, the May Investor Warrants and the Trust Preferred Securities.

 

Pursuant to the TARP transaction and the equity investment transaction, we received aggregate consideration of $523 million, and pursuant to the closing agreement, we received further consideration of $50 million in February 2009 and expect to receive the remaining $50 million in the near future upon the closing of the Trust Preferred Securities transaction. Of the initial aggregate consideration of $523 million, we contributed $475 million of the proceeds to the Bank, our principal thrift subsidiary, as additional capital. Of the additional consideration of $50 million received to date, we contributed $50 million of the proceeds to the Bank as additional capital. With respect to the Trust Preferred Securities transaction, we will determine the actual use

of proceeds upon closing. We retained the remaining net proceeds from the transactions, which we intend to use, on a consolidated basis, to enhance the capital ratios of the Company and provide for payment of dividends on the Treasury Preferred Stock and other long-term obligations, as well as for general corporate purposes. As set forth under the heading “PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION” below, we have used the funds from the closed transactions to meet the growing demands of consumers for single-family residential mortgages, which are included in our mortgage loans available for sale portfolio until sold into the secondary market. Further, we have assumed that the proceeds from the Trust Preferred Securities transaction will initially be invested in agency securities, such as those issued by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

 

 

On October 14, 2008, Treasury announced the creation of the TARP Capital Purchase Program. This program encourages U.S. financial institutions to build capital to increase the flow of financing to U.S. businesses and consumers and to support the U.S. economy. Under the program, Treasury has and will purchase shares of senior preferred stock from qualifying banks, bank holding companies and other financial institutions.

 

Under the TARP Capital Purchase Program, eligible financial institutions can generally apply to issue senior preferred shares to the Treasury in aggregate amounts between 1% and 3% of the institution’s risk-weighted assets, up to a maximum of $25 billion. We received preliminary approval of our application from Treasury on December 19, 2008 in the amount of approximately $266.6 million and closed the TARP transaction on January 30, 2009. The following sections describe the securities issued by us to Treasury pursuant to the TARP Capital Purchase Program which are consistent with the general parameters to the program. Stockholders can find a copy of the Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of January 30, 2009 that we entered into with Treasury pursuant to the TARP Capital Purchase Program and further information about the TARP transaction, including the Treasury Certificate of Designations, in our Current Report on Form 8-K that was filed with the SEC on February 2, 2009. For information about accessing this Current Report on Form 8-K and other information that we file with the SEC, see “WHERE CAN YOU FIND MORE INFORMATION” below.

 

 

The following is a summary of the material terms and provisions of the preferences, limitations, voting powers and relative rights of the Treasury Preferred Stock as contained in the Certificate of Designations relating to the Treasury Preferred Stock that we filed with the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth on January 28, 2009 (the “Treasury Certificate of Designations”), and the Treasury Warrant. This summary of the Treasury Certificate of Designations and the Treasury Warrant does not purport to be a complete description of all of their terms. Stockholders are urged to read the Treasury Certificate of Designations relating to the Treasury Preferred Stock and the Treasury Warrant in their entirety.

 

Terms of the Investment.  Under the TARP transaction, Treasury purchased 266,657 shares of our Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C, liquidation amount $1,000 per share, from us (i.e., the Treasury Preferred Stock) for approximately $266.6 million and received warrants (i.e., the Treasury Warrant) to purchase 64,513,790 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.62 per share, subject to anti-dilution provisions and certain other adjustments.

 

Capital Treatment.  The Treasury Preferred Stock qualifies as Tier 1 capital for regulatory purposes.

 

Rank of Treasury Preferred Stock.  The Treasury Preferred Stock will rank senior to common stock and at an equal level in the capital structure with any existing preferred shares other than preferred shares that by their terms rank junior to any other existing preferred shares. The Investor Preferred Stock is junior to the Treasury Preferred Stock.

 

Dividends.  The Treasury Preferred Stock will receive a cumulative dividend rate of 5% per annum for the first five years they are outstanding and thereafter at a rate of 9% per annum. The dividend will be payable quarterly in arrears.

Voting.  The Treasury Preferred Stock is non-voting, other than voting rights as required by law and class voting rights on certain matters that could adversely affect the shares and including:

 

 

If dividends on the Treasury Preferred Stock are not paid in full for six dividend periods, whether or not consecutive, the Treasury Preferred Stock will have the right to elect two directors. The right to elect directors will end when all accrued but unpaid dividends for all past dividend periods on all outstanding shares of Treasury Preferred Stock have been declared and paid in full.

 

Redemption.  By its terms, the Treasury Preferred Stock is callable by us at par (100% of the issue price of $1,000 per share) plus accrued and unpaid dividends after three years. As initially designed, the Treasury Preferred Stock could only be redeemed at par with the proceeds from one or more qualifying equity offerings of Tier 1 perpetual preferred stock or common stock, resulting in aggregate gross proceeds of not less than $66,664,250 from one or more qualified equity offerings. The equity investment transaction is not a qualifying equity offering for this purpose. However, subsequent to our issuance of the Treasury Preferred Stock and pursuant to the Recovery Act (as defined below), we are now permitted to repay any TARP funds without regard to whether we have received replacement funds and to any waiting period.

 

Transfer.  Treasury may transfer the Treasury Preferred Stock to a third party at any time.

 

Issuance of Common Stock Warrants.  In conjunction with the sale of Treasury Preferred Stock, we issued the Treasury Warrant to purchase 64,513,790 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.62 per share. If stockholder approval of either Proposal 2 or Proposal 5 is not received by July 30, 2009, the exercise price of the Treasury Warrant will be reduced by $0.09 per share, and will be further reduced by $0.09 per share on each six-month anniversary thereafter until stockholder approval has been obtained, subject to a maximum reduction of $0.28 per share. The initial exercise price on the Treasury Warrant, and the market price for determining the number of shares of common stock subject to the Treasury Warrant, was calculated on a 20-trading-day trailing average prior to the date of receipt of preliminary Treasury approval. The warrant is subject to anti-dilution adjustments and has a 10-year term.

 

Treasury has agreed not to exercise voting power with respect to any shares of common stock that it acquires upon exercise of the Treasury Warrant.

 

Registration Rights.  We are required to file a “shelf” registration statement covering the Treasury Preferred Stock, the Treasury Warrant and the common stock underlying the Treasury Warrant with the SEC as promptly as practicable after the date of the investment and are required to take all action required to cause the shelf registration statement to be declared effective as soon as possible unless we are not eligible to file a registration statement on Form S-3. In that case, we will only be required to file the shelf registration statement upon Treasury request.

 

We also granted to the Treasury “piggyback” registration rights for the Treasury Preferred Stock, the Treasury Warrant and the common stock underlying the Treasury Warrant, which gives Treasury the right to have these securities included in a registration statement we may later file with the SEC for other securities, subject to certain conditions. We are also required to take such other steps as may be reasonably requested to facilitate the transfer of the Treasury Preferred Stock, the Treasury Warrant and the common stock underlying the Treasury Warrant.

 

We will be required to list the common stock underlying the Treasury Warrant for trading on the NYSE and may, if requested by the Treasury, be required to apply for such listing for the Treasury Preferred Stock.

Executive Compensation.  To participate in the TARP Capital Purchase Program, we were required to meet standards related to executive compensation and corporate governance during the period in which Treasury holds securities issued under the TARP Capital Purchase Program, including:

 

 

 

 

To ensure compliance with the executive compensation limitations imposed by the TARP Capital Purchase Program, we have entered into agreements with our senior executive officers who are subject to these limitations. The agreements document each executive’s agreement to, among other things, “clawback” provisions relating to the repayment of incentive compensation based on materially inaccurate financial statements or performance metrics and limitations on certain post-termination “parachute” payments. A form of the agreement was included as Exhibit 10.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 2, 2009.

 

Subsequent to the closing of the TARP transaction on January 30, 2009, as a result of the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the “Recovery Act”) in February 2009, the executive compensation restrictions set forth above will apply to the senior executive officers and may apply to certain non-executive officers. In addition, the Recovery Act added the additional executive compensation restrictions discussed under the “COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS — The Impact of Current Treasury Programs and New Federal Legislation on Executive Compensation” in this Proxy Statement.

 

Restrictions on Dividends and Repurchases.  For as long as any Treasury Preferred Stock remains outstanding, no dividends may be declared or paid on junior preferred stock, preferred stock ranking pari passu with the Treasury Preferred Stock, or common stock (other than in the case of pari passu preferred shares, dividends on a pro rata basis with the Treasury Preferred Stock), nor may we repurchase or redeem any junior preferred stock, preferred stock ranking pari passu with the Treasury Preferred Stock or common stock, unless all accrued and unpaid dividends for all past dividend periods on the Treasury Preferred Stock are fully paid.

 

In addition, Treasury’s consent will be required for any increase in the per share dividend amount on our common stock until the third anniversary of the date of the Treasury Preferred Stock investment unless prior to such third anniversary, the Treasury Preferred Stock is redeemed in whole or the Treasury has transferred all of the Treasury Preferred Stock to third parties.

 

Treasury’s consent will be required for certain equity and trust preferred securities repurchases until the third anniversary of the date of this investment unless prior to such third anniversary either the Treasury Preferred Stock issued to the Treasury is redeemed in whole or the Treasury has transferred all of the Treasury Preferred Stock to third parties.

