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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 9, 2010
Registration No. 333-165252
­ ­
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
 
Amendment No. 2
to
Form S-4
on
Form S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
 
 
 
FIRST BANCORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
         
Puerto Rico
  6022   66-0561882
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  (I.R.S Employer
Identification Number)
1519 Ponce de León Avenue, Stop 23
Santurce, Puerto Rico 00908
(787) 729-8200
(Address, including zip code and telephone number, including
area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
 
 
 
Lawrence Odell
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
First BanCorp.
1519 Ponce de León Avenue, Stop 23
Santurce, Puerto Rico 00908
(787) 729-8109
(Name, address, including zip code and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
 
 
 
 
Copies to:
     
Linda L. Griggs
Gail A. Pierce
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004
  James R. Tanenbaum
Anna T. Pinedo
Morrison & Foerster LLP
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10104
 
 
 
 
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the public:  As soon as practicable after this registration statement becomes effective.
 
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o
 
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o
 
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
             
Large accelerated filer o
  Accelerated filer þ   Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
  Smaller reporting company o
 
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
 


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The information in this prospectus may change. We may not complete the exchange offer and issue these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
 
PROSPECTUS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION Dated June 8, 2010
 
(BANCORP LOGO)
 
Offer to Exchange
 
Up to 192,535,000 shares of our Common Stock for any and all issued and outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series D Preferred Stock and Series E Preferred Stock
 
(subject to the limitations and qualifications described herein)
 
First BanCorp is offering to exchange (the “Exchange Offer”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the accompanying letters of transmittal, up to 192,535,000 newly issued shares of our common stock, par value $1.00 per share (our “Common Stock”), which we refer to as the “Maximum Exchange Amount,” (subject to the acceptance priority levels specified in the table below (in numerical priority order) and proration as described below) for any and all of the issued and outstanding shares of:
 
Ø  $90,000,000 in aggregate liquidation preference of our 7.125% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series A (“Series A Preferred Stock”);
 
Ø  $75,000,000 in aggregate liquidation preference of our 8.35% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series B (“Series B Preferred Stock”);
 
Ø  $103,500,000 in aggregate liquidation preference of our 7.40% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series C (“Series C Preferred Stock”);
 
Ø  $92,000,000 in aggregate liquidation preference of our 7.25% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series D (“Series D Preferred Stock”); and
 
Ø  $189,600,000 in aggregate liquidation preference of our 7.00% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series E (“Series E Preferred Stock” and, collectively with our Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock, “Preferred Stock”).
 
The Exchange Offer will expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on          , 2010 (the “expiration date”), unless extended or earlier terminated by us. You must validly tender your shares of Preferred Stock for exchange in the Exchange Offer on or prior to the expiration date to receive shares of our Common Stock.
 
Our Common Stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “FBP.” As of          , 2010, the closing sale price for our Common Stock on the NYSE was $      per share.
 
None of First BanCorp, the dealer manager, the exchange agent, the information agent or any other person is making any recommendation as to whether you should tender your shares of Preferred Stock. You must make your own decision after reading this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and consulting with your advisors.
 
Before deciding to exchange your securities for shares of our Common Stock, you are encouraged to read and carefully consider this prospectus (including the documents incorporated by reference herein) in its entirety, in particular the risk factors beginning on page 26 of this prospectus.
 
The shares of our Common Stock are not savings accounts, deposits or other obligations of any of our bank or non-bank subsidiaries and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.
 
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico securities commission, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of the Exchange Offer or of the securities to be issued in the Exchange Offer or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The Dealer Manager for the Exchange Offer is:
 
UBS Investment Bank
 
(Cover Page Continued on Next Page)


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(Cover Page Continued)
 
The Exchange Agent and the Information Agent for the Exchange Offer is:
 
BNY Mellon Shareowner Services
 
In its capacity as the Exchange Agent:
 
     
By Mail:
  By Hand or Overnight Courier:
BNY Mellon Shareowner Services
  BNY Mellon Shareowner Services
Attn: Corporate Actions Dept.
  Attn: Corporate Actions Dept., 27th Floor
P.O. Box 3301
  480 Washington Boulevard
South Hackensack, NJ 07606
  Jersey City, NJ 07310
 
By Facsimile:
(For Eligible Institutions Only)
(201) 680-4626
Confirm Facsimile Transmission:
(201) 680-4860
 
In its capacity as the Information Agent:
 
BNY Mellon Shareowner Services
480 Washington Boulevard, 27th Floor
Jersey City, NJ 07310
Toll Free: (800) 777-3674
Call Collect: (201) 680-6579
 
 
The date of this prospectus is          , 2010.
 
(Cover Page Continued on Next Page)


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(Cover Page Continued)
 
For each share of Preferred Stock that we accept for exchange in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer, we will issue a number of shares of our Common Stock having the aggregate dollar value (the “Exchange Value”) set forth in the applicable table below. We refer to the number of shares of our Common Stock we will issue (based on the Relevant Price (as defined below)) for each share of Preferred Stock we accept in the Exchange Offer as the “exchange ratio.” The “Relevant Price” will be fixed at 4:30 p.m., New York City time, on the second business day immediately preceding the expiration date of the Exchange Offer, will be announced prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the immediately succeeding business day (which we currently expect to be          , 2010, unless the Exchange Offer is extended) and will be equal to the greater of (1) the average Volume Weighted Average Price, or “VWAP,” of a share of our Common Stock, determined as described on page 7 of this prospectus under the heading “Questions and Answers about the Exchange Offer—How will the Average VWAP be determined?” during the five trading-day period ending on the second business day immediately preceding the expiration date of the Exchange Offer and (2) the “Minimum Share Price” of $      per share of our Common Stock. Depending on the trading price of our Common Stock compared to the Relevant Price, the market value of the Common Stock we issue in exchange for each share of Preferred Stock we accept for exchange may be less than, equal to or greater than the applicable Exchange Value. If the trading price of our Common Stock is below $      per share, the market value of our Common Stock to be received in the Exchange Offer will be less than the applicable Exchange Value.
 
If the aggregate liquidation preference of all shares of Preferred Stock tendered in the Exchange Offer would result in the issuance, upon completion of the Exchange Offer, of a number of shares of our Common Stock in excess of 192,535,000 shares, which we refer to as the Maximum Exchange Amount, we will accept shares of Preferred Stock in accordance with the acceptance priority levels specified in the table set forth below in numerical priority order, subject to proration so that the Maximum Exchange Amount is not exceeded.
 
The table below sets forth certain information regarding each series of Preferred Stock that are the subject of the Exchange Offer.
 
                                 
            Aggregate
             
            liquidation
    Liquidation
       
Acceptance
          preference
    preference
    Exchange
 
priority level   CUSIP   Title of Securities   outstanding     per share     Value  
   
 
1
  318672300   8.35% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series B   $ 75,000,000     $ 25     $        
2
  318672409   7.40% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series C   $ 103,500,000     $ 25     $    
3
  318672508   7.25% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series D   $ 92,000,000     $ 25     $    
4
  318672201   7.125% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series A   $ 90,000,000     $ 25     $    
5
  318672607   7.00% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series E   $ 189,600,000     $ 25     $  
 
The Exchange Offer will expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on          , 2010 (unless we extend the Exchange Offer or terminate it early). You may withdraw any shares of Preferred Stock that you tender at any time prior to the expiration date of the Exchange Offer.
 
Our obligation to exchange shares of our Common Stock for shares of Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer is subject to a number of conditions that must be satisfied or waived, including, among others, (i) pursuant to NYSE listing requirements, the approval by the holders of our Common Stock to the issuance of up to 192,535,000 shares of Common Stock upon the exchange of Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer and the possible issuance of up to 19,245,547 additional shares of Common Stock pursuant to an anti-dilution right held by a current stockholder (as discussed in more detail herein), and (ii) the absence of any change or development (affecting our business or otherwise) that in our reasonable judgment may materially reduce the anticipated benefits to us of the Exchange Offer or that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on us or our businesses, financial condition, operations or prospects. Our obligation to exchange is not subject to any minimum tender condition.


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Important
 
Certain shares of Preferred Stock were issued in book-entry form, and are currently represented by one or more global certificates held for the account of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). If your securities are book-entry securities, you may tender your shares of Preferred Stock by transferring them through DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program (“ATOP”) or following the other procedures described under “The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering Shares of Preferred Stock.”
 
If your interest as a holder of Preferred Stock is in certificated form, you must deliver to BNY Mellon Shareowner Services (the “Exchange Agent”) (1) the certificates for the shares of your Preferred Stock to be exchanged in the manner specified in the accompanying letter of transmittal and (2) a proper assignment of the shares of Preferred Stock to First BanCorp, or to any transfer agent for the shares of Preferred Stock, or in blank.
 
If you are a beneficial owner of shares of Preferred Stock that are held by or registered in the name of a broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, and you wish to participate in the Exchange Offer, you must promptly contact your broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to instruct it to tender your shares of Preferred Stock and to agree to the terms of the accompanying letter of transmittal. You are urged to instruct your broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee at least five business days prior to the expiration date of the Exchange Offer in order to allow adequate processing time for your instruction. Tenders not received by the Exchange Agent, on or prior to the expiration date will be disregarded and have no effect.
 
We are not providing for guaranteed delivery procedures and, therefore, you must allow sufficient time for the necessary tender procedures to be completed during normal business hours of DTC prior to the expiration date. Tenders not received by the Exchange Agent on or prior to the expiration date will be disregarded and have no effect.
 
 
 
 
We are incorporating by reference into this prospectus important business and financial information that is not included in or delivered with this prospectus. This information is available without charge to security holders upon written or oral request. Requests should be directed to either First BanCorp or BNY Mellon Shareowner Services (the “Information Agent”) as follows:
 
First BanCorp.
Attention: Lawrence Odell, Secretary
P.O. Box 9146
San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00908-0146
(787) 729-8109
 
BNY Mellon Shareowner Services
480 Washington Boulevard, 27th Floor
Jersey City, NJ 07310
Toll Free: (800) 777-3674
Call Collect: (201) 680-6579
 
In order to ensure timely delivery of such documents, security holders must request this information no later than five business days before the date by which they must make their investment decision. Accordingly, any request for documents should be made by          , 2010 to ensure timely delivery of the documents prior to the expiration date of the Exchange Offer.
 
You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different. You should assume that the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus or as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, as applicable. We are not making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where such offer is not permitted.
 
In this prospectus, unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, “Corporation,” “we,” “us,” “our” and “First BanCorp” refer to First BanCorp. and its subsidiaries.


 

 
 
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Forward-looking Statements
 
Certain statements in this prospectus are “forward-looking” statements. These forward-looking statements may relate to First BanCorp’s financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business, including, but not limited to, statements with respect to the adequacy of the allowance for loan and lease losses, market risk and the impact of interest rate changes, capital markets conditions, capital adequacy and liquidity and the effect of new accounting guidance on the Corporation’s financial condition and results of operations. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature are forward-looking, and the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continues,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “project” and similar expressions and future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “might,” “can,” “may,” or similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements.
 
These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties, estimates and assumptions by us that are difficult to predict. Various factors, some of which are beyond our control, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to:
 
Ø  uncertainty about whether we will be able to fully comply with the written agreement dated June 3, 2010 (the “Agreement”) that we entered into with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the “Fed”) and the order dated June 2, 2010 (the “Order” and collectively with the Agreement, the “Agreements”) that we entered into with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions of Puerto Rico (“OCIF”) that, among other things, require us to attain certain capital levels and reduce our special mention, classified, delinquent and non-accrual assets;
 
Ø  uncertainty as to whether we can complete the exchange and raise additional capital as described herein;
 
Ø  the risk of being subject to possible additional regulatory action;
 
Ø  the strength or weakness of the real estate market and of the consumer and commercial credit sector and their impact on the credit quality of our loans and other assets, including our construction and commercial real estate loan portfolios, which have contributed and may continue to contribute to, among other things, the increase in the levels of non-performing assets, charge-offs and the provision expense;
 
Ø  adverse changes in general economic conditions in the United States and in Puerto Rico, including the interest rate scenario, market liquidity, housing absorption rates, real estate prices and disruptions in the U.S. capital markets, which may reduce interest margins, impact funding sources and affect demand for all of our products and services and the value of our assets, including the value of derivative instruments used for protection from interest rate fluctuations;
 
Ø  our reliance on brokered certificates of deposit and our ability to obtain, on a periodic basis, approval to issue brokered certificates of deposit to fund operations and provide liquidity in accordance with the terms of the Order;
 
Ø  an adverse change in our ability to attract new clients and retain existing ones;
 
Ø  a decrease in demand for our products and services and lower revenues and earnings because of the continued recession in Puerto Rico, the recently announced consolidation of the banking industry in Puerto Rico and the current fiscal problems and budget deficit of the Puerto Rico government;
 
Ø  a need to recognize additional impairments of financial instruments or goodwill relating to acquisitions;


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Forward-looking Statements
 
 
 
Ø  uncertainty about regulatory and legislative changes for financial services companies in Puerto Rico, the United States and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, which could affect our financial performance and could cause our actual results for future periods to differ materially from prior results and anticipated or projected results;
 
Ø  uncertainty about the effectiveness of the various actions undertaken to stimulate the U.S. economy and stabilize the U.S. financial markets, and the impact such actions may have on our business, financial condition and results of operations;
 
Ø  changes in the fiscal and monetary policies and regulations of the federal government, including those determined by the Fed, the FDIC, government-sponsored housing agencies and local regulators in Puerto Rico and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands;
 
Ø  the risk that the FDIC may further increase the deposit insurance premium and/or require special assessments to replenish its insurance fund, causing an additional increase in our non-interest expense;
 
Ø  risks of not being able to generate sufficient income to realize the benefit of the deferred tax asset;
 
Ø  risks of not being able to recover the assets pledged to Lehman Brothers Special Financing, Inc.;
 
Ø  changes in our expenses associated with acquisitions and dispositions;
 
Ø  developments in technology;
 
Ø  the impact of Doral Financial Corporation’s financial condition on the repayment of its outstanding secured loans to us;
 
Ø  risks associated with further downgrades in the credit ratings of our securities;
 
Ø  general competitive factors and industry consolidation; and
 
Ø  the possible future dilution to holders of our Common Stock resulting from additional issuances of Common Stock or securities convertible into Common Stock.
 
Although the “forward-looking statements” are based on our current beliefs and expectations, we do not undertake, and specifically disclaim any obligation, to update any of the “forward-looking statements” to reflect occurrences or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements except as required by federal and state securities laws.
 
You should carefully consider these factors and the risk factors beginning on page 26 of this prospectus. All “forward-looking statements” attributable to First BanCorp or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained in this prospectus.


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Where You Can Find More Information
 
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, which contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at its public reference facilities located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference facilities.


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Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference
 
We hereby incorporate by reference into this prospectus the following documents that we have filed with the SEC:
 
Ø  Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed on March 2, 2010;
 
Ø  Our Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on April 27, 2010 filed on April 6, 2010;
 
Ø  Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 3, 2010 (excluding Items 2.02 and 9.01), April 29, 2010 (excluding Items 2.02 and 9.01, as amended by Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on May 3, 2010) and June 4, 2010; and
 
Ø  Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 10, 2010.
 
You may request a copy of these filings, other than an exhibit to a filing unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that filing, at no cost, by writing to us at the following address: First BanCorp., Attention: Lawrence Odell, Secretary, P.O. Box 9146, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00908-0146. Telephone requests may be directed to: (787) 729-8109. E-mail requests may be directed to lawrence.odell@firstbankpr.com. You may also access this information at our website at www.firstbankpr.com by viewing the “SEC Filings” subsection of the “Investor Relations” menu. No additional information on our website is deemed to be part of or incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
 
Please note that this Registration Statement and the Schedule TO that will be filed in connection with the Exchange Offer do not permit incorporation by reference of future filings. If a material change occurs in the information set forth in this prospectus, we will amend this Registration Statement and the Schedule TO accordingly.


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Questions and Answers about the Exchange Offer
 
The following are certain questions regarding the Exchange Offer that you may have as a holder of shares of Preferred Stock and the answers to those questions. These questions and answers may not contain all of the information that is important to you and are qualified in their entirety by the more detailed information included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Before deciding to exchange your securities for shares of our Common Stock, you should carefully consider the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including the information set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 26 of this prospectus. For further information about us, see “Where You Can Find More Information.”
 
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER?
 
We decided to conduct this Exchange Offer to improve our capital structure given the continuing difficult economic conditions in the markets in which we operate and the evolving regulatory environment. We must increase our common equity to provide additional protection from the possibility that, due to the current economic situation in Puerto Rico that has impacted the Corporation’s asset quality and earnings performance, the Corporation has to recognize additional loan loss reserves against its loan portfolio and absorb the potential future credit losses associated with the disposition of non-performing assets. Total non-performing loans to total loans increased to 12.35% as of March 31, 2010 from 11.23% as of December 31, 2009 and from 5.27% as of March 31, 2009.
 
The restructuring of our equity components through the Exchange Offer will strengthen the quality of our regulatory capital position and enhance our ability to meet any new capital requirements. Furthermore, through the Exchange Offer, we are seeking to improve the Corporation’s Tier 1 common equity to risk-weighted assets ratio. In the Supervisory Capital Assessment Program (the “SCAP”) applied to large money-center banks in the U.S., federal regulators established a 4% Tier 1 common equity to risk-weighted assets ratio as the minimum threshold to determine the potential capital needs of such banks. While the SCAP is not applicable to us, we believe that the Tier 1 common equity ratio is being viewed by financial analysts and rating agencies as a guide for measuring the capital adequacy of banking institutions. The Exchange Offer will also improve our tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio, which is another metric used by financial analysts to determine a bank’s capital requirements. As of March 31, 2010, our Tier 1 common equity ratio was 3.36% and our tangible common equity ratio was 2.74%. If 70% of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock are exchanged in the Exchange Offer, which is the Corporation’s targeted success rate for the Exchange Offer, our Tier 1 common equity ratio and tangible common equity ratio as of March 31, 2010 on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the Exchange Offer would have been 6.20% and 4.78%, respectively. Our Tier 1 common equity would be strengthened by $385 million based on a 70% success rate for the exchange. See “Regulatory and Other Capital Ratios—Reconciliation of Tangible Common Equity and Tangible Assets” and “Regulatory and Other Capital Ratios—Reconciliation of Common Stockholders’ Equity (GAAP) to Tier 1 Common Equity (Non-GAAP).”
 
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE RECENT REGULATORY AGREEMENTS?
 
The Corporation entered into the Agreement with the Fed dated June 3, 2010 and our subsidiary, FirstBank, agreed to the Order with the FDIC and the OCIF dated June 2, 2010. Pursuant to these Agreements, the Corporation and FirstBank have agreed to take certain actions designed to improve their financial condition. These actions include the adoption and implementation of various plans, procedures and policies related to their capital, lending activities, liquidity and funds management and strategy. In addition, the Order requires FirstBank to develop and adopt a plan to attain a leverage ratio of at least 8%, a Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of at least 10% and a Total capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of at least 12%, and obtain approval prior to issuing, increasing, renewing or


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Questions and Answers about the Exchange Offer
 
 
rolling over brokered deposits. The Agreement also requires the Corporation to obtain the approval of the Fed prior to paying dividends, receiving dividends from FirstBank, incurring, increasing or guaranteeing any debt, or purchasing or redeeming any stock, to comply with certain notice provisions prior to appointing any new directors or senior executive officers and to comply with certain restrictions on severance payments and indemnification.
 
Concurrently with the issuance by the FDIC of its Order, the FDIC granted FirstBank a temporary waiver to enable it to continue accessing the brokered deposit market. FirstBank will request approvals for future periods although no assurance can be given that the FDIC will continue to issue such approvals. Any failure to obtain a future approval would have a significantly adverse effect on FirstBank, which has relied on brokered deposits to fund a major part of its operations and had, as of March 31, 2010, $7.4 billion in brokered deposits outstanding, representing approximately 57% of our total deposits. For more information about the Agreements, see “Regulatory Agreements.”
 
WHAT ADDITIONAL EFFORTS IS THE CORPORATION TAKING TO IMPROVE ITS CAPITAL?
 
We have assured our regulators that we are committed to raising capital and are actively pursuing capital strengthening initiatives. In addition to this Exchange Offer, we are considering or taking steps to implement strategies to increase tangible common equity and regulatory capital through (1) the issuance of approximately $500 million of equity in one or more offerings (the “Capital Raise”), (2) the conversion into Common Stock of the shares of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series F, $1,000 liquidation preference per share (“Series F Preferred Stock”), that we sold to the United States Treasury (the “U.S. Treasury”) on January 16, 2009, and (3) a rights offering to existing stockholders. With respect to the Capital Raise, we are seeking to raise at least $500 million of equity because we believe that amount would enable us to absorb possible additional losses based on a worst case evaluation of possible losses over the next five years while maintaining the capital ratios required for a well-capitalized financial institution as well as those required by the FDIC’s Order. With respect to the conversion, the Corporation is currently in advanced discussions with the U.S. Treasury relating to the exchange of its Series F Preferred Stock for shares of Common Stock to be accomplished in one or more transactions. We expect to amend this Prospectus to disclose any material developments relating to the Capital Raise or the conversion that occur prior to the expiration date of the Exchange Offer. We expect that any rights offering would be conducted after completion of the Exchange Offer, any Capital Raise and the conversion of the Series F Preferred Stock.
 
We believe that the Exchange Offer and, to the extent completed, the conversion of the U.S. Treasury’s Series F Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock and the Capital Raise will enhance our long-term financial stability and improve our ability to operate in the current economic environment. In addition, it will improve our ability to access the capital markets in order to fund strategic initiatives or other business needs and to absorb any future credit losses.
 
HOW WOULD THE ISSUANCE OF ADDITIONAL SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AFFECT PARTICIPANTS IN THE EXCHANGE OFFER?
 
Existing holders of Preferred Stock that participate in the Exchange Offer would be significantly diluted if we issue additional shares of Common Stock other than through the Exchange Offer. These possible additional issuances include: (i) the possible issuance of shares of Common Stock in the Capital Raise at a price significantly below the book value per share of Common Stock as of March 31, 2010 of $6.04; (ii) the possible issuance of shares of Common Stock in exchange for the U.S. Treasury’s Series F Preferred Stock; and (iii) the possible issuance of up to 19,245,547 additional shares of Common Stock to The Bank of Nova Scotia (“BNS”) pursuant to its anti-dilution right, subject to the consent of the Federal Reserve (see “Anti-Dilution Rights That May Be Triggered by the Exchange Offer”). These additional issuances would likely reduce significantly the percentage of Common Stock owned by


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Questions and Answers about the Exchange Offer
 
 
participants in the Exchange Offer. In addition, these three issuances may adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock, which was           on June   , 2010.
 
WHAT ARE THE KEY TERMS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER?
 
We are offering to exchange up to 192,535,000 newly issued shares of our Common Stock, which we refer to as the Maximum Exchange Amount, for any and all issued and outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series D Preferred Stock and Series E Preferred Stock.
 
For each share of Preferred Stock that we accept for exchange in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer, we will issue a number of shares of our Common Stock, up to the Maximum Exchange Amount, having the Exchange Value set forth in the table below (subject to the acceptance priority levels specified in the table below, in numerical priority order, and proration):
 
                                 
            Aggregate
             
            liquidation
    Liquidation
       
Acceptance
          preference
    preference
    Exchange
 
priority level   CUSIP   Title of securities   outstanding     per share     Value  
   
 
1
  318672300   8.35% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series B   $ 75,000,000     $ 25     $    
2
  318672409   7.40% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series C   $ 103,500,000     $ 25     $    
3
  318672508   7.25% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series D   $ 92,000,000     $ 25     $    
4
  318672201   7.125% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series A   $ 90,000,000     $ 25     $    
5
  318672607   7.00% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series E   $ 189,600,000     $ 25     $  
 
Depending on the trading price of our Common Stock compared to the Relevant Price, the market value of the Common Stock we issue on the settlement date in exchange for each share of Preferred Stock we accept for exchange may be less than, equal to or greater than the applicable Exchange Value referred to above. If the trading price of our Common Stock is below $      per share, the market value of our Common Stock to be received in the Exchange Offer will be less than the applicable Exchange Value. Depending on the number of shares of Preferred Stock tendered in the Exchange Offer and the Exchange Value, we may not be able to accept for exchange all shares of Preferred Stock validly tendered and not properly withdrawn as of the expiration date. If we cannot accept all shares of Preferred Stock validly tendered and not properly withdrawn as of the expiration date without issuing a number of shares of Common Stock in exchange for those shares of Preferred Stock in excess of the Maximum Exchange Amount, we will accept shares of Preferred Stock in accordance with the acceptance priority levels specified in the above table in numerical priority order, subject to proration so that the Maximum Exchange Amount is not exceeded. For more information about acceptance priority levels and proration, see below under “The Exchange Offer—Terms of the Exchange Offer—Offer Consideration” and “The Exchange Offer—Acceptance Priority Levels; Proration.’’


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Questions and Answers about the Exchange Offer
 
 
WHAT CONSIDERATION ARE WE OFFERING IN EXCHANGE FOR SHARES OF PREFERRED STOCK?
 
For each share of Preferred Stock that we accept for exchange in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer, we will issue a number of shares of our Common Stock, up to the Maximum Exchange Amount, having the aggregate dollar value (based on the Relevant Price) equal to the applicable Exchange Value.
 
Depending on the trading price of our Common Stock compared to the Relevant Price, the market value of the Common Stock we issue in exchange for each share of Preferred Stock we accept for exchange may be less than, equal to or greater than the applicable Exchange Value.
 
If the aggregate liquidation preference of all shares of Preferred Stock tendered in the Exchange Offer would result in the issuance, upon completion of the Exchange Offer, of a number of shares of our Common Stock in excess of the Maximum Exchange Amount, we will accept shares of Preferred Stock in accordance with the acceptance priority levels specified in the table set forth above in numerical priority order, subject to proration so that the Maximum Exchange Amount is not exceeded.
 
See “The Exchange Offer—Acceptance Priority Levels; Proration.”
 
HOW WILL THE AVERAGE VWAP BE DETERMINED?
 
Average VWAP during a period means the arithmetic average of VWAP for each trading day during that period. VWAP for any day means the per share volume weighted average price of our Common Stock on that day as displayed under the heading Bloomberg VWAP on Bloomberg Page FBP US <equity> VAP (or its equivalent successor page if such page is not available) in respect of the period from the scheduled open of trading on the relevant trading day until the scheduled close of trading on the relevant trading day (or if such VWAP is unavailable, the market price of one share of our Common Stock on such trading day determined, using a volume weighted average method, by a nationally recognized investment banking firm we retain for that purpose).
 
HOW MAY I OBTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING THE RELEVANT PRICE AND APPLICABLE EXCHANGE RATIOS?
 
Throughout the Exchange Offer, the indicative average VWAP, the Minimum Share Price, the resultant indicative Relevant Price and the indicative exchange ratios will be available at          and from the Information Agent, at one of its numbers listed on the back cover page of this prospectus.
 
We will announce the final exchange ratio for each series of Preferred Stock prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day immediately succeeding the second business day prior to the expiration date of the Exchange Offer, and those final exchange ratios will also be available by that time at           and from the Information Agent. No additional information on our website is deemed to be part of or incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
 
Depending on the trading price of our Common Stock compared to the Relevant Price, the market value of the Common Stock we issue in exchange for each share of Preferred Stock we accept for exchange may be less than, equal to or greater than the applicable Exchange Value.
 
WILL ALL SHARES OF PREFERRED STOCK THAT I TENDER BE ACCEPTED IN THE EXCHANGE OFFER?
 
