Popular Inc. announced Wednesday the signing of a definitive agreement with Wells Fargo Advisors LLC Puerto Rico for the acquisition of the latter company’s assets. This agreement allows Popular to acquire 1,750 accounts and assets under management for approximately $500 million, which will be handled by Popular Securities.
Scotiabank de Puerto Rico’s successful takeover of R-G Premier bank’s failed assets some 15 months ago was “the best decision” the institution could have made, as it has increased its customer base tenfold and opened the door to expanding its footprint, high-ranking officials said during a roundtable discussion with members of the local media.
First Bancorp announced Tuesday it has entered into a definitive agreement with Oaktree Capital management to sell 24.9 percent of its common stock, for $175.5 million. The transaction comes a month after FirstBank’s parent company entered into a similar agreement with private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P.
Boston-based Sovereign Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Banco Santander, has named former Government Development Bank President Carlos García to the position of chief of staff reporting directly to Jorge Morán, president and CEO of Sovereign Bank and country head of Santander businesses in the United States.
Los Angeles-based financial research firm B Riley gave Popular Inc. a cautious pat on the back this week, saying the banking institution has “solidified its capital base, and it appears to be turning the corner on asset quality,” following several years of substantial losses.
Troy Wright, who steered Scotiabank de Puerto Rico through last year’s acquisition of R-G Premier Bank’s failing assets, is stepping down as CEO to join Scotiabank Group's operations in Canada as executive vice-president, retail distribution, Canadian banking, effective July 18.
Doral Financial Corp.’s stock has been on a rollercoaster ride on Wall Street this week, declining by 13.9 percent Wednesday, but climbing back 6.59 percent to $1.78 a share at the end of business Thursday.
After many months of talk that it would sell its operation off partially or entirely to offset its financial problems, First BanCorp on Tuesday announced it has entered into a definitive investment agreement with private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. under which THL would purchase about $180 million of the bank’s common stock.
The majority of Puerto Rico’s banks will remain closed today, in observance of Memorial Day, resuming operations Tuesday.
Private equity firm Advent-Morro announced Tuesday it is investing $5 million in pawnshop chain La Familia to support its expansion plans in Florida and Puerto Rico.
Four months after announcing its intention of selling some $500 million in non-performing construction and commercial real estate loans to a newly created joint venture with an unrelated third party, Popular Inc. said Thursday it has walked away from the deal.
FirstBank Puerto Rico recently sold a couple of office buildings in Fort Lauderdale for $2.3 million, or 62 percent off their foreclosed mortgage value, according to the South Florida Business Journal.
Local drugstore operator Farmacia Sally has secured a $1.5 million loan from Scotiabank de Puerto Rico to build a second location in Río Grande that will be completely “green,” company officials said.
The island’s reverse mortgage market is getting more competitive this week with the arrival of Atlanta-based Generation Mortgage, which is introducing its retail banking services to the market.
The State Insurance Fund recently signed off on a $242 million loan from Banco Santander Puerto Rico to refinance a prior loan that was in default and for ongoing improvements planned at the government agency.
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