 

As described above, MatlinPatterson entered into the investment agreement with us to purchase the Investor Preferred Stock. MatlinPatterson is an entity formed by MP (Thrift) Global Partners III LLC, an affiliate of MatlinPatterson Global Advisers LLC. Certain terms and conditions of the investment agreement are described below. However, this description of the investment agreement is a summary of the material terms of such agreement and does not purport to be a complete description of all of the terms of such agreement. Stockholders can find a copy of the investment agreement and further information about the equity investment

transaction, including the Investor Certificate of Designations, in our Current Reports on Form 8-K that we filed with the SEC on December 17, 2008 and February 2, 2009. For more information about accessing this Current Report on Form 8-K and the other information we file with the SEC, see “WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION” below.

 

We made customary representations and warranties to MatlinPatterson relating to us, our business and the issuance of the Preferred Stock and agreed to indemnify MatlinPatterson for breaches of our representations and warranties in certain circumstances. These provisions do not apply to the Individual Investors. MatlinPatterson made customary representations and warranties to us about it and its compliance with the securities laws.

 

We agreed in the investment agreement, among other things, (i) to issue and sell to the Individual Investors, shares of our common stock for an aggregate purchase price of not less than $4 million and not more than $5 million (subsequently amended to $5.3 million pursuant to the closing agreement) at a price per share of $0.80; and (ii) to make an application to Treasury for the TARP Capital Purchase Program.

 

Pursuant to the investment agreement, MatlinPatterson acquired the Investor Preferred Stock which is automatically convertible into 312,500,000 shares of our common stock upon stockholder approval of Proposal 2. Upon such conversion, MatlinPatterson will own approximately 80% of our common stock on a non-diluted basis which will give it the power to control our affairs and operations, although our executive officers are currently expected to remain unchanged. In addition, as described below, pursuant to the closing agreement, MatlinPatterson acquired the Additional Investor Preferred Stock that are convertible into an aggregate of 62,500,000 shares of our common stock. Further, MatlinPatterson has the ability to cast votes equal to the amount of common shares underlying the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock on an as-converted basis on all matters on which our common stock is entitled to vote unless otherwise required by Michigan law. As a result of the beneficial ownership of our common stock by MatlinPatterson, we have become a “controlled company” as defined in the NYSE Manual. A company that is considered a controlled company is exempt from the NYSE requirement to have a majority of directors be independent although the rules relating to independence of the audit committee and meetings of the independent directors are still applicable. Therefore, the right to nominate, elect and remove directors rests solely with the representatives of our controlling stockholder group, and our stockholders do not have all of the protections that these rules are intended to provide.

 

We understand solely from MatlinPatterson’s Form 13D filed with respect to the investment agreement that the funding for this transaction came primarily from investors in existing funds managed by MatlinPatterson Global Advisers LLC, namely, MatlinPatterson Global Opportunities Partners III L.P. and MatlinPatterson Global Opportunities Partners (Cayman) III L.P. These funds were used to purchase a 100% interest in MatlinPatterson, and MatlinPatterson, in turn, used the funds to consummate the transaction with us.

 

In addition, pursuant to the investment agreement, we were required to and did develop an operating plan with respect to the conduct of our business, which was reasonably satisfactory to MatlinPatterson, and we have agreed that we will cause such number of persons to be nominated to our Board that are designated by MatlinPatterson as will represent up to MatlinPatterson’s pro rata share of the common stock owned or deemed to be owned upon conversion of the Investor Preferred Stock to the total number of issued shares of common stock (including common stock deemed to be owned by conversion of the Investor Preferred Stock). Our Board appointed three directors designated by MatlinPatterson at the Closing of the equity investment, and our Board nominated an additional three directors designated by MatlinPatterson for election at the Annual

Meeting pending preliminary regulatory approval to serve at the Bank level. At this and subsequent annual meetings of stockholders, MatlinPatterson will continue to be entitled to designate nominees to the Board representing at least 80% of our directors, or such other percentage as is equivalent to the voting percentage that it then owns, but is not required to exercise that entitlement. Pursuant to OTS approval of the acquisition of the Investor Preferred Stock by MatlinPatterson, at least 40% of the directors of the Bank must be independent of us and MatlinPatterson. In addition, at least one of the Bank’s directors must be independent on the Bank. This entitlement to designate a pro rata share of Board representatives will continue so long as MatlinPatterson holds at least 10% of our voting power. MatlinPatterson is also entitled to appoint two observers to the Board who are reasonably acceptable to the Board.

 

The remaining material governance matters that we agreed to in the investment agreement are represented by the Investor Proposals described in this Proxy Statement.

 

We agreed to promptly call a meeting of our stockholders and to provide each stockholder a Proxy Statement soliciting their affirmative vote for approval of the Investor Proposals. We are obligated to seek to obtain the stockholder approval as promptly as practicable following the Closing but in no event later than our next annual meeting of stockholders. If we are unable to obtain the approval of such stockholders for the Investor Proposals, we have undertaken to obtain such approval at a meeting of the stockholders no less than once in each subsequent six-month period beginning March 1, 2009 until all such approvals are obtained or made. In addition, we agreed to seek stockholder approval to amend our existing equity compensation plans and submit amendments to our 2006 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

We granted MatlinPatterson “shelf” registration rights with respect to the common stock issuable upon conversion of the Investor Preferred Stock, purchased by them in the equity investment transaction, which may be used to effect sales of such common stock. We are required to file the registration statement no later than six months after the Closing. Our filing of a “shelf” registration statement is subject to our ability to qualify for such filing under SEC rules. In addition, we have also granted MatlinPatterson certain “demand” and “piggyback” registration rights, and we have granted the Individual Investors “piggyback” registration rights. We have the right to suspend the use of the prospectus forming a part of the registration statement under certain circumstances.

 

Pursuant to the investment agreement, the Board has agreed to unanimously recommend to our stockholders that they vote in favor of the Investor Proposals, and MatlinPatterson has agreed to vote in favor of the Investor Proposals.

 

On the Closing Date, as part of the Closing, we entered into the closing agreement pursuant to which we agreed to issue and sell to MatlinPatterson (i) an additional $50 million of Additional Investor Preferred Stock, in two equal parts, on the same terms as the Investor Preferred Stock, and (ii) $50 million of Trust Preferred Securities with a 10% coupon and convertible into our common stock. The closing agreement also amended the investment agreement to waive certain closing conditions contained therein.

 

The Additional Investor Preferred Stock will automatically convert into 62,500,000 shares of common stock, subject to customary anti-dilution provisions. Subject to approval of Proposal 2, the Trust Preferred Securities, if and when issued, will also be convertible into our common stock at the option of MatlinPatterson on April 1, 2010 or will be callable by us at any time after January 30, 2001 if not so converted. The

Additional Investor Preferred Stock will have terms and rights identical to the Investor Preferred Stock described in this section.

 

The investment agreement required that we obtain the waivers of our May Investors with respect to the anti-dilution provisions contained in our Purchase Agreement dated May 14, 2008. As a result, we amended the Purchase Agreement with our May Investors who continued to own the common stock sold in that offering and issued the May Warrants. If the amendments had not been obtained, we would have been required to pay the May Investors an aggregate amount of approximately $25 million pursuant to those anti-dilution provisions.

 

The May Warrants have a 10-year term and entitle their holders to acquire an aggregate of 14,259,794 shares of our common stock upon exercise at a price of $0.62 per share, subject to customary anti-dilution provisions.

 

The following is a summary of the material terms and provisions of the preferences, limitations, voting powers and relative rights of the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock as contained in the Certificate of Designations that we filed with the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth on January 28, 2009 (the “Investor Certificate of Designations”). This summary of the Investor Certificate of Designations does not purport to be a complete description of all of its terms. Stockholders are urged to read the Investor Certificate of Designations relating to the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock in its entirety.

 

Authorized Shares And Liquidation Preference.  The Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock are designated as the “Convertible Participating Voting Preferred Stock, Series B.” The number of authorized shares of the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock initially is 500,000. Shares of the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock have a $0.01 par value per share and the liquidation preference of each of the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock is $1,000 per share.

 

Ranking.  The Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock rank junior as to dividends, proceeds upon liquidation or dissolution, or special voting rights, to all other of our preferred stock (including the Treasury Preferred Stock), other than a class or series of preferred stock established after the date on which shares of the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock are first issued. The Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock will also rank junior in payment to our trust preferred securities and our Treasury Preferred Stock.

 

Dividends.  If the Board declares and pays a dividend in the form of cash or other assets (other than shares of common stock or rights or warrants to subscribe for common stock) in respect of any shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, then the Board shall declare and pay to the holders of the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock a dividend in an amount per share of Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock equal to the product of (i) the per share dividend declared and paid in respect of each share of common stock and (ii) the number of shares of common stock into which such share of Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock is then convertible and for the purpose of such calculation, shares of common stock sufficient for the full conversion of all shares of Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock shall be deemed to be authorized for issuance under the articles of incorporation on the Record Date.

 

Dividends on the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock are not cumulative. Accordingly, if for any reason the Board does not declare a dividend with respect to the Investor Preferred Stock or the Additional Investor Preferred Stock for a dividend period, that dividend will not accrue and we will have no obligation to pay a dividend for that dividend period or at any time in the future, whether or not

the Board declares a dividend on the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock or any other series of our capital stock for any future dividend period.

 

Liquidation.  In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of ours, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of full and fractional shares of Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock will be entitled, before any distribution or payment is made on any date to the holders of the common stock or any other stock of ours ranking junior to Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock upon liquidation, to receive in full an amount per share equal to the greater of (the “liquidation preference”) (i) $0.01 plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared on Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock but not paid and (ii) the amount that a holder of one share of Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock would be entitled to receive if such share were converted into common stock immediately prior to such liquidation, dissolution or winding up, together with any declared but unpaid dividend prior to such distribution or payment date, and, for the purpose of such calculation, shares of common stock sufficient for the full conversion of all shares of Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock shall be deemed to be authorized for issuance under the articles of incorporation on such date. If such payment has been made in full to all holders of shares of Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets.