Not necessarily. We will issue no more than 192,535,000 shares of our Common Stock in the Exchange Offer. Depending on the number of shares of Preferred Stock tendered in the Exchange Offer and the exchange ratio determined as described above, we may need to reduce (based on the acceptance priority levels of the individual series of Preferred Stock and possibly proration) the number of shares of Preferred Stock that we accept in the Exchange Offer to avoid exceeding the Maximum Exchange


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Questions and Answers about the Exchange Offer
 
 
Amount. Any shares of Preferred Stock not accepted for exchange as a result of the acceptance priority levels or proration will be promptly returned following the expiration or termination, as applicable, of the Exchange Offer. See “The Exchange Offer—Acceptance Priority Levels; Proration.”
 
WHAT HAPPENS TO TENDERED SHARES OF PREFERRED STOCK THAT ARE NOT ACCEPTED FOR EXCHANGE?
 
If your tendered shares of Preferred Stock are not accepted for exchange for any reason pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer, such shares will be returned without expense to you or, in the case of shares of Preferred Stock tendered by book-entry transfer, such shares will be credited to an account maintained at DTC, designated by the participant who delivered such shares, in each case, promptly following the expiration or termination, as applicable, of the Exchange Offer.
 
WILL FRACTIONAL SHARES BE ISSUED IN THE EXCHANGE OFFER?
 
We will not issue fractional shares of our Common Stock in the Exchange Offer and no cash will be paid for fractional shares. Instead, the number of shares of Common Stock received by each holder whose shares of Preferred Stock are accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer will be rounded down to the nearest whole number.
 
WHAT ARE THE KEY TERMS APPLICABLE TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER?
 
The Exchange Offer will expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time on          , 2010, unless extended or earlier terminated by us.
 
You may withdraw any shares of Preferred Stock that you previously tendered in the Exchange Offer on or prior to the expiration date of the Exchange Offer.
 
Our obligation to exchange shares of our Common Stock for shares of Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer is subject to a number of conditions that must be satisfied or waived by us, including, among others, (i) pursuant to NYSE listing requirements, the approval by the holders of our Common Stock to the issuance of up to 192,535,000 shares of Common Stock upon the exchange of Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer and the possible issuance of up to 19,245,547 additional shares of Common Stock to BNS pursuant to its anti-dilution right, subject to the consent of the Federal Reserve (see “Anti-Dilution Rights That May Be Triggered by the Exchange Offer”), and (ii) the absence of any change or development (affecting our business or otherwise) that in our reasonable judgment may materially reduce the anticipated benefits to us of the Exchange Offer or that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on us or our businesses, financial condition, operations or prospects. Our obligation to exchange is not subject to any minimum tender condition.
 
We will hold a special meeting of the holders of our Common Stock at our principal offices located at 1519 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Santurce, Puerto Rico, on                    , for the purpose of seeking approval of such holders of the issuance of up to 192,535,000 shares of Common Stock upon the exchange of Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer and of the issuance of up to 19,245,547 additional shares of Common Stock to BNS (if it exercises its anti-dilution right), both in an amount equal to a majority of the votes cast, provided that the total votes cast at such special meeting represents more than 50% of the issued and outstanding shares of our Common Stock.
 
HOW DO I PARTICIPATE IN THE EXCHANGE OFFER?
 
Certain shares of Preferred Stock were issued in book-entry form and are currently represented by one or more global certificates held for the account of DTC. If your securities are book-entry securities, you may tender your shares of Preferred Stock by transferring them through ATOP or following the other procedures described under “The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering Shares of Preferred Stock.”


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Questions and Answers about the Exchange Offer
 
 
 
If your interest as a holder of Preferred Stock is in certificated form, you must deliver to the Exchange Agent (1) the certificates for the shares of your Preferred Stock to be exchanged in the manner specified in the accompanying letter of transmittal and (2) a proper assignment of the shares of Preferred Stock to First BanCorp, or to any transfer agent for the shares of Preferred Stock, or in blank.
 
If you hold your shares of Preferred Stock through a bank, broker or other nominee, in order to validly tender your shares of Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer, you must follow the instructions provided by your broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee with regard to procedures for tendering, in order to enable your broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to comply with the procedures described below. Beneficial owners are urged to appropriately instruct their broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee at least five business days prior to the expiration date in order to allow adequate processing time for their instruction.
 
In order for a broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to validly tender your shares of Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer, such broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee must deliver to the Exchange Agent an electronic message that will contain:
 
Ø  your acknowledgment and agreement to, and agreement to be bound by, the terms of the accompanying letter of transmittal; and
 
Ø  a timely confirmation of book-entry transfer of your shares of Preferred Stock into the Exchange Agent’s account.
 
Should you have any questions as to the procedures for tendering your shares of Preferred Stock, please call your broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee; or call the Information Agent.
 
WE ARE NOT PROVIDING FOR GUARANTEED DELIVERY PROCEDURES AND, THEREFORE, YOU MUST ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME FOR THE NECESSARY TENDER PROCEDURES TO BE COMPLETED DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS OF DTC ON OR PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE.
 
See “The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering Shares of Preferred Stock.”
 
DO I HAVE A CHOICE IN WHETHER TO TENDER MY PREFERRED STOCK?
 
Yes. Holders of Preferred Stock are not required to tender their Preferred Stock pursuant to this prospectus. All rights and obligations pursuant to which each series of Preferred Stock was issued will continue with respect to the Preferred Stock that remains outstanding after the expiration date.
 
MAY I TENDER ONLY A PORTION OF THE PREFERRED STOCK THAT I HOLD?
 
Yes. You may choose to tender in the Exchange Offer all or any portion of the Preferred Stock that you hold.
 
WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT EXCHANGING MY PREFERRED STOCK OR MY RETENTION OF PREFERRED STOCK DUE TO THE ACCEPTANCE PRIORITY LEVELS OR PRORATION?
 
After the completion of the Exchange Offer, we intend to delist any remaining shares of our Preferred Stock from trading on the NYSE and, to the extent permitted by law, we intend to deregister any such remaining shares under the Exchange Act. The delisting of any such remaining shares, the reduction in the number of shares of Preferred Stock available for trading and our suspension of dividends on Preferred Stock may have a significant and adverse effect on the liquidity of any trading market for, and the price of, shares of Preferred Stock not exchanged in the Exchange Offer or retained as a result of


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Questions and Answers about the Exchange Offer
 
 
proration. Therefore, if you do not exchange your Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer or you must retain Preferred Stock as a result of the acceptance priority levels or proration, your shares of Preferred Stock may become illiquid for an indefinite period of time.
 
WILL WE PAY DIVIDENDS ON PREFERRED STOCK THAT REMAINS OUTSTANDING AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER?
 
It is not our current intent to pay dividends on Preferred Stock that remains outstanding after the completion of the Exchange Offer. We cannot determine if or when we may pay such dividends in the future. On July 30, 2009, we announced the suspension of dividends on our Common Stock, Preferred Stock and Series F Preferred Stock, which was sold to the U.S. Treasury on January 16, 2009, effective with the preferred dividend for August 2009. We have not paid dividends on the Preferred Stock since August 2009. Payment of dividends on our Preferred Stock may require regulatory approval and will require us to conclude that their payment will not affect our capital position. Furthermore, we are generally not obligated or required to pay dividends on Preferred Stock and no such dividends can be paid unless they are declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for payment.
 
WILL THE COMMON STOCK TO BE ISSUED IN THE EXCHANGE OFFER BE LISTED FOR TRADING?
 
We will file an application with the NYSE to list the shares of our Common Stock to be issued in the Exchange Offer. For more information regarding the market for our Common Stock, see “Market Price, Dividend and Distribution Information.”
 
IS THE CORPORATION MAKING A RECOMMENDATION REGARDING WHETHER YOU SHOULD TENDER IN THE EXCHANGE OFFER?
 
We are not making any recommendation regarding whether you should tender or refrain from tendering your Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer. Accordingly, you must make your own determination as to whether to tender your Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer and, if so, the number of shares of Preferred Stock to tender. Before making your decision, we urge you to carefully read this prospectus in its entirety, including the information set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus and all documents incorporated by reference herein.
 
WILL I HAVE TO PAY ANY FEES OR COMMISSIONS IF I TENDER MY PREFERRED STOCK?
 
Tendering holders are not obligated to pay brokerage fees or commissions to us or to the Dealer Manager, the Exchange Agent or the Information Agent. If your shares of Preferred Stock are held through a broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who tenders the Preferred Stock on your behalf, your broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee may charge you a commission for doing so. You should consult with your broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to determine whether any charges will apply.
 
WILL THE CORPORATION RECEIVE ANY CASH PROCEEDS FROM THE EXCHANGE OFFER?
 
No. The Corporation will not receive any cash proceeds from the Exchange Offer.
 
WILL THE EXCHANGE OFFER TRIGGER ANY ANTI-DILUTION RIGHTS?
 
Both BNS and the U.S. Treasury have anti-dilution rights.
 
Pursuant to the terms of the Stockholder Agreement, dated August 24, 2007, by and between us and BNS (the “Stockholder Agreement”), for as long as BNS beneficially owns at least 5% of our outstanding Common Stock, BNS has an anti-dilution right and a right of first refusal. If we were to


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Questions and Answers about the Exchange Offer
 
 
issue the Maximum Exchange Amount in the Exchange Offer, BNS would be entitled under the anti-dilution right to acquire up to 19,245,547 additional shares of our Common Stock at a price equal to the price per share at which the shares of our Common Stock were issued in the Exchange Offer, subject to the consent of the Federal Reserve. If BNS declines to exercise any part of its anti-dilution right and we issue the Maximum Exchange Amount in the Exchange Offer, BNS’s beneficial ownership would be reduced to approximately 3.2%.
 
In addition, the U.S. Treasury has an anti-dilution right relating to the warrant that it acquired at the same time that it acquired shares of our Series F Preferred Stock in January 2009. This right will be triggered if the value of the Preferred Stock exchanged for Common Stock in the Exchange Offer, as determined by our board of directors, is equal to less than 90% of the market value of the Common Stock as determined pursuant to the terms of the warrant. If the U.S. Treasury’s anti-dilution right is triggered, we will need to adjust the exercise price for and the number of shares underlying the warrant.
 
See “Anti-Dilution Rights That May Be Triggered by the Exchange Offer.”
 
WILL THE EXCHANGE OFFER AFFECT OUR REGULATORY CAPITAL RATIOS?
 
No. The Exchange Offer itself will not affect our Total capital or Tier 1 capital. These ratios will only be affected if BNS exercises its anti-dilution right under the Stockholder Agreement and acquires shares of our Common Stock. See “Anti-Dilution Rights That May Be Triggered by the Exchange Offer.” However, the Exchange Offer will affect our tangible common equity ratio and our Tier 1 common equity to risk-weighted assets ratio, which are non-GAAP financial measures used by financial analysts, investment bankers and others to evaluate capital adequacy.
 
WILL THE CORPORATION SEEK STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL OF THE POSSIBLE ISSUANCE OF SHARES OF OUR COMMON STOCK TO BNS IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXCHANGE OFFER?
 
Yes. Any sale of additional shares of our Common Stock to BNS pursuant to its anti-dilution right, right of first refusal or otherwise requires the prior approval of our stockholders under the listing requirements of the NYSE unless the sale is at a price in cash at least as great as the higher of the book or market value of our Common Stock, provided that the number of shares to be issued does not exceed 5% of the number of our shares of Common Stock before the issuance. We will seek the approval of the holders of our Common Stock at a special meeting on                          of the possible issuance of shares of our Common Stock to BNS in connection with the Exchange Offer along with stockholder approval of the issuance of the Maximum Exchange Amount in the Exchange Offer.
 
WILL THE CORPORATION NEED TO RAISE ADDITIONAL CAPITAL AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER?
 
We plan to conduct the Exchange Offer concurrently with the Capital Raise, given the continuing difficult economic conditions in Puerto Rico and the other markets in which we operate and the potential for future credit losses. Even if we are able to complete the Capital Raise, the Corporation expects to undertake additional efforts to raise capital through perhaps a rights offering or a sale of additional shares of Common Stock in an offering later in 2010.
 
If BNS continues to own at least 5% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock at the time of any such sale of Common Stock, it can exercise its anti-dilution right and right of first refusal in connection with any such offering. No assurance can be given that any issuance of shares of Common Stock in an offering will be possible at an acceptable price, or that BNS will exercise its anti-dilution right or right of first refusal in the event of an offering, or that the Federal Reserve will approve any such purchase by BNS. If BNS exercises its anti-dilution right or right of first refusal in connection with an offering, the NYSE listing requirements may require us to, once again, seek stockholder approval of the issuance of shares of our Common Stock to BNS.


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Questions and Answers about the Exchange Offer
 
 
WHAT ARE THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF MY PARTICIPATING IN THE EXCHANGE OFFER?
 
We anticipate that no gain or loss will be recognized upon completion of the Exchange Offer by any persons subject to United States federal or Puerto Rico income tax.
 
WHO CAN I TALK TO IF I HAVE QUESTIONS?
 
If you have questions regarding the Exchange Offer, please contact the Dealer Manager or the Information Agent at the addresses and telephone numbers included on the back cover of this prospectus.


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Summary
 
The following summary highlights material information contained in this prospectus. It may not contain all of the information that is important to you and is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed information included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Before deciding to exchange your securities for shares of our Common Stock, you should carefully consider the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including the information set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” starting on page 26 in this prospectus.
 
THE CORPORATION
 
First BanCorp is a publicly-owned financial holding company that is subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the Federal Reserve. The Corporation was incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to serve as the bank holding company for FirstBank Puerto Rico (“FirstBank” or the “Bank”). The Corporation controls three wholly-owned subsidiaries: FirstBank, FirstBank Insurance Agency, Inc. (“FirstBank Insurance Agency”) and Grupo Empresas de Servicios Financieros (“PR Finance Group”), through which we operate a total of 187 branches, stand-alone offices and in-branch service centers throughout Puerto Rico, the United States and British Virgin Islands and the state of Florida specializing in commercial banking, residential mortgage loan originations, finance leases, personal loans, small loans, auto loans and insurance agency services. FirstBank is a Puerto Rico-chartered commercial bank, FirstBank Insurance Agency is a Puerto Rico-chartered insurance agency and PR Finance Group is a Puerto Rico corporation. FirstBank is subject to the supervision, examination and regulation of both the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the FDIC. Deposits are insured through the FDIC Deposit Insurance Fund. In addition, within FirstBank, the operations in the U.S. Virgin Islands are subject to regulation and examination by the United States Virgin Islands Banking Board; in the British Virgin Islands, operations are subject to regulation by the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission. As of December 31, 2009, First BanCorp had approximately $19.6 billion in assets, $12.7 billion in deposits and $1.6 billion in stockholders’ equity.
 
The Corporation’s principal executive offices are located at 1519 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Stop 23, Santurce, Puerto Rico 00908, and its telephone number is (787) 729-8200.
 
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
 
The Corporation entered into the Agreement with the Fed dated June 3, 2010 and our subsidiary, FirstBank, agreed to the Order with the FDIC and the OCIF dated June 2, 2010. Pursuant to these Agreements, the Corporation and FirstBank have agreed to take certain actions designed to improve their financial condition. These actions include the adoption and implementation of various plans, procedures and policies related to their capital, lending activities, liquidity and funds management and strategy. In addition, the Order requires FirstBank to develop and adopt a plan to attain a leverage ratio of at least 8%, a Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of at least 10% and a Total capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of at least 12%, and obtain approval prior to issuing, increasing, renewing or rolling over brokered deposits. The Agreement also requires the Corporation to obtain the approval of the Fed prior to paying dividends, receiving dividends from FirstBank, incurring, increasing or guaranteeing any debt, or purchasing or redeeming any stock, to comply with certain notice provisions prior to appointing any new directors or senior executive officers and to comply with certain restrictions on severance payments and indemnification.
 
Concurrently with the issuance by the FDIC of its Order, the FDIC granted FirstBank a temporary waiver to enable it to continue accessing the brokered deposit market. FirstBank will request approvals for future periods although no assurance can be given that the FDIC will continue to issue such approvals. Any failure to obtain a future approval would have a significantly adverse effect on FirstBank, which has relied on brokered deposits to fund a major part of its operations and had, as of March 31, 2010, $7.4 billion in brokered deposits outstanding, representing approximately 57% of our total deposits. For more information about the Agreements, see “Regulatory Agreements.”


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THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
We decided to conduct this Exchange Offer to improve our capital structure given the continuing difficult economic conditions in the markets in which we operate and the evolving regulatory environment. We must increase our common equity to provide additional protection from the possibility that, due to the current economic situation in Puerto Rico that has impacted the Corporation’s asset quality and earnings performance, the Corporation has to recognize additional loan loss reserves against its loan portfolio and absorb the potential future credit losses associated with the disposition of non-performing assets. Total non-performing loans to total loans increased to 12.35% as of March 31, 2010 from 11.23% as of December 31, 2009 and from 5.27% as of March 31, 2009. The Exchange Offer will strengthen our capital position if it is successful. Our Tier 1 capital will only be affected if BNS decides to exercise its anti-dilution right under the Stockholder Agreement and acquires shares of our Common Stock. See “Anti-Dilution Rights That May Be Triggered by the Exchange Offer.” The Exchange Offer will improve the Corporation’s Tier 1 common equity to risk-weighted assets ratio and tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio, which, as of March 31, 2010, were 3.36% and 2.74%, respectively. If 70% of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock are exchanged in the Exchange Offer, which is the Corporation’s targeted success rate for the Exchange Offer, our Tier 1 common equity ratio and tangible common equity ratio as of March 31, 2010 on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the Exchange Offer would have been 6.20% and 4.78%, respectively. Our Tier 1 common equity would be strengthened by $385 million based on a 70% success rate for the exchange. See “Regulatory and Other Capital Ratios — Reconciliation of Tangible Common Equity and Tangible Assets” and “Regulatory and Other Capital Ratios — Reconciliation of Common Stockholders’ Equity (GAAP) to Tier 1 Common Equity (Non-GAAP).” We believe that the Exchange Offer will enhance our long-term financial stability and improve our ability to operate in the current economic environment. In addition, it will improve our ability to access the capital markets in order to fund strategic initiatives or other business needs and to absorb any future credit losses. See “The Exchange Offer—Purpose of the Exchange Offer.”
 
ADDITIONAL EFFORTS THE CORPORATION IS TAKING TO IMPROVE ITS CAPITAL
 
We have assured our regulators that we are committed to raising capital and are actively pursuing capital strengthening initiatives. In addition to this Exchange Offer, we are considering or taking steps to implement strategies to increase tangible common equity and regulatory capital through (1) the Capital Raise, (2) the conversion into Common Stock of the shares of Series F Preferred Stock, that we sold to the U.S. Treasury on January 16, 2009, and (3) a rights offering to existing stockholders. With respect to the Capital Raise, we are seeking to raise at least $500 million of equity because we believe that amount would enable us to absorb possible additional losses based on a worst case evaluation of possible losses over the next five years while maintaining the capital ratios required for a well-capitalized financial institution as well as these required by the FDIC’s Order. With respect to the conversion, the Corporation is currently in advanced discussions with the U.S. Treasury relating to the exchange of its Series F Preferred Stock for shares of Common Stock to be accomplished in one or more transactions. We expect to amend this Prospectus to disclose any material developments relating to the Capital Raise or the conversion as they occur. We expect that any rights offering would be conducted after completion of the Exchange Offer, any Capital Raise and the conversion of the Series F Preferred Stock.
 
IMPACT OF ISSUANCE OF ADDITIONAL SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ON PARTICIPANTS IN THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
Existing holders of Preferred Stock that participate in the Exchange Offer would be significantly diluted if we issue additional shares of Common Stock other than through the Exchange Offer. These additional issuances include: (i) the possible issuance of shares of Common Stock in the Capital Raise at a price significantly below the book value per share of Common Stock as of March 31, 2010 of $6.04; (ii) the possible issuance of shares of Common Stock in exchange for the U.S. Treasury’s Series F Preferred Stock; and (iii) the possible issuance of up to 19,245,547 additional shares of Common Stock to BNS


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pursuant to its anti-dilution right, subject to the consent of the Federal Reserve (see “Anti-Dilution Rights That May Be Triggered by the Exchange Offer”). These additional issuances would likely reduce significantly the percentage of Common Stock owned by participants in the Exchange Offer. In addition, these three issuances may adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock, which was           on June   , 2010.
 
REGULATORY AND OTHER CAPITAL RATIOS(1)
 
The following table sets forth our capital ratios as of March 31, 2010 on an “as reported” basis, as well as on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the Exchange Offer assuming that our stockholders approve the amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation to decrease the par value of a share of Common Stock. The pro forma ratios presented reflect (i) completion of the Exchange Offer under the Low Participation Scenario and (ii) completion of the Exchange Offer under the High Participation Scenario. This table should be read in conjunction with the information set forth under “Selected Financial Data,” “Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information,” “Regulatory and Other Capital Ratios” and our consolidated audited financial statements set forth in our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. See also “Risk Factors.”
 
                         
    As of March 31, 2010  
          Pro forma for
    Pro forma for
 
          Exchange Offer
    Exchange Offer
 
    As reported     (Low)(2)     (High)(3)  
   
 
Total capital (Total capital to risk-weighted assets)
    13.26 %     13.26 %     13.26 %
Tier 1 capital ratio (Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets)
    11.98       11.98       11.98  
Leverage (Tier 1 capital to average assets)
    8.37       8.37       8.37  
Tangible common equity (Tangible common equity to tangible assets)
    2.74       4.20       5.37  
Tier 1 common (Tier 1 common equity to risk-weighted assets)
    3.36       5.41       7.05  
 
 
(1) The tangible common equity ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure. It is not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). The tangible common equity ratio is generally used by financial analysts and investment bankers to evaluate capital adequacy. Tier 1 common equity to risk-weighted assets ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure used by the Federal Reserve in connection with the stress test administered to the 19 largest U.S. bank holding companies under the SCAP, the results of which were announced on May 7, 2009. For a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to U.S. GAAP, see “Regulatory and Other Capital Ratios — Reconciliation of Tangible Common Equity and Tangible Assets” and “Regulatory and Other Capital Ratios — Reconciliation of Common Stockholders’ Equity (GAAP) to Tier 1 Common Equity (Non-GAAP).”
 
(2) The “Low Participation Scenario” assumes (i) the exchange of 50% of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock ($275.05 million aggregate liquidation preference) for           shares of our Common Stock, and (ii) a Relevant Price of $      per share.
 
(3) The “High Participation Scenario” assumes (i) the exchange of 90% of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock ($495.09 million aggregate liquidation preference) for           shares of our Common Stock, and (ii) a Relevant Price of $      per share.
 
DIVIDEND SUSPENSION ON COMMON STOCK AND PREFERRED STOCK
 
On July 30, 2009, we announced the suspension of dividends on our Common Stock, Preferred Stock and Series F Preferred Stock effective with the preferred dividend for August 2009. We are generally not obligated or required to pay dividends on our Common Stock or preferred stock and no such dividends


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can be paid unless they are declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for payment. Moreover, in general, so long as any shares of Preferred Stock remain outstanding and until we meet various federal regulatory considerations, our board of directors cannot declare, set apart or pay any dividends on shares of our Common Stock unless (i) any accrued and unpaid dividends on our Preferred Stock for the twelve monthly dividend periods ending on the immediately preceding dividend payment date have been paid or are paid contemporaneously and the full monthly dividend on our Preferred Stock for the then current month has been or is contemporaneously declared and paid or declared and set apart for payment and, (ii) with respect to our Series F Preferred Stock, all accrued and unpaid dividends for all past dividend periods, including the latest completed dividend period, on all outstanding shares of Series F Preferred Stock have been declared and paid in full.
 
ANTI-DILUTION RIGHTS THAT MAY BE TRIGGERED BY THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
Both BNS and the U.S. Treasury have anti-dilution rights. BNS’s anti-dilution right will be triggered by the Exchange Offer. If BNS exercises its anti-dilution right, BNS would be entitled to acquire up to that number of shares of Common Stock that would enable it to maintain its percentage interest in the Corporation, or up to 19,245,547 additional shares of our Common Stock if we issue 192,535,000 shares in the Exchange Offer, at a price equal to the price per share at which the shares of our Common Stock were issued in the Exchange Offer. The U.S. Treasury has an anti-dilution right relating to the warrant that it acquired at the same time that it acquired shares of our Series F Preferred Stock in January 2009. This right will be triggered if the value of the Preferred Stock exchanged for Common Stock in the Exchange Offer, as determined by our board of directors, is equal to less than 90% of the market value of the Common Stock as determined pursuant to the terms of the warrant. If the U.S. Treasury’s anti-dilution right is triggered, we will need to adjust the exercise price for and the number of shares underlying the warrant.


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Summary Terms of the Exchange Offer
 
Exchange Offer We are offering to issue up to 192,535,000 newly issued shares of our Common Stock in exchange for any and all of the issued and outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, validly tendered and not validly withdrawn on or prior to the expiration date, subject to the Maximum Exchange Amount, which may result in acceptance of shares of Preferred Stock in accordance with the acceptance priority levels specified in the table below in numerical priority order and proration as described below, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the accompanying letter of transmittal (including, if the Exchange Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of any such extension or amendment).
 
For each share of Preferred Stock that we accept for exchange in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer, we will issue a number of shares of our Common Stock having the aggregate dollar value (based on the Relevant Price) equal to the Exchange Value set forth in the table below.
 
Depending on the trading price of our Common Stock compared to the Relevant Price, the market value of the Common Stock we issue in exchange for each share of Preferred Stock we accept for exchange may be less than, equal to or greater than the applicable Exchange Value referred to below.
 
Set forth below is a table that shows, with respect to each series of Preferred Stock, the aggregate liquidation preference outstanding, the liquidation preference per share of Preferred Stock and the applicable Exchange Value for each series.
 
                                     
              Aggregate
             
Acceptance
            liquidation
    Liquidation
       
priority
            preference
    preference
    Exchange
 
level
  CUSIP     Title of securities   outstanding     per share     Value  
   
 
1
    318672300     8.35% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series B     $75,000,000     $ 25     $             
2
    318672409     7.40% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series C     $103,500,000     $ 25     $    
3
    318672508     7.25% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series D     $92,000,000     $ 25     $    
4
    318672201     7.125% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series A     $90,000,000     $ 25     $    
5
    318672607     7.00% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series E     $189,600,000     $ 25     $  


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See “The Exchange Offer—Terms of the Exchange Offer” and “The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering Shares of Preferred Stock.”
 
Purpose of the Exchange Offer We are conducting this Exchange Offer to improve our capital structure given the continuing difficult economic conditions in the markets in which we operate and the evolving regulatory environment. We believe that the Exchange Offer will enhance our long-term financial stability and improve our ability to operate in the current economic environment. In addition, it will improve our ability to access the capital markets in order to fund strategic initiatives or other business needs and to absorb any future credit losses.
 
Consideration Offered in the Exchange Offer We are offering to exchange up to 192,535,000 newly issued shares of our Common Stock for outstanding shares of Preferred Stock (subject to acceptance of shares of Preferred Stock in accordance with the acceptance priority levels specified in the table above in numerical priority order and proration, as described below), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the accompanying letter of transmittal.
 
As of June   , 2010, we had approximately 92.5 million shares of Common Stock outstanding.
 
We will accept validly tendered shares of Preferred Stock for exchange (subject to proration, as described below) for the Exchange Value, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer. We will promptly return any securities that are not accepted for exchange following the expiration or termination, as applicable, of the Exchange Offer.
 
For each share of Preferred Stock that we accept for exchange in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer, we will issue a number of shares of our Common Stock having the aggregate dollar value (based on the Relevant Price) equal to the Exchange Value set forth in the table under “The Exchange Offer—Terms of the Exchange Offer—Offer Consideration,” subject to the Minimum Share Price limitation.
 
The maximum number of shares of our Common Stock that we may issue under the Exchange Offer is 192,535,000 shares.
 
Depending on the trading price of our Common Stock compared to the Relevant Price described above, the market value of the Common Stock we issue in exchange for each share of Preferred Stock we accept for exchange may be less than, equal to or greater than the relevant Exchange Value referred to above.
 
