First BanCorp - Securities Class Action

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Copyright (c) 2001
Stanford Law School

First BanCorp Summary: According to a press release dated August 6, 2007, First BanCorp (NYSE:FBP) announced that on August 1, 2007 the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico issued a "Preliminary Order" approving the stipulation of settlement filed in connection with the proposed settlement of the class action lawsuit brought on behalf of First BanCorp's shareholders against the Corporation in the amount of $74.25 million. The effectiveness of a final order to be issued by the Court is subject to: -- The payment of $61 million to be deposited by First BanCorp in a settlement fund within fifteen calendar days of the date of issuance of the "Preliminary Order;" and -- The mailing of a notice to shareholders that describes the general terms of the settlement. The court hearing for the final order of approval of the settlement has been set for October 15, 2007. First BanCorp intends to comply with the $61 million payment requirement within the timeframe set forth in the terms of the settlement. The remaining amount of $13,250,000 will be paid before December 31, 2007.

In a press release dated March 5, 2007, First BanCorp today announced that it has reached an agreement in principle to settle all claims with the lead plaintiffs in a shareholder class action originally filed in 2005. Under the terms of the settlement, which is subject to notice being provided to the class and final approval by the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, First BanCorp will pay the plaintiffs $74,250,000.

In a press release dated February 1, 2007, following the previously announced internal review by the Corporation's Audit Committee, the Corporation and certain of its officers and directors and former officers and directors were named as defendants in separate class action lawsuits filed late in 2005. These securities class actions were later consolidated. First BanCorp has since been engaged in discussions with the lead plaintiff for a possible settlement of the class action and has accrued $74.25 million in its consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2005 in connection with a potential settlement. There can be no assurance that the amount accrued will be sufficient and the Corporation cannot predict at this time the timing or final terms of any settlement. First BanCorp has also been engaged in discussions with the staff of the SEC regarding a possible resolution of its investigation relating to the matters that resulted in the Corporation's restatement of its financial statements, and has accrued $8.5 million in its consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2005 in connection with a potential settlement of the SEC Staff's investigation of the Corporation. Any settlement is subject to the approval of the SEC.

On March 2, 2006, the plaintiffs filed a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal. On March 6, 2006, the Court entered the Notice signed by Judge Jed S. Rakoff. According to the Notice, Lead Plaintiffs filed motions to transfer the action to the District of Puerto Rico to pursue claims in the related consolidated action, In re First BanCorp Securities Litigation, 05-CV-02148, pending before the Honorable Juan M. Perez-Gimenez. The Lead Plaintiffs voluntarily dismiss the consolidated action filed in the Southern District of New York without prejudice. The action is currently pending in the District of Puerto Rico. On February 13, 2006, the plaintiffs filed an Amended Class Action Complaint. The defendants responded by filing various motions to dismiss the Amended Class Action Complaint, which were granted in part and denied in part in an Opinion and Order entered on November 6, 2006.

On December 13, 2005, the Court entered the Order consolidating the actions under 05-CV-9379 (Lead Case). On January 18, 2006, the Court entered the Memorandum Order appointing co-lead plaintiffs and approving their respective counsel as co-lead counsel. On February 13, 2006, the plaintiffs filed a Consolidated Amended Class Action Complaint.

Several purported shareholder class action lawsuits have been filed against First BanCorp and certain of its officers and directors with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in the U.S. District Courts for the District of Puerto Rico and for the Southern District of New York. First BanCorp operates as the holding company for First Bank Puerto Rico, which provides various financial services in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and British Virgin Islands.

The complaint alleges that defendants violated Section 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. Specifically, the complaint alleges that defendants' statements made during Class Period concerning First Bancorp's earnings and financial condition were materially false and misleading when made because defendants failed to disclose that: (1) the Company's earnings quality had been significantly reduced by First Bancorp's use of overly aggressive accounting methodologies, specifically in its accounting classification of purchases of mortgage loans originated by other financial institutions; (2) the Company lacked adequate internal controls and was therefore unable to ascertain the true financial condition of First Bancorp; (3) the Company's financial statements were not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (4) the Company's false and misleading accounting treatment of certain mortgage loans purchased would ultimately expose First Bancorp to regulatory scrutiny; and (5) that, as a result of the aforementioned, First Bancorp's reported net income and assets were materially overstated during the Class Period.

The complaint further alleges that on or around August 25, 2005, the Company announced that it was subject to a SEC informal inquiry related to mortgage loans purchased by First Bancorp. On September 30, 2005, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer resigned from First Bancorp. On October 21, 2005, the Company announced that the SEC had issued a formal order of investigation into First Bancorp relating to, among other things, transactions in which the Company acquired substantial number of mortgage loans from other Puerto Rican financial institutions.

INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION:
SIC Code: 6022
Sector: Financial
Industry: Regional Banks

COMPANY/ISSUER NAME:	First BanCorp
COMPANY/ISSUER TICKER:	FBP
COMPANY WEBSITE:	http://www.firstbankpr.com

FIRST IDENTIFIED COMPLAINT IN THE DATABASE

Plumbers And Pipefitters Local 51 Pension Fund, et al. v. First BanCorp, et al.