 

If our assets available for distribution to the holders of shares of Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of ours, whether voluntary or involuntary, are insufficient to pay in full all amounts to which such holders are entitled pursuant to Section 5(a) of the Investor Certificate of Designations, no such distribution will be made on account of any shares of any other class or Investor Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with the shares of Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up unless proportionate distributive amounts are paid on account of the shares of Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock, ratably in proportion to the full distributable amounts for which holders of all such parity shares are respectively entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

 

Redemption.  The Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock are not redeemable either at our option or at the option of holders of the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock at any time.

 

Conversion Terms.

 

Conversion Price.  The Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock will be convertible, on the terms at such time as set forth below, into approximately 375,000,000 shares of our common stock, based on a conversion price of $0.80 per share of common stock (as it may be adjusted, the “conversion price”).

 

Mandatory Conversion.  Each share of Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock will automatically convert into shares of our common stock based on the conversion price upon stockholder approval of Proposal 2. If we are unable to obtain stockholder approval, then holders of the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock will retain their shares of Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock, respectively, until stockholder approval of Proposal 2 has been obtained, at which point conversion shall be immediate and mandatory.

 

Fractional Shares.  No fractional shares of common stock will be issued upon conversion. In lieu of any fractional share of common stock, we will pay an amount in cash in lieu of fractional shares based on the closing price of our common stock determined as of the second trading day immediately preceding the date of the mandatory conversion.

 

Preemptive Rights.  Holders of the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock have no preemptive rights.

Anti-Dilution Adjustments.  The conversion price is subject to customary anti-dilution provisions for (i) stock dividends and distributions; (ii) subdivisions, splits and combinations of our common stock; (iii) issuance of stock purchase rights; (iv) self tender offers and exchange offers; and (v) the existence of rights plans in effect on the mandatory conversion date.

 

Reorganization Events.  In the event of:

 

 

each of which is referred to as a “reorganization event,” each share of the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock outstanding immediately prior to such reorganization event will, without the consent of holders, become convertible, on an as converted basis, into the kinds of securities, cash, and other property receivable in such reorganization event by a holder of shares of common that was not a counterparty to such reorganization event or an affiliate of such party. In the event that holders of the shares of our common stock have the opportunity to elect the form of consideration to be received in such transaction, the consideration that the holders of the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock are entitled to receive will be deemed to be the types and amounts of consideration received by the majority of the holders of the shares of our common stock that affirmatively make an election.

 

Voting Rights.  The holders of the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock vote together with the holders of our common stock on all matters upon which the holders of common stock are entitled to vote. Each share of Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock will be entitled to such number of votes as the number of shares of common stock into which such share of Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock are convertible at the time of the record date for any such vote, and for the purpose of such calculation, shares of common stock sufficient for the full conversion of all shares of the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock shall be deemed to be authorized for issuance on such date and shall be included in such calculation.

 

If approval or other action of stockholders voting as a separate class is required by Michigan law or our articles of incorporation, each share of Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote. The affirmative vote of a majority of such shares at a meeting at which a majority of such shares are present or represented shall be sufficient to constitute such approval or other action unless a higher percentage is otherwise required.

 

So long as any shares of Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock are outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of a majority of the shares of Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, voting as a single class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, will be necessary for effecting or validating any of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Michigan law:

 

 

If an amendment, alteration, repeal, share exchange, reclassification, merger or consolidation described above would adversely affect one or more but not all series of preferred stock with like voting rights

(including the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock for this purpose), then only the series affected and entitled to vote shall vote as a class in lieu of all such series of preferred stock.

 

Pursuant to the terms and conditions in the closing agreement, we intend to issue $50 million of Trust Preferred Securities to MatlinPatterson. The Trust Preferred Securities, upon issuance, will have the following rights and preferences:

 

Liquidation Preference.  The Trust Preferred Securities will have a liquidation preference of $1,000 per shares, for an aggregate liquidation preference of $50 million.

 

Ranking.  The Trust Preferred Securities will rank as to dividends, proceeds upon liquidation or dissolution or special voting rights, junior to our Treasury Preferred Stock, Investor Preferred Stock and Additional Investor Preferred Stock, other than a class or series of preferred stock established after the Closing Date, and senior to our common stock.

 

Dividends.  The Trust Preferred Securities will be entitled to receive dividends in the amount of 10% of the aggregate liquidation preference. Dividend payment dates are scheduled to occur quarterly on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year.

 

Liquidation.  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of ours, the holders of full and fractional shares of Trust Preferred Securities may be entitled to receive out of the assets of the trust, which will include our junior subordinated debentures, before any distribution or payment is made on any date to the holders of the common stock or any other stock of ours ranking junior to Trust Preferred Securities upon liquidation, an amount per share equal to the liquidation preference.

 

If our assets available for distribution to the holders of shares of Trust Preferred Securities upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of ours, whether voluntary or involuntary, are insufficient to pay in full all amounts to which such holders are entitled, no such distribution will be made on account of any shares of any other class or Trust Preferred Securities ranking on a parity with the shares of Trust Preferred Securities upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up unless proportionate distributive amounts are paid on account of the shares of Trust Preferred Securities, ratably in proportion to the full distributable amounts for which holders of all such parity shares are respectively entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

 

Redemption.  Provided that they are not converted into shares of common stock, the Trust Preferred Securities will be redeemable, at our option, in whole or in part, on January 30, 2011 and any March 15, June 15, September 15 or December 15 on or after January 30, 2011 at a redemption price equal to the aggregate liquidation preference being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid dividends to the date set for redemption.

 

Conversion Terms.  The Trust Preferred Securities are convertible at the option of the holder, in whole or in part, into shares of our common stock on April 1, 2010 at a conversion price per share equal to 90% of the volume-weighted average price per share of our common stock during the period from February 1, 2009 to April 1, 2010, subject to a minimum per share conversion price of $0.80 and a maximum of $2.00. The conversion right will terminate if not exercised on April 1, 2010.

 

Voting Rights.  The holders of the Trust Preferred Securities will have no voting rights prior to conversion, except with respect to the administration, operation and management of the trust and the amendment of the trust agreement or guarantee agreement.

 

Rights of Institutional Investor.  If stockholder approval is received for Proposal 2, the rights and privileges associated with the common stock issued upon conversion of the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock will be identical to the rights and privileges associated with the common

stock held by our existing common stockholders, including voting rights. However, MatlinPatterson will be entitled to the registration rights and anti-dilution protections discussed in “DESCRIPTION OF THE INVESTMENT AGREEMENT” above.

 

Dilution.  If stockholder approval is received for Proposal 2, we will issue pursuant to the automatic conversion of the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock approximately 375,000,000 shares of common stock (in addition to the 6,650,000 shares of common stock previously issued at the Closing to the Individual Investors). In addition, if stockholder approval is received for Proposal 11, we will be entitled to grant awards to employees and directors that, upon vesting or exercise, will require the issuance of up to 75,000,000 shares of common stock. As a result, our existing stockholders could own a smaller percentage of our outstanding common stock.

 

Elimination of Liquidation Rights of Holders of Investor Preferred Stock and Additional Investor Preferred Stock.  If stockholder approval is received for Proposal 2, all shares of Investor Preferred Stock and Additional Investor Preferred Stock will be cancelled. As a result, approval of Proposal 2 will result in the elimination of the liquidation preference existing in favor of the Investor Preferred Stock and Additional Investor Preferred Stock.

 

Classified Board.  If stockholder approval is received for Proposal 3, beginning with our annual meeting of stockholders in 2010, director nominees whose terms then expire will be elected for one-year terms. In addition, since we have director nominees proposed for election with a term to expire in 2011, beginning with our annual meeting in 2011, all director nominees will thereafter be elected for one-year terms or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

 

Control Share Acquisition.  If Proposal 4 is approved, we will delete all references to Chapter 7B of the MBCA in our articles of incorporation which relates to “control share acquisitions,” and we will no longer be subject to the Chapter 7B of the MBCA.

 

If stockholder approval is received for Proposals 5 and 6, as well as approval of Proposal 2, the holders of the Treasury Warrant and the May Investor Warrants will be entitled to exercise their respective warrants in full. This would result, if exercised in full, in the issuance of 64,513,790 shares and 14,259,794 shares of our common stock to the holders of the Treasury Warrant and the May Investor Warrants, respectively (assuming that the customary anti-dilution provisions are not triggered). As a result, our existing stockholders could incur substantial dilution to their voting interests and could own a smaller percentage of our outstanding common stock.

 

If Proposal 7 is approved, our directors will be elected in the future by a majority vote in non-contested elections. If Proposal 8 is approved, a majority of our directors will be entitled to adopt, repeal, alter, amend and rescind our bylaws.

 

If Proposal 9 is ratified, we may continue to retain the appointment of Virchow, Krause & Company, LLC as our independent registered public accountants for the year ended December 31, 2009. If Proposal 10, which is an advisory vote only, is approved, our Compensation Committee will consider their vote of approval in determining the compensation of our executives in the future.

 

Stockholders’ Meeting.  If stockholder approval is not received on the proposals, the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock will remain outstanding in accordance with their terms and we have agreed, in accordance with the terms of the investment agreement, to seek stockholder approvals at a meeting of our stockholders no less than once in each subsequent six-month period beginning March 1, 2009 until all approvals are obtained or made.