We are not making a recommendation as to whether you should exchange your shares of Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer. We have not retained, and do not intend to retain, any unaffiliated representatives to act solely on behalf of the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock for purposes of


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negotiating the Exchange Offer or preparing a report concerning the fairness of the Exchange Offer. You must make your own independent decision regarding your participation in the Exchange Offer.
 
Publication of Exchange Ratio Information Throughout the Exchange Offer, the indicative average VWAP, the Minimum Share Price, the resultant indicative Relevant Price, and the indicative exchange ratios will be available at and from the Information Agent, at one of its numbers listed on the back cover page of this prospectus. We will announce the final exchange ratio for each series of Preferred Stock prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day immediately succeeding the second business day prior to the expiration date of the Exchange Offer, and those final exchange ratios will also be available by that time at          and from the Information Agent. No additional information on our website is deemed to be part of or incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
 
Acceptance Priority Levels If acceptance for exchange of all shares of Preferred Stock validly tendered and not properly withdrawn prior to the expiration date would result in the issuance of a number of shares of our Common Stock in excess of the Maximum Exchange Amount, then acceptance of shares of Preferred Stock will be in accordance with the acceptance priority levels specified in the table above (in numerical priority order), which we refer to as “Acceptance Priority Levels.” We initially will accept all shares of Preferred Stock validly tendered and not properly withdrawn prior to the expiration date within Acceptance Priority Level 1 as long as acceptance of all those shares of Preferred Stock within Acceptance Priority Level 1 would not result in the issuance of a number of shares of our Common Stock in excess of the Maximum Exchange Amount.
 
If acceptance of all shares of Preferred Stock validly tendered and not properly withdrawn prior to the expiration date within Acceptance Priority Level 1 would result in the issuance of a number of shares of our Common Stock in excess of the Maximum Exchange Amount, then we will accept for exchange a pro rata portion of the shares of Preferred Stock within Acceptance Priority Level 1.
 
After acceptance of shares of Preferred Stock within Acceptance Priority Level 1, the number of shares of Common Stock in the Maximum Exchange Amount will be reduced by the number of shares of Common Stock issuable in exchange for all shares of Preferred Stock accepted for exchange in Acceptance Priority Level 1. We refer to this as the “Adjusted Aggregate Consideration.” If the Adjusted Aggregate Consideration is greater than zero, then we will accept validly tendered and not withdrawn shares of Preferred Stock within Acceptance Priority Level 2, but only to the extent that the Adjusted Aggregate Consideration is not exceeded.


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We will continue sequentially through each Acceptance Priority Level, each time reducing the Adjusted Aggregate Consideration by the number of shares issuable in exchange for shares of Preferred Stock accepted in preceding Acceptance Priority Level(s), until we are unable to accept for exchange all shares of Preferred Stock validly tendered and not properly withdrawn prior to the expiration date within an Acceptance Priority Level without exceeding the Adjusted Aggregate Consideration. In this case, we will accept for exchange only a pro rata portion of the validly tendered and not properly withdrawn shares of Preferred Stock within that Acceptance Priority Level. We will not accept for exchange any additional shares of Preferred Stock after the Adjusted Aggregate Consideration equals zero.
 
Proration If proration of a series of shares of Preferred Stock is required, due to our inability to accept for exchange all shares of Preferred Stock validly tendered and not properly withdrawn prior to the expiration date within a particular Acceptance Priority Level without the number of shares of our Common Stock issuable in exchange for those shares of Preferred Stock exceeding the Maximum Exchange Amount or the Adjusted Aggregate Consideration, we will determine the proration factor applicable to that series promptly after the expiration date and will announce the proration results by press release. In applying the proration factor, we will multiply the amount of each tender of shares of Preferred Stock for that particular series by the proration factor and round the resulting amount down to the nearest whole share. All shares of Preferred Stock not accepted as a result of proration will be rejected from the Exchange Offer and promptly returned to the holders. See “The Exchange Offer—Acceptance Priority Levels; Proration.”
 
Expiration Date The Exchange Offer will expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on          , 2010 unless the Exchange Offer is extended or earlier terminated by us. The term “expiration date” means such date and time or, if an Exchange Offer is extended, the latest date and time to which the Exchange Offer is so extended.
 
Fractional Shares We will not issue fractional shares of our Common Stock in the Exchange Offer and no cash will be paid for fractional shares. Instead, the number of shares of Common Stock received by each holder whose shares of Preferred Stock are accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer will be rounded down to the nearest whole number.
 
Settlement Date The settlement date with respect to the Exchange Offer will be a date promptly following the expiration date. We currently expect the settlement date to be three trading days after the expiration date.
 
Withdrawal Rights You may withdraw previously tendered shares of Preferred Stock at any time before the expiration date of the Exchange Offer. In addition, you may withdraw any shares of Preferred Stock that you tender that are not accepted by us for exchange


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after the expiration of 40 business days after the commencement of the Exchange Offer. See “The Exchange Offer—Withdrawal of Tenders.”
 
Conditions to the Exchange Offer Our obligation to issue shares of our Common Stock in exchange for shares of Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer is subject to a number of conditions that must be satisfied or waived by us, including, among others, (i) pursuant to NYSE listing requirements, the approval by the holders of our Common Stock to the issuance of up to 192,535,000 shares of Common Stock upon the exchange of Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer and the possible issuance of up to 19,245,547 additional shares of Common Stock to BNS pursuant to its anti-dilution right, subject to the consent of the Federal Reserve, if BNS exercises its anti-dilution right, and (ii) the absence of any change or development (affecting our business or otherwise) that in our reasonable judgment may materially reduce the anticipated benefits to us of the Exchange Offer or that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on us or our businesses, financial condition, operations or prospects. See “The Exchange Offer—Conditions of the Exchange Offer.”
 
Extensions; Waivers and Amendments; Termination Subject to applicable law, we reserve the right to: (1) extend the Exchange Offer; (2) waive any and all conditions to or amend the Exchange Offer in any respect, including amending the Exchange Value or the Minimum Share Price; or (3) terminate the Exchange Offer. Any extension, waiver, amendment or termination will be followed as promptly as practicable by a public announcement thereof, such announcement in the case of an extension to be issued no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the last previously scheduled expiration date. See “The Exchange Offer—Expiration Date; Extension; Termination; Amendment.”
 
Procedures for Tendering Shares of Preferred Stock Certain shares of Preferred Stock were issued in book-entry form, and are currently represented by one or more global certificates held for the account of DTC. If your securities are book entry securities, you may tender your shares of Preferred Stock by transferring them through ATOP or following the other procedures described under “The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering Shares of Preferred Stock.”
 
If you hold your shares of Preferred Stock through a broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, in order to validly tender your shares of Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer, you must follow the instructions provided by your broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee with regard to procedures for tendering, in order to enable your broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank,


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trust company or other nominee to comply with the procedures described below.
 
Beneficial owners are urged to instruct appropriately their broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee at least five business days prior to the expiration date in order to allow adequate processing time for their instruction.
 
In order for a broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to tender validly your shares of Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer, such broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee must deliver to the Exchange Agent an electronic message that will contain:
 
Ø your acknowledgment and agreement to, and agreement to be bound by, the terms of the accompanying letter of transmittal; and
 
Ø a timely confirmation of book-entry transfer of your shares of Preferred Stock into the Exchange Agent’s account.
 
Should you have any questions as to the procedures for tendering your shares of Preferred Stock, please call your broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee; or call the Information Agent.
 
On the date of any tender for exchange, if your interest in shares of Preferred Stock is in certificated form, you must do each of the following in order to validly tender for exchange:
 
Ø complete and manually sign the accompanying letter of transmittal provided by the Information Agent, or a facsimile of the letter of transmittal, and deliver the signed letter to;
 
Ø surrender the certificates for your shares of Preferred Stock to the Information Agent;
 
Ø if required, furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents; and
 
Ø if required, pay all transfer or similar taxes.
 
You may obtain copies of the required form of the letter of transmittal from the Exchange Agent.
 
WE ARE NOT PROVIDING FOR GUARANTEED DELIVERY PROCEDURES AND, THEREFORE, YOU MUST ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME FOR THE NECESSARY TENDER PROCEDURES TO BE COMPLETED DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS OF DTC ON OR PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE.
 
TENDERS RECEIVED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT AFTER THE EXPIRATION DATE WILL BE DISREGARDED AND HAVE NO EFFECT.


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See “The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering Shares of Preferred Stock.”
 
United States Federal Income Tax Considerations For United States federal income tax purposes: (i) the exchange of shares of Preferred Stock for shares of our Common Stock pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be treated as a recapitalization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(E) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and (ii) it is intended that this prospectus, in combination with the related letter of transmittal, will constitute a plan of reorganization, within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-2(g). Therefore, we anticipate that no gain or loss will be recognized upon completion of the Exchange Offer by any persons subject to United States federal income tax. See “Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.” Each holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign income and other tax consequences of exchanging shares of Preferred Stock for shares of our Common Stock and of owning and disposing of shares of our Common Stock.
 
Puerto Rico Income Tax Considerations For Puerto Rico income tax purposes: (i) the exchange of the shares of Preferred Stock for shares of our Common Stock pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be treated as a recapitalization within the meaning of Section 1112(g)(1)(E) of the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code of 1994, as amended (the “PR Code”) and (ii) it is intended that this prospectus, in combination with the related letter of transmittal, will constitute a plan of reorganization, within the meaning of Article 1112(g)-2(i) of the Regulations under the PR Code. Therefore, we anticipate that no gain or loss will be recognized upon completion of the Exchange Offer by any persons subject to Puerto Rico income tax. See “Taxation—Certain Puerto Rico Tax Considerations.” Each holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the application to its particular circumstances of the Puerto Rico income tax consequences as well as the application of any, state, local and foreign income and other tax consequences of exchanging the shares of Preferred Stock for our Common Stock and of owning and disposing of our Common Stock.
 
Consequences of Not Exchanging Shares of Preferred Stock or Retention of Shares as a Result of Acceptance Priority Levels or Proration Shares of Preferred Stock not exchanged in the Exchange Offer or retained as a result of the acceptance priority levels or proration will remain outstanding after completion of the Exchange Offer. The reduction in the number of shares available for trading after completing the Exchange Offer, our suspension of the payment of dividends on Preferred Stock since August 2009, and our delisting of any remaining shares of Preferred Stock from trading on the NYSE and, to the extent permitted by law, the deregistration of any such


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remaining shares under the Exchange Act may have a significant and adverse effect on the liquidity of any trading market for, and the price of, such shares of Preferred Stock and may result in the shares of Preferred Stock being illiquid for an indefinite period of time.
 
Comparison of Rights There are material differences between the rights of holders of our Common Stock and holders of preferred stock. See “Description and Comparison of Preferred Stock, Series F Preferred Stock and Common Stock Rights.”
 
Appraisal/Dissenters’ Rights No appraisal or dissenters’ rights are available to holders of shares of Preferred Stock under applicable law in connection with the Exchange Offer.
 
Market Trading Our Common Stock is traded on the NYSE under the symbol “FBP.” The last reported closing price of our Common Stock on          , 2010, the last trading day prior to the date of this prospectus, was $      per share. We will file an application with the NYSE to list the shares of our Common Stock to be issued in the Exchange Offer. The shares of Preferred Stock are traded on the NYSE. After the completion of the Exchange Offer, we intend to delist any remaining shares of our Preferred Stock from trading on the NYSE.
 
Brokerage Commissions No brokerage commissions are payable by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock to the Dealer Manager, the Exchange Agent and Information Agent or us.
 
Soliciting Dealer Fee With respect to any tender of a series of shares of Preferred Stock, we will pay the relevant soliciting dealer a fee not to exceed 0.50% of the aggregate liquidation preference or liquidation amount, as applicable, of all securities accepted for exchange. See “The Exchange Offer—Soliciting Dealer Fee.”
 
Dealer Manager UBS Securities LLC
 
Exchange Agent and Information Agent BNY Mellon Shareowner Services
 
Further Information If you have questions about any of the terms of the Exchange Offer, please contact the Dealer Manager or the Information Agent. If you have questions regarding the procedures for tendering your shares of Preferred Stock, please contact your broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee; or contact the Exchange Agent and Information Agent. The contact information for the Dealer Manager and the Information Agent and Exchange Agent is set forth on the back cover page of this prospectus.
 
As required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, First BanCorp filed a registration statement (No. 333-165252) relating to the Exchange Offer with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This document is a part of that registration statement, which includes additional information. See also “Where You Can Find More Information.”


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Risk Factors
 
You should carefully consider the risks described below and all of the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus before you decide whether to participate in the Exchange Offer.
 
RISK RELATING TO OUR BUSINESS
 
Our banking subsidiary is operating under a Consent Order with the FDIC and OCIF and the Corporation is operating under a Written Agreement with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
 
On June 4, 2010, we announced that FirstBank has agreed to a Consent Order (the “Order”) issued by the FDIC and OCIF dated June 2, 2010 and the Corporation has entered into a Written Agreement with the Fed dated June 3, 2010 (collectively, the “Agreements”). These Agreements stem from the FDIC’s examination as of the period ended June 30, 2009 conducted during the second half of 2009.
 
Under the Order, the Bank has agreed to address specific areas through the adoption and implementation of procedures, plans and policies designed to improve the safety and soundness of the Bank. These actions include, among others, that the Bank will have and retain qualified management and have active Board participation in the affairs of the Bank, develop and adopt a plan to attain a leverage ratio of at least 8%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 10% and a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 12%, reduce the level of special mention and classified assets and delinquent and non-accrual loans, develop a funds management plan, which includes a reduction in the reliance on brokered deposits, and report quarterly on the Bank’s progress in meeting the requirements of the Order.
 
The Written Agreement, which is designed to enhance the Corporation’s ability to act as a source of strength to the Bank, requires that the Corporation obtain Fed approval before paying dividends, receiving dividends from the Bank, making payments on subordinated debt or trust preferred securities, incurring or guaranteeing debt or purchasing or redeeming any corporate stock. The Written Agreement also requires the Corporation to submit to the Fed a capital plan and progress reports, comply with certain notice provisions prior to appointing new directors or senior executive officers and comply with certain payment restrictions on severance payments and indemnification restrictions.
 
We anticipate that we will need to dedicate significant resources to our efforts to comply with these Agreements, which may adversely affect our ability to conduct our operations. If we fail to comply with the Agreements, we may become subject to additional regulatory enforcement action up to and including the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the Bank.
 
Additional capital is necessary to assure future compliance with the Agreements.
 
Although, as of March 31, 2010, the amounts of the Corporation’s and its subsidiary bank’s capital exceeded the minimum amounts required for them to qualify as “well capitalized” for regulatory purposes and the capital requirements in the FDIC’s Order, the Corporation must increase its common equity to provide additional protection from the possibility that, due to the current economic situation in Puerto Rico that has impacted the Corporation’s asset quality and earnings performance, First BanCorp could have to recognize additional loan loss reserves against its loan portfolio and absorb the potential future credit losses associated with the disposition of our non-performing assets. If we are not able to increase our capital or otherwise improve our financial condition in the near term, we believe that it is likely that our regulators could take additional regulatory action that could materially affect our business, operations, financial condition, or results of operations or the value of our Common Stock.


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Risk Factors
 
 
Certain funding sources may not be available to us.
 
Our funding sources include core deposits, brokered deposits, borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank, borrowings from the Federal Reserve Bank and repurchase agreements with several counterparties.
 
A large portion of FirstBank’s funding is retail brokered certificates of deposit (“CDs”). We issue brokered CDs to, among other things, pay operating expenses, maintain our lending activities, replace certain maturing liabilities, and control interest rate risk. As of March 31, 2010, we had $7.4 billion in brokered deposits outstanding, representing approximately 57% of our total deposits, and a reduction from $8.4 billion at year end 2008. The average term to maturity of the retail brokered CDs outstanding as of March 31, 2010 was approximately 1.2 years. Approximately 3% of the principal value of these certificates is callable at our option.
 
The Order we recently entered into requires us to obtain approval prior to issuing, renewing or rolling over brokered CDs and to develop a plan to reduce our reliance on brokered CDs. Although the FDIC issued a temporary approval through June 30, 2010, no assurance can be given that we will continue to receive such approvals. The use of brokered CDs has been particularly important for our growth. If we are unable to issue brokered CDs, our results of operations and liquidity would be adversely affected.
 
Another source of funding during 2009 and 2010 has been Advances from the Discount Window of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. As of March 31, 2010, FirstBank had $600 million of borrowings outstanding with the Federal Reserve Bank. As part of the mechanisms to ease the liquidity crisis, during 2009, the Federal Reserve Bank encouraged banks to utilize the Discount Window as a source of funding. With the credit markets conditions improving, the Federal Reserve announced in early 2010 its intention to withdraw part of the liquidity stimulus measures, including replacing restrictions on the use of Discount Window borrowings, thereby returning to its function of lender of last resort. As the short-term borrowings from the Fed are repaid, FirstBank will lose access to the Discount Window for regular funding purposes. The inability to borrow from the Fed’s Discount Window will result in the need for replacement of the funds with other sources of funding.
 
We depend on cash dividends from FirstBank to meet our cash obligations, but the Agreement with the Fed prohibits the payment of such dividends without prior Fed approval, which may adversely affect our ability to fulfill our obligations.
 
As a holding company, dividends from FirstBank provide a substantial portion of our cash flow used to service the interest payments on our trust preferred securities and other obligations. As outlined in the Agreement, the Bank cannot pay any cash dividends or other payments to the Corporation without prior written approval of the Fed. Additionally, the Corporation cannot declare or pay any dividends (including on the U.S. Treasury’s Series F Preferred Stock) or make any distributions of interest, principal or other sums on subordinated debentures or trust preferred securities without prior written approval of the Fed. Our inability to receive dividends from FirstBank could adversely affect our ability to fulfill our obligations.
 
Banking regulators could take additional adverse action against us.
 
We are subject to supervision and regulation by the Fed. We are a bank holding company that qualifies as a financial holding corporation. As such, we are permitted to engage in a broader spectrum of activities than those permitted to bank holding companies that are not financial holding companies. To continue to qualify as a financial holding corporation, each of our banking subsidiaries must continue to qualify as “well-capitalized” and “well-managed.” As of March 31, 2010, First BanCorp and FirstBank continue to satisfy all applicable capital guidelines. Nevertheless, we recently agreed to regulatory actions by our banking regulators. Our regulators could take additional action against us if we fail to comply with the Agreements. If we were not to continue to qualify as a financial holding


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Risk Factors
 
 
corporation, we might be required to discontinue certain activities and may be prohibited from engaging in new activities without prior regulatory approval. Additional adverse action against us by our primary regulators could adversely affect our business.
 
Credit quality, which is continuing to deteriorate, may result in future additional losses.
 
The quality of our credits has continued to be under pressure as a result of continued recessionary conditions in Puerto Rico and the state of Florida that have led to, among other things, higher unemployment levels, much lower absorption rates for new residential construction projects and further declines in property values. Our business depends on the creditworthiness of its customers and counterparties and the value of the assets securing its loans or underlying our investments. When the credit quality of the customer base materially decreases or the risk profile of a market, industry or group of customers changes materially, our business, financial condition, allowance levels, asset impairments, liquidity, capital and results of operations are adversely affected.
 
While we have substantially increased our allowance for loan and lease losses in 2009 and the first quarter of 2010, we expect to recognize additional provisions to cover future credit losses in the portfolio because of continued adverse changes in the economy, market conditions or events negatively affecting specific customers, industries or markets both in Puerto Rico and Florida. We periodically review the allowance for loan and lease losses for adequacy considering economic conditions and trends, collateral values and credit quality indicators, including charge-off experience and levels of past due loans and non-performing assets. Our future results may be materially and adversely affected by worsening defaults and severity rates related to the underlying collateral.
 
We may have more credit risk and higher credit losses due to our construction loan portfolio.
 
We have a significant construction loan portfolio, in the amount of $1.46 billion as of March 31, 2010, mostly secured by commercial and residential real estate properties. Due to their nature, these loans entail a higher credit risk than consumer and residential mortgage loans, since they are larger in size, concentrate more risk in a single borrower and are generally more sensitive to economic downturns. Rapidly changing collateral values, general economic conditions and numerous other factors continue to create volatility in the housing markets and have increased the possibility that additional losses may have to be recognized with respect to our current nonperforming assets. Furthermore, given the current slowdown in the real estate market, the properties securing these loans may be difficult to dispose of if they are foreclosed.
 
We are subject to default risk on loans, which may adversely affect our results.
 
We are subject to the risk of loss from loan defaults and foreclosures with respect to the loans we originate. We establish a provision for loan losses, which leads to reductions in our income from operations, in order to maintain our allowance for inherent loan losses at a level which our management deems to be appropriate based upon an assessment of the quality of the loan portfolio. Although our management utilizes its best judgment in providing for loan losses, there can be no assurance that management has accurately estimated the level of inherent loan losses or that we will not have to increase our provision for loan losses in the future as a result of future increases in non-performing loans or for other reasons beyond our control.
 
Any such increases in our provision for loan losses or any loan losses in excess of our provision for loan losses would have an adverse effect on our future financial condition and results of operations. Given the difficulties facing some of our largest borrowers, we can give no assurance that these borrowers will continue to repay their loans on a timely basis or that we will continue to be able to accurately assess any risk of loss from the loans to these financial institutions.


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Risk Factors
 
 
Changes in collateral valuation for properties located in stagnant or distressed economies may require increased reserves.
 
Substantially all of our loan portfolio is located within the boundaries of the U.S. economy. Whether the collateral is located in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands or the U.S. mainland, the performance of our loan portfolio and the collateral value backing the transactions are dependent upon the performance of and conditions within each specific real estate market. Recent economic reports related to the real estate market in Puerto Rico indicate that certain pockets of the real estate market are subject to readjustments in value driven not by demand but more by the purchasing power of the consumers and general economic conditions. In South Florida, we have been seeing the negative impact associated with low absorption rates and property value adjustments due to overbuilding. A significant decline in collateral valuations for collateral dependent loans may require increases in our specific provision for loan losses and an increase in the general valuation allowance. Any such increase would have an adverse effect on our future financial condition and results of operations.
 
Worsening in the financial condition of critical counterparties may result in higher losses than expected.
 
The financial stability of several counterparties is critical for their continued financial performance on covenants that require the repurchase of loans, posting of collateral to reduce our credit exposure or replacement of delinquent loans. Many of these transactions expose us to credit risk in the event of a default by one of our counterparties. Any such losses could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
Interest rate shifts may reduce net interest income.
 
Shifts in short-term interest rates may reduce net interest income, which is the principal component of our earnings. Net interest income is the difference between the amount received by us on our interest-earning assets and the interest paid by us on its interest-bearing liabilities. When interest rates rise, we must pay more in interest on our liabilities while the interest earned on our assets does not rise as quickly. This may cause our profits to decrease. This adverse impact on earnings is greater when the slope of the yield curve flattens, that is, when short-term interest rates increase more than long-term rates.
 
Increases in interest rates may reduce the value of holdings of securities.
 
Fixed-rate securities acquired by us are generally subject to decreases in market value when interest rates rise, which may require recognition of a loss (e.g., the identification of other-than-temporary impairment on our available for sale or held to maturity investments portfolio), thereby adversely affecting our results of operations. Market-related reductions in value also affect the capabilities of financing these securities.
 
Increases in interest rates may reduce demand for mortgage and other loans.
 
Higher interest rates increase the cost of mortgage and other loans to consumers and businesses and may reduce demand for such loans, which may negatively impact our profits by reducing the amount of loan origination income.
 
Accelerated prepayments may adversely affect net interest income.
 
Net interest income of future periods may be affected by the acceleration in prepayments of mortgage-backed securities. Acceleration in the prepayments of mortgage-backed securities would lower yields on securities purchased at a premium, as the amortization of premiums paid upon acquisition of these securities would accelerate.


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Conversely, acceleration in the prepayments of mortgage-backed securities would increase yields on securities purchased at a discount, as the amortization of the discount would accelerate.
 
Also, net interest income in future periods might be affected by our investment in callable securities. Approximately $275 million of U.S. agency debentures with an average yield of 2.24% were called during the first quarter of 2010. As of March 31, 2010, the Corporation has approximately $915 million in U.S. agency debentures with embedded calls having an average yield of 2.09% (mainly securities with contractual maturities of 2 to 3 years acquired in 2009), of which $525 million were called after the end of the first quarter of 2010. The Corporation has been using proceeds from called securities and deploying some of its liquidity to purchase approximately $1.6 billion of investment securities (approximately $550 million in 2, 3 and 4 year U.S. Treasury Notes with an average yield of 1.65%; approximately $544 million in 2, 3 and 5 year U.S. agency debt securities with an average yield of 1.57% and approximately $514 million in 30 and 15 year GNMA pools with an average yield of 3.85%). Of these investment securities, approximately $578 million contain embedded call options.
 
Decreases in interest rates may increase the probability that embedded call options in investment securities are exercised. Future net interest income could be affected by our holding of callable securities. The recent drop in long-term interest rates has the effect of increasing the probability of the exercise of embedded calls in U.S. agency debentures in the amount of approximately $584 million as of April 30, 2010 that, if substituted with new lower-yield investments, may negatively impact our interest income.
 
Changes in interest rates may reduce net interest income due to Basis Risk.
 
Basis risk occurs when market rates for different financial instruments or the indices used to price assets and liabilities change at different times or by different amounts. It is the risk of adverse consequences resulting from unequal changes in the difference, also referred to as the “spread,” between two or more rates for different instruments with the same maturity. The interest expense for liability instruments such as brokered CDs at times does not change by the same amount as interest income received from loans or investments. The liquidity crisis that erupted in late 2008, and that slowly began to subside during 2009, caused a wider than normal spread between brokered CD costs and LIBOR rates for similar terms. This, in turn, has prevented us from capturing the full benefit of a decrease in interest rates, as the floating rate loan portfolio re-prices with changes in the LIBOR indices, while the brokered CD rates decreased less than the LIBOR indices. To the extent that such pressures fail to subside in the near future, the margin between our LIBOR-based assets and the higher cost of the brokered CDs may compress and adversely affect net interest income.
 
If all or a significant portion of the unrealized losses in our investment securities portfolio on our consolidated balance sheet were determined to be other-than-temporarily impaired, we would recognize a material charge to our earnings and our capital ratios would be adversely affected.
 
As of March 31, 2010, we recognized $1.7 million in other-than-temporary impairments. To the extent that any portion of the unrealized losses in our investment securities portfolio is determined to be other than temporary, and the loss is related to credit factors, we recognize a charge to earnings in the quarter during which such determination is made and capital ratios could be adversely affected. If any such charge is significant, a rating agency might downgrade our credit rating or put it on credit watch. Even if we do not determine that the unrealized losses associated with this portfolio require an impairment charge, increases in these unrealized losses adversely affect our tangible common equity ratio, which may adversely affect credit rating agency and investor sentiment towards us. This negative perception also may adversely affect our ability to access the capital markets or might increase our cost of capital.


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As of March 31, 2010, we recognized other-than-temporary impairment on our private label MBS. Valuation and other-than-temporary impairment determinations will continue to be affected by external market factors including default rates, severity rates and macro-economic factors.
 
Downgrades in our credit ratings could further increase the cost of borrowing funds.
 
Both First BanCorp and FirstBank suffered credit rating downgrades on June 4, 2010. Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) currently rates First BanCorp’s long-term senior debt “B−”, six notches below investment grade. Standard and Poor’s (“S&P”) rates First BanCorp “CCC+”, or seven notches below investment grade. Moody’s Investor Service (“Moody’s”) rates FirstBank’s long-term senior debt “B3”, and S&P rates it “CCC+”. Furthermore, on the same date, Moodys placed FirstBank on “Credit Watch Negative.”
 