COURT: S.D. New York	DOCKET NUMBER: 05-CV-09379
JUDGE NAME: Hon. Jed S. Rakoff
DATE FILED: 11/02/2005	SOURCE: Notice of Filing
CLASS PERIOD START: 10/20/2003	CLASS PERIOD END: 08/25/2005
TYPE OF COMPLAINT: Complaint (Unamended and Unconsolidated)
PLAINTIFF FIRMS NAMED IN COMPLAINT:
Brodsky & Smith, LLC (former Pennysylvania) 11 Bala Avenue, Suite 39, Bala Cynwyd, PA, 19004 (voice) 610.668.7987, (fax) 610.660.0450, esmith@Brodsky-Smith.com Law Offices of Brian M. Felgoise, P.C. Esquire at 261 Old York Road, Suite 423, Jenkintown, PA, 19046 (voice) 215.886.1900, (fax) , securitiesfraud@comcast.net Law Offices of Charles J. Piven, P.A. World Trade Center-Baltimore,401 East Pratt Suite 2525, Baltimore, MD, 21202 (voice) 410.332.0030, (fax) , pivenlaw@erols.com Lerach Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP (San Diego) 655 West Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA, 92101 (voice) 619.231.1058, (fax) 619.231.7423, Milberg Weiss Bershad & Schulman LLP (New York) One Pennsylvania Plaza, 49th Floor, New York, NY, 10119 (voice) 212.594.5300, (fax) 212.868.1229, info@milbergweiss.com Schatz & Nobel, P.C. 330 Main Street, Hartford, CT, 06106 (voice) 800.797.5499, (fax) 860.493.6290, sn06106@AOL.com Schiffrin & Barroway LLP 3 Bala Plaza E, Bala Cynwyd, PA, 19004 (voice) 610.667.7706, (fax) 610.667.7056, info@sbclasslaw.com Stull, Stull & Brody (New York) 6 East 45th Street, New York, NY, 10017 (voice) 310.209.2468, (fax) 310.209.2087, SSBNY@aol.com Zwerling Schachter & Zwerling LLP 845 Third Avenue, New York, NY, 10022 (voice) 212-223-3900, (fax) 212-371-5969, inquiry@zsz.com _____________________________________________ TOTAL NUMBER OF PLAINTIFF FIRMS: 9

DOCUMENTS FOR THE FIRST IDENTIFIED COMPLAINT
Class Action Complaint for Violations of Federal Securities Laws - Demand for Jury Trial
Type: Complaint		Date on the document: 11/02/2005
Consolidated Amended Class Action Complaint
Type: Complaint		Date on the document: 02/13/2006
Notice of Voluntary Dismissal Pursuant to FED. R. CIV. P. 41(a)(1)
Type: Notice		Date on the document: 03/06/2006
U.S. District Court Civil Docket
Type: Docket		Date on the document: 06/26/2006

REFERENCE COMPLAINT

In Re: First BanCorp Securities Litigation

COURT: D. Puerto Rico	DOCKET NUMBER: 05-CV-02148
JUDGE NAME: Hon. Juan M. Perez-Gimenez
DATE FILED: 02/13/2006	SOURCE: Docket
CLASS PERIOD START: 04/16/2001	CLASS PERIOD END: 12/13/2005
TYPE OF COMPLAINT: Consolidated Complaint
PLAINTIFF FIRMS NAMED IN COMPLAINT:
Lerach Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP (Melville) 58 South Service Road, Suite 200, Melville, NY, 11747 (voice) 631.367.7100, (fax) 631.367.1173, Zwerling Schachter & Zwerling LLP 845 Third Avenue, New York, NY, 10022 (voice) 212-223-3900, (fax) 212-371-5969, inquiry@zsz.com _____________________________________________ TOTAL NUMBER OF PLAINTIFF FIRMS: 2

DOCUMENTS FOR THE REFERENCE COMPLAINT
Amended Class Action Complaint
Type: Complaint		Date on the document: 02/13/2006
Lead Plaintiffs' Unopposed Motion And Memorandum Of Law For Preliminary Approval Of Settlement
Type: Motion		Date on the document: 07/24/2007
U.S. District Court Civil Docket
Type: Docket		Date on the document: 08/01/2007
Notice Of Pendency And Proposed Settlement Of Class Action
Type: Notice		Date on the document: 08/13/2007
Proof of Claim and Release
Type: Other		Date on the document: 08/13/2007
U.S. District Court Civil Docket
Type: Docket		Date on the document: 12/20/2007

OTHER DOCUMENTS
Class Action Complaint - Jury Trial Demanded
Case Name and/or Number: New Port Investments, SE, et al. v. First BanCorp, et al.
Type: Complaint		Date on the document: 11/03/2005
Class Action Complaint
Case Name and/or Number: Gisela A. Connelly, et al. v. First BanCorp, et al.
Type: Complaint		Date on the document: 11/08/2005

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