 

Liquidation Preference.  For as long as the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock remain outstanding, they will retain a senior liquidation preference over shares of our common stock in connection with any liquidation of it and, accordingly, no payments will be made to holders of our common stock upon any liquidation of us unless the full liquidation preference on the Investor Preferred Stock, the Additional Investor Common Stock and the Trust Preferred Securities is made. After payment of the full liquidation preference on the Investor Preferred Stock and the Additional Investor Preferred Stock, holders of Investor Preferred Stock and the Trust Preferred Securities will be entitled to participate in any further distribution of our remaining assets based on their as-converted ownership percentage of the our common stock.

 

Class Voting of Holders of Investor Preferred Stock and Additional Investor Preferred Stock.  If stockholder approval is not received for Proposal 2, all shares of Investor Preferred Stock and Additional Investor Preferred Stock will remain unconverted and, pursuant to their terms, continue to be entitled to a separate class vote on any potential merger or acquisition of the Company. Therefore, holders of the Investor Preferred Stock and Additional Investor Preferred Stock would have the ability to negotiate for higher proportionate consideration to be paid for their shares than for the common stock in any potential merger or acquisition, which could result in a reduction in the market price of the common stock.

 

Treasury Warrant.  If stockholder approval of either Proposal 2 or Proposal 5 is not received by July 30, 2009, the exercise price of the Treasury Warrant will be reduced by $0.09 per share. The exercise price will be further reduced by $0.09 per share on each six-month anniversary thereafter until stockholder approval has been obtained, up to a maximum reduction of $0.28 per share.

 

Classified Board.  If stockholder approval is not received for Proposal 3, then director nominees will be elected for two-year terms at subsequent annual meetings of stockholders.

 

Control Share Acquisitions.  If Proposal 4 is not approved, we will continue to be subject to Chapter 7B of the MBCA which relates to “control share acquisitions” as was in effect on the date of filing the articles of incorporation relating thereto (February 11, 1997) even though Chapter 7B of the MBCA was repealed by the Michigan legislature effective January 6, 2009.

 

If stockholder approval is not received on Proposal 5 or Proposal 6, the Treasury Warrant and the May Investor Warrants, as the case may be, will remain outstanding but unexercisable. However, we are required to continue to seek stockholder approvals at future meetings of our stockholders for these proposals. If stockholder approval of Proposal 6 is not received by July 30, 2009, the exercise price will be reduced in the manner discussed above. Moreover, if stockholder approval is not received by July 30, 2010, until such time as the stockholder approval is received, Treasury may cause us to exchange all or a portion of the Treasury Warrant for an economic interest classified as permanent equity under generally accepted accounting principles having a value equal to the fair market value of such exchanged portion.

 

If Proposal 7 is not approved by stockholders, our directors will continue to be elected in the future by a plurality of votes cast at the meetings called for their election and if Proposal 8 is not approved, we will continue to require a two-thirds vote of our directors to approve changes to our bylaws.

 

If Proposal 9 is not ratified, the Audit Committee may reconsider whether to retain Virchow, Krause & Company, LLP as its independent registered public accountants for the year ended December 31, 2009. If Proposal 10, which is an advisory vote only, is not approved, our Compensation Committee will consider the vote in determining the compensation of our executives in the future.

 

We received aggregate consideration of $523 million in the TARP transaction and the equity investment transaction and an additional $100 million pursuant to the closing agreement. Of the initial aggregate consideration of $523 million, we contributed $475 million of the proceeds to the Bank, our principal bank subsidiary, as additional capital. Of the additional aggregate consideration of $50 million received to date, we contributed $50 million of the proceeds to the Bank as additional capital. With respect to the Trust Preferred Securities transaction, we will determine the actual use of proceeds upon closing. We have retained the remaining net proceeds, which we intend to use, on a consolidated basis, to enhance the capital ratios of the Company, and provide for payments of dividends on the Treasury Preferred Stock and other long-term obligations, as well as for general corporate purposes. As set forth under the heading “PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION” below, we have used the funds from the closed transactions to meet the growing demands of consumers for single-family residential mortgages, which are included in our mortgage loans available for sale portfolio until sold into the secondary market. Further, we have assumed that the proceeds from the Trust Preferred Securities transaction will initially be invested in agency securities, such as those issued by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

 

The following unaudited pro forma condensed financial information for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 show the effects of the Treasury Securities issued to the Treasury pursuant to the TARP transaction, the Investor Securities issued to the Investors pursuant to the equity investment transaction and the Additional Investor Securities issued pursuant to the closing agreement. We have included the following unaudited pro forma consolidated financial data solely for the purpose of providing stockholders with information that may be useful for purposes of considering and evaluating the proposals. The key assumptions in the following financial information include the following for the closed transactions:

 

 

The pro forma financial information for the closed investment transactions listed above is based on the actual utilization of the proceeds. The key assumptions in the following financial information include the following for the transaction not yet closed:

 

 

The pro forma financial information for the transaction not yet closed may change materially based upon the timing and utilization of the proceeds, as well as other factors including any subsequent changes in the market price of our common stock.

 

The following data should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto from our Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement.

FLAGSTAR BANCORP, INC.

 

PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

(In thousands, except for share data)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FLAGSTAR BANCORP, INC.

 

PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FLAGSTAR BANK, FSB
PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED REGULATORY RATIOS
(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

PROPOSAL 1 -

 

The Board is currently composed of eleven directors. At this Annual Meeting, the terms of seven of the current directors — James D. Coleman, Gregory Eng, Mark T. Hammond, Jay J. Hansen, David J. Matlin, Mark Patterson, and B. Brian Tauber — will expire. The Board has nominated each of them to serve for a new two-year term and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified. In addition, the Board has nominated Walter N. Carter, Lesley Goldwasser and David L. Treadwell, each designated by MatlinPatterson, to serve for a two-year term and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified. In connection their nomination and assuming Proposal 1 is approved, Michael Lucci, Sr., Robert W. DeWitt, and William F. Pickard will resign from the Board at the Annual Meeting.

 

It is currently our policy that the membership of our Board and the board of directors of the Bank be identical. While Messrs. Carter and Treadwell and Ms. Goldwasser may be elected to our Board without regulatory approval, stockholders should note that their election to the board of directors of the Bank requires regulatory non-objection pursuant to the conditions set forth in the OTS’ approval of the equity investment transaction. If the OTS objects to the election of Messrs. Carter or Treadwell or Ms. Goldwasser to the board of directors of the Bank, then our Board may (i) request that such director resign and (ii) appoint a replacement director, whose election to the board of directors of the Bank will also require OTS non-objection.

 

Stockholders should also note that, assuming Proposal 3 is approved, beginning with our annual meeting of stockholders in 2010, director nominees whose terms do not then expire will be elected for one-year terms. Since we have director nominees proposed for election with a term to expire in 2011 as indicated below, beginning with our annual meeting in 2011, all director nominees will thereafter be elected for one-year terms or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

 

It is intended that the persons named in the proxies solicited by the Board will vote for the election of each of these nominees. If the nominee is unable to serve, the shares represented by all properly executed proxies which have not been revoked will be voted for the election of such substitute as the Board may recommend, or the size of the Board may be reduced to eliminate the vacancy. At this time, the Board does not know of any reason why any nominee might be unable to serve.

 

The Board recommends a vote “FOR” election as directors of all of the nominees listed below.

 

The following table sets forth, for the nominees and each continuing director, his or her name, that person’s age as of the Record Date, the year he or she first became our director and the expiration of his or her current term. Each of the nominees listed below has consented to serve if elected.

 

 

 

 

The following sets forth the business experience of each of our director nominees.

 

Mark T. Hammond has served as Vice Chairman of our Board and of the Bank since 1993, as our President and that of the Bank since 1995, and as our Chief Executive Officer and that of the Bank since 2002. Prior to being named President, Mr. Hammond was a Senior Vice President responsible for sales and secondary marketing and served in various other positions in the Bank since 1987. Mr. Hammond is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business (University of Pennsylvania), where he received a bachelor’s degree in 1987, and has served on the President’s Advisory Board of Fannie Mae. Mr. Hammond is the son of Thomas J. Hammond.

 

B. Brian Tauber has served as a member of our Board and the Bank since 2005. Mr. Tauber has served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Carolina Precision Plastics, LLC, an injection molder and assembler located in Ashboro, North Carolina, since 2001. Since 2003, Mr. Tauber has also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of C Enterprises, L.P., a custom cable assembly manufacturer located in Vista, California serving the data and telecom industries. Mr. Tauber is also a principal of BLT Ventures, LLC, which acquires majority interests in mid-market manufacturing companies. Mr. Tauber received his master’s degree in business administration and law degree from the University of Michigan in 1992, and his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1988.

 

Jay J. Hansen has served as a member of our Board and the Bank since 2005. Mr. Hansen is President and Chief Executive Officer of Hansen Enterprises Ltd LLC, a Michigan based company that he founded in 2009 to provide consulting services to manufacturing, distribution and financial services companies. Prior to that, Mr. Hansen served as Senior Vice President of Tweddle Group, a global market leader in technical

publishing, providing content development, management, and delivery to the automotive and other manufacturing industries. During 2007, Mr. Hansen provided financial, operational, acquisition, strategic planning and integration services to several financial and manufacturing businesses, including integration, corporate development and strategic planning project work for Noble International, Ltd. Prior to December 2006, Mr. Hansen was Chief Operating Officer of Noble International, Ltd., a Nasdaq-listed company and a supplier of automotive parts, component assemblies and value-added services to the automotive industry, from February 2006 to December 2006, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from May 2003 to February 2006, and Vice President of Corporate Development from 2002 to 2003. Mr. Hansen was Vice President at Oxford Investment Group, a privately held merchant bank with holdings in a variety of business segments, from 1994 to 2002. Mr. Hansen is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business (University of Pennsylvania), where he received a bachelor’s degree in 1985.