We do not have any outstanding debt or derivative agreements that would be affected by a credit downgrade. Our liquidity is contingent upon our ability to obtain new external sources of funding to finance our operations; however, our current credit ratings and any future downgrades in credit ratings could hinder our access to external funding and/or cause external funding to be more expensive, which could in turn adversely affect the results of operations. Changes in credit ratings may also affect the fair value of certain liabilities and unsecured derivatives, measured at fair value in the financial statements, for which our own credit risk is an element considered in the fair value determination.
 
These debt and financial strength ratings are current opinions of the rating agencies. As such, they may be changed, suspended or withdrawn at any time by the rating agencies as a result of changes in, or unavailability of, information or based on other circumstances.
 
Our funding sources may prove insufficient to replace deposits and support future growth.
 
Our banking subsidiary, FirstBank, relies on customer deposits, brokered deposits and advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) to fund its operations. Although FirstBank has historically been able to replace maturing deposits and advances if desired, no assurance can be given that it would be able to replace these funds in the future if our financial condition or general market conditions were to change or the FDIC did not approve our request to issue brokered CDs as required by the Order. Our financial flexibility will be severely constrained if FirstBank is unable to maintain access to funding or if adequate financing is not available to accommodate future growth at acceptable interest rates. Finally, if we are required to rely more heavily on more expensive funding sources to support future growth, revenues may not increase proportionately to cover costs. In this case, profitability would be adversely affected. Although we consider such sources of funds adequate for our liquidity needs, we may seek additional debt financing in the future to achieve our long-term business objectives. There can be no assurance that the Fed would approve such additional debt or that additional borrowings, if sought, would be available to us or on what terms. If additional financing sources are unavailable or are not available on reasonable terms, our growth and future prospects could be adversely affected.
 
Adverse credit market conditions may affect our ability to meet liquidity needs.
 
We need liquidity to, among other things, pay our operating expenses, interest on our debt, maintain our lending activities and replace certain maturing liabilities. Without sufficient liquidity, we may be forced to curtail our operations. The availability of additional financing will depend on a variety of factors such as market conditions, the general availability of credit and our credit ratings and credit capacity. Our financial condition and cash flows could be materially affected by continued disruptions in financial markets.


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Our controls and procedures may fail or be circumvented, our risk management policies and procedures may be inadequate, and operational risk could adversely affect our consolidated results of operations.
 
We may fail to identify and manage risks related to a variety of aspects of our business, including, but not limited to, operational risk, interest-rate risk, trading risk, fiduciary risk, legal and compliance risk, liquidity risk and credit risk. We have adopted various controls, procedures, policies and systems to monitor and manage risk. While we currently believe that our risk management process is effective, we cannot provide assurance that those controls, procedures, policies and systems will always be adequate to identify and manage the risks in the various businesses. In addition, our businesses and the markets in which we operate are continuously evolving. We may fail to fully understand the implications of changes in our businesses or the financial markets and fail to adequately or timely enhance our risk framework to address those changes. If our risk framework is ineffective, either because it fails to keep pace with changes in the financial markets or our businesses or for other reasons, we could incur losses, suffer reputational damage or find ourselves out of compliance with applicable regulatory mandates or expectations.
 
We may also be subject to disruptions from external events that are wholly or partially beyond our control, which could cause delays or disruptions to operational functions, including information processing and financial market settlement functions. In addition, our customers, vendors and counterparties could suffer from such events. Should these events affect us, or the customers, vendors or counterparties with which we conduct business, our consolidated results of operations could be negatively affected. When we record balance sheet reserves for probable loss contingencies related to operational losses, we may be unable to accurately estimate our potential exposure, and any reserves we establish to cover operational losses may not be sufficient to cover our actual financial exposure, which may have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations or financial condition for the periods in which we recognize the losses.
 
Competition for our employees is intense, and we may not be able to attract and retain the highly skilled people we need to support our business.
 
Our success depends, in large part, on our ability to attract and/or retain key people. Competition for the best people in most activities in which we engage can be intense, and we may not be able to hire people or retain them, particularly in light of uncertainty concerning evolving compensation restrictions applicable to banks but not applicable to other financial services firms. The unexpected loss of services of one or more of our key personnel could adversely affect our business because the loss of their skills, knowledge of our markets, and years of industry experience and, in some cases, because of the difficulty of promptly finding qualified replacement personnel. Similarly, the loss of key employees, either individually or as a group, can adversely affect our customers’ perception of our ability to continue to manage certain types of investment management mandates.
 
Further increases in the FDIC deposit insurance premium may have a significant financial impact on us.
 
The FDIC insures deposits at FDIC insured financial institutions up to certain limits. The FDIC charges insured financial institutions premiums to maintain the Deposit Insurance Fund (the “DIF”). Current economic conditions have resulted in higher bank failures and expectations of future bank failures. In the event of a bank failure, the FDIC takes control of a failed bank and ensures payment of deposits up to insured limits (which have recently been increased) using the resources of the DIF. The FDIC is required by law to maintain adequate funding of the DIF, and the FDIC may increase premium assessments to maintain such funding.


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On February 27, 2009, the FDIC determined that it would assess higher rates for institutions that relied significantly on secured liabilities or on brokered deposits but, for well-managed and well-capitalized banks, only when accompanied by rapid asset growth. On May 22, 2009, the FDIC adopted a final rule imposing a 5 basis-point special assessment on each insured depository institution’s assets minus Tier 1 capital as of June 30, 2009. On November 12, 2009, the FDIC adopted a final rule imposing a 13-quarter prepayment of FDIC premiums due on December 30, 2009. Although FirstBank obtained a waiver from the FDIC to make such prepayment, the FDIC may further increase our premiums or impose additional assessments or prepayment requirements on us in the future.
 
We may not be able to recover all assets pledged to Lehman Brothers Special Financing, Inc.
 
Lehman Brothers Special Financing, Inc. (“Lehman”) was the counterparty to First BanCorp on certain interest rate swap agreements. During the third quarter of 2008, Lehman failed to pay the scheduled net cash settlement due to us, which constitutes an event of default under those interest rate swap agreements. We terminated all interest rate swaps with Lehman and replaced them with other counterparties under similar terms and conditions. In connection with the unpaid net cash settlement due as of December 31, 2009 under the swap agreements, we have an unsecured counterparty exposure with Lehman, which filed for bankruptcy on October 3, 2008, of approximately $1.4 million. This exposure was reserved in the third quarter of 2008. We had pledged collateral of $63.6 million with Lehman to guarantee its performance under the swap agreements in the event payment thereunder was required. The book value of pledged securities with Lehman as of December 31, 2009 amounted to approximately $64.5 million.
 
We believe that the securities pledged as collateral should not be part of the Lehman bankruptcy estate given that the posted collateral constituted a performance guarantee under the swap agreements and was not part of a financing agreement, and that ownership of the securities was never transferred to Lehman. Upon termination of the interest rate swap agreements Lehman’s obligation was to return the collateral to us. During the fourth quarter of 2009, we discovered that Lehman Brothers, Inc., acting as agent of Lehman, had deposited the securities in a custodial account at JP Morgan/Chase, and that, shortly before the filing of the Lehman bankruptcy proceedings, it had provided instructions to have most of the securities transferred to Barclay’s Capital in New York. After Barclay’s refusal to turn over the securities, in December 2009, we filed a lawsuit against Barclay’s Capital in federal court in New York demanding the return of the securities. During the month of February 2010, Barclays filed a motion with the court requesting that the Corporation’s claim be dismissed on the grounds that the allegations of the complaint are not sufficient to justify the granting of the remedies therein sought. Shortly thereafter, we filed an opposition motion. A hearing on the motions was held in court on April 28, 2010. The court on that date, after hearing the arguments by both sides, concluded that the Corporation’s equity based causes of actions, upon which the return of the investment securities are being demanded, contain allegations that sufficiently plead facts warranting the denial of Barclays’ motion to dismiss our claim. Accordingly, the judge ordered the case to proceed to trial. A scheduling conference for purposes of having the parties agree to a discovery time table has been set for June 1, 2010. While we believe we have valid reasons to support our claim for the return of the securities, no assurances can be given that we will ultimately succeed in our litigation against Barclay’s Capital to recover all or a substantial portion of the securities.
 
Additionally, we continue to pursue our claim filed in January 2009 under the Securities Protection Act with regard to Lehman Brothers Incorporated in Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York. An estimated loss was not accrued as we are unable to determine the timing of the claim resolution or whether we will succeed in recovering all or a substantial portion of the collateral or its equivalent value. If additional relevant negative facts become available in future periods, a need to recognize a partial or full reserve of this claim may arise. Considering that the investment securities have not yet


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been recovered by the Corporation, despite our efforts in this regard, we classified such investments as non-performing during the second quarter of 2009.
 
Our businesses may be adversely affected by litigation.
 
From time to time, our customers, or the government on their behalf, may make claims and take legal action relating to our performance of fiduciary or contractual responsibilities. We may also face employment lawsuits or other legal claims. In any such claims or actions, demands for substantial monetary damages may be asserted against us resulting in financial liability or having an adverse effect on our reputation among investors or on customer demand for our products and services. We may be unable to accurately estimate our exposure to litigation risk when we record balance sheet reserves for probable loss contingencies. As a result, any reserves we establish to cover any settlements or judgments may not be sufficient to cover our actual financial exposure, which may have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations or financial condition.
 
In the ordinary course of our business, we are also subject to various regulatory, governmental and law enforcement inquiries, investigations and subpoenas. These may be directed generally to participants in the businesses in which we are involved or may be specifically directed at us. In regulatory enforcement matters, claims for disgorgement, the imposition of penalties and the imposition of other remedial sanctions are possible.
 
In view of the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of legal actions and regulatory matters, we cannot provide assurance as to the outcome of any pending matter or, if determined adversely against us, the costs associated with any such matter, particularly where the claimant seeks very large or indeterminate damages or where the matter presents novel legal theories, involves a large number of parties or is at a preliminary stage. The resolution of certain pending legal actions or regulatory matters, if unfavorable, could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations for the quarter in which such actions or matters are resolved or a reserve is established.
 
Our businesses may be negatively affected by adverse publicity or other reputational harm.
 
Our relationships with many of our customers are predicated upon our reputation as a fiduciary and a service provider that adheres to the highest standards of ethics, service quality and regulatory compliance. Adverse publicity, regulatory actions, like the recent Agreements, litigation, operational failures, the failure to meet customer expectations and other issues with respect to one or more of our businesses could materially and adversely affect our reputation, ability to attract and retain customers or sources of funding for the same or other businesses. Preserving and enhancing our reputation also depends on maintaining systems and procedures that address known risks and regulatory requirements, as well as our ability to identify and mitigate additional risks that arise due to changes in our businesses, the market places in which we operate, the regulatory environment and customer expectations. If any of these developments has a material adverse effect on our reputation, our business will suffer.
 
Changes in accounting standards issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other standard-setting bodies may adversely affect our financial statements.
 
Our financial statements are subject to the application of GAAP, which is periodically revised and/or expanded. Accordingly, from time to time, we are required to adopt new or revised accounting standards issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. Market conditions have prompted accounting standard setters to promulgate new requirements that further interpret or seek to revise accounting pronouncements related to financial instruments, structures or transactions as well as to issue new standards expanding disclosures. The impact of accounting pronouncements that have been issued but not yet implemented is disclosed in our annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. An assessment of proposed standards is not provided as such proposals are subject to


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change through the exposure process and, therefore, the effects on our financial statements cannot be meaningfully assessed. It is possible that future accounting standards that we are required to adopt could change the current accounting treatment that we apply to our consolidated financial statements and that such changes could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
 
We may need additional capital resources in the future and these capital resources may not be available when needed or at all.
 
Due to financial results during 2009 and the first quarter of 2010, we need to access the capital markets in order to raise additional capital to absorb potential future credit losses due to the distressed economic environment, maintain adequate liquidity and capital resources, finance future growth, investments or strategic acquisitions and implement the capital plan required by the Order. We have been taking steps to raise $500 million of common equity. We cannot provide assurances that such capital will be available on acceptable terms or at all. If we are unable to obtain additional capital or otherwise improve our financial condition in the near future, we believe that it is likely that our regulators would take additional regulatory action that could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations, financial condition or results of operations or the value of our Common Stock. In addition, without adequate capital, we may not be able to maintain adequate liquidity and capital resources or to finance future growth, make strategic acquisitions or investments.
 
Unexpected losses in future reporting periods may require us to adjust the valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets.
 
We evaluate the deferred tax assets for recoverability based on all available evidence. This process involves significant management judgment about assumptions that are subject to change from period to period based on changes in tax laws or variances between the future projected operating performance and the actual results. We are required to establish a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets if we determine, based on available evidence at the time the determination is made, that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In evaluating the more-likely-than-not criterion, we consider all positive and negative evidence as of the end of each reporting period. Future adjustments, either increases or decreases, to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance will be determined based upon changes in the expected realization of the net deferred tax assets. The realization of the deferred tax assets ultimately depends on the existence of sufficient taxable income in either the carryback or carryforward periods under the tax law. Due to significant estimates utilized in establishing the valuation allowance and the potential for changes in facts and circumstances, it is reasonably possible that we will be required to record adjustments to the valuation allowance in future reporting periods. Such a charge could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and capital position.
 
If our goodwill or amortizable intangible assets become impaired, it may adversely affect our operating results.
 
If our goodwill or amortizable intangible assets become impaired, we may be required to record a significant charge to earnings. Under GAAP, we review our amortizable intangible assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. Goodwill is tested for impairment at least annually. Factors that may be considered a change in circumstances, indicating that the carrying value of the goodwill or amortizable intangible assets may not be recoverable, include reduced future cash flow estimates and slower growth rates in the industry.
 
The goodwill impairment evaluation process requires us to make estimates and assumptions with regards to the fair value of our reporting units. Actual values may differ significantly from these


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estimates. Such differences could result in future impairment of goodwill that would, in turn, negatively impact our results of operations and the reporting unit where goodwill is recorded.
 
We conducted our annual evaluation of goodwill during the fourth quarter of 2009. This evaluation is a two-step process. The Step 1 evaluation of goodwill allocated to the Florida reporting unit, which is one level below the United States business segment, indicated potential impairment of goodwill. The Step 1 fair value for the unit was below the carrying amount of its equity book value as of the December 31, 2009 valuation date, requiring the completion of Step 2. The Step 2 required a valuation of all assets and liabilities of the Florida unit, including any recognized and unrecognized intangible assets, to determine the fair value of net assets. To complete Step 2, we subtracted from the unit’s Step 1 fair value the determined fair value of the net assets to arrive at the implied fair value of goodwill. The results of the Step 2 analysis indicated that the implied fair value of goodwill exceeded the goodwill carrying value of $27 million, resulting in no goodwill impairment. If we are required to record a charge to earnings in our consolidated financial statements because an impairment of the goodwill or amortizable intangible assets is determined, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
 
RISK RELATED TO BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND OUR INDUSTRY
 
Difficult market conditions have affected the financial industry and may adversely affect us in the future.
 
Given that almost all of our business is in Puerto Rico and the United States and given the degree of interrelation between Puerto Rico’s economy and that of the United States, we are particularly exposed to downturns in the U.S. economy. Dramatic declines in the U.S. housing market over the past few years, with falling home prices and increasing foreclosures, unemployment and under-employment, have negatively impacted the credit performance of mortgage loans and resulted in significant write-downs of asset values by financial institutions, including government-sponsored entities as well as major commercial banks and investment banks. These write-downs, initially of mortgage-backed securities but spreading to credit default swaps and other derivative and cash securities, in turn, have caused many financial institutions to seek additional capital from private and government entities, to merge with larger and stronger financial institutions and, in some cases, fail.
 
Reflecting concern about the stability of the financial markets in general and the strength of counterparties, many lenders and institutional investors have reduced or ceased providing funding to borrowers, including other financial institutions. This market turmoil and tightening of credit have led to an increased level of commercial and consumer delinquencies, erosion of consumer confidence, increased market volatility and widespread reduction of business activity in general. The resulting economic pressure on consumers and erosion of confidence in the financial markets has already adversely affected our industry and may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. We do not expect that the difficult conditions in the financial markets are likely to improve in the near future. A worsening of these conditions would likely exacerbate the adverse effects of these difficult market conditions on us and other financial institutions. In particular, we may face the following risks in connection with these events:
 
Ø  We may be unable to comply with the Agreements, which could result in further regulatory enforcement actions.
 
Ø  We expect to face increased regulation of the financial industry resulting from the recent instability in capital markets, financial institutions and financial system in general. Compliance with such regulation may increase our costs and limit our ability to pursue business opportunities.
 
Ø  Our ability to assess the creditworthiness of our customers may be impaired if the models and approaches we use to select, manage and underwrite the loans become less predictive of future behaviors.


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Ø  The models used to estimate losses inherent in the credit exposure require difficult, subjective, and complex judgments, including forecasts of economic conditions and how these economic predictions might impair the ability of the borrowers to repay their loans, which may no longer be capable of accurate estimation and which may, in turn, impact the reliability of the models.
 
Ø  Our ability to borrow from other financial institutions or to engage in sales of mortgage loans to third parties (including mortgage loan securitization transactions with government-sponsored entities) on favorable terms, or at all, could be adversely affected by further disruptions in the capital markets or other events, including deteriorating investor expectations.
 
Ø  Competitive dynamics in the industry could change as a result of consolidation of financial services companies in connection with current market conditions.
 
A prolonged economic slowdown or decline in the real estate market in the U.S. mainland could continue to harm our results of operations.
 
The residential mortgage loan origination business has historically been cyclical, enjoying periods of strong growth and profitability followed by periods of shrinking volumes and industry-wide losses. The market for residential mortgage loan originations is currently in decline and this trend could also reduce the level of mortgage loans we may produce in the future and adversely affect our business. During periods of rising interest rates, refinancing originations for many mortgage products tend to decrease as the economic incentives for borrowers to refinance their existing mortgage loans are reduced. In addition, the residential mortgage loan origination business is impacted by home values. Over the past twenty-one months, residential real estate values in many areas of the U.S. mainland have decreased significantly, which has led to lower volumes and higher losses across the industry, adversely impacting our mortgage business.
 
The actual rates of delinquencies, foreclosures and losses on loans have been higher during the current economic slowdown. Rising unemployment, higher interest rates or declines in housing prices have had a greater negative effect on the ability of borrowers to repay their mortgage loans. Any sustained period of increased delinquencies, foreclosures or losses could continue to harm our ability to sell loans, the prices we receives for loans, the values of mortgage loans held-for-sale or residual interests in securitizations, which could harm our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, any additional material decline in real estate values would further weaken the collateral loan-to-value ratios and increase the possibility of loss if a borrower defaults. In such event, we will be subject to the risk of loss on such real asset arising from borrower defaults to the extent not covered by third-party credit enhancement.
 
Our business concentration in Puerto Rico imposes risks.
 
We conduct our operations in a geographically concentrated area, as our main market is Puerto Rico. This imposes risks from lack of diversification in the geographical portfolio. Our financial condition and results of operations are highly dependent on the economic conditions of Puerto Rico, where adverse political or economic developments, natural disasters, and other events could affect among others, the volume of loan originations, increase the level of non-performing assets, increase the rate of foreclosure losses on loans, and reduce the value of our loans and loan servicing portfolio.
 
Our credit quality may be adversely affected by Puerto Rico’s current economic condition.
 
Beginning in March 2006 and continuing to today, a number of key economic indicators have showed that the economy of Puerto Rico has been in recession during that period of time.
 
Construction remained weak during 2009 and the first quarter of 2010, as the Puerto Rico’s fiscal situation and decreasing public investment in construction projects affected the sector. During the period from January to December 2009, cement sales, an indicator of construction activity, declined by 29.6%


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as compared to 2008. As of October 2009, exports decreased by 6.8%, while imports decreased by 8.9%, a negative trade, which continues since the first negative trade balance of the last decade was registered in November 2006. Tourism activity also declined during 2009. Total hotel registrations for January to October 2009 declined 0.8% as compared to the same period for 2008. During January to September 2009, new vehicle sales decreased by 23.7%. In 2009, unemployment in Puerto Rico reached 15.0%, up 3.5 points compared with 2008.
 
On January 14, 2010, the Puerto Rico Planning Board announced the release of Puerto Rico’s macroeconomic data for fiscal year 2009, ended June 30, 2009, as well as projected figures for fiscal year ending on June 30, 2010. The fiscal year 2009 showed a reduction of real GNP of -3.7%, while the projections for the fiscal year of 2010 point toward a positive growth of 0.7%. In general, the Puerto Rico economy continued its trend of decreasing growth, primarily due to weaker manufacturing, softer consumption and decreased government investment in construction.
 
The above economic concerns and uncertainty in the private and public sectors may also have an adverse effect on the credit quality of our loan portfolios, as delinquency rates are expected to increase in the short-term, until the economy stabilizes. Also, a potential reduction in consumer spending may also impact growth in our other interest and non-interest revenue sources.
 
Rating downgrades on the government of Puerto Rico’s debt obligations may affect our credit exposure.
 
Even though Puerto Rico’s economy is closely integrated to that of the U.S. mainland and its government and many of its instrumentalities are investment-grade rated borrowers in the U.S. capital markets, the current fiscal situation of the government of Puerto Rico has led nationally recognized rating agencies to downgrade its debt obligations in the past.
 
Between May 2006 and mid-2009, the government of Puerto Rico’s bonds were downgraded as a result of factors such as its inability to implement meaningful steps to curb operating expenditures and to improve managerial and budgetary controls, high debt levels and chronic deficits and its continued reliance on operating budget loans from the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico.
 
In October and December 2009, both S&P and Moody’s confirmed the government of Puerto Rico’s bond rating at BBB- and Baa3, with stable outlook, respectively. At present, both rating agencies maintain the stable outlooks for the general obligation bonds. In May 2009, S&P and Moody’s upgraded the sales and use tax senior bonds from A+ to AA- and from A1 to Aa3, respectively, due to a modification in its bond resolution.
 
It is uncertain how the financial markets may react to any potential future ratings downgrade in Puerto Rico’s debt obligations. However, the fallout from the recent budgetary crisis and a possible ratings downgrade could adversely affect the value of Puerto Rico’s government obligations.
 
The failure of other financial institutions could adversely affect us.
 
On April 30, 2010, three banks in Puerto Rico, all operating under consent orders, ceased operations by order of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions in Puerto Rico. The FDIC was appointed receiver for all three banks. The deposits and assets of these three banks were acquired immediately from the FDIC as receiver by three other local banks in Puerto Rico. The combined assets of these three shuttered institutions represented approximately one quarter of the total commercial banking assets in Puerto Rico.
 
Our ability to engage in routine funding transactions could be adversely affected by the failures of other financial institutions and the actions and commercial soundness of other financial institutions. Financial institutions are interrelated as a result of trading, clearing, counterparty and other relationships. We have exposure to different industries and counterparties, and routinely execute transactions with


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counterparties in the financial services industry, including brokers and dealers, commercial banks, investment banks, investment companies and other institutional clients. In certain of these transactions, we are required to post collateral to secure the obligations to the counterparties. In the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding involving one of such counterparties, we may experience delays in recovering the assets posted as collateral or may incur a loss to the extent that the counterparty was holding collateral in excess of the obligation to such counterparty. There is no assurance that any such losses would not materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
 
In addition, many of these transactions expose us to credit risk in the event of a default by our counterparty or client. In addition, the credit risk may be exacerbated when the collateral held by us cannot be realized or is liquidated at prices not sufficient to recover the full amount of the loan or derivative exposure due to us. There is no assurance that any such losses would not materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
 
Legislative and regulatory actions taken now or in the future as a result of the current crisis in the financial industry may impact our business, governance structure, financial condition or results of operations.
 
Current economic conditions, particularly in the financial markets, have resulted in government regulatory agencies and political bodies placing increased focus and scrutiny on the financial services industry. The U.S. government has intervened on an unprecedented scale, responding to what has been commonly referred to as the financial crisis, by temporarily enhancing the liquidity support available to financial institutions, establishing a commercial paper funding facility, temporarily guaranteeing money market funds and certain types of debt issuances and increasing insurance on bank deposits.
 
These programs have subjected financial institutions, particularly those participating in the U.S. Treasury’s Troubled Asset Relief Program (the “TARP”), to additional restrictions, oversight and costs. In addition, new proposals for legislation continue to be introduced in the U.S. Congress that could further substantially increase regulation of the financial services industry, impose restrictions on the operations and general ability of firms within the industry to conduct business consistent with historical practices, including in the areas of compensation, interest rates, financial product offerings and disclosures, and have an effect on bankruptcy proceedings with respect to consumer residential real estate mortgages, among other things. Federal and state regulatory agencies also frequently adopt changes to their regulations or change the manner in which existing regulations are applied.
 
We also face increased regulation and regulatory scrutiny as a result of our participation in the TARP. In January 2009, we issued Series F Preferred Stock and a warrant to purchase our Common Stock to the U.S. Treasury under the TARP. Pursuant to the terms of this issuance, we are prohibited from increasing the dividend rate on our Common Stock in an amount exceeding the last quarterly cash dividend paid per share, or the amount publicly announced (if lower), of Common Stock prior to October 14, 2008, which was $0.07 per share, without approval. Furthermore, as long as Series F Preferred Stock issued to the U.S. Treasury is outstanding, dividend payments and repurchases or redemptions relating to certain equity securities, including our Common Stock, are prohibited unless all accrued and unpaid dividends are paid on Series F Preferred Stock, subject to certain limited exceptions.
 
On January 21, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation amending the TARP provisions of Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (“EESA”) to include quarterly reporting requirements with respect to lending activities, examinations by an institution’s primary federal regulator of the use of funds and compliance with program requirements, restrictions on acquisitions by depository institutions receiving TARP funds and authorization for the U.S. Treasury to have an observer at board meetings of recipient institutions, among other things. On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (the “ARRA”). The ARRA contains expansive new restrictions on executive compensation for financial institutions and


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other companies participating in the TARP. The ARRA amends the executive compensation and corporate governance provisions of EESA. In doing so, it continues all the same compensation and governance restrictions and adds substantially to restrictions in several areas. In addition, on June 10, 2009, the U.S. Treasury issued regulations implementing the compensation requirements under the ARRA. The regulations became applicable to existing TARP recipients upon publication in the Federal Register on June 15, 2009. The aforementioned compensation requirements and restrictions may adversely affect our ability to retain or hire senior bank officers.
 
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a regulatory reform package on December 11, 2009 (H.R. 4173). H.R. 4173 and legislation passed by the U.S. Senate on May 20, 2010 contains provisions, which would, among other things, establish a Consumer Financial Protection Agency, establish a systemic risk regulator, consolidate certain federal bank regulators and give shareholders an advisory vote on executive compensation.
 
The Senate also acted to limit interchange fees on debit cards, bar banks from counting trust-preferred shares as Tier I capital, and authorized a study of proprietary trading and sponsoring of private funds by banks. The final Senate legislation will need to be reconciled with H.R. 4173, and it is uncertain which provisions the final reconciled version will contain, and whether Congress will approve the final legislation. A separate legislative proposal would impose a new fee or tax on U.S. financial institutions as part of the 2010 budget plans in an effort to reduce the anticipated budget deficit and to recoup losses anticipated from the TARP. Such an assessment is estimated to be 15-basis points, levied against bank assets minus Tier 1 capital and domestic deposits. It appears that this fee or tax would be assessed only against the 50 or so largest financial institutions in the U.S., which are those with more than $50 billion in assets, and therefore would not directly affect us. However, the large banks that are affected by the tax may choose to seek additional deposit funding in the marketplace, driving up the cost of deposits for all banks. The administration has also considered a transaction tax on trades of stock in financial institutions and a tax on executive bonuses.
 
The U.S. Congress has also recently adopted additional consumer protection laws such as the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, and the Federal Reserve has adopted numerous new regulations addressing banks’ credit card, overdraft and mortgage lending practices. Additional consumer protection legislation and regulatory activity is anticipated in the near future.
 
Internationally, both the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (the “Basel Committee”) and the Financial Stability Board (established in April 2009 by the Group of Twenty Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to take action to strengthen regulation and supervision of the financial system with greater international consistency, cooperation and transparency) have committed to raise capital standards and liquidity buffers within the banking system.
 
