Oriental Financial Group to Acquire BBVA's Puerto Rico Operations for $500M

Oriental Financial Group Inc.

and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.

today announced the signing of a definitive agreement for Oriental to acquire BBVA's Puerto Rico operations for $500 million in cash, approximately a 3% premium to tangible book value. Closing of the transaction, which is subject to customary regulatory approvals, is targeted for before year end 2012. In connection with the acquisition, Oriental announced that it has raised, in a private placement with institutional investors, $84 million of 8.75% non-cumulative convertible perpetual preferred stock, with a conversion price of $11.77, as a first step in raising an estimated $150 million in Tier 1 capital. Oriental intends to use its own excess capital to fund the balance of the purchase price.