 

Dr. James D. Coleman has served as a member of our Board since 1993 and of the Bank since 1987. He is a board certified physician who owned and operated several Emergency Room Staffing Companies prior to his retirement in 1997.

 

David J. Matlin became a director of Flagstar on January 30, 2009, effective as of the Closing and pursuant to the investment agreement. Mr. Matlin is the Chief Executive Officer of MatlinPatterson Global Advisers LLC, a $9.0 billion private equity firm, which he co-founded in July 2002. Prior to forming MatlinPatterson, Mr. Matlin was a Managing Director at Credit Suisse First Boston, and headed their Distressed Securities Group since its inception in 1994. Mr. Matlin was also a Managing Director and a founding partner of Merrion Group, L.P., a successor to Scully Brothers & Foss L.P., from 1988 to 1994. Mr. Matlin serves on the board of directors of Global Aviation Holdings and Standard Pacific Corp. Mr. Matlin holds a JD degree from the Law School of the University of California at Los Angeles and a BS in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

 

Mark Patterson became a director of Flagstar on January 30, 2009, effective as of the Closing and pursuant to the investment agreement. Mr. Patterson is the Chairman of MatlinPatterson Global Advisers LLC, a $9.0 billion private equity firm, which he co-founded in July 2002. Mr. Patterson is also a Director of Broadpoint Securities Group, Inc., Polymer Group, Inc., and Allied World Assurance Holdings, Ltd.. Mr. Patterson has over 30 years of commercial, investment and merchant banking experience. Prior to the formation of MatlinPatterson Global Advisors LLC, Mr. Patterson was a Managing Director at Credit Suisse First Boston, where he served as Vice Chairman from 2000 to 2002. Mr. Patterson holds a BA (Law) — 1972 and a BA Honors (Economics) — 1974 from South Africa’s Stellenbosch University and an MBA (with distinction) — 1986 from New York University’s Stern School of Business.

 

Gregory Eng became a director of Flagstar on January 30, 2009, effective as of the Closing and pursuant to the investment agreement. Mr. Eng is a Partner at MatlinPatterson Global Advisers LLC, which he joined in August 2002. Mr. Eng holds a master’s degree in business administration from London Business School and his undergraduate degree from Lafayette College.

 

Walter N. Carter was nominated to the Board for election at the Annual Meeting. Mr. Carter is currently a Managing Principal at Gateway Asset Management Company. Previously, Mr. Carter was Senior Vice President and Director of Consumer Lending at Fifth Third Bank, served as a consultant to the chief executive officer of the direct to consumer retail non-conforming mortgage business for G.E., and President, Manufactured Housing at Green Tree Servicing/Conseco Financial Corp. Mr. Carter received his master’s degree in business administration from Rockhurst College and his undergraduate degree in Finance from Georgia State University.

 

Lesley Goldwasser was nominated to the Board for election at the Annual Meeting. Ms. Goldwasser is a partner at Irving Place Capital, which she joined in 2008, focusing on new business development. From 1996 to 2008, Ms. Goldwasser was a senior managing director at Bear Stearns & Co. Inc. and head of Global CDO’s, co-head of Equity Capital, Markets, Debt Capital Markets, Hybrids, and Structured Solutions, and co-head of Asset-Backed Securities. Ms. Goldwasser is a graduate of the University of Cape Town.

 

David L. Treadwell was nominated to the Board for election at the Annual Meeting. Mr. Treadwell has been President and Chief Executive Officer of EaglePicher Corporation, a $600 million diversified industrial products company, since August 2006, was Chief Operating Officer from November 2005 until August 2006, and was a division president from July 2005 until November 2005. From August 2004 until March 2005, Mr. Treadwell was Chief Executive Officer of Oxford Automotive, a $1 billion Tier 1 automotive supplier of stampings and welded assemblies, and from 2002 until August 2004, Mr. Treadwell provided business consulting services. Mr. Treadwell received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan.

 

The following sets forth the business experience of each of our continuing directors:

 

Thomas J. Hammond has served as Chairman of our Board since 1993, and served as President from 1993 through 1995 and Chief Executive Officer from 1993 through 2002. Mr. Hammond founded the Bank in 1987 and has served as Chairman of its Board since that time. Mr. Hammond is the father of Mark T. Hammond, President, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board.

 

The following sets forth the business experience of each of our directors that will not continue:

 

Michael Lucci, Sr. has served as a member of our Board since 2004. Mr. Lucci retired from his position as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Bally’s Total Fitness Corporation in 1996, and is currently a managing partner of Venture Contracting, a Michigan-based construction company which he founded in 1997, and Michigan Multi-King, a Michigan-based owner and operator of fast food franchises which he founded in 1980.

 

Robert W. DeWitt has served as a member of our Board and of the Bank since 2004. Mr. DeWitt is the President of DeWitt Building Co, a Michigan-based builder of custom homes and remodeling projects that he founded in 1979. Mr. DeWitt has been in the home building and remodeling business for 43 years.

 

William F Pickard has served as a member of our Board and the Bank since early 2008. He is chairman and CEO of VITEC, LLC and chairman and CEO of Global Automotive Alliance LLC of Detroit. Since 1994, Dr. Pickard has served as a member of the board of directors of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. and serves on its audit and compensation committees. Dr. Pickard holds a master’s degree from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. from Ohio State University. He currently serves as adjunct professor at the University of Michigan School of Business. Dr. Pickard was named Michiganian of the Year for his mentorship of new entrepreneurs and his leadership of Global Automotive Alliance.

 

 

The Board generally meets on a monthly basis, or as needed. During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Board met 15 times. No director attended fewer than 87% of the aggregate of (i) the total number of meetings of the Board during 2008, and (ii) the total number of meetings held by all committees of the Board on which that director served.

 

While we do not have a policy regarding director attendance at the annual meeting of stockholders, we encourage directors to attend every annual meeting. Ten out of thirteen of our directors attended last year’s annual meeting of stockholders held on May 23, 2008.

 

 

During 2008, the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee consisted of directors James D. Coleman and Robert W. DeWitt. On January 30, 2009, Dr. Coleman resigned from his position on the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee and David J. Matlin and Gregory Eng were then added to the Committee. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee met four times in 2008.

 

On January 30, 2009, we became a controlled company as a result of the equity investment transaction. As a controlled company within the meaning of Section 303A.00 of the NYSE Manual, we are exempt from the requirement that director nominees be selected, or recommended for the Board’s selection, by either a

nominating committee comprised solely of independent directors or by a majority of the independent directors. Notwithstanding this exemption, our Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee includes one independent director, Robert W. DeWitt, who is the chairman of the Committee. Assuming Proposal 1 is approved and Mr. DeWitt resigns from the Board, the Board may appoint a new member and chairman of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee.

 

Among other things, the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing annually the requisite skills and characteristics required of Board members, selecting, evaluating and recommending nominees for election by our stockholders and reviewing and assessing the adequacy of our policies and practices on corporate governance, including the Corporate Governance Guidelines. The charter of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee, as well as the Corporate Governance Guidelines, can be found on our website at www.flagstar.com.

 

The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee will consider prospective nominees for the Board based on the need to fill vacancies or the Board’s determination to expand the size of the Board. This initial determination is based on information provided to the Committee with the recommendation of the prospective candidate, as well as the Committee’s own knowledge of the prospective candidate, which may be supplemented by inquiries to the person making the recommendation. The Committee then evaluates the prospective nominee against the standards and qualifications set forth below, including relevant experience, industry expertise, intelligence, independence, diversity of background and outside commitments.

 

The general criteria for nomination to the Board include the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee recommends to the Board the slate of directors to be nominated for election at the annual meeting of stockholders, but the Board is responsible for making interim appointments of directors in accordance with our articles of incorporation and Fourth Amended and Restated Bylaws.

 

On January 30, 2009, the Board appointed David J. Matlin, Mark Patterson and Gregory Eng as directors for terms to expire at this Annual Meeting. The appointment of these directors resulted from the provisions of the investment agreement. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee also recommended that the Board nominate these directors for election at the Annual Meeting. Subsequently, the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee recommended to the Board that Walter N. Carter, Lesley Goldwasser, and David L. Treadwell, each of whom was designated by MatlinPatterson, be nominated for election to the Board. The nomination of these directors resulted from the provisions of the investment agreement.

 

During 2008, the Compensation Committee consisted of directors James D. Coleman, Robert W. DeWitt and Frank D’Angelo. On January 30, 2009, Mr. D’Angelo resigned from the Board and the Compensation

Committee, Mr. DeWitt resigned from the Compensation Committee, and David J. Matlin and Gregory Eng were appointed to the Committee. The Compensation Committee met four times in 2008. The charter of the Compensation Committee can be found on our website at www.flagstar.com.

 

On January 30, 2009, we became a controlled company as a result of the equity investment transaction. Section 303A.00 of the NYSE Manual exempts a controlled company from the rules that require that (1) the compensation of the chief executive officer of the company be determined, or recommended to the board of directors for determination, either by a compensation committee comprised of independent directors or by a majority of the independent directors on its board of directors, (2) the chief executive officer may not be present during voting or deliberations, and (3) compensation for all other officers must be determined, or recommended to the board of directors for determination, either by the compensation committee or a majority of the independent directors on the board of directors. Accordingly, as a controlled company, we are not required to have officer compensation, including the compensation of the chief executive officer, determined or approved by a compensation committee or a majority of the independent directors on our Board. Notwithstanding this exemption, the directors that serve on the Compensation Committee satisfy the independence tests set forth in the regulations under Section 162 of the Code and Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

 

The Compensation Committee is responsible for establishing the policies that govern executive compensation and for recommending the components and structure of executive compensation. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves corporate goals and objectives relevant to compensation of the Chairman and of the Chief Executive Officer, evaluates performance in light of such goals and objectives, determines compensation of the Chairman and of the Chief Executive Officer based on such respective evaluations, and makes compensation recommendations to the Board related to other executive officers.