Such proposals and legislation, if finally adopted, would change banking laws and our operating environment and that of our subsidiaries in substantial and unpredictable ways. We cannot determine whether such proposals and legislation will be adopted, or the ultimate effect that such proposals and legislation, if enacted, or regulations issued to implement the same, would have upon our financial condition or results of operations.
 
Monetary policies and regulations of the Fed could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
In addition to being affected by general economic conditions, our earnings and growth are affected by the policies of the Federal Reserve. An important function of the Fed is to regulate the money supply and credit conditions. Among the instruments used by the Fed to implement these objectives are open market operations in U.S. Government securities, adjustments of the discount rate and changes in reserve requirements against bank deposits. These instruments are used in varying combinations to


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influence overall economic growth and the distribution of credit, bank loans, investments and deposits. Their use also affects interest rates charged on loans or paid on deposits.
 
On January 6, 2010, the member agencies of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, which includes the Fed, issued an interest rate risk advisory reminding banks to maintain sound practices for managing interest rate risk, particularly in the current environment of historically low short-term interest rates.
 
The monetary policies and regulations of the Fed have had a significant effect on the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are expected to continue to do so in the future. The effects of such policies upon our business, financial condition and results of operations cannot be predicted.
 
We face extensive and changing government regulation, which may increase our costs of and expose us to risks related to compliance.
 
Most of our businesses are subject to extensive regulation by multiple regulatory bodies. These regulations may affect the manner and terms of delivery of our services. If we do not comply with governmental regulations, we may be subject to fines, penalties, lawsuits or material restrictions on our businesses in the jurisdiction where the violation occurred, which may adversely affect our business operations. Changes in these regulations can significantly affect the services that we are asked to provide as well as our costs of compliance with such regulations. In addition, adverse publicity and damage to our reputation arising from the failure or perceived failure to comply with legal, regulatory or contractual requirements could affect our ability to attract and retain customers. In recent years, regulatory oversight and enforcement have increased substantially, imposing additional costs and increasing the potential risks associated with our operations. If this regulatory trend continues, it could adversely affect our operations and, in turn, our consolidated results of operations.
 
The imposition of additional property tax payments in Puerto Rico may further deteriorate our commercial, consumer and mortgage loan portfolios.
 
On March 9, 2009, the Governor of Puerto Rico signed into law the Special Act Declaring a State of Fiscal Emergency and Establishing an Integral Plan of Fiscal Stabilization to Save Puerto Rico’s Credit, Act No. 7 the “Act”). The Act imposes a series of temporary and permanent measures, including the imposition of a 0.591% special tax applicable to properties used for residential (excluding those exempt as detailed in the Act) and commercial purposes, and payable to the Puerto Rico Treasury Department. This temporary measure will be effective for tax years that commenced after June 30, 2009 and before July 1, 2012. The imposition of this special property tax could adversely affect the disposable income of borrowers from the commercial, consumer and mortgage loan portfolios and may cause an increase in our delinquency and foreclosure rates.
 
RISKS RELATED TO THE FUTURE ISSUANCE OF A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OUR COMMON STOCK AND DILUTION OF HOLDERS OF OUR COMMON STOCK, INCLUDING PARTICIPANTS IN THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
Additional issuances of Common Stock or securities convertible into Common Stock, including issuances to BNS and the U.S. Treasury, will further dilute existing holders of our Common Stock, including participants in the Exchange Offer.
 
During the first quarter of 2010, the Corporation announced its plan to enhance its capital structure. The Corporation retained Sandler O’Neill + Partners and UBS Securities, Inc. to find purchasers for approximately $500 million of Common Stock. The issuance of equity securities in the Capital Raise would adversely affect the voting power, earnings per share and book value per share of outstanding shares of Common Stock and perhaps also the market price of our Common Stock. The market price


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of a share of Common Stock on          , 2010 was          , and the book value of a share of Common Stock as of March 31, 2010 was $6.04.
 
In connection with our 2007 sale of 9,250,450 shares of Common Stock to BNS, we agreed to give BNS an anti-dilution right and a right of first refusal when we sell shares of Common Stock to third parties. This right will be triggered by the issuance of Common Stock in the Exchange and by any Capital Raise. In addition, in January 2009, in connection with our issuance of Series F Preferred Stock to the U.S. Treasury, we also issued to the U.S. Treasury a warrant to purchase 5,842,259 shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price of $10.27 per share. The warrant has a 10-year term and is exercisable at any time. The exercise price and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the warrant are subject to an anti-dilution right. This right will be triggered if either the value of the Preferred Stock exchanged for Common Stock in the Exchange Offer, as determined by our board of directors, or if the value of any Common Stock issued in the Capital Raise is equal to less than 90% of the market value of the Common Stock as determined pursuant to the terms of the warrant. The possible future issuance of equity securities to BNS and the U.S. Treasury and in the Capital Raise would affect our current stockholders in a number of ways, including by:
 
Ø  diluting the voting power of the current holders of Common Stock;
 
Ø  diluting the earnings per share and book value per share of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; and
 
Ø  making the payment of dividends on Common Stock more expensive.
 
If we do not complete a Capital Raise prior to completing the Exchange Offer, we will continue to seek to issue $500 million of Common Stock. No assurance can be given, however, that we will be able to raise additional capital. An increase in the Corporation’s capital through an issuance of Common Stock or other offering, or the perception that such issuance or offering may occur, and may adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock.
 
If we do not complete the Capital Raise or otherwise improve our financial condition in the near term, we believe that it is likely that our regulators could take additional regulatory action that would have a material adverse effect on our business, operations, financial condition or results or operations or the value of our Common Stock.
 
RISKS RELATED TO THE MARKET PRICE AND VALUE OF THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED IN THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
The Exchange Offer will result in a substantial amount of our Common Stock becoming available for sale in the market, which could adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock.
 
As of June   , 2010, we had approximately 92.5 million shares of our Common Stock outstanding. Following completion of the Exchange Offer, assuming we issue the maximum number of shares of our Common Stock in the Exchange Offer and assuming we issue the anti-dilution shares to BNS, this figure will increase to approximately 237.9 million shares of our Common Stock. The issuance of such a large number of shares of our Common Stock in such a short period of time will significantly reduce earnings per share and could adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock.
 
The Minimum Share Price limitation may result in your receiving shares of our Common Stock worth significantly less than the shares you would receive in the absence of that constraint.
 
The closing sale price for our Common Stock on the NYSE on          , 2010 was $      per share, which is less than the Minimum Share Price. If the average VWAP is less than the Minimum Share Price, we will use the Minimum Share Price and not the average VWAP to calculate the number of shares of our Common Stock you will receive. In that case you could receive shares of our Common Stock with a value that may be significantly less than the value of the shares you would receive in the absence of that limitation.


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Although the number of shares of our Common Stock offered in the Exchange Offer for each share of Preferred Stock will be determined based on the average VWAP of our Common Stock during the five trading-day period ending on the second business day immediately preceding the expiration date (subject to the Minimum Share Price of $      per share), the market price of our Common Stock may fluctuate, and the market price of shares of our Common Stock upon settlement of the Exchange Offer could be less than the market price used to determine the number of shares you will receive.
 
The number of shares of our Common Stock offered for each share of Preferred Stock accepted for exchange will be determined based on the average VWAP of our Common Stock during the five trading-day period ending on the second business day immediately preceding the currently scheduled expiration date (subject to the Minimum Share Price of $      per share), regardless of any increase or decrease in the market price of our Common Stock or Preferred Stock between the expiration date of the Exchange Offer and the settlement date. Therefore, the market price of our Common Stock at the time you receive your Common Stock on the settlement date could be significantly less than the market price used to determine the number of shares you will receive.
 
The market price of our Common Stock may be subject to significant fluctuations and volatility.
 
The stock markets have recently experienced high levels of volatility. These market fluctuations have adversely affected, and may continue to adversely affect, the trading price of our Common Stock. In addition, the market price of our Common Stock has been subject to significant fluctuations and volatility because of factors specifically related to our businesses and may continue to fluctuate or further decline. Factors that could cause fluctuations, volatility or further decline in the market price of our Common Stock, many of which could be beyond our control, include the following:
 
Ø  our ability to comply with the Agreements;
 
Ø  any additional regulatory actions against us;
 
Ø  our ability to complete the exchange, the Capital Raise and the conversion into Common Stock of the Series F Preferred Stock;
 
Ø  changes or perceived changes in the condition, operations, results or prospects of our businesses and market assessments of these changes or perceived changes;
 
Ø  announcements of strategic developments, acquisitions and other material events by us or our competitors, including any future failures of banks in Puerto Rico;
 
Ø  our announcement of the sale of Common Stock at a particular price per share;
 
Ø  changes in governmental regulations or proposals, or new governmental regulations or proposals, affecting us, including those relating to the current financial crisis and global economic downturn and those that may be specifically directed to us;
 
Ø  the continued decline, failure to stabilize or lack of improvement in general market and economic conditions in our principal markets;
 
Ø  the departure of key personnel;
 
Ø  changes in the credit, mortgage and real estate markets;
 
Ø  operating results that vary from the expectations of management, securities analysts and investors;
 
Ø  operating and stock price performance of companies that investors deem comparable to us; and
 
Ø  market assessments as to whether and when the Exchange Offer and the acquisition of additional newly issued shares by BNS will be consummated.
 
You are urged to obtain current market quotations for our Common Stock when you consider the Exchange Offer.


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Our suspension of dividends could adversely affect our stock price and result in the expansion of our board of directors.
 
In March 2009, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve issued a supervisory guidance letter intended to provide direction to bank holding companies (“BHCs”) on the declaration and payment of dividends, capital redemptions and capital repurchases by BHCs in the context of their capital planning process. The letter reiterates the long-standing Federal Reserve supervisory policies and guidance to the effect that BHCs should only pay dividends from current earnings. More specifically, the letter heightens expectations that BHCs will inform and consult with the Federal Reserve supervisory staff on the declaration and payment of dividends that exceed earnings for the period for which a dividend is being paid. In consideration of the financial results reported for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009, the Corporation decided, as a matter of prudent fiscal management and following the Federal Reserve guidance, to suspend payment of Common Stock dividends and dividends on our Preferred Stock and Series F Preferred Stock. Our Agreement with the Fed precludes us from declaring any dividends without the prior approval of the Fed. The Corporation cannot anticipate if and when the payment of dividends might be reinstated.
 
This suspension could adversely affect the Corporation’s stock price. Further, in general, if dividends on our preferred stock are not paid for 18 monthly dividend periods or more, the preferred stockholders will have the right to elect two additional members of the our board of directors until all accrued and unpaid dividends for all past dividend periods have been declared and paid in full.
 
The price of our Common Stock is depressed and may not recover.
 
The price of our Common Stock has declined significantly from a closing price of $12.17 on September 19, 2008, to a closing price of $      on          , 2010, the last trading day prior to the date of this prospectus. Our stock price may never recover to prior levels. Many factors that we cannot predict or control, including the factors listed under “Risks Related to the Market Price and Value of the Common Stock Offered in the Exchange Offer—The market price of our Common Stock may be subject to continued significant fluctuations and volatility,” and factors over which we may only have limited control, including the factors listed under “—Risks Relating to Our Business,” may cause sudden changes in the price of our Common Stock or prevent the price of our Common Stock from recovering.
 
RISKS RELATED TO THE RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF OUR COMMON STOCK COMPARED TO THE RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF OUR DEBT OBLIGATIONS AND SHARES OF PREFERRED STOCK
 
The holders of our debt obligations, any shares of Preferred Stock that remain outstanding after the Exchange Offer and any preferred stock held by the U.S. Treasury after completion of the Exchange will have priority over our Common Stock with respect to payment in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up and with respect to the payment of dividends.
 
In any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of First BanCorp, our Common Stock would rank below all debt claims against us and claims of all of our outstanding shares of preferred stock, including any shares of Preferred Stock that are not exchanged for Common Stock in the Exchange Offer or are retained by holders as a result of the Acceptance Priority Levels or proration. As a result, holders of our Common Stock, including holders of shares of Preferred Stock whose securities are accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer, will not be entitled to receive any payment or other distribution of assets upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of First BanCorp until after all our obligations to our debt holders have been satisfied and holders of senior equity securities and trust preferred securities have received any payment or distribution due to them.
 
In addition, we are required to pay dividends on our preferred stock before we pay any dividends on our Common Stock. Holders of our Common Stock will not be entitled to receive payment of any dividends on their shares of our Common Stock unless and until we obtain the Fed’s approval to resume


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payments of dividends on any shares of preferred stock remaining after completion of the Exchange Offer.
 
Dividends on our Common Stock have been suspended and you may not receive funds in connection with your investment in our Common Stock without selling your shares of our Common Stock.
 
Holders of our Common Stock are only entitled to receive dividends as our board of directors may declare out of funds legally available for payment of such dividends. We have suspended dividend payments on our Common Stock since August 2009. In general, so long as any shares of preferred stock remain outstanding and until we obtain the Fed’s approval, we cannot declare, set apart or pay any dividends on shares of our Common Stock (i) unless any accrued and unpaid dividends on our preferred stock for the twelve monthly dividend periods ending on the immediately preceding dividend payment date have been paid or are paid contemporaneously and the full monthly dividend on our preferred stock for the then current month has been or is contemporaneously declared and paid or declared and set apart for payment and, (ii) with respect to our Series F Preferred Stock, unless all accrued and unpaid dividends for all past dividend periods, including the latest completed dividend period, on all outstanding shares have been declared and paid in full. Furthermore, prior to January 16, 2012, unless we have redeemed all of the shares of Series F Preferred Stock (or any successor security) or the U.S. Treasury has transferred all of Series F Preferred Stock (or any successor security) to third parties, the consent of the U.S. Treasury will be required for us to, among other things, increase the dividend rate per share of Common Stock above $0.07 per share or repurchase or redeem equity securities, including our Common Stock, subject to certain limited exceptions. This could adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock. Also, we are a bank holding company and our ability to declare and pay dividends is dependent on certain federal regulatory considerations, including the guidelines of the Federal Reserve regarding capital adequacy and dividends. Moreover, the Federal Reserve and the FDIC have issued policy statements stating that bank holding companies and insured banks should generally pay dividends only out of current operating earnings. In the current financial and economic environment, the Federal Reserve has indicated that bank holding companies should carefully review their dividend policy and has discouraged dividend pay-out ratios that are at the 100% or higher level unless both asset quality and capital are very strong.
 
In addition, the terms of our outstanding junior subordinated debt securities held by trusts that issue trust preferred securities prohibit us from declaring or paying any dividends or distributions on our capital stock, including our Common Stock and preferred stock, or purchasing, acquiring, or making a liquidation payment on such stock, if we have given notice of our election to defer interest payments but the related deferral period has not yet commenced or a deferral period is continuing.
 
Accordingly, you may have to sell some or all of your shares of our Common Stock in order to generate cash flow from your investment. You may not realize a gain on your investment when you sell your shares of Common Stock and may lose the entire amount of your investment.
 
Offerings of debt, which would be senior to our Common Stock upon liquidation and/or to preferred equity securities, which may be senior to our Common Stock for purposes of dividend distributions or upon liquidation, may adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock.
 
Subject to any required approval of our regulators, we may attempt to increase our capital resources or, if our or the capital ratios of our banking subsidiaries fall below the required minimums, we or our banking subsidiaries could be forced to raise additional capital by making additional offerings of debt or preferred equity securities, including medium-term notes, trust preferred securities, senior or subordinated notes and preferred stock. Upon liquidation, holders of our debt securities and shares of preferred stock and lenders with respect to other borrowings will receive distributions of our available


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assets prior to the holders of our Common Stock. Additional equity offerings may dilute the holdings of our existing stockholders or reduce the market price of our Common Stock, or both.
 
Our board of directors is authorized to issue one or more classes or series of preferred stock from time to time without any action on the part of the stockholders. Our board of directors also has the power, without stockholder approval, to set the terms of any such classes or series of preferred stock that may be issued, including voting rights, dividend rights and preferences over our Common Stock with respect to dividends or upon our dissolution, winding up and liquidation and other terms. If we issue preferred shares in the future that have a preference over our Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends or upon liquidation, or if we issue preferred shares with voting rights that dilute the voting power of our Common Stock, the rights of holders of our Common Stock or the market price of our Common Stock could be adversely affected.
 
ADDITIONAL RISKS RELATED TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
We may not receive stockholder approval for the issuance of up to 192,535,000 shares of Common Stock upon the exchange of Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer and the possible issuance of 19,245,547 additional shares of Common Stock to BNS pursuant to its anti-dilution right.
 
Because our Common Stock is listed on the NYSE, we are subject to NYSE listing requirements. NYSE Listed Company Manual Section 312.03(c) requires stockholder approval prior to the issuance of our Common Stock in any transaction or series of transactions, other than pursuant to a public offering, if (1) the shares of Common Stock will have upon issuance voting power equal to 20% or more of the voting power outstanding before the issuance of such Common Stock or (2) the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued will upon issuance equal 20% or more of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding before the issuance of Common Stock. Pursuant to the terms of the Exchange Offer, up to 192,535,000 shares of Common Stock may be issued upon the exchange of Preferred Stock. Because the issuance of up to 192,535,000 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate causes the transaction to exceed the 20% thresholds described above, we are required to seek stockholder approval prior to the completion of the Exchange Offer.
 
In addition, up to an additional 19,245,547 shares of Common Stock may be issued to BNS pursuant to its anti-dilution right, subject to the consent of the Federal Reserve. Any sale of additional shares of our Common Stock to BNS pursuant to its anti-dilution right, right of first refusal or otherwise requires the prior approval of our stockholders under NYSE listing requirements unless the sale is at a price in cash at least as great as the higher of the book or market value of our Common Stock, provided that the number of shares to be issued does not exceed 5% of the number of our shares of Common Stock before the issuance. Because the issuance of up to 19,245,547 shares of Common Stock to BNS pursuant to its anti-dilution right would exceed 5% of the number of our outstanding shares, we will seek the approval of the holders of our Common Stock at a special meeting on                         of the possible issuance of shares of our Common Stock to BNS in connection with the Exchange Offer along with stockholder approval of the issuance of the maximum number of shares being offered in the Exchange Offer itself.
 
If stockholders do not approve the issuance of up to 192,535,000 shares of Common Stock in the Exchange Offer and up to an additional 19,245,547 shares of Common Stock to BNS, assuming it exercises its anti-dilution right, the Corporation will not be able to complete the Exchange Offer.
 
The value of the Common Stock you receive may be lower than the Exchange Value of your shares of Preferred Stock.
 
Depending on the trading price of our Common Stock compared to the Relevant Price described above, the market value of the Common Stock we issue at the settlement date in exchange for each share of


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Preferred Stock we accept for exchange may be less than, equal to or greater than the applicable Exchange Value referred to above.
 
Even if we complete the Exchange Offer, without a high level of participation, we may fail to realize the anticipated benefits of the Exchange Offer, including the intended goals of substantially improving our tangible common equity ratio and our Tier 1 common equity ratio.
 
An important goal of the Exchange Offer is to improve our tangible common equity ratio and our Tier 1 common equity ratio. A view has recently developed that the tangible common equity ratio and Tier 1 common equity ratio are important metrics for analyzing a financial institution’s financial condition and capital strength. We believe that improving these two capital ratios will enhance our standing with our federal banking regulators, improve market and public perceptions of our financial strength and improve our ability to operate in the current economic environment and to access the capital markets in order to fund strategic initiatives or other business needs and to absorb any future credit losses. If the response to the Exchange Offer is low, we may fail to reach our goals for our tangible common equity ratio and Tier 1 common equity ratio and, in this situation, we may have to increase these ratios through other means, including by seeking to sell more than $500 million of equity in the Capital Raise, which could further dilute the existing holders of our Common Stock, including participants in the Exchange Offer. In addition, such additional equity issuances would reduce any earnings available to the holders of our Common Stock and the return thereon unless our earnings increase correspondingly. We cannot predict the timing or size of future equity issuances, if any, or the effect that they may have on the market price of the Common Stock. As such, there is a risk that the benefits, if any, realized from the Exchange Offer will not be sufficient to restore market and public perceptions of our financial strength or to reach desired tangible common equity and Tier 1 capital levels.
 
We have not obtained a third-party determination that the terms of the Exchange Offer are fair to holders of the shares of Preferred Stock.
 
We are not making a recommendation as to whether you should exchange your shares of Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer. We have not retained, and do not intend to retain, any unaffiliated representative to act solely on behalf of the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock for purposes of negotiating the Exchange Offer or preparing a report concerning the fairness of the Exchange Offer. You must make your own independent decision regarding your participation in the Exchange Offer.
 
Failure to successfully complete the Exchange Offer could negatively affect the price of our Common Stock.
 
Several conditions must be satisfied or waived in order to complete the Exchange Offer, including (i) pursuant to NYSE listing requirements, the receipt of the approval of the holders of our Common Stock to the issuance of up to 192,535,000 shares of Common Stock upon the exchange of Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer and the issuance of up to 19,245,547 additional shares of Common Stock to BNS if it exercises its anti-dilution right, subject to the consent of the Federal Reserve, and (ii) the absence of any event that in our reasonable judgment would materially impair the anticipated benefits to us of the Exchange Offer or that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on us or our businesses, financial condition, operations or prospects. See “The Exchange Offer—Conditions of the Exchange Offer.” The foregoing conditions may not be satisfied, and if not satisfied or waived, the Exchange Offer may not occur or may be delayed.


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Risk Factors
 
 
If the Exchange Offer is not completed or is delayed, we may be subject to the following material risks:
 
Ø  the market price of our Common Stock may decline to the extent that the current market price of our Common Stock is positively affected by market assumption that the Exchange Offer will be completed;
 
Ø  the market price of our shares of Preferred Stock may decline to the extent that the current market price of our shares of Preferred Stock is positively affected by a market assumption that the Exchange Offer has been or will be completed;
 
Ø  we may not be able to increase our regulatory and other capital ratios, including our tangible common equity ratio and Tier 1 common equity ratio and, as a result, we may fail to increase a key measure of financial strength as viewed by our federal banking regulators and the market and may not improve our ability to operate in the current economic environment and to access the capital markets in order to fund strategic initiatives or other business needs or to absorb any future credit losses; and
 
Ø  we may be required to attempt to raise capital.
 
We may not accept all shares of Preferred Stock tendered in the Exchange Offer.
 
We will issue no more than 192,535,000 shares of our Common Stock in the Exchange Offer. Depending on the number of shares of Preferred Stock tendered in the Exchange Offer, we may need to limit the number of shares of Preferred Stock that we accept in this Exchange Offer, based on the Acceptance Priority Levels or Proration to avoid exceeding the Maximum Exchange Amount. See “The Exchange Offer—Proration.”
 
RISKS RELATED TO NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE EXCHANGE OFFER OR RETAINING SHARES AS A RESULT OF ACCEPTANCE PRIORITY LEVELS OR PRORATION
 
If the Exchange Offer is successful, there may no longer be a trading market for any remaining shares of Preferred Stock and the price for such shares of Preferred Stock may be depressed.
 
The Exchange Offer is for any and all shares of Preferred Stock up to the Maximum Exchange Amount. Any shares of Preferred Stock not exchanged in the Exchange Offer or retained as a result of Acceptance Priority Levels or proration will remain outstanding after the completion of the Exchange Offer. The reduction in the number of shares available for trading after the completion of the Exchange Offer, our suspension of the payment of dividends on Preferred Stock since August 2009 and our delisting of any remaining shares of Preferred Stock from trading on the NYSE and, to the extent permitted by law, the deregistration of any such remaining shares under the Exchange Act may have a significant and adverse effect on the liquidity of any trading market for, and the price of, any such remaining shares of Preferred Stock and may result in the shares of Preferred Stock being illiquid for an indefinite period of time.


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Selected Financial Data
 
The following data summarizes our consolidated financial information as of and for each of the five years ended December 31, 2009 and the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009. You should read the following financial data in conjunction with the information set forth under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the financial statements and the related notes thereto included in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005 and our report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, from which this information is derived. For more information, see “Where You Can Find More Information.”
 
                                                         
    Quarter ended
    Quarter ended
                               
    March 31,
    March 31,
    Year ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2009     2008     2007     2006     2005  
   
    (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)  
 
Summary of Operations
                                                       
Interest income
  $ 220,988     $ 258,323     $ 996,574     $ 1,126,897     $ 1,189,247     $ 1,288,813     $ 1,067,590  
Interest expense
    104,125       136,725       477,532       599,016       738,231       845,119       635,271  
Net interest income
    116,863       121,598       519,042       527,881       451,016       443,694       432,319  
Provision for loan losses
    170,965       59,429       579,858       190,948       120,610       74,991       50,644  
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
    (54,102 )     62,169       (60,816 )     336,933       330,406       368,703       381,675  
Non-interest income
    45,326       30,053       142,264       74,643       67,156       31,336       63,077  
Operating expenses
    91,362       84,528       352,101       333,371       307,843       287,963       315,132  
Income tax (expense) benefit
    (6,861 )     14,197       (4,534 )     31,732       (21,583 )     (27,442 )     (15,016 )
Net (loss) income
    (106,999 )     21,891       (275,187 )     109,937       68,136       84,634       114,604  
Net (loss) income attributable to common stock
    (113,151 )     6,773       (322,075 )     69,661       27,860       44,358       74,328  
Selected Financial Data at Period-End
                                                       
Total assets
    18,850,964       19,709,150       19,628,448       19,491,268       17,186,931       17,390,256       19,917,651  
Total loans
    13,293,494       13,533,087       13,949,226       13,088,292       11,799,746       11,263,980       12,685,929  
Deposits
    12,878,234       11,619,348       12,669,047       13,057,430       11,034,521       11,004,287       12,463,752  
Stockholders’ equity
    1,488,543       1,977,240       1,599,063       1,548,117       1,421,646       1,229,553       1,197,841  
Performance Ratios
                                                       
Return on average assets
    (2.25 )%     0.45 %     (1.39 )%     0.59 %     0.40 %     0.44 %     0.64 %
Return on average common equity
    (68.06 )     2.65       (34.07 )     7.89       3.59       6.85       10.23  
Net interest margin (taxable equivalent basis)
    2.73       2.85       2.93       3.20       2.83       2.84       3.23  
Capital Ratios
                                                       
Tier 1 risk-based capital
    11.98 %     14.03 %     12.16 %     11.55 %     12.61 %     11.06 %     9.71 %
Total risk-based capital
    13.26       15.29       13.44       12.80       13.86       12.25       10.72  
Tier 1 leverage ratio
    8.37       10.38       8.91       8.30       9.29       7.82       6.72  
Credit Quality Data
                                                       
Non-performing loans to total loans receivable
    12.35 %     5.27 %     11.23 %     4.49 %     3.50 %     2.24 %     1.06 %
Net charge offs to average loans held-in-portfolio
    3.65       1.16       2.48       0.87       0.79       0.55       0.39  
Allowance for loan losses to non-performing assets
    35.09       42.49       33.77       47.95       46.04       62.79       110.18  
Allowance for loan losses to year end loans held-in-portfolio
    4.33       2.24       3.79       2.15       1.61       1.41       1.17  
Book value per share
  $ 6.04     $ 11.37     $ 7.25     $ 10.78     $ 9.42     $ 8.16     $ 8.01  
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
                                                       
Including Interest on Deposits
    (A )     1.05       (A )     1.13       1.12       1.14       1.23  
Excluding Interest on Deposits
    (A )     1.18       (A )     1.41       1.42       1.47       1.53  
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and Preferred Stock Dividends
                                                       
Including Interest on Deposits
    (B )     (B )     (B )     1.06       1.05       1.07       1.14  
Excluding Interest on Deposits
    (B )     (B )     (B )     1.16       1.14       1.20       1.29  
 
(footnotes on following page)


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Selected Financial Data
 
 
 
(A) For the quarter ended March 31, 2010 and year ended December 31, 2009, the ratio coverage was less than 1:1. The Corporation would have to generate additional earnings of $100.7 million and $270.7 million, respectively, to cover fixed charges and achieve a ratio of 1:1.
 
