FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
| Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): | March 19, 2004 |
POPULAR, INC.
| COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO | NO. 0-13818 | NO. 66-0416582 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
| 209 MUÑOZ RIVERA AVENUE HATO REY, PUERTO RICO |
00918 | |
| Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (787) 765-9800
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
| SIGNATURE | ||||||||
| Exhibit Index | ||||||||
| EX-99.1 PRESS RELEASE DATED MARCH 19, 2004 | ||||||||
Item 5. Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure
On March 19, 2004, Popular, Inc. and Quaker City Bancorp, Inc. jointly announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which Popular will acquire all of the common stock of Quaker City at the price of $55 cash per share. The acquisition, subject to regulatory approval, the approval of Quaker City’s stockholders, and other customary closing conditions, is expected to be completed in the third calendar quarter of this year.
Quaker City is a savings and loan holding company for Quaker City Bank, based in Whittier, California. Quaker City Bank operates 27 retail full service branches in Southern California, including 16 inside Wal-Mart stores. At December 31, 2003, Quaker City reported total assets of $1.8 billion and total deposits of $1.1 billion.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibit
99.1 News release dated March 19, 2004, announcing Popular, Inc. and Quaker City Bancorp signing of a definitive merger agreement.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| POPULAR, INC. ____________________________________ (Registrant) |
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| Date: March 19, 2004 | By: | Date:S/Amílcar L. Jordán | ||
| Name: | Amílcar L. Jordán | |||
| Title: | Senior Vice President and Comptroller | |||