 

The Compensation Committee may delegate its authority to a subcommittee composed solely of directors that satisfy its membership criteria but has never done so. However, the Compensation Committee frequently requests that management assist in evaluating employee performance, recommending factors and targets for performance-based incentive compensation, recommending compensation levels and forms of awards, and providing information with respect to, among other things, strategic objectives and the current market environment. The Compensation Committee has historically engaged Amalfi Consulting, LLC, an independent compensation consultant and formerly the compensation consulting division of Clark Consulting, to conduct an annual review of its compensation program and provide relevant market data and alternatives to consider when making compensation decisions.

 

During 2008, the Audit Committee consisted of directors Charles Bazzy, Richard S. Elsea, Jay J. Hansen and B. Brian Tauber. On January 30, 2009, Messrs. Bazzy and Elsea resigned from the Board and the Audit Committee, and William F. Pickard was added to the Committee. The chairman of the Audit Committee is Mr. Hansen. The Audit Committee met eight times in 2008. The Board has determined that Mr. Hansen qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined by the rules and regulations of the SEC. Further, the Board certifies that each member of the Audit Committee is financially literate and has accounting or related financial management expertise, as such qualifications are defined by the rules of the NYSE. Assuming Proposal 1 is approved and Dr. Pickard resigns from the Board, the Board will appoint a new member to the Audit Committee. The charter of the Audit Committee can be found on our website at www.flagstar.com.

 

The Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing our audit programs and the activity of the Bank. The Audit Committee oversees the quarterly regulatory reporting process, oversees the internal compliance audits as necessary, receives and reviews the results of each external audit, reviews management’s responses to independent registered public accountants’ recommendations, and reviews management’s reports on cases of financial misconduct by employees, officers or directors. The Audit Committee is also responsible for engaging our independent registered public accountants and for the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent registered public accountants for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work or performing other audit, review or attest services for us.

 

The Audit Committee adopted the Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy (the “Pre-Approval Policy”), which requires the committee to pre-approve the audit and non-audit services performed by the independent registered public accountants and confirm that such services do not impair the independent registered public accountants’ independence. Among other things, the Pre-Approval Policy provides that unless a service to be provided by the independent registered public accountants has received general pre-approval, it requires specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee. Further, the Pre-Approval Policy provides that any services exceeding pre-approval cost levels will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee. In 2008, all of the fees paid to our independent registered public accountants were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

 

 

Our general policy is to provide non-management directors with compensation that is intended to assist us in attracting and retaining qualified non-management directors. We do not pay director compensation to directors who are also our employees. In addition, directors David J. Matlin, Mark Patterson and Gregory Eng have waived the receipt of compensation for serving on the Board or its committees.

 

The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee, which consists solely of independent directors, has the primary responsibility to review director compensation and benefits on an annual basis and recommend any revisions to the Board. Other than compensation for attending monthly Board meeting, the compensation of non-management directors for their service on the Board and its committees has not changed since 2007 and will be determined as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We reimburse non-management directors that attend meetings of the Board or its committees from out-of-town for reasonable travel expenses, including accommodations. Directors Matlin, Patterson and Eng have waived reimbursement of their travel expenses.

 

In addition, non-management directors are eligible to receive equity-based compensation under the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan. Non-management directors did not receive equity-based compensation in 2008.

 

The table below details the compensation earned by our non-management directors in 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We initially adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines in 2004, and the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee reviews and assesses the adequacy of those guidelines annually and recommends amendments as necessary. You may obtain the Corporate Governance Guidelines and the charters of each of the Board’s committees, including the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee, on our website, www.flagstar.com. These documents are also available in print upon written request to Paul Borja, CFO, Flagstar Bancorp, Inc., 5151 Corporate Drive, Troy, Michigan 48098.

 

The Board has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code of Conduct”) that applies to actions of our employees, officers and directors including the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, and principal accounting officer. Among other things, the Code of Conduct requires compliance with laws and regulations, avoidance of conflicts of interest and insider trading, and reporting of illegal or unethical behavior. Further, the Code of Conduct provides for special ethics obligations for employees with financial reporting obligations. A copy of the Code of Conduct may be found on our website at www.flagstar.com. Also, the Code of Conduct is available in print upon written request to Paul Borja, CFO, Flagstar Bancorp, Inc., 5151 Corporate Drive, Troy, Michigan 48098.

 

While the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended by stockholders, it has not actively solicited recommendations from our stockholders for nominees. Stockholders who wish to nominate candidates for election to the Board at the Annual Meeting must follow the procedures outlined in “STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 2010 ANNUAL MEETING.” The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee will evaluate candidates properly proposed by stockholders in the same

manner as all other candidates, as set forth above under “PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee.”

 

All stockholder nominations for new directors must be in writing and must set forth as to each director candidate recommended the following: (1) name, age, business address and, if known, residence address of the nominee; (2) the principal occupation or employment of the nominees; (3) the number of shares of Common Stock that are beneficially owned by the nominee; and (4) any other information relating to the person that would be required to be included in a proxy statement prepared in connection with the solicitation of proxies for an election of directors pursuant to applicable law and regulations. Certain information as to the stockholder nominating the nominee for director must be included, such as the name and address of the stockholder and the number of shares of Common Stock which are beneficially owned by the stockholder. The stockholder must promptly provide any other information requested by us.

 

Section 303A.00 of the NYSE Manual applicable to companies listed on the NYSE exempts a controlled company (defined as a company with over 50% of the voting power held by an individual, group or other company) from the requirements that a majority of its board of directors be comprised of “independent” directors, that the compensation of our chief executive officer and all of our other executive officers be determined or recommended to the board of directors for determination either by a majority of independent directors or a compensation committee comprised solely of independent directors, and that director nominees either be selected or recommended for selection by the board of directors by a majority of independent directors or a nominations committee comprised solely of independent directors. The Audit Committee of our Board is comprised of the following three members: Jay J. Hansen, B. Brian Tauber and William F. Pickard, each of whom is “independent,” as that term is defined by Section 303A.02 of the NYSE Manual, and the constitution of the Audit Committee complies with the NYSE independence standards for audit committees and the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission applicable to audit committees. None of Messrs. Hansen, Tauber or Pickard has any relationships or has been involved in any transactions or arrangements with us that required consideration by the Board under the applicable independence standards in determining that such director is independent.

 

The Board has conducted its annual review of director independence. During this review, the Board considered relationships and transactions during the past three years between each director or any member of his or her immediate family and us and our subsidiaries and affiliates, including those reported under “CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS AND BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS.” The purpose of the review was to determine whether any such relationship or transactions were inconsistent with a determination that the director is independent.

 

Based on its review, the Board has affirmatively determined that directors James D. Coleman, Robert W. DeWitt, B. Brian Tauber, Jay J. Hansen, and William F. Pickard are independent in accordance with applicable SEC and NYSE rules. Further, the Board has affirmatively determined that director nominees Lesley Goldwasser and David L. Treadwell are independent in accordance with applicable SEC and NYSE rules. The Board considered all relevant facts and circumstances in concluding that such persons are independent and have no material relationship with us. As of and after the Annual Meeting, the entirety of the Board’s audit committee will be composed of independent directors. However, a majority of the Board and the entirety of the Board’s compensation committee and nominating/corporate governance committee are not independent.

 

The Board previously adopted stock ownership requirements for our directors and executive officers. Independent directors must meet or exceed these requirements within one year of joining the Board. The requirements specify that non-management directors are expected to own or have stock options to purchase at least 1,000 shares of Common Stock. Each of the independent directors meet or exceed the requirement set forth in the stock ownership guidelines.

 

Our Senior officers are expected to own at least 100 shares, which includes shares held in the Flagstar Bank 401(k) Plan and certain awards issued under our 2006 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

All non-management directors meet in executive session at least four times per year. No employee of ours may attend or participate in such executive sessions. The Board will annually designate the lead non-management director, or Lead Director, to chair the executive sessions and to establish and distribute an agenda for each such meeting. Mr. DeWitt has been designated the Lead Director for 2009. If Proposal 1 is approved and Mr. DeWitt resigns from the Board, the Board will designate a new lead non-management director.

 

Individuals who have an interest in communicating directly with a member of the Board, the Board or the non-management members of the Board may do so by directing the communication to the “Board of Directors — [name of individual director],” “Board of Directors,” or “Lead Director,” respectively. The Lead Director is the presiding director for non-management sessions of the Board. Following each meeting of the non-management directors, the Lead Director determines whether any communication necessitates discussion by the full Board. Any communications should be sent to the following address: Flagstar Bancorp, Inc., ATTN: Corporate Secretary, 5151 Corporate Drive, Troy, Michigan, 48098.