(B) For the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009 and for the year ended December 31, 2009, the ratio coverage was less than 1:1. The Corporation would have to generate additional earnings of $106.3 million, $7.4 million, and $317.5 million, respectively, to cover fixed charges and preferred dividends and achieve a ratio of 1:1.
 
For purposes of computing the consolidated ratios of earnings to fixed charges and earnings to fixed charges and Preferred Stock Dividends, earnings consist of pre-tax income from continuing operations plus fixed charges and amortization of capitalized interest, less interest capitalized. Fixed charges consist of interest expensed and capitalized, amortization of debt issuance costs, and First BanCorp’s estimate of the interest component of rental expense. Ratios are presented both including and excluding interest on deposits. The term “Preferred Stock Dividends” is the amount of pre-tax earnings that is required to pay dividends on our outstanding Preferred Stock.
 
LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS AND AGGREGATE LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE OF OUTSTANDING PREFERRED STOCK
 
The principal balance of our long-term obligations (excluding deposits) and the aggregate liquidation preference of our outstanding preferred stock on a consolidated basis as of the end of each of the five years ended December 31, 2009 and the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 are set forth below.
 
                                                         
    As of March 31,     As of December 31,  
    2010     2009     2009     2008     2007     2006     2005  
   
          (dollars in thousands)              
 
Long-term obligations
  $ 3,100,712     $ 3,514,970     $ 3,312,516     $ 3,821,128     $ 2,730,860     $ 2,042,047     $ 3,849,275  
Cumulative preferred stock
    379,560       375,062       378,408                          
Non-cumulative preferred stock
    550,100       550,100       550,100       550,100       550,100       550,100       550,100  
 
PRO FORMA DATA FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2010 AND THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009
 
The following pro forma data reflects the impact on net loss per common share, net loss per common share attributable to common stockholders, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges and the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 and the year ended December 31, 2009 based on an assumed high and low participation rates in the Exchange Offer. The data does not give


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Selected Financial Data
 
 
effect to the proposed transaction with the U.S. Treasury relating to its Series F Preferred Stock or the Capital Raise.
 
                                 
            High
  Low
    High
  Low
  Participation
  Participation
    Participation
  Participation
  Scenario
  Scenario
    Q1 2010   Q1 2010   FY 09   FY 09
 
 
Net loss per common share (basic and diluted)
                               
Net loss per common share attributable to common stockholders (basic and diluted)
                               
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
                               
Including Interest on Deposits
    (A)     (A)     (A)     (A)
Excluding Interest on Deposits
    (A)     (A)     (A)     (A)
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and Preferred Stock Dividends
                               
Including Interest on Deposits
    (B)     (B)     (B)     (B)
Excluding Interest on Deposits
    (B)     (B)     (B)     (B)
Book value per share
                               
 
 
(A) For the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the ratio coverage was less than 1:1. The Corporation would have to generate additional earnings of $270.7 million under both the High and Low Participation Scenarios to achieve a ratio of 1:1 for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.
 
(B) For the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the ratio coverage was less than 1:1. The Corporation would have to generate additional earnings of $296.4 million under the High Participation Scenario and $305.8 million under the Low Participation Scenario to achieve a ratio of 1:1 for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.


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Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information
 
The following selected unaudited pro forma financial information has been presented to give effect to and show the pro forma impact of the Exchange Offer on First BanCorp’s balance sheet as of March 31, 2010 and First BanCorp’s results of operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 and the quarter ended March 31, 2010 assuming two different levels of participation in the Exchange Offer as discussed below. The unaudited pro forma financial information does not give effect to the proposed transaction with the U.S. Treasury relating to its Series F Preferred Stock or the Capital Raise.
 
The unaudited pro forma financial information is presented for illustrative purposes only and does not necessarily indicate the financial position or results that would have been realized had the Exchange Offer been completed as of the dates indicated or that will be realized in the future when and if the Exchange Offer is completed. The selected unaudited pro forma financial information has been derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, the summary historical consolidated financial information included elsewhere in this prospectus and First BanCorp’s historical consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2010 filed with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
 
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA BALANCE SHEETS
 
The unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet of First BanCorp as of March 31, 2010 has been presented as if the Exchange Offer had been completed on January 1, 2009. We have shown the pro forma impact of a “High Participation Scenario” and a “Low Participation Scenario” prepared using the assumptions set forth below.
 
The “High Participation Scenario” assumes (i) the exchange of 90% of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock ($495.09 million aggregate liquidation preference) for           shares of our Common Stock, and (ii) a Relevant Price of $      per share.
 
The “Low Participation Scenario” assumes (i) the exchange of 50% of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock ($275.05 million aggregate liquidation preference) for           shares of our Common Stock, and (ii) a Relevant Price of $      per share.
 
If the Relevant Price is greater than the $      per share amount assumed in the preceding paragraph, there will be a decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock being issued and an increase in surplus, and increase in earnings per share relative to the pro forma financial statement information.
 
There can be no assurance that the foregoing assumptions will be realized in the future.


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Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information
 
 
HIGH PARTICIPATION SCENARIO
 
                         
    Adjustments  
    Actual
          Pro forma
 
    March 31,
    Exchange of
    March 31,
 
    2010     Preferred Stock     2010  
   
    (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)  
 
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks
  $ 675,551     $       $  
                         
Money market investments:
                       
Federal funds sold
    331,677                  
Time deposits with other financial institutions
    600                  
Other short-term investments
    322,371                  
                         
Total money market investments
    654,648                  
                         
Investment securities available for sale, at fair value
    3,470,988                  
Investment securities held to maturity, at amortized cost
    564,931                  
Other equity securities
    69,680                  
                         
Total investment securities
    4,105,599                  
                         
Loans receivable, net
    12,698,264                  
Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or market
    19,927                  
                         
Total loans, net
    12,718,191                  
                         
Premises and equipment, net
    199,072                  
Other real estate owned
    73,444                  
Accrued interest receivable on loans and investments
    70,955                  
Due from customers on acceptances
    726                  
Accounts receivable from investment sales
    62,575                  
Other assets
    290,203                  
                         
Total assets
  $ 18,850,964     $       $  
                         
 
LIABILITIES
Deposits:
                       
Non-interest-bearing deposits
  $ 703,394     $       $    
Interest—bearing deposits
    12,174,840                  
                         
Total deposits
    12,878,234                  
                         
Advances from the Federal Reserve
    600,000                  
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    2,500,000                  
Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB)
    960,440                  
Notes payable
    28,313                  
Other borrowings
    231,959                  
Bank acceptances outstanding
    726                  
Accounts payable and other liabilities
    162,741                  
                         
Total liabilities
    17,362,421                  
                         
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                       
Preferred stock
    929,660                  
                         
Common stock
    102,440                  
Less: Treasury stock (at cost)
    (9,898 )                
                         
Common stock outstanding
    92,542                  
                         
Additional paid-in capital
    134,247                  
Legal surplus
    299,006                  
Retained earnings
    10,140                  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    22,948                  
                         
Total stockholders’ equity
    1,488,543                  
                         
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 18,850,964     $       $  
                         
Book value per common share
  $ 6.04                  
Tangible book value per common share
  $ 5.56                  


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Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information
 
 
LOW PARTICIPATION SCENARIO
 
                         
    Adjustments  
    Actual
          Pro forma
 
    March 31,
    Exchange of
    March 31,
 
    2010     Preferred Stock     2010  
   
    (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)  
 
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks
  $ 675,551     $       $  
                         
Money market investments:
                       
Federal funds sold
    331,677                  
Time deposits with other financial institutions
    600                  
Other short-term investments
    322,371                  
                         
Total money market investments
    654,648                  
                         
Investment securities available for sale, at fair value
    3,470,988                  
Investment securities held to maturity, at amortized cost
    564,931                  
Other equity securities
    69,680                  
                         
Total investment securities
    4,105,599                  
                         
Loans receivable, net
    12,698,264                  
Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or market
    19,927                  
                         
Total loans, net
    12,718,191                  
                         
Premises and equipment, net
    199,072                  
Other real estate owned
    73,444                  
Accrued interest receivable on loans and investments
    70,955                  
Due from customers on acceptances
    726                  
Accounts receivable from investment sales
    62,575                  
Other assets
    290,203                  
                         
Total assets
  $ 18,850,964     $       $  
                         
 
LIABILITIES
Deposits:
                       
Non-interest-bearing deposits
  $ 703,394     $       $    
Interest—bearing deposits
    12,174,840                  
                         
Total deposits
    12,878,234                  
                         
Advances from the Federal Reserve
    600,000                  
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    2,500,000                  
Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB)
    960,440                  
Notes payable
    28,313                  
Other borrowings
    231,959                  
Bank acceptances outstanding
    726                  
Accounts payable and other liabilities
    162,741                  
                         
Total liabilities
    17,362,421                  
                         
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                       
Preferred stock
    929,660                  
                         
Common stock
    102,440                  
Less: Treasury stock (at cost)
    (9,898 )                
                         
Common stock outstanding
    92,542                  
                         
Additional paid-in capital
    134,227                  
Legal surplus
    299,006                  
Retained earnings
    10,140                  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    22,948                  
                         
Total stockholders’ equity
    1,488,543                  
                         
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 18,850,964     $       $  
                         
Book value per common share
  $ 6.04                  
Tangible book value per common share
  $ 5.56                  


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Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information
 
 
PRO FORMA EARNINGS IMPLICATIONS
 
The following presents the pro forma impact of the Exchange Offer on certain statement of operations items and losses per Common Share for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 and the year ended December 31, 2009 as if the Exchange Offer had been completed on January 1, 2009. We have calculated the pro forma information below by (1) eliminating all the actual dividends in 2009 paid to holders of shares of Preferred Stock who participate at the levels assumed in each of the High Participation Scenario and the Low Participation Scenario, and (2) assuming that the new shares of our Common Stock issuable in the Exchange Offer were issued on January 1, 2009 and received dividends through August 2009. The retained earnings impact of the Exchange Offer has not been included in the analysis because it is not recurring.
 
                                                 
    Pro Forma Implications
 
    Consolidated Statements of Operations  
          High
    Low
          High
    Low
 
          Participation
    Participation
          Participation
    Participation
 
    Actual     Scenario     Scenario     Actual     Scenario     Scenario  
    Q1 2010     Q1 2010     Q1 2010     FY ’09     FY ’09     FY ’09  
   
    (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited)  
 
Interest income
    220,988       220,988       220,988       996,574       996,574       996,574  
Interest expense
    104,125       104,125       104,125       477,532       477,532       477,532  
                                                 
Net interest income
    116,863       116,863       116,863       519,042       519,042       519,042  
Provision for loan losses
    170,965       170,965       170,965       579,858       579,858       579,858  
                                                 
Net interest (loss) after provision for loan and lease losses
    (54,102 )     (54,102 )     (54,102 )     (60,816 )     (60,816 )     (60,816 )
Non-interest income
    45,326       45,326       45,326       142,264       142,264       142,264  
Non-interest expenses
    91,362       91,362       91,362       352,101       352,101       352,101  
Income tax expense
    (6,861 )     (6,861 )     (6,861 )     (4,534 )     (4,534 )     (4,534 )
                                                 
Net (loss)
    (106,999 )     (106,999 )     (106,999 )     (275,187 )     (275,187 )     (275,187 )
                                                 
Dividends to preferred stockholders(1)
    5,000       5,000       5,000       42,661       21,516       30,914  
Preferred stock discount accretion
    1,152       1,152       1,152       4,227       4,227       4,227  
Net (loss) attributable to common stockholders
    (113,151 )     (113,151 )     (113,151 )     (322,075 )     (300,930 )     (310,328 )
                                                 
Pro forma adjustments
                                               
Pro forma net (loss)
    (106,999 )     (106,999 )     (106,999 )     (275,187 )     (275,187 )     (275,187 )
Preferred stock dividends and accretion of discount
    6,152       6,152       6,152       46,888       25,743       35,141  
Pro forma net (loss) attributable to common stockholders
    (113,151 )     (113,151 )     (113,151 )     (322,075 )     (300,930 )     (310,328 )
Common shares used to calculate actual (loss) per common share
    92,521       92,521       92,511       92,511       92,511       92,511  
Common shares newly issued
                                               
Pro forma number of common shares
                                               
Pro forma net loss per common share (basic and diluted)
                                               
 
 
(1) For the quarter ended March 31, 2010 and the year ended December 31, 2009, reflects Series F Preferred Stock cumulative preferred dividends of $5.0 million and $12.6 million, respectively, not declared as of the end of the periods related to the Series F Preferred Stock issued to the U.S. Treasury in connection with the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) Capital Purchase Program.


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Use of Proceeds
 
We will not receive any cash proceeds from the Exchange Offer.


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Regulatory and Other Capital Ratios
 
The following table sets forth our capital ratios as of March 31, 2010 on an “as reported” basis, as well as on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the Exchange Offer. The pro forma ratios presented reflect: (i) completion of the Exchange Offer under the Low Participation Scenario and (ii) completion of the Exchange Offer under the High Participation Scenario. This table should be read in conjunction with the information set forth under “Selected Financial Data,” “Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information,” “Regulatory and Other Capital Ratios” and our consolidated unaudited financial statements set forth in our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. See also “Risk Factors.”
 
REGULATORY AND OTHER CAPITAL RATIOS
 
                         
    As of March 31, 2010  
          Pro forma for
    Pro forma for
 
          Exchange Offer
    Exchange Offer
 
    As reported     (Low)(1)     (High)(2)(3)  
   
 
Total capital (Total capital to risk-weighted assets)
    13.26 %     13.26 %     13.26 %
Tier 1 capital ratio (Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets)
    11.98       11.98       11.98  
Leverage (Tier 1 capital to average assets)
    8.37       8.37       8.37  
Tangible common equity (Tangible common equity to tangible assets)
    2.74       4.20       5.37  
Tier 1 common (Tier 1 common equity to risk-weighted assets)
    3.36       5.41       7.05  
 
 
(1) The “Low Participation Scenario” assumes (i) the exchange of 50% of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock ($275.05 million aggregate liquidation preference) for           shares of our Common Stock, and (ii) a Relevant Price of $      per share.
 
(2) The “High Participation Scenario” assumes (i) the exchange of 90% of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock ($495.09 million aggregate liquidation preference) for           shares of our Common Stock, and (ii) a Relevant Price of $      per share.
 
(3) If 75% of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock are exchanged in the Exchange Offer, which is the Corporation’s targeted success rate for the Exchange Offer, our Tier 1 common equity ratio and tangible common equity ratios as of March 31, 2010 on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the Exchange Offer would have been     % and     %, respectively.
 
RECONCILIATION OF TANGIBLE COMMON EQUITY AND TANGIBLE ASSETS
 
The tangible common equity ratio and tangible book value per common share are non-GAAP measures generally used by financial analysts and investment bankers to evaluate capital adequacy. Tangible common equity is total equity less preferred equity, goodwill and core deposit intangibles. Tangible assets are total assets less goodwill and core deposit intangibles. Management and many stock analysts use the tangible common equity ratio and tangible book value per common share in conjunction with more traditional bank capital ratios to compare the capital adequacy of banking organizations with significant amounts of goodwill or other intangible assets, typically stemming from the use of the purchase accounting method accounting for mergers and acquisitions. Neither tangible common equity nor tangible assets or related measures should be considered in isolation or as a substitute for stockholders’ equity, total assets or any other measure calculated in accordance with GAAP. Moreover, the manner in which the Corporation calculates its tangible common equity, tangible assets and any other related measures may differ from that of other companies reporting measures with similar names.


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Regulatory and Other Capital Ratios
 
 
The following table is a reconciliation of the Corporation’s tangible common equity and tangible assets as of March 31, 2010.
 
         
    As of
 
    March 31,
 
    2010  
   
    (dollars in thousands)  
 
Tangible Equity:
       
Total equity—GAAP
  $ 1,488,543  
Preferred equity
    (927,660 )
Goodwill
    (28,098 )
Core deposit intangible
    (15,934 )
         
Tangible common equity
  $ 514,851  
         
Tangible Assets:
       
Total assets—GAAP
  $ 18,850,964  
Goodwill
    (28,098 )
Core deposit intangible
    (15,934 )
         
Tangible assets
  $ 18,846,932  
         
Common shares outstanding
    92,542  
         
Tangible common equity ratio
    2.74 %
 
RECONCILIATION OF COMMON STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (GAAP) TO TIER 1 COMMON EQUITY (NON-GAAP)
 
The Tier 1 common equity to risk-weighted assets ratio is calculated by dividing (a) tier 1 capital less non-common elements including qualifying perpetual preferred stock and qualifying trust preferred securities, by (b) risk-weighted assets, which assets are calculated in accordance with applicable bank regulatory requirements. The Tier 1 common equity ratio is not required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, or on a recurring basis by applicable bank regulatory requirements. However, this ratio was used by the Federal Reserve in connection with its stress test administered to the 19 largest U.S. bank holding companies under the Supervisory Capital Assessment Program, the results of which were announced on May 7, 2009. Management is currently monitoring this ratio, along with the other ratios set forth in the table above, in evaluating the Corporation’s capital levels and believes that, at this time, the ratio may be of interest to investors.
 
Non-GAAP financial measures have inherent limitations, are not required to be uniformly applied and are not audited. To mitigate these limitations, we have procedures in place to calculate these measures using the appropriate GAAP or regulatory components. Although these non-GAAP financial measures are frequently used by stakeholders in the evaluation of a company, they have limitations as analytical tools, and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for analyses of results as reported under GAAP.


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Regulatory and Other Capital Ratios
 
 
The following table provides a reconciliation of common stockholders’ equity (GAAP) to Tier 1 common equity (non-GAAP) as of March 31, 2010:
 
         
    As of
 
    March 31,
 
    2010  
   
    (dollars in thousands)  
 
Tier 1 Common Equity:
       
Total equity—GAAP
  $ 1,488,543  
Qualifying preferred stock
    (927,660 )
Unrealized (gain) loss on available-for-sale securities(1)
    (22,948 )
Disallowed deferred tax asset(2)
    (40,522 )
Goodwill
    (28,098 )
Core deposit intangible
    (15,934 )
Cumulative change gain in fair value of liabilities accounted for under a fair value option
    (951 )
Other disallowed assets
    (24 )
         
Tier 1 common equity
  $ 450,406  
         
Total risk-weighted assets
  $ 13,402,979  
         
Tier 1 common equity to risk-weighted assets ratio
    3.36 %
 
 
(1) Tier 1 capital excludes net unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale debt securities and net unrealized gains on available-for-sale equity securities with readily determinable fair values, in accordance with regulatory risk-based capital guidelines. In arriving at Tier 1 capital, institutions are required to deduct net unrealized losses on available-for-sale equity securities with readily determinable fair values, net of tax.
 
(2) Approximately $69 million of the Corporation’s deferred tax assets at March 31, 2010 were included without limitation in regulatory capital pursuant to the risk-based capital guidelines, while approximately $41 million of such assets at March 31, 2010 exceeded the limitation imposed by these guidelines and, as “disallowed deferred tax assets,” were deducted in arriving at Tier 1 capital. According to regulatory capital guidelines, the deferred tax assets that are dependent upon future taxable income are limited for inclusion in Tier 1 capital to the lesser of: (i) the amount of such deferred tax asset that the entity expects to realize within one year of the calendar quarter end-date, based on its projected future taxable income for that year or (ii) 10% of the amount of the entity’s Tier 1 capital. Approximately $5 million of the Corporation’s other net deferred tax liability at March 31, 2010 represented primarily the deferred tax effects of unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale debt securities, which are permitted to be excluded prior to deriving the amount of net deferred tax assets subject to limitation under the guidelines.


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The Exchange Offer
 
PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND OF THE TRANSACTIONS
 
Purpose of the Exchange Offer
 
We decided to conduct this Exchange Offer to improve our capital structure given the continuing difficult economic conditions in the markets in which we operate and the evolving regulatory environment. We must increase our common equity to provide additional protection from the possibility that, due to the current economic situation in Puerto Rico that has impacted the Corporation’s asset quality and earnings performance, the Corporation has to recognize additional loan loss reserves against its loan portfolio and absorb the potential future credit losses associated with the disposition of non-performing assets. Total non-performing loans to total loans increased to 12.35% as of March 31, 2010 from 11.23% as of December 31, 2009 and from 5.27% as of March 31, 2009.
 
The restructuring of our equity components through the Exchange Offer will strengthen the quality of our regulatory capital position although the Exchange Offer itself will not affect our Tier 1 capital. Our Tier 1 capital will only be affected if BNS decides to exercise its anti-dilution right under the Stockholder Agreement and acquire shares of our Common Stock. See “Anti-Dilution Rights That May Be Triggered by the Exchange Offer.” Through the Exchange Offer, we are seeking to improve the Corporation’s Tier 1 common equity to risk-weighted assets ratio. In the SCAP applied to large money-center banks in the U.S., federal regulators established a 4% Tier 1 common equity to risk-weighted assets ratio as the minimum threshold to determine the potential capital needs of such banks. While the SCAP is not applicable to us, we believe that the Tier 1 common equity ratio is being viewed by financial analysts and rating agencies as a guide for measuring the capital adequacy of banking institutions. The Exchange Offer will also improve our tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio, which is another metric used by financial analysts to determine a bank’s capital requirements. As of March 31, 2010, our Tier 1 common equity ratio was 3.36% and our tangible common equity ratio was 2.74%. If 70% of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock are exchanged in the Exchange Offer, which is the Corporation’s targeted success rate for the Exchange Offer, our Tier 1 common equity ratio and tangible common equity ratio as of March 31, 2010 on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the Exchange Offer would have been 6.20% and 4.78%, respectively. Our Tier 1 common equity would be strengthened by $385 million based on a 70% success rate for the exchange. See “Regulatory and Other Capital Ratios—Reconciliation of Tangible Common Equity and Tangible Assets” and “Regulatory and Other Capital Ratios—Reconciliation of Common Stockholders’ Equity (GAAP) to Tier 1 Common Equity (Non-GAAP).”
 
We believe that the Exchange Offer will enhance our long-term financial stability and improve our ability to operate in the current economic environment. In addition, it will improve our ability to access the capital markets in order to fund strategic initiatives or other business needs and to absorb any future credit losses. Moreover, by conducting the Exchange Offer, we will be in a better position to meet any new capital requirements.
 
The issuance of Common Stock in connection with the Exchange Offer and any additional Common Stock issuances, including any issuance of additional shares of Common Stock in a possible offering or to BNS pursuant to its anti-dilution right, right of first refusal or otherwise, will likely be highly dilutive to our common stockholders and may adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock. In addition, our federal banking regulators are re emphasizing the importance of a number of risk, capital and liquidity management issues and are requiring banking institutions to maintain enhanced internal management processes geared towards achieving and maintaining capital levels that are commensurate with business activities and risks of all types. To the extent the Exchange Offer is successful, the Corporation will be in a better position to comply with the previously discussed Agreements and to


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The Exchange Offer
 
 
satisfy any additional government regulation that may be imposed. On December 17, 2009, federal banking regulators released their plans to strengthen capital, liquidity and risk management standards. The proposals are intended to address what some view as shortcomings in the currently implemented capital, liquidity and risk management standards, which, in the view of the regulators, did not require sufficient capital reserves for the larger banks to withstand the recent financial crisis. The new proposal would establish a global leverage ratio, a new definition of core capital and new standards for measuring liquidity risks for internationally active banks and ensure sufficient liquidity in times of crisis. The proposals did not cite specific numbers for the leverage ratio or the new core capital requirements. These proposals are preliminary and are to be finalized by year-end 2010, with a goal of phasing in new requirements by the end of 2012. If the Exchange Offer is successful, we believe the Corporation will be in a better position to satisfy any additional capital requirements that may be imposed.
 
ADDITIONAL EFFORTS THE CORPORATION IS TAKING TO IMPROVE ITS CAPITAL
 
We have assured our regulators that we are committed to raising capital and are actively pursuing capital strengthening initiatives. In addition to this Exchange Offer, we are considering or taking steps to implement strategies to increase tangible common equity and regulatory capital through (1) the Capital Raise, (2) the conversion into Common Stock of the shares of Series F Preferred Stock, that we sold to the U.S. Treasury on January 16, 2009, and (3) a rights offering to existing stockholders. With respect to the Capital Raise, we are seeking to raise at least $500 million of equity because we believe that amount would enable us to absorb possible additional losses based on a worst case evaluation of possible losses over the next five years while maintaining the capital ratios required for a well-capitalized financial institution, which would also comply with the capital requirements in the FDIC’s Order. With respect to the conversion, the Corporation is currently in advanced discussions with the U.S. Treasury relating to the exchange of its Series F Preferred Stock for shares of Common Stock to be accomplished in one or more transactions. We expect to amend this Prospectus to disclose any material developments relating to the Capital Raise or the conversion that occur prior to the expiration date of the Exchange Offer. We expect that any rights offering would be conducted after completion of the Exchange Offer, any Capital Raise and the conversion of the Series F Preferred Stock.
 
IMPACT OF ISSUANCE OF ADDITIONAL SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ON PARTICIPANTS IN THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
Existing holders of Preferred Stock that participate in the Exchange Offer would be significantly diluted if we issue additional shares of Common Stock other than through the Exchange Offer. These additional issuances include: (i) the possible issuance of shares of Common Stock in the Capital Raise at a price significantly below the book value per share of Common Stock as of March 31, 2010 of $6.04; (ii) the possible issuance of shares of Common Stock in exchange for the U.S. Treasury’s Series F Preferred Stock; and (iii) the possible issuance of up to 19,245,547 additional shares of Common Stock to BNS pursuant to its anti-dilution right, subject to the consent of the Federal Reserve (see “Anti-Dilution Rights That May Be Triggered by the Exchange Offer”). These additional issuances would likely reduce significantly the percentage of Common Stock owned by participants in the Exchange Offer. In addition, these three issuances may adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock, which was           on June   , 2010.
 
TERMS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
Generally
 
We are offering to issue up to 192,535,000 newly issued shares of our Common Stock, which we refer to as the Maximum Exchange Amount, in exchange for any and all issued and outstanding shares of Preferred Stock (subject to acceptance of shares of Preferred Stock in accordance with the acceptance priority levels in numerical priority order and proration, as described below), validly tendered and not


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The Exchange Offer
 
 
validly withdrawn, on or prior to the expiration date, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the accompanying letter of transmittal (including, if the Exchange Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of any such extension or amendment). You may exchange any or all of your shares of Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer, subject to the acceptance priority levels and proration. All shares of Preferred Stock accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer will be retired by our board of directors and restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock without designation as to series.
 
Offer Consideration
 
For each share of Preferred Stock that we accept for exchange in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer, we will issue a number of shares of our Common Stock having the aggregate dollar value (based on the Relevant Price) equal to the Exchange Value set forth in the table below. We refer to the number of shares of our Common Stock we will issue for each share of Preferred Stock we accept in the Exchange Offer as the “exchange ratio” applicable to such share of Preferred Stock and we will round the exchange ratio down to four decimal places. As used in this prospectus:
 
Ø  The “Relevant Price” will be equal to the greater of (1) the average Volume Weighted Average Price, or “VWAP,” of a share of our Common Stock, determined as described below, during the five trading-day period ending on the second business day immediately preceding the expiration date of the Exchange Offer, and (2) the “Minimum Share Price” of $      per share of our Common Stock;
 
Ø  Average VWAP during a period means the arithmetic average of VWAP for each trading day during that period; and
 
Ø  VWAP for any day means the per share volume weighted average price of our Common Stock on the NYSE from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on that day as displayed under the heading Bloomberg VWAP on Bloomberg Page FBP US VAP (or its equivalent successor page if such page is not available) in respect of the period from the scheduled opening of trading on the relevant trading day until the scheduled close of trading on the relevant trading day (or if such volume weighted average price is unavailable, the market price of one share of our Common Stock on such trading day determined, using a volume weighted average method, by a nationally recognized investment banking firm retained by us for this purpose).
 
In addition, depending upon fluctuations in the trading price of our Common Stock compared to the Relevant Price, the market value of the Common Stock we issue on the settlement date in exchange for each share of Preferred Stock we accept for exchange may be less than, equal to or greater than the applicable Exchange Value.
 
If the aggregate liquidation preference of all shares of Preferred Stock tendered in the Exchange Offer would result in the issuance, upon completion of the Exchange Offer, of a number of shares of our Common Stock in excess of the Maximum Exchange Amount, then acceptance of Preferred Stock validly tendered and not withdrawn in the Exchange Offer prior to the expiration date will be in accordance with the Acceptance Priority Levels specified in the table below (in numerical priority order). Whether and to what extent we will accept validly tendered and not properly withdrawn shares of Preferred Stock within the various Acceptance Priority Levels will be based on the Maximum Exchange Amount.
 
Set forth below under “Acceptance Priority Levels; Proration” is a table that shows, with respect to each series of Preferred Stock, the Acceptance Priority Level, the aggregate liquidation preference outstanding, the liquidation preference per share of Preferred Stock and the applicable Exchange Value that we are offering in exchange for each share of Preferred Stock.


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The Exchange Offer
 
 
Publication of Exchange Ratio Information
 
Throughout the Exchange Offer, the indicative average VWAP, the Minimum Share Price, the resultant indicative Relevant Price, and the indicative exchange ratios will be available at          and from the Information Agent, at the number listed on the back cover page of this prospectus. We will announce the final exchange ratio for each series of Preferred Stock prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day immediately succeeding the second business day prior to the expiration date of the Exchange Offer, and those final exchange ratios will also be available by that time at           and from the Information Agent. No additional information on our website is deemed to be part of or incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
 
The following summarizes the exchange ratio information that will be available during the Exchange Offer:
 
Ø  By 4:30 p.m., New York City time, on each trading day before the five trading-day period referred to in the next bullet, the web page referred to above will show an indicative exchange ratio for each series of Preferred Stock calculated using VWAP for that day and the immediately preceding four trading days (as though that day were the second business day prior to the expiration date).
 
Ø  During the five trading-day period ending two business days immediately preceding the expiration date, the web page referred to above will show indicative exchange ratios for each series of Preferred Stock using cumulative actual trading data, updated every three hours starting at 10:30 a.m., New York City time. In particular:
 
  On the first trading day of that five trading-day period, indicative ratios will reflect actual “Intra-day VWAP” during the elapsed portion of that day.
 
  On each subsequent trading day during that five trading-day period, indicative ratios will reflect the arithmetic average of VWAP on the preceding trading days in that five trading-day period and actual Intra-day VWAP during the elapsed portion of that subsequent trading day, weighting VWAP for each preceding trading day in the period the same as such actual Intra-day VWAP. For example, on the last trading day of the five trading-day period the arithmetic average will equal (i) the combined VWAP for the preceding four trading days plus the actual Intra-day VWAP during the elapsed portion of the last trading day divided by (ii) five.
 
Ø  The five-day VWAP period will end two business days immediately preceding the expiration date.
 
Ø  “Intra-day VWAP” at any time on any day means the volume weighted average price of one share of Common Stock on the NYSE for the period beginning at the official open of trading on that day and ending as of that time on that day, as calculated by Bloomberg. The data used to derive the Intra-day VWAP during the last five trading-days will reflect a 20-minute reporting delay.
 
Ø  We will announce the final exchange ratio for each series of Preferred Stock prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day immediately succeeding the second business day prior to the expiration date of the Exchange Offer, and those final exchange ratios will also be available by that time at          . No additional information on our website is deemed to be part of or incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
 
Ø  At any time during the Exchange Offer, you may also contact the Information Agent to obtain the indicative average VWAP, the Minimum Share Price, the resultant indicative Relevant Price and the indicative exchange ratios (and, once it is determined, the final exchange ratio for Preferred Stock) at its toll-free number provided on the back cover page of this prospectus.
 
CONDITIONS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Exchange Offer, we will not be required to accept for exchange, or to issue shares of our Common Stock in respect of, any shares of Preferred Stock tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer, and may terminate, extend or amend the Exchange Offer, may (subject


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The Exchange Offer
 
 
to Rule 13e-4(f) and Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act) postpone the acceptance for exchange of, and issuance of shares of our Common Stock in respect of, any shares of Preferred Stock so tendered in the Exchange Offer, if, in our reasonable judgment (as applicable), any of the following conditions exist with respect to the Exchange Offer prior to the expiration date:
 
Ø  we do not receive the necessary stockholder approval of the issuance of up to 192,535,000 shares of Common Stock upon the exchange of Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer and of the possible issuance of up to 19,245,547 additional shares of Common Stock to BNS (if it exercises its anti-dilution right under the Stockholder Agreement);
 
Ø  there has been instituted, threatened in writing or be pending, any action, proceeding or investigation by or before any governmental authority, including any court, governmental, regulatory or administrative branch or agency, tribunal or instrumentality (including the Federal Reserve) that challenges the Exchange Offer or otherwise relates in any manner to the Exchange Offer that, in our reasonable judgment, does, could or could reasonably be expected to (a) prohibit, prevent or delay completion of the Exchange Offer, (b) materially impair the contemplated benefits to us of the Exchange Offer, or otherwise result in the completion of the Exchange Offer not being, or to not reasonably be likely to be, in our best interest, or (c) have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, operations or prospects of First BanCorp and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (any of the effects described in clause (a), (b) or (c), a “Material Adverse Effect”);
 
Ø  there has been proposed, enacted, entered, issued, promulgated, enforced or deemed applicable by any governmental authority, including any court, governmental, regulatory or administrative branch or agency, tribunal or instrumentality (including the Federal Reserve), any order, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, injunction, stay, decree or executive order, or any change in the interpretation of any of the foregoing, that, in our reasonable judgment, has had, could or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect;
 
Ø  there has been proposed, enacted, entered, issued, promulgated, enforced or deemed applicable to First BanCorp any change in U.S. GAAP that, in our reasonable judgment, has had, could or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect;
 
Ø  there has occurred, or is reasonably likely to occur, any Material Adverse Effect; or
 
Ø  there has occurred:
 
  any general suspension of, or limitation on, prices for trading in securities in the United States securities or financial markets;
 
  any material adverse change in the price of our Common Stock in the United States securities or financial markets;
 
  a declaration of a banking moratorium or any suspension of payments in respect of banks in the United States or Puerto Rico;
 
  any limitation (whether or not mandatory) by any government or governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency or instrumentality, or other event that, in our reasonable judgment, would, or would be reasonably likely to, affect the extension of credit by banks or other lending institutions; or
 
  a commencement or significant worsening of a war or armed hostilities or other national or international calamity, including, but not limited to, catastrophic terrorist attacks against the United States or its citizens.
 
In addition to the conditions described above, and notwithstanding any other provision of the Exchange Offer, we will not be required to accept for exchange, or to issue Common Stock in respect of, any shares of Preferred Stock tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer, and may terminate, extend or amend the Exchange Offer and may (subject to Rule 13e-4(f) and Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act)


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The Exchange Offer
 
 
postpone the acceptance for exchange of, and issuance of shares of our Common Stock in respect of, any shares of Preferred Stock so tendered in the Exchange Offer unless the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part remains effective and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement and no proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or is pending, or, to our knowledge, is contemplated or threatened by the SEC.
 
All conditions to the Exchange Offer must be satisfied or waived prior to the applicable expiration date. The Exchange Offer is not subject to any minimum tender condition.
 
We expressly reserve the right, subject to applicable law, to amend or terminate the Exchange Offer and to reject for exchange any of the shares of Preferred Stock not previously accepted for exchange upon the occurrence of any of the conditions to the Exchange Offer, as specified above. In addition, we expressly reserve the right, at any time or at various times, to waive any conditions of the Exchange Offer, in whole or in part (including the right to waive a particular condition with respect to the Exchange Offer), except as to the requirements that the holders of the Common Stock approve the issuance of the Common Stock upon the exchange of Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer and the issuance of additional shares of Common Stock to BNS if it exercises its anti-dilution right and that the registration statement remain effective, which conditions we will not waive. We will give oral or written notice (with any oral notice to be promptly confirmed in writing) of any amendment, non-acceptance, termination or waiver to the Exchange Agent as promptly as practicable, followed by a timely press release.
 
These conditions are for our sole benefit, and we may assert them with respect to the Exchange Offer, regardless of the circumstances that may give rise to them, or waive them in whole or in part with respect to the Exchange Offer at any or at various times in our sole discretion. If we fail at any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights with respect to the Exchange Offer, this failure will not constitute a waiver of such right with respect to the Exchange Offer. The conditions to the Exchange Offer, other than those dependent upon the receipt of necessary stockholder and government approvals to consummate the Exchange Offer, if any, must be satisfied or otherwise waived by us on or prior to the expiration date.
 
ACCEPTANCE PRIORITY LEVELS; PRORATION
 
If acceptance for exchange of all shares of Preferred Stock validly tendered and not properly withdrawn prior to the expiration date would result in the issuance of a number of shares of our Common Stock in excess of the Maximum Exchange Amount, then acceptance of shares of Preferred Stock validly tendered and not properly withdrawn in the Exchange Offer prior to the expiration date will be in accordance with the Acceptance Priority Levels specified in the table below (in numerical priority order). Whether and to what extent we will accept validly tendered and not properly withdrawn shares of Preferred Stock within the various Acceptance Priority Levels will be based on the Maximum Exchange Amount.
 


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The Exchange Offer
 
 
                                         
                Aggregate
             
                liquidation
    Liquidation
       
Acceptance
              preference
    preference
    Exchange
 
priority level     CUSIP     Title of securities   outstanding     per share     Value  
   
 
  1       318672300     8.35% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series B     $75,000,000     $ 25     $        
  2       318672409     7.40% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series C     $103,500,000     $ 25     $    
  3       318672508     7.25% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series D     $92,000,000     $ 25     $    
  4       318672201     7.125% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series A     $90,000,000     $ 25     $    
  5       318672607     7.00% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series E     $189,600,000     $ 25     $  
 
Initially, we will accept all shares of Preferred Stock tendered and not properly withdrawn prior to the expiration date within Acceptance Priority Level 1, provided that acceptance of all those shares of Preferred Stock within Acceptance Priority Level 1 would not result in a number of shares of our Common Stock being issued in exchange for those shares of Preferred Stock in excess of the Maximum Exchange Amount.
 
If acceptance of all shares of Preferred Stock validly tendered and not properly withdrawn prior to the expiration date within Acceptance Priority Level 1 would result in the issuance of a number of shares of our Common Stock in excess of the Maximum Exchange Amount, then we will accept for exchange only a pro rata portion of the shares of Preferred Stock within Acceptance Priority Level 1. After acceptance of shares of Preferred Stock within Acceptance Priority Level 1, the number of shares of Common Stock in the Maximum Exchange Amount will be reduced by the number of shares of Common Stock issuable in exchange for all shares of Preferred Stock accepted for exchange in Acceptance Priority Level 1. We refer to this as the “Adjusted Aggregate Consideration.” If the Adjusted Aggregate Consideration is greater than zero, then we will accept validly tendered and not withdrawn shares of Preferred Stock within Acceptance Priority Level 2, but only to the extent that the Adjusted Aggregate Consideration is not exceeded.
 
We will continue sequentially through each Acceptance Priority Level, each time reducing the Adjusted Aggregate Consideration by the number of shares issuable in exchange for shares of Preferred Stock accepted within preceding Acceptance Priority Level(s), until we are unable to accept for exchange all validly tendered shares of Preferred Stock within an Acceptance Priority Level without exceeding the Adjusted Aggregate Consideration. If we are unable to accept for exchange all shares of Preferred Stock validly tendered and not properly withdrawn prior to the expiration date within an Acceptance Priority Level without exceeding the Adjusted Aggregate Consideration, then we will accept for exchange only a pro rata portion of the shares of Preferred Stock within that Acceptance Priority Level. We will not accept any additional shares of Preferred Stock after the Adjusted Aggregate Consideration equals zero. In the event that proration of shares of Preferred Stock within an Acceptance Priority Level is required, we will determine the final proration factor applicable to that series and announce the results of proration by press release, promptly after the expiration date. This information also will be available from the Information Agent after final determination.
 
In applying the proration factor, we will multiply the amount of each tender of shares of Preferred Stock within a particular Acceptance Priority Level by the proration factor and round the resulting amount down to the nearest whole share. Rule 14e-1(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), requires us to issue the consideration offered in the Exchange Offer or return the shares of Preferred Stock deposited pursuant to the Exchange Offer promptly after the

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termination or withdrawal of the tender offer. In the event that any of your shares of Preferred Stock are not accepted for exchange due to the application of Acceptance Priority Levels or proration, we will promptly return those shares of Preferred Stock to you.
 
EXPIRATION DATE; EXTENSION; TERMINATION; AMENDMENT
 
The Exchange Offer will expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on          , unless extended or earlier terminated by us. The term “expiration date” means such date and time or, if the Exchange Offer is extended, then the latest date and time to which the Exchange Offer is so extended. In any event, we will hold the Exchange Offer open for at least 20 business days.
 
We reserve the right to extend the period of time that the Exchange Offer is open, if we elect to extend the Exchange Offer, and delay acceptance for exchange of the shares of Preferred Stock tendered in the Exchange Offer, by giving oral or written notice to the Exchange Agent and by a public announcement no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled expiration date. During any such extension, all shares of Preferred Stock previously tendered and not validly withdrawn in the Exchange Offer will remain subject to the Exchange Offer, and subject to your right to withdraw the shares of Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer. We also reserve the right to waive any and all conditions to or amend the Exchange Offer in any respect, including amending the Exchange Value or the Minimum Share Price, or to terminate the Exchange Offer.
 
If we terminate or amend the Exchange Offer, we will notify the Exchange Agent by oral or written notice and will issue a timely public announcement regarding the termination or amendment. Upon termination of the Exchange Offer for any reason, any shares of Preferred Stock previously tendered in the Exchange Offer will be promptly returned to the tendering holders.
 
If we make a material change in the terms of the Exchange Offer, or the information concerning the Exchange Offer, or waive a material condition of the Exchange Offer, we will promptly disseminate disclosure regarding the changes to the Exchange Offer, and extend the Exchange Offer, if required by law, so that the Exchange Offer remains open a minimum of five business days from the date we disseminate disclosure regarding such changes.
 
FRACTIONAL SHARES
 
No fractional shares of our Common Stock will be issued in the Exchange Offer and no cash will be paid for fractional shares. Instead, the number of shares of Common Stock received by each holder whose shares of Preferred Stock are accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer will be rounded down to the nearest whole number.
 
PROCEDURES FOR TENDERING SHARES OF PREFERRED STOCK
 
Generally
 
In order to receive shares of our Common Stock in exchange for your shares of Preferred Stock, you must validly tender your shares of Preferred Stock prior to the expiration date, and not validly withdraw them.
 
If you hold your shares of Preferred Stock through a broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, in order to validly tender shares of Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer, you must follow the instructions provided by your broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee with regard to procedures for tendering your shares of Preferred Stock, in order to enable your broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to comply with the procedures described below. Beneficial owners are urged to appropriately instruct their broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or


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other nominee at least five business days prior to the expiration date in order to allow adequate processing time for their instruction.
 
In order for your broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to validly tender shares of Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer, such broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee must deliver to the Exchange Agent via DTC an electronic message that will contain:
 
Ø  your acknowledgment and agreement to, and agreement to be bound by, the terms of the accompanying letter of transmittal; and
 
Ø  a timely confirmation of book-entry transfer of your shares of Preferred Stock into the Exchange Agent’s account.
 
On the date of any tender for exchange, if your interest is in certificated form, you must do each of the following in order to validly tender for exchange:
 
Ø  complete and manually sign the accompanying letter of transmittal provided by the Exchange Agent, or a facsimile of the exchange notice, and deliver the signed letter to the Exchange Agent;
 
Ø  surrender the certificates of your shares of Preferred Stock to the Exchange Agent;
 
Ø  if required, furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents; and
 
Ø  if required, pay all transfer or similar taxes.
 
You may obtain copies of the required form of the letter of transmittal from the Exchange Agent.
 
Should you have any questions as to the procedures for tendering your shares of Preferred Stock, please call your broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee; or call the Information Agent.
 
Tendering your shares of Preferred Stock pursuant to any of the procedures described herein, and acceptance thereof by us for exchange, will constitute a binding agreement between you and us, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer. By executing the accompanying letter of transmittal (or by tendering shares of Preferred Stock through book-entry transfer), and subject to and effective upon acceptance for exchange of, and issuance of shares of our Common Stock for, the shares of Preferred Stock tendered therewith, you, among other things: (i) irrevocably sell, transfer, convey and assign to or upon the order of First BanCorp, all right, title and interest in and to the shares of Preferred Stock tendered thereby; (ii) waive any and all other rights with respect to such shares of Preferred Stock (including with respect to any existing or past defaults and their consequences in respect of such shares of Preferred Stock and any undeclared dividends or unpaid distributions, as applicable); and (iii) release and discharge First BanCorp and its subsidiaries from any and all claims that you may have now, or may have in the future, arising out of, or related to, such shares of Preferred Stock, including any claims that you are entitled to receive additional payments with respect to such shares of Preferred Stock or to participate in any redemption or defeasance of such shares of Preferred Stock. Further, by executing the accompanying letter of transmittal (or by tendering shares of Preferred Stock through book-entry transfer), and subject to and effective upon acceptance for exchange of the shares of Preferred Stock tendered therewith, you irrevocably constitute and appoint the Exchange Agent as your true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact with respect to any such tendered shares of Preferred Stock, with full power of substitution and resubstitution (such power of attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest) to (a) deliver certificates representing such shares of Preferred Stock, or transfer ownership of such shares of Preferred Stock on the account books maintained by DTC, together, in any such case, with all accompanying evidences of transfer and authenticity, to First BanCorp, (b) present such shares of Preferred Stock for transfer on the relevant security register and (c) receive all benefits or otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such shares of Preferred Stock (except that the Exchange Agent will have no rights to, or control over,


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the shares of our Common Stock issued in respect of such shares of Preferred Stock, except (A) as described in the accompanying letter of transmittal or (B) as your agent, all in accordance with the terms of the applicable Exchange Offer).
 
In all cases, exchange of shares of Preferred Stock accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer will be made only after timely receipt by the Exchange Agent or confirmation of book-entry transfer of such shares of Preferred Stock, a properly completed and duly executed accompanying letter of transmittal (or a facsimile thereof or satisfaction of the procedures of DTC) and any other documents required thereby.
 
Tender of Shares of Preferred Stock Held Through DTC
 
DTC participants must electronically transmit their acceptance of an Exchange Offer by causing DTC to transfer their shares of Preferred Stock to the Exchange Agent in accordance with DTC’s ATOP procedures for such a transfer. DTC will then send an Agent’s Message to the Exchange Agent.
 
The term “Agent’s Message” means a message transmitted by DTC, received by the Exchange Agent and forming a part of the Book-Entry Confirmation (defined below), which states that DTC has received an express acknowledgment from the DTC participant tendering shares of Preferred Stock that are the subject of such Book-Entry Confirmation that such participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of the Exchange Offer, as set forth in this prospectus and the accompanying letter of transmittal and that we may enforce such agreement against such participant. You should allow sufficient time for completion of the ATOP procedures during the normal business hours of DTC on the expiration date. Tenders not received by the Exchange Agent on or prior to the expiration date will be disregarded and have no effect.
 
Signature Guarantees
 
Signatures on the accompanying letter of transmittal must be guaranteed by a firm that is a participant in the Security Transfer Agents Medallion Program or the Stock Exchange Medallion Program or is otherwise an “eligible guarantor institution” as that term is defined in Rule 17A(d)-15 under the Exchange Act (generally a member of a registered national securities exchange, a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) or a commercial bank or trust company having an office in the United States) (an “Eligible Institution”), unless (i) such accompanying letter of transmittal is signed by the registered holder of the shares of Preferred Stock tendered therewith and the Common Stock issued in exchange for shares of Preferred Stock is to be issued in the name of and delivered to, or if any shares of Preferred Stock not accepted for exchange are to be returned to, such holder or (ii) such shares of Preferred Stock are tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution.
 
Book-Entry Transfer
 
The Exchange Agent, promptly after the date of this prospectus (to the extent such arrangements have not been previously made), will establish and maintain an account with respect to the shares of Preferred Stock at DTC, and any financial institution that is a DTC participant and whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of shares of Preferred Stock may make book-entry delivery of such shares of Preferred Stock by causing DTC to transfer such shares of Preferred Stock into the Exchange Agent’s account in accordance with DTC’s procedures for such transfer. The confirmation of a book-entry transfer of shares of Preferred Stock into the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC as described above is referred to herein as a “Book-Entry Confirmation.” Although delivery of shares of Preferred Stock may be effected through book-entry transfer into the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC, an Agent’s Message, and any other required documents, must, in any case, be transmitted to and received by the Exchange Agent at its address set forth on the back cover of this


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prospectus on or before the expiration date. Delivery of documents to DTC does not constitute delivery to the Exchange Agent.
 
Validity
 
All questions as to the form of all documents and the validity (including time of receipt) and acceptance of all tenders of shares of Preferred Stock will be determined by us, in our sole discretion, the determination of which shall be final and binding. Alternative, conditional or contingent tenders of shares of Preferred Stock will not be considered valid. We reserve the absolute right, in our sole discretion, to reject any or all tenders of shares of Preferred Stock that are not in proper form or the acceptance of which, in our opinion, would be unlawful. We also reserve the right to waive any defects, irregularities or conditions of tender as to particular shares of Preferred Stock.
 
Any defect or irregularity in connection with tenders of shares of Preferred Stock must be cured within such time as we determine, unless waived by us. Tenders of shares of Preferred Stock shall not be deemed to have been made until all defects and irregularities have been waived by us or cured. A defective tender (which defect is not waived by us) will not constitute a valid tender of shares of Preferred Stock. None of First BanCorp, the Exchange Agent and the Information Agent, the Dealer Manager or any other person will be under any duty to give notice of any defects or irregularities in the tenders of shares of Preferred Stock, or will incur any liability to holders for failure to give any such notice.
 
Guaranteed Delivery
 
We are not providing for guaranteed delivery procedures and therefore you must allow sufficient time for the necessary tender procedures to be completed during normal business hours of DTC prior to the expiration date. Tenders received by the Exchange Agent after the expiration date will be disregarded and have no effect.
 
WITHDRAWAL OF TENDERS
 
You may withdraw your tender of shares of Preferred Stock at any time prior to the expiration date. In addition, if not previously returned, you may withdraw shares of Preferred Stock that you tender that are not accepted by us for exchange after the expiration of 40 business days following commencement of the Exchange Offer. For a withdrawal to be effective, the Exchange Agent must receive a computer generated notice of withdrawal, transmitted by DTC on behalf of the holder in accordance with DTC’s procedures or, in the case of a withdrawal of shares of Preferred Stock tendered in certificated form, a written notice of withdrawal, sent by facsimile, receipt confirmed by telephone, or letter before the expiration date. Any notice of withdrawal must:
 
Ø  specify the name of the person that tendered the shares of Preferred Stock to be withdrawn;
 
Ø  identify the shares of Preferred Stock to be withdrawn and the liquidation preference of such shares of Preferred Stock;
 
Ø  include a statement that the holder is withdrawing its election to exchange the shares of Preferred Stock; and
 
Ø  be signed by the holder in the same manner as the original signature on the accompanying letter of transmittal by which such shares of Preferred Stock were tendered or otherwise as described above, including any required signature guarantee.
 
Any notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with the withdrawn shares of Preferred Stock or otherwise comply with DTC’s procedures.
 
Any shares of Preferred Stock withdrawn will not have been validly tendered for purposes of the Exchange Offer. Any shares of Preferred Stock that have been tendered for exchange, but which are not exchanged for any reason, will be credited to an account with DTC specified by the holder, as soon as


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practicable after withdrawal, rejection of tender or termination of the Exchange Offer. Properly withdrawn shares of Preferred Stock may be re-tendered by following one of the procedures described under “Procedures for Tendering Shares of Preferred Stock.”
 
If you wish to withdraw shares of Preferred Stock through a broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, you should contact your broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for instructions on how to withdraw your shares of Preferred Stock.
 
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
 
The following tables sets forth certain information as of June  , 2010 with respect to shares of our Common Stock and Preferred Stock beneficially owned (unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes) by: (1) each person known to the Corporation to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Common Stock of the Corporation; (2) each director and executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table in our most recent proxy statement (the “Named Executive Officers”); and (3) all directors and executive officers of the Corporation as a group. This information has been provided by each of the directors and executive officers at the request of the Corporation or derived from statements filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(d) or 13(g) of the Exchange Act. Beneficial ownership of securities as shown below has been determined in accordance with applicable guidelines issued by the SEC. Beneficial ownership includes the possession, directly or indirectly, through any formal or informal arrangement, either individually or in a group, of voting power (which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security) and/or investment power (which includes the power to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, such security). Except as set forth below, neither we nor, to the best of our knowledge, any of our executive officers, directors, affiliates or subsidiaries nor, to the best of our knowledge, any of our subsidiaries’ directors or executive officers, nor any associates or subsidiaries of any of the foregoing, (a) own any shares of Preferred Stock or (b) have effected any transactions involving the shares of Preferred Stock during the 60-day period prior to the date of this prospectus.
 
Beneficial Owners of More Than 5% of Common Stock(1)
 
                 
Name and address   Number of shares     Percentage(2)  
   
 
The Bank of Nova Scotia
    9,250,450 (3)     10.00 %
44 King Street West 6th Fl.
Toronto, Canada M5H 1H1
               
FMR LLC
    7,300,000 (4)     7.89 %
82 Devonshire Street
Boston, MA 02109
               
Angel Alvarez-Pérez
    6,360,518 (5)     6.87 %
Condominio Plaza Stella Apt.1504
Avenida Magdalena 1362
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00907
               
BlackRock, Inc. 
    6,220,207 (6)     6.72 %
40 East 52nd Street
New York, NY 10022
               
First Trust Portfolios L.P. 
    4,676,229 (7)     5.05 %
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
               
 
 
(1) This table excludes shares that the U.S. Treasury may acquire at any time pursuant to the warrant it acquired in January 2009.


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(2) Based on 92,542,722 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of May 18, 2010.
 
(3) On August 24, 2007, the Corporation entered into a Stockholder Agreement with BNS, which completed a private placement of 9,250,450 shares of Common Stock at a price of $10.25 per share pursuant to the terms of an investment agreement dated February 15, 2007. BNS filed a Schedule 13D on September 4, 2007 reporting the 10% or 9,250,450 shares beneficial ownership of the Corporation as of August 24, 2007 and reported that it possessed sole voting power and sole dispositive power over 9,250,450 shares.
 
(4) Based solely on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 16, 2010 in which FMR LLC reported aggregate beneficial ownership of 7,300,000 shares of the Corporation as of December 31, 2009. FMR LLC reported that it possessed sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 7,300,000 shares. FMR LLC reported that it did not possess sole power to vote or direct the vote of any shares beneficially owned.
 
(5) Based solely on a Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on May 13, 2009 by Mr. Angel Àlvarez-Pérez in which Mr. Àlvarez-Pérez reported aggregate beneficial ownership of 6,360,518 shares of the Corporation. Mr. Àlvarez-Pérez reported that he possessed sole voting power and sole dispositive power over 6,339,218 shares and shared voting power and dispositive power over 21,300 shares.
 
(6) Based solely on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on January 29, 2010 in which BlackRock, Inc. reported aggregate beneficial ownership of 6,220,207 shares of the Corporation as of December 31, 2009. BlackRock, Inc. reported that it possessed sole voting power and sole dispositive power over 6,220,227 shares.
 