 

Pursuant to the Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Chief Executive Officer and the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee review succession planning with the Board on an annual basis. The Board has adopted a succession plan that is consistent with industry practice and would provide for an orderly transition in case of a catastrophic event involving the Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Persons and groups beneficially owning more than 5% of our voting stock are generally required under federal securities laws to file certain reports with the SEC detailing such ownership. The term “beneficial ownership” includes the shares held as of the Record Date plus shares underlying any options or securities that are exercisable as of or within 60 days before or after the Record Date. The following table sets forth, as of the Record Date, certain information as to our voting stock beneficially owned by any person or group of persons who are known to us to be the beneficial owners of more than 5% of our voting stock. Other than as disclosed below, management knows of no person who beneficially owned more than 5% of our voting stock at the Record Date. This table is based on information supplied to us by persons named therein and from Schedule 13Gs and Schedule 13Ds filed with the SEC.

 

 

 

 

 

The following table sets forth the name and age (as of the Record Date) of our executive officers.

 

 

Thomas J. Hammond has served as Chairman of our Board since 1993, and served as President from 1993 through 1995 and Chief Executive Officer from 1993 through 2002. Mr. Hammond founded the Bank in 1987 and he has served as Chairman of the Board of the Bank since that time. Mr. Hammond is the father of Mark T. Hammond, President, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board, and is the father-in-law of Kirstin A. Hammond, who is an Executive Vice President of the Company and the Bank.

 

Mark T. Hammond has served as Vice Chairman of our Board and of the Bank since 1993, as President of the Company and the Bank since 1995, and as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank since 2002. Prior to being named President, Mr. Hammond was a Senior Vice President responsible for sales and secondary marketing and served in various other positions in the Bank since 1987. Mr. Hammond is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business (University of Pennsylvania), where he received a bachelor’s degree in 1987, and has served on the President’s Advisory Board of Fannie Mae. Mr. Hammond is the son of Thomas J. Hammond and the husband of Kirstin A. Hammond.

 

Paul D. Borja has served as Executive Vice President of the Company and the Bank since May 2005, and also as its Chief Financial Officer since June 2005. Previously, he practiced law with various firms in Washington DC from 1990 through 2005, focusing on federal tax, banking, corporate law and federal securities law matters. Prior to practicing law, Mr. Borja was a CPA with Peat Marwick Mitchell, a predecessor to KPMG, from 1982 through 1987, primarily as an auditor of banks and savings and loans. Mr. Borja received his master’s degree in tax law from Georgetown University in 1991, his law degree from George Washington University in 1990, and his bachelor’s degree in accountancy from the University of Notre Dame in 1982.

 

Kirstin A. Hammond has served as a member of our Board from 2002 until 2009. She also serves as an Executive Vice President of the Company and the Bank where she has been employed since 1991 and as President of Flagstar Capital Markets Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank, since its formation in 2006. Prior to joining the Bank, Ms. Hammond worked as an Investment Analyst at Manufacturer’s National Bank from 1987 to 1991. Ms. Hammond graduated from the University of Michigan with a master’s degree in Business Administration in 1991 and from the Wharton School of Business (University of Pennsylvania) with a bachelor’s degree in 1987. Ms. Hammond is the wife of Mark T. Hammond and the daughter-in-law of Thomas J. Hammond.

 

Matthew I. Roslin has served as Chief Legal Officer of the Bank since April 2004,as an Executive Vice President of the Company and the Bank since 2005 and concurrently as its Chief Administrative Officer since 2009. Prior to joining the Bank, Mr. Roslin was Executive Vice President of MED3000 Group, Inc., a privately held healthcare management company that he joined in 1996 as its General Counsel. Mr. Roslin practiced corporate law, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions and federal securities law from 1994 to 1996 as an associate with Dewey Ballantine, and from 1991 to 1993 as an associate with Jones Day. Mr. Roslin received his law degree from the UCLA School of Law in 1991 and his bachelor’s degree in economics from the Wharton School of Business (University of Pennsylvania) in 1988.

 

This table and the accompanying footnotes provide a summary of the beneficial ownership of our equity securities as of the Record Date by all of our directors and executive officers as a group. A total of 90,380,043 shares of common stock were issued and outstanding as of the Record Date and a total of 300,000 shares of Investor Preferred Stock and Additional Investor Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding as of the Record Date.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Throughout this Proxy Statement, we refer to the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, and the other executive officers included in the Summary Compensation Table as the “Named Executive Officers.” For 2008, our Named Executive Officers were Thomas J. Hammond, Chairman of the Board, Mark T. Hammond, Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Paul D. Borja, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Kirstin A. Hammond, Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer, and Robert O. Rondeau, Jr., Executive Director. Mr. Rondeau resigned from his position with us on January 30, 2009 but is included in this section because he served as one of our highest paid executive officers during 2008.

 

The current economic downturn had a significant negative impact on our 2008 results of operations and financial condition, on the price of our common stock and on our ability to successfully execute on our business plan. Consistent with our pay-for-performance philosophy, these factors were reflected in the compensation of the Named Executive Officers for 2008, as well as the actions of the Compensation Committee in 2009. For 2008, we achieved 54% of our target, as measured by the five performance goals (Return on Equity, Net Interest Margin, Loan Production, Gain on Sale Margin, Net Increase in the Number of Retail Deposit Accounts) that had been established by the Compensation Committee at the beginning of the year. See “COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS — Setting Executive Compensation — Performance-Based Incentive Compensation”, below. The Compensation Committee reduced the amount of performance-based incentive compensation that was otherwise due the Named Executive Officers by 44%. More specifically, the Compensation Committee determined not to grant any stock appreciation rights or restricted stock, which was 40% of the total performance-based incentive compensation award. In addition, the Compensation Committee reduced the cash portion of the performance-based incentive compensation, which, pursuant to our compensation plan, is 60% of the total award, to pay out at 50% of the “target,” rather than the 54% that was achieved. This reduced the cash amount, which was paid in December 2008, by 7.4% from $2.99 million to $2.76 million, in the aggregate, for the five Named Executive Officers.

 

In connection with the current economic downturn, we took the following steps to increase our capital (i) we entered into an investment agreement to raise an aggregate of $250 million through the direct sale of equity securities to MatlinPatterson and (ii) we received preliminary approval to participate in the TARP Capital Purchase Program. Both transactions closed on January 30, 2009. In connection with the investment agreement, also on January 30, 2009, the Named Executive Officers purchased, in the aggregate, 5.3 million shares of our common stock for $4.24 million, or $0.80 per share. On January 30, 2009, the closing price of

our common stock was $0.60 per share. We note that the cash portion of our performance-based incentive compensation was paid prior to the TARP closing, so no money from Treasury received by us in connection with our participation in the TARP Capital Purchase Program was used to pay compensation to our Named Executive Officers or in determining whether our Named Executive Officers achieved performance goals.

 

With respect to 2009, the Compensation Committee has taken a number of actions in response to the adverse economic conditions. These actions include a current freeze on all Named Executive Officer base salaries for 2009 and revisiting our compensation programs for 2009. Furthermore, we and the Compensation Committee have taken and will continue to take all steps necessary to comply with the requirements imposed in connection with our participation in the TARP Capital Purchase Program. These steps have included the Compensation Committee undertaking an analysis to review the relationship between our risk management policies and practices and performance-based incentive compensation arrangements for the Named Executive Officers in order to identify any features in the compensation program that might lead to unnecessary or excessive risk taking.

 

As described in more detail below, the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the “Recovery Act”) contains a number of significant new limitations on executive compensation for TARP Capital Purchase Program participants. Because of the lack of regulatory guidance to date under the Recovery Act, the impact of these limitations on our compensation program is uncertain. As a result, the Compensation Committee continues to evaluate the procedures and policies necessary to implement all of the Recovery Act’s requirements.

 

We remain committed to the compensation philosophy, policies and objectives outlined below, and the compensation for 2008 reflects the effectiveness of our compensation program in fulfilling its objectives during financial downturns. The Compensation Committee will continue to review our compensation program and take any steps it deems necessary to continue to fulfill these objectives.

 

Prior to our issuance to the Treasury of the Treasury Preferred Stock and the Treasury Warrant on January 30, 2009, and our related execution of the Letter Agreement with the Treasury, we amended our compensation, bonus, incentive and other benefit plans, arrangements and agreements, including severance and employment agreements, to comply with the executive compensation and corporate governance requirements of Section 111(b) of EESA and with the applicable guidance or regulations as issued by the Secretary of the Treasury on or prior to January 30, 2009. Under EESA, the applicable executive compensation restrictions apply beginning in 2009 to the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and three other most highly compensated executive officers (collectively, the “senior executive officers”, which for 2009, will be the Named Executive Officers with the exception of Mr. Rondeau, who resigned from the Company effective January 30, 2009, thus causing Mr. Roslin to be included as a “senior executive officer”). Those restrictions include, among other things, limits on compensation to exclude incentives for senior executive officers to take unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten the value of the institution receiving funds made available by the Treasury under the TARP Capital Purchase Program or any other obligation arising from financial assistance provided under TARP during the period while any TARP obligation remains outstanding. In addition, in connection with the issuance of the Treasury Preferred Stock, each of the senior executive officers was required to and did execute a waiver of any claim against the United States or us for any changes to his or her compensation or benefits that are required in order to comply with the regulation issued by the Treasury as published in the Federal Register on October 20, 2008.