(7) Based solely on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 10, 2010 in which First Trust Portfolios L.P. and certain of its affiliates reported aggregate beneficial ownership of 4,676,229 shares of the Corporation as of December 31, 2009. First Trust Portfolios L.P. and certain of its affiliates reported that they possessed shared power to vote or to direct the vote of and shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition over 4,676,229 shares.
 
Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock by Directors, Named Executive Officers and Directors and Executive Officers as a Group
 
                 
    Amount and nature of
    Percent of
 
Name of beneficial owner   beneficial ownership(1)     class  
   
 
Directors:
               
Aurelio Alemán
    872,000       *  
José Menéndez-Cortada
    45,896       *  
Jorge L. Díaz
    62,737 (2)     *  
José Ferrer-Canals
    5,527       *  
Sharee Ann Umpierre-Catinchi
    81,677 (3)     *  
Fernando Rodríguez-Amaro
    32,207       *  
Héctor M. Nevares
    4,543,396 (4)     4.91 %
Frank Kolodziej
    2,762,483       2.99 %
José F. Rodríguez
    324,077       *  
Luis Beauchamp(5)
    17,000       *  
Named Executive Officers:
               
Orlando Berges
    10,000       *  
Lawrence Odell
    225,000       *  
Randolfo Rivera
    406,450       *  
Calixto García-Velez
          *  
Fernando Scherrer(6)
    47,500       *  
All directors and executive officers as a group (19 persons)
    9,875,658       10.48 %


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* Represents less than 1% of our outstanding Common Stock.
 
(1) For purposes of this table, “beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act, pursuant to which a person or group of persons is deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of a security if that person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of such security within 60 days. Therefore, it includes the number of shares of Common Stock that could be purchased by exercising stock options that were exercisable as of May 18, 2010 or within 60 days after that date, as follows: Mr. Alemán, 672,000; Mr. Odell, 175,000; Mr. Rivera, 382,110; and 1,678,110 shares for all current directors and executive officers as a group. Also, it includes shares granted under the First BanCorp 2008 Omnibus Incentive Plan, subject to transferability restrictions and/or forfeiture upon failure to meet vesting conditions, as follows: Mr. Menéndez-Cortada, 2,685; Mr. Díaz-Irizarry, 2,685; Mr. Ferrer-Canals, 2,685; Ms. Umpierre-Catinchi, 2,685; Mr. Rodríguez-Amaro, 2,685; Mr. Nevares, 2,685; Mr. Kolodziej, 2,685; and Mr. Rodríguez, 2,685; which represent 21,480 shares for all current directors and executive officers as a group. The amount does not include shares of Common Stock acquired through the Corporation’s Defined Contribution Plan pursuant to which participants may acquire units equivalent to shares of Common Stock through a unitized stock fund.
 
(2) This amount includes 22,460 shares owned separately by his spouse.
 
(3) This amount includes 9,000 shares owned jointly with her spouse.
 
(4) This amount includes 3,941,459 shares owned by Mr. Nevares’ father over which he has voting and investment power as attorney-in-fact.
 
(5) Mr. Beauchamp resigned as Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation on September 28, 2009.
 
(6) Mr. Scherrer resigned as Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation on July 31, 2009.
 
Beneficial Ownership of Preferred Stock by Directors and Executive Officers
 
                         
        Amount of beneficial ownership  
            Number of
       
            preferred
       
            shares
       
            beneficially
    Percent
 
Name   Position   Title of securities   owned     of class  
   
 
José Menéndez-Cortada
  Chairman of the Board of Directors   Series A Preferred Stock     1,500       *
        Series B Preferred Stock     500       *
        Series C Preferred Stock     2,000       *
        Series D Preferred Stock     6,000       *
Jorge L. Díaz
  Director   Series B Preferred Stock     2,150       *
Sharee Ann Umpierre-Catinchi
  Director   Series E Preferred Stock     92,000       1.21 %
Héctor M. Nevares
  Director   Series A Preferred Stock     18,000(1 )     *
        Series B Preferred Stock     73,300(2 )     2.44 %
        Series C Preferred Stock     22,000       *
        Series D Preferred Stock     82,800(3 )     2.25 %
Dacio Pasarell
  Executive Vice President   Series D Preferred Stock     300       *
        Series E Preferred Stock     4,300       *
 
 
* Represents less than 1% of applicable class of Preferred Stock.
 
(1) This amount includes 8,000 shares held in a trust for the benefit of Mr. Nevares’ parents over which Mr. Nevares has voting and investment power as trustee.
 
(footnotes continued on following page)


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(2) This amount includes 20,000 shares owned by Mr. Nevares’ parents over which he has voting and investment power as attorney-in-fact.
 
(3) This amount includes 6,400 shares owned by Mr. Nevares’ parents over which he has voting and investment power as attorney-in-fact.
 
José Menéndez-Cortada, Jorge L. Díaz, Sharee Ann Umpierre-Catinchi, Héctor M. Nevares and Dacio Pasarell have advised us that they will participate in the Exchange Offer. At the special meeting of the holders of our Common Stock on           , we will seek the approval of our holders of Common Stock to our issuance of shares of Common Stock in the Exchange Offer to Mr. Nevares in accordance with the NYSE listing requirements.
 
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT EXCHANGING SHARES OF PREFERRED STOCK OR RETENTION OF SHARES OF PREFERRED STOCK AS A RESULT OF ACCEPTANCE PRIORITY LEVELS OR PRORATION
 
Shares of Preferred Stock not exchanged in the Exchange Offer or retained as a result of proration will remain outstanding after completion of the Exchange Offer. The reduction in the number of shares available for trading after completing the Exchange Offer, our suspension of the payment of dividends on Preferred Stock since August 2009, and our delisting of any remaining shares of Preferred Stock from trading on the NYSE and, to the extent permitted by law, the deregistration of any such remaining shares under the Exchange Act may have a significant and adverse effect on the liquidity of any trading market for, and the price of, such shares of Preferred Stock and may result in the shares of Preferred Stock being illiquid for an indefinite period of time.
 
NO APPRAISAL/DISSENTERS’ RIGHTS
 
No appraisal or dissenters’ rights are available to holders of shares of Preferred Stock under applicable law in connection with the Exchange Offer.
 
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
 
We will derecognize the net carrying amount of the shares of Preferred Stock (currently recorded as stockholders’ equity) tendered for Common Stock. The excess of the carrying amount of the shares of Preferred Stock retired over the fair value of the Common Stock issued will be recorded in retained earnings and will result in a decrease in net losses per common share. The excess of the fair value over the par value of the Common Stock issued will be recorded in surplus. The par value of $1.00 per share will be recorded in the Common Stock caption in our balance sheet.
 
SECURITIES ISSUABLE IN THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
The following table shows the approximate number of shares that could be issued in connection with the Exchange Offer assuming that the Relevant Price is based on the Minimum Share Price of $      per share:
 
                         
          Number of securities
    Number of securities
 
          issuable (assuming
    issuable (assuming
 
          % participation in
    % participation in
 
Transaction   Security     Exchange Offer)(1)(2)     Exchange Offer)(1)(2)  
   
 
Exchange Offer(1)
    Common Stock       million       million  
 
 
(1) As of May 18, 2010, 92,542,722 shares of our Common Stock were outstanding.
 
(2)      million shares will be issued assuming     % participation in Exchange Offer and     million shares will be issued assuming     % participation in Exchange Offer, assuming, in each case, a $      Relevant Stock Price.


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SUBSEQUENT REPURCHASES
 
Following completion of the Exchange Offer, subject to receipt of Fed approval, we may repurchase additional shares of Preferred Stock that remain outstanding in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. Future purchases of shares of Preferred Stock that remain outstanding after the Exchange Offer may be on terms that are more or less favorable than the Exchange Offer. However, Exchange Act Rules 13e-4 and 14e-5 generally prohibit us and our affiliates from purchasing any shares of Preferred Stock other than pursuant to the Exchange Offer until 10 business days after the expiration date, although there are some exceptions. Future repurchases, if any, will depend on many factors, including market conditions and the condition of our business.
 
SOLICITING DEALER FEE
 
With respect to any tender of a series of shares of Preferred Stock, we will pay the relevant soliciting dealer a fee not to exceed 0.50% of the aggregate liquidation preference or liquidation amount, as applicable, of all securities accepted for exchange (the “Soliciting Dealer Fee”). In order to be eligible to receive the Soliciting Dealer Fee, a properly completed soliciting dealer form must be delivered by the relevant soliciting dealer to the Exchange Agent prior to the expiration date. We will, in our sole discretion, determine whether a broker has satisfied the criteria for receiving a Soliciting Dealer Fee (including, without limitation, the submission of the appropriate documentation without defects or irregularities and in respect of bona fide tenders). Other than the foregoing, no fees or commissions have been or will be paid by us to any broker, dealer or other person, other than the Dealer Manager, the Information Agent and the Exchange Agent, in connection with the Exchange Offer.
 
A soliciting dealer is a retail broker designated in the soliciting dealer form and is:
 
Ø  a broker or dealer in securities which is a member of any national securities exchange in the United States or of FINRA; or
 
Ø  a bank or trust company located in the United States.
 
Soliciting dealers will include any of the organizations described above even when the activities of such organization in connection with the Exchange Offer consist solely of forwarding to clients materials relating to the Exchange Offer and tendering shares of Preferred Stock as directed by beneficial owners thereof. Each soliciting dealer will confirm that each holder of shares of Preferred Stock that it solicits has received a copy of this prospectus or concurrently with such solicitation provide the holder with a copy of this prospectus. No soliciting dealer is required to make any recommendation to holders of shares of Preferred Stock as to whether to tender or refrain from tendering in the Exchange Offer. No assumption is made, in making payment to any soliciting dealer, that its activities in connection with the Exchange Offer included any activities other than those described in this paragraph. For all purposes noted in materials relating to the Exchange Offer, the term “solicit” shall be deemed to mean no more than “processing shares of Preferred Stock tendered” or “forwarding to customers material regarding the Exchange Offer.”
 
Soliciting dealers are not entitled to a Soliciting Dealer Fee with respect to shares of Preferred Stock beneficially owned by such soliciting dealer or with respect to any shares of Preferred Stock that are registered in the name of a soliciting dealer unless such shares of Preferred Stock are held by such soliciting dealer as nominee and are tendered for the beneficial owner of such shares of Preferred Stock.
 
Soliciting dealers should take care to ensure that proper records are kept to document their entitlement to any Soliciting Dealer Fee. We and the Exchange Agent reserve the right to require additional information at our discretion, as deemed warranted.


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The Exchange Offer
 
 
EXCHANGE AGENT
 
BNY Mellon Shareowner Services is the Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer. References to “the Exchange Agent” shall be deemed to refer to BNY Mellon Shareowner Services. Letters of transmittal and all correspondence in connection with the Exchange Offer should be sent or delivered by each holder of shares of Preferred Stock, or a beneficial owner’s broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to the Exchange Agent at the address listed on the back cover page of this prospectus. We will pay the Exchange Agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and will reimburse it for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
 
INFORMATION AGENT
 
BNY Mellon Shareowner Services is the Information Agent for the Exchange Offer. References to the “Information Agent” shall be deemed to refer to BNY Mellon Shareowner Services. Questions concerning the terms of the Exchange Offer or tender procedures and requests for additional copies of this prospectus or the accompanying letter of transmittal should be directed to the Information Agent at the address and telephone number on the back cover page of this prospectus. Holders of shares of Preferred Stock may also contact their broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee concerning the Exchange Offer. We will pay the Information Agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and will reimburse it for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
 
DEALER MANAGER
 
The Dealer Manager for the Exchange Offer is UBS Securities LLC. As Dealer Manager for the Exchange Offer, it will perform services customarily provided by investment banking firms acting as dealer manager of exchange offers of a like nature, including, but not limited to, soliciting tenders of shares of Preferred Stock pursuant to the Exchange Offer and communicating generally regarding the Exchange Offer with brokers, securities dealers, custodians, commercial bank, trust companies, nominees and other persons, including the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock. We will pay the Dealer Manager reasonable and customary fees for its services, will reimburse the Dealer Manager for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, and indemnify the Dealer Manager against certain liabilities in connection with the Exchange Offer, including certain liabilities under Federal securities laws.
 
TRANSFER TAXES
 
We will pay all transfer taxes, if any, imposed by the United States and Puerto Rico or any jurisdiction therein with respect to the exchange of shares of Preferred Stock pursuant to the Exchange Offer (for the avoidance of doubt, transfer taxes do not include income or back-up withholding taxes). If a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the exchange of shares of Preferred Stock pursuant to the Exchange Offer or by any jurisdiction outside the United States or Puerto Rico, then the amount of any such transfer tax (whether imposed on the registered holder or any other person) will be payable by the tendering holder.
 
BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS
 
Holders that tender their shares of Preferred Stock to the Exchange Agent do not have to pay a brokerage fee or commission to us or the Exchange Agent. However, if a tendering holder handles the transaction through its broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, that holder may be required to pay brokerage fees or commissions to its broker, securities dealer, custodian, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee.


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The Exchange Offer
 
 
FEES AND EXPENSES
 
We will bear the expenses of soliciting tenders of the shares of Preferred Stock. The principal solicitation is being made by mail. Additional solicitation may, however, be made by e-mail, facsimile transmission, and telephone or in person by our officers and other employees and those of our affiliates and others acting on our behalf.
 
FAIRNESS OPINION
 
We are not making a recommendation as to whether you should exchange your shares of Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer. We have not retained, and do not intend to retain, any unaffiliated representative to act solely on behalf of the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock for purposes of negotiating the Exchange Offer or preparing a report concerning the fairness of the Exchange Offer. The value of the Common Stock to be issued in the Exchange Offer may not equal or exceed the value of the shares of Preferred Stock tendered. You must make your own independent decision regarding your participation in the Exchange Offer.
 
CERTAIN MATTERS RELATING TO NON-U.S. JURISDICTIONS
 
Although First BanCorp will mail this prospectus to holders of the shares of Preferred Stock to the extent required by U.S. law, this prospectus is not an offer to sell or exchange and it is not a solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, sale or exchange is not permitted. Countries outside the United States generally have their own legal requirements that govern securities offerings made to persons resident in those countries and often impose stringent requirements about the form and content of offers made to the general public. First BanCorp has not taken any action under those non-U.S. regulations to facilitate a public offer to exchange outside the United States. Therefore, the ability of any non-U.S. person to tender shares of Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer will depend on whether there is an exemption available under the laws of such person’s home country that would permit the person to participate in the Exchange Offer without the need for First BanCorp to take any action to facilitate a public offering in that country or otherwise. For example, some countries exempt transactions from the rules governing public offerings if they involve persons who meet certain eligibility requirements relating to their status as sophisticated or professional investors. Non-U.S. holders should consult their advisors in considering whether they may participate in the Exchange Offer in accordance with the laws of their home countries and, if they do participate, whether there are any restrictions or limitations on transactions in the Common Stock that may apply in their home countries. First BanCorp and the Dealer Manager cannot provide any assurance about whether such limitations may exist.


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Anti-dilution Rights That May Be Triggered by the Exchange Offer
 
Both BNS and the U.S. Treasury have anti-dilution rights.
 
As of May 18, 2010, BNS, a large financial institution with international operations, is the beneficial owner of 9,250,450 shares, or approximately 10%, of our Common Stock. In connection with our sale in 2007 of these shares of Common Stock to BNS at a price of $10.25 per share, we and BNS entered into the Stockholder Agreement.
 
Pursuant to the terms of the Stockholder Agreement, for as long as BNS beneficially owns at least 5% of our outstanding Common Stock, BNS has an anti-dilution right and a right of first refusal. In addition, under the Stockholder Agreement, BNS is entitled to designate an observer who may attend all meetings of our and our material subsidiaries’ boards of directors and receive all of the information provided to the members of those boards of directors, except information relating to specified matters that could be of competitive benefit to BNS’s Puerto Rico and British Virgin Islands banking operations. Pursuant to the Federal Reserve’s Order approving BNS’s acquisition of our Common Stock in 2007, BNS is required to file an application and receive the Federal Reserve’s approval before it may directly or indirectly acquire additional shares of First BanCorp or attempt to exercise a controlling influence over First BanCorp. As a result, if BNS desires to exercise its anti-dilution right or right of first refusal or otherwise purchase additional shares of our Common Stock, BNS will be required to obtain the consent of the Federal Reserve.
 
If we were to issue the Maximum Exchange Amount in the Exchange Offer, BNS would be entitled under the anti-dilution right to acquire up to 19,245,547 additional shares of our Common Stock at a price equal to the price per share at which the shares of our Common Stock were issued in the Exchange Offer, subject to the consent of the Federal Reserve. If BNS declines to exercise its anti-dilution right and we issued the maximum number of shares in the Exchange Offer, BNS’s beneficial ownership would be reduced to approximately 3.2%. BNS has not informed us whether it will exercise its anti-dilution right under the Stockholder Agreement.
 
Any sale of additional shares of our Common Stock to BNS pursuant to its anti-dilution right, right of first refusal or otherwise requires the prior approval of our stockholders under the listing requirements of the NYSE unless the sale is at a price in cash at least as great as the higher of the book or market value of our Common Stock, provided that the number of shares to be issued does not exceed 5% of the number of our shares of Common Stock before the issuance. We plan to seek stockholder approval of the possible issuance of shares of our Common Stock to BNS in connection with the Exchange Offer along with stockholder approval of the issuance of the maximum number of shares of our Common Stock being offered in the Exchange Offer.
 
In addition, in January 2009, in connection with our issuance of Series F Preferred Stock to the U.S. Treasury, we also issued to the U.S. Treasury a warrant to purchase 5,842,259 shares of the Corporation’s common stock at an exercise price of $10.27 per share. The warrant has a 10-year term and is exercisable at any time. The exercise price and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the warrant are subject to an anti-dilution right. This right will be triggered if the value of the Preferred Stock exchanged for Common Stock in the Exchange Offer, as determined by our board of directors, is equal to less than 90% of the market value of the Common Stock as determined pursuant to the terms of the warrant. If the U.S. Treasury’s anti-dilution right is triggered, the Corporation will need to adjust the exercise price for and the number of shares underlying the warrant. At this time, because the terms of the Exchange Offer have not been determined, the Corporation cannot determine whether it will need to adjust the exercise price for and number of shares underlying the warrant pursuant to the anti-dilution provision.


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REGULATORY AGREEMENTS
 
The Agreements require that we develop written capital plans for the Corporation and FirstBank that must be submitted for approval to the Fed and the FDIC within certain timeframes. In addition, under the Order, FirstBank has agreed to address specific areas through the adoption and implementation, within certain timeframes and subject to the approval of the FDIC, of procedures, plans and policies designed to improve the safety and soundness of the Bank. These actions include, among others, that FirstBank will:
 
Ø  have and retain qualified management and have active Board participation in the Bank’s affairs;
 
Ø  reduce the level of special mention and classified assets within specified timeframes and reduce delinquent and non-accrual loans;
 
Ø  develop a liquidity and funds management plan that includes a reduction in brokered deposits;
 
Ø  develop a strategy that includes strategies for pricing policies and asset/liability management and financial goals for asset growth, capital adequacy and earnings;
 
Ø  obtain approval prior to the issuance, increase, renewal or rollover of brokered deposits; and
 
Ø  review policies and procedures relating to:
 
  its lending activities,
 
  its allowance for loan and lease losses,
 
  an independent loan review,
 
  obtaining and the use of appraisals, and
 
  interest rate risk.
 
The Agreement, which is designed to enhance the Corporation’s ability to act as a source of strength to the Bank, requires, among other things, the approval of the Fed prior to:
 
Ø  the payment of dividends by the Corporation, the receipt of dividends by the Corporation from FirstBank or the distribution of interest, principal or other sums on subordinated debentures or trust preferred securities by the Corporation or any of its nonbank subsidiaries;
 
Ø  the incurrence, increase or guarantee of any debt or the purchase or redemption of any shares of Common Stock by the Corporation; and
 
Ø  the purchase or redemption by the Corporation of any of its shares of stock.
 
In addition, the Agreement requires the Corporation to comply with certain notice provisions prior to the appointment of new directors or senior executive officers and comply with certain restrictions on indemnification and severance payments.
 
The Corporation and FirstBank must furnish periodic progress reports to the Fed and the FDIC regarding compliance with the Agreements.
 
Concurrent with the issuance by the FDIC of its Order, the FDIC granted FirstBank a temporary waiver through June 30, 2010 to enable it to continue accessing the brokered deposit market. FirstBank will request approvals for future periods although no assurance can be given that the FDIC will continue to issue such approvals for the amounts requested. Any failure to obtain a future approval would have a significantly adverse effect on FirstBank, which has relied on brokered deposits to fund a major part of its operations and had, as of March 31, 2010, $7.4 billion in brokered deposits outstanding, representing approximately 57% of our total deposits.


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Market Price, Dividend and Distribution Information
 
MARKET PRICE OF AND DIVIDENDS ON THE COMMON STOCK
 
Our Common Stock is currently listed on the NYSE under the symbol “FBP.” As of May 18, 2010, we had 92,542,722 shares of our Common Stock outstanding, held by approximately 540 holders of record.
 
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices per share of the Common Stock and the cash dividends declared per share of the Common Stock.
 
                         
    Share prices     Cash dividends
 
    High     Low     declared per share  
   
 
2010
                       
Second Quarter (through          , 2010)
  $ *   $ *   $ 0.00 *
First Quarter ended March 31, 2010
    2.90       1.89       0.00 *
2009
                       
Fourth Quarter ended December 31, 2009
  $ 3.03     $ 1.47     $ 0.00 *
Third Quarter ended September 30, 2009
    4.31       2.81       0.00 *
Second Quarter ended June 30, 2009
    7.64       3.94       0.07  
First Quarter ended March 31, 2009
    11.20       3.43       0.07  
2008
                       
Fourth Quarter ended December 31, 2008
  $ 12.17     $ 7.57     $ 0.07  
Third Quarter ended September 30, 2008
    14.00       5.62       0.07  
Second Quarter ended June 30, 2008
    11.29       6.28       0.07  
First Quarter ended March 31, 2008
    11.11       7.26       0.07  
 
 
* Cash dividends on the Common Stock have been suspended since August 2009.
 
On          , the closing sales price of our Common Stock on the NYSE was $      per share.
 
MARKET PRICE OF AND DIVIDENDS ON PREFERRED STOCK
 
First BanCorp 7.125% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series A
 
Our Series A Preferred Stock is currently listed on the NYSE under the symbol “FBP-PA.” As of May 18, 2010, we had 3,600,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding, held by 12 holders of record.


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Market Price, Dividend and Distribution Information
 
 
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices per share of the Series A Preferred Stock and the cash dividends declared per share of the Series A Preferred Stock.
 
                         
    Share prices     Cash dividends
 
    High     Low     declared per share  
   
 
2010
                       
Second Quarter (through          , 2010)
  $ *   $ *   $ 0.00 *
First Quarter ended March 31, 2010
    15.40       11.92       0.00 *
2009
                       
Fourth Quarter ended December 31, 2009
  $ 12.48     $ 7.90     $ 0.000 *
Third Quarter ended September 30, 2009
    14.20       4.95       0.000 *
Second Quarter ended June 30, 2009
    16.50       12.80       0.594  
First Quarter ended March 31, 2009
    17.98       7.64       0.445  
2008
                       
Fourth Quarter ended December 31, 2008
  $ 21.00     $ 15.76     $ 0.445  
Third Quarter ended September 30, 2008
    22.68       17.21       0.445  
Second Quarter ended June 30, 2008
    24.65       22.00       0.445  
First Quarter ended March 31, 2008
    24.80       21.95       0.445  
 
 
* Cash dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock have been suspended since August 2009.
 
On          , the closing sales price of a share of our Series A Preferred Stock on the NYSE was $      per share.
 
First BanCorp 8.35% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series B
 
Our Series B Preferred Stock is currently listed on the NYSE under the symbol “FBP-PB.” As of May 18, 2010, we had 3,000,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock outstanding, held by 11 holders of record.
 
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices per share of the Series B Preferred Stock and the cash dividends declared per share of the Series B Preferred Stock.
 
                         
    Share prices     Cash dividends
 
    High     Low     declared per share  
   
 
2010
                       
Second Quarter (through          , 2010)
  $ *   $ *   $ 0.00 *
First Quarter ended March 31, 2010
    15.50       11.95       0.00 *
2009
                       
Fourth Quarter ended December 31, 2009
  $ 13.24     $ 7.96     $ 0.000 *
Third Quarter ended September 30, 2009
    17.00       5.55       0.000 *
Second Quarter ended June 30, 2009
    20.85       16.36       0.696  
First Quarter ended March 31, 2009
    20.84       7.02       0.522  
2008
                       
Fourth Quarter ended December 31, 2008
  $ 25.70     $ 16.24     $ 0.522  
Third Quarter ended September 30, 2008
    25.70       23.50       0.522  
Second Quarter ended June 30, 2008
    25.75       24.67       0.522  
First Quarter ended March 31, 2008
    25.83       23.60       0.522  
 
 
* Cash dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock have been suspended since August 2009.
 
On          , the closing sales price of a share of our Series B Preferred Stock on the NYSE was $      per share.


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Market Price, Dividend and Distribution Information
 
 
First BanCorp 7.40% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series C
 
Our Series C Preferred Stock is currently listed on the NYSE under the symbol “FBP-PC.” As of May 18, 2010, we had 4,140,000 shares of Series C Preferred Stock outstanding, held by 7 holders of record.
 
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices per share of the Series C Preferred Stock and the cash dividends declared per share of the Series C Preferred Stock.
 
                         
    Share prices     Cash dividends
 
    High     Low     declared per share  
   
 
2010
                       
Second Quarter (through          , 2010)
  $ *   $ *   $ 0.00 *
First Quarter ended March 31, 2010
    15.50       12.00       0.00 *
2009
                       
Fourth Quarter ended December 31, 2009
  $ 13.01     $ 8.15     $ 0.00 *
Third Quarter ended September 30, 2009
    14.88       4.71       0.00 *
Second Quarter ended June 30, 2009
    17.96       13.65       0.617  
First Quarter ended March 31, 2009
    18.00       8.00       0.463  
2008
                       
Fourth Quarter ended December 31, 2008
  $ 22.00     $ 15.69     $ 0.463  
Third Quarter ended September 30, 2008
    23.72       17.94       0.463  
Second Quarter ended June 30, 2008
    24.95       22.12       0.463  
First Quarter ended March 31, 2008
    25.14       22.41       0.463  
 
 
* Cash dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock have been suspended since August 2009.
 
On          , the closing sales price of a share of our Series C Preferred Stock on the NYSE was $      per share.


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Market Price, Dividend and Distribution Information
 
 
First BanCorp 7.25% Noncumulative Perpetual Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series D
 
Our Series D Preferred Stock is currently listed on the NYSE under the symbol “FBP-PD.” As of May 18, 2010, we had 3,680,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock outstanding, held by 9 holders of record.
 
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices per share of the Series D Preferred Stock and the cash dividends declared per share of the Series D Preferred Stock.
 
                         
    Share prices     Cash dividends
 
    High     Low     declared per share  
   
 
2010
                       
Second Quarter (through          , 2010)
  $ *   $ *   $ 0.00 *
First Quarter ended March 31, 2010
    15.50       12.00       0.00 *
2009
                       
Fourth Quarter ended December 31, 2009
  $ 12.70     $ 8.07     $ 0.00 *
Third Quarter ended September 30, 2009
    14.56       5.00       0.00 *
Second Quarter ended June 30, 2009
    17.50       13.60       0.604  
First Quarter ended March 31, 2009
    17.44       7.65       0.453  
2008
                       
Fourth Quarter ended December 31, 2008
  $ 20.50     $ 14.81     $ 0.453  
Third Quarter ended September 30, 2008
    22.95       17.11       0.453  
Second Quarter ended June 30, 2008