 

On February 17, 2009, the Recovery Act was signed into law. The Recovery Act amended Section 111(b) of EESA in its entirety. The Recovery Act has significant implications on the compensation arrangements of institutions that have accepted or will accept government funds under the TARP Capital Purchase Program or other assistance under TARP. The Recovery Act directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish standards and promulgate regulations on executive compensation practices of TARP recipients. While some of the executive compensation restrictions were effective upon passage of the Recovery Act on February 17, 2009, some have been interpreted to only be effective upon issuance of additional guidance by the Treasury. The

Recovery Act’s restrictions will nevertheless apply to us, our compensation policies, our senior executive officers and other highly paid employees in several ways, including the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to the foregoing restrictions, in connection with its participation in the TARP Capital Purchase Program, the Compensation Committee is required to meet at least annually with our chief risk officer or other senior risk officers to discuss and review the relationship between our risk management policies and practices and our senior executive officers incentive compensation arrangements, identifying and making reasonable efforts to limit any features in such compensation arrangements that might lead to our senior executive officers taking unnecessary or excessive risks that could threaten our value. The Compensation Committee, on our behalf, must certify that it has completed the review and taken any necessary actions.

 

In response to these requirements, the Compensation Committee met with our enterprise risk manager (the “Chief Risk Officer”). The Chief Risk Officer presented the Compensation Committee with an overview of our overall risk structure, and discussed the process by which the risks were analyzed. This process included, among other things, a comprehensive review of the program and discussions with senior human resources personnel. In addition, the Compensation Committee reviewed with the Chief Risk Officer the structure of our overall compensation program. This review included, without limitation, our practice since

2007 to originate virtually all of our loans for sale through Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae, and the extent to which the Compensation Committee, our management and the Office of Thrift Supervision oversee this practice. Based on its analysis of these and other factors, the Compensation Committee determined that our compensation program does not encourage our senior executive officers to take unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten our value, and that no changes to the program were required for this purpose. The required certification of the Compensation Committee is provided in the Compensation Committee Report set forth following this Compensation Discussion and Analysis.

 

Moreover, in accordance with the Recovery Act and based on recent guidance issued by the SEC, the Board authorized a non-binding advisory shareholder vote on our executive compensation plans, programs and arrangements. See “Proposal 10 — Advisory Vote on Executive Pay-For-Performance Compensation Employed by the Company” in this Proxy Statement.

 

Given the recent enactment of the Recovery Act, the last minute changes added in the Congressional conference committee, and the lack of significant regulatory guidance to date, the Compensation Committee continues to evaluate the procedures and policies necessary to implement all of the Recovery Act’s requirements. We will comply with the applicable regulations and guidance issued by the federal government as applied to us as a recipient of TARP funds. As a result, our executive compensation program in 2009 and beyond could be substantially different than 2008.

 

The Compensation Committee is responsible for establishing the policies that govern executive compensation and for recommending the components and structure of executive compensation. More specifically, the Compensation Committee reviews and approves corporate goals and objectives relevant to compensation of the Chairman and of the Chief Executive Officer, evaluates the Chairman’s and the Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of such goals and objectives, determines compensation of the Chairman and of the Chief Executive Officer based on such respective evaluations, and makes compensation recommendations to the Board related to other senior executive officers.

 

We have historically compensated our senior executive officers through a combination of base salary, performance-based incentive compensation, and other benefits designed to embody a pay-for-performance philosophy. We have designed our policies and plans to encourage the achievement of specific objectives set by the Board and the Compensation Committee, reward exceptional performance, and be competitive with the financial services market. We also seek to align the long-term interests of our senior management with stockholders. Our primary objective is to provide competitive compensation that enhances performance and stockholder return without encouraging unnecessary or excessive risk to us.

 

Based on the forgoing objectives, the Compensation Committee has historically structured the base salary and performance-based incentive compensation to motivate the senior executive officers to achieve the business goals set by us and the Compensation Committee and to reward the senior executive officers for achieving such goals. In furtherance of this, the Compensation Committee engaged Amalfi Consulting, LLC, an independent compensation consultant, to conduct an annual review of its compensation program for the senior executive officers. Amalfi Consulting provides the Compensation Committee and the Board with relevant market data and alternatives to consider when making compensation decisions for the Named Executive Officers.

 

Management’s Role.  Our management plays an important role in setting compensation by assisting the Compensation Committee in evaluating employee performance, recommending the factors and targets for performance-based compensation, and recommending compensation levels and forms of compensation awards. As part of this process, we provide the Compensation Committee with information on our strategic objectives,

our past and expected future performance in light of relevant market conditions, and other information as the Compensation Committee may request to evaluate compensation and make informed decisions.

 

Peer Group Analysis and Benchmarking.  In making compensation decisions, the Compensation Committee has historically reviewed prior years’ total compensation and operating performance to determine an estimated level of total compensation for the following year. The Compensation Committee also compares our compensation against compensation of peer companies, including savings and loan holding companies, bank holding companies, commercial banks and mortgage lending institutions. The peer companies are selected based on size, market capitalization, scope of operations or other characteristics to ensure that estimated compensation is reasonable and competitive.

 

At the Compensation Committee’s direction, Amalfi Consulting used one peer group when comparing our executive compensation to peer companies in 2008. In previous years, the Compensation Committee directed Amalfi Consulting to use two peer groups — companies that split the position of chairman and chief executive officer and companies that reported a significant portion of their business as residential mortgage lending. However, many companies in the separate peer groups no longer split the chairman and chief executive officer positions or are no longer in business or changed their business model so that they may no longer serve as a competitor for this purpose. Therefore, following the recommendation of Amalfi Consulting, the Compensation Committee used a single peer group in 2008 to facilitate a simpler and more straightforward comparison. For 2008, the peer group consisted of that following 20 banks that have a significant focus in mortgage lending business or are otherwise comparable to us:

 

 

However, during 2008, some of the peer companies listed above went out of business or were acquired. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee directed Amalfi Consulting to analyze 2008 compensation using a new peer group. The peer group consisted of the following 28 banks that have a significant focus in mortgage lending business and a comparable size to us:

 

 

Generally, we establish a maximum total compensation at the “target” performance level for each of the Named Executive Officers that is at approximately the following levels of our peer group based on benchmarking studies:

 

 

 

 

The Named Executive Officers’ were benchmarked to executive in the peer companies based on two factors: (1) executives with similar salary rank within their respective companies; and (2) executives with similar functional job roles. Using the new peer group, for 2008, actual compensation was at approximately the following percentiles when compared to our peer companies:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allocation of Total Compensation.  A significant percentage of total compensation has historically been allocated to incentives as a result of the pay-for-performance philosophy discussed herein. However, there is no pre-established policy or target for allocation between performance-based and nonperformance-based compensation. Instead, the Compensation Committee annually reviews information provided by Amalfi Consulting and gathered through other sources to determine the appropriate level and mix of compensation each year. For 2008, actual performance-based compensation as a percentage of actual total compensation for the Named Executive Officers was:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock Ownership.  To further align the interests of executive officers with the interests of the stockholders, we require that each senior officer maintain a minimum ownership in us. Currently, all of our senior officers, including Named Executive Officers, are expected to own at least 100 shares, which includes shares held in an account under our 401(k) plan. Currently, the Named Executive Officers own 27% of our outstanding common stock in the aggregate, and the individual Named Executive Officers own the amounts set forth in the section entitled “SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT” on page 40 of this Proxy Statement. Based upon current ownership percentages, we believe that the Named Executive Officers’ interests are sufficiently aligned with our stockholders.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2008, the Compensation Committee determined that the executive compensation program should have the following components: base salary; performance-based incentive compensation; and other benefits. The following discusses each of the components of the compensation of the Named Executive Officers for 2008.

 

Base Salary.  We provide the Named Executive Officers with a base salary for services rendered during the fiscal year. The Compensation Committee has determined that the base salary for each Named Executive Officer should be based on personal performance, effectiveness, level of responsibility, past and potential future contributions to us, and internal pay equity relationships, with consideration given to the salaries paid to executives of our peer companies having comparable responsibilities. We do not apply any specific weighting to these criteria; rather, the Compensation Committee uses its judgment and discretion in determining these amounts. the salaries paid to executives of our peer companies having comparable responsibilities, as well as personal performance, effectiveness, and duties and requirements of each Named Executive Officer. The base salaries are designed to attract and retain highly qualified executives. For 2008, the base salary was $800,000 for Thomas J. Hammond, $1,000,000 for Mark T. Hammond, $464,243 for Paul D. Borja, $428,754 for Kirstin

A. Hammond, and $384,540 for Robert O. Rondeau. For 2009, the Compensation Committee has determined that the base salaries should currently be frozen at the 2008 amount, subject to consideration of the effects of TARP and the Recovery Act.

 

Performance-Based Incentive Compensation.  A significant aspect of our compensation package for Named Executive Officers has been annual performance-based incentive compensation. In 2008, the Compensation Committee set performance goals for return on equity, net interest margin of Flagstar Bank, loan production, gain on sale, and the net increase in number of retail deposit accounts. For 2009, the Compensation Committee believes that it should keep the performance goals, as well as the performance-based incentive compensation methodology, the same, but the Compensation Committee is awaiting further guidance under TARP and the Recovery Act before instituting the performance-based incentive compensation plan for 2009. However, as permitted by law or regulation, the performance goals may include a combination of other business related performance metrics and subjective factors as the Compensation Committee determines. As discussed above, these performance goals will be structured in a manner that does not encourage executives to not take unnecessary or excessive risks. Because our performance goals related to our long-term strategic plan, we have historically used the same performance goals for all executive officers.

 

After identifying the performance factors, the Compensation Committee assigned a goal for each factor at the threshold, target and superior levels. Each of the levels corresponded to 0%, 100% and 200% payouts, respectively. The Compensation Committee also assigned a weight to each factor depending on its level of significance to our overall goals. Once the annual performance period was complete, the factor was assigned a payout percentage based on our actual performance. The value of the payout percentage was then multiplied by the factor weight to determine an actual payment percentage. For 2008, the targets, actual results, payout percentages, factor weights and actual payment percentages were as follows: