Definitive Proxy Statement

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Filed by the Registrant x

 

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨

 

Check the appropriate box:

 

¨  Preliminary Proxy Statement

 

¨  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

 

x  Definitive Proxy Statement

 

¨  Definitive Additional Materials

 

¨  Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-11(c) or (S) 240.14a-12

 

Broadway Financial Corporation


(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 


(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

x  No fee required.

 

¨  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

 

  (1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 
  (2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 
  (3)  Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 

 
  (4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

 
  (5)  Total fee paid:

 

 

 

¨  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

 

¨  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

  (1)  Amount Previously Paid:

 

 
  (2)  Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

 
  (3)  Filing Party:

 

 
  (4)  Date Filed:

 

 


BROADWAY FINANCIAL CORPORATION

4800 Wilshire Boulevard

Los Angeles, California 90010

 

Dear Stockholder:

 

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I cordially invite you to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Broadway Financial Corporation (the “Company”), which will be held at the Company’s principal executive offices, 4800 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90010, at 2:00 p.m., on June 22, 2005.

 

As described in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement, stockholders will be asked to vote on the election of three directors, to ratify the appointment of the Company’s independent auditors for 2005 and to transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof.

 

Your vote is very important, regardless of the number of shares you own. Even if you currently plan to attend the Annual Meeting, I urge you to mark, sign and date each proxy card you receive and to return it to the Company as soon as possible in the postage-paid envelope that has been provided. Returning your proxy card will not prevent you from voting in person, but will assure that your vote is counted if you are unable to attend.

 

Sincerely,

LOGO

PAUL C. HUDSON

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

IMPORTANT:    If your Broadway Financial Corporation shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm or nominee, only that brokerage firm or nominee may execute a proxy on your behalf. To ensure that your shares are voted, we urge you to telephone the individual responsible for your account today and obtain instructions on how to direct him or her to execute a proxy.

 

If you have any questions or need any assistance in voting your shares, please telephone Beverly A. Dyck, the Company’s Investor Relations Representative, at (323) 634-1700, Ext 231.


BROADWAY FINANCIAL CORPORATION

4800 Wilshire Boulevard

Los Angeles, California 90010

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

To Be Held on June 22, 2005

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Broadway Financial Corporation (the “Company”) will be held at the Company’s principal executive offices, 4800 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90010, at 2:00 p.m., on June 22, 2005, for the following purposes:

 

1) To elect three directors of the Company to serve until the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in the year 2008 and until their successors are elected and have been qualified. The Board of Directors has nominated Mr. A. Odell Maddox, Mr. Daniel A. Medina and Mr. Virgil Roberts;

 

2) To ratify the appointment of Crowe Chizek and Company LLP as the Company’s independent audit firm for 2005; and

 

3) To consider such other business as may properly come before and be voted upon at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders or any postponement or adjournment thereof.

 

The Board of Directors has selected April 29, 2005 as the record date for the Annual Meeting. Only those stockholders of record at the close of business on that date will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof. A list of stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be available at the Company’s principal executive offices during the ten days prior to the meeting. The list will also be available for inspection at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 

Please mark, sign, date, and return the accompanying proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid envelope at your earliest convenience, whether or not you currently plan to attend the Annual Meeting.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

LOGO

BEVERLY A. DYCK

Secretary

 

Los Angeles, California

May 13, 2005


BROADWAY FINANCIAL CORPORATION

4800 Wilshire Boulevard

Los Angeles, California 90010

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

 

June 22, 2005

 

INFORMATION RELATING TO VOTING AT THE ANNUAL MEETING

 

This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Broadway Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held at the Company’s principal executive offices, 4800 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, 90010, at 2:00 p.m., on June 22, 2005, and at any postponement or adjournment thereof. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying form of proxy were first mailed to stockholders on or about May 13, 2005.

 

The Company was incorporated under Delaware law in September 1995 for the purpose of acquiring and holding all of the outstanding capital stock of Broadway Federal Bank, f.s.b. (“Broadway Federal” or the “Bank”) as part of the Bank’s conversion from a federally chartered mutual savings and loan association to a federally chartered stock savings bank (the “Conversion”). The Conversion was completed, and the Bank became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, on January 8, 1996. Unless otherwise indicated, references in this Proxy Statement to the Company include the Bank as its predecessor.

 

The Board of Directors has selected April 29, 2005 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. A total of 1,520,347 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), were outstanding at the close of business on that date. A majority of the shares entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. Stockholders will be entitled to cast one vote for each share of Common Stock held by them of record at the close of business on the record date on any matter that may be presented at the Annual Meeting for consideration and action by the stockholders. Abstentions will be treated as shares that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum, but as unvoted for purposes of determining the approval of any matter submitted for a vote of the stockholders. A plurality of votes cast is required for the election of directors and the affirmative vote of the majority of shares represented and voting will be required to ratify the appointment of Crowe Chizek and Company LLP (“Crowe Chizek”) as the Company’s independent audit firm. If a broker indicates on its proxy that the broker does not have discretionary authority to vote on a particular matter as to certain shares, those shares will be counted for general quorum purposes but will not be considered as present and entitled to vote with respect to that matter.

 

All valid proxies received in response to this solicitation will be voted in accordance with the instructions indicated thereon by the stockholders giving such proxies. If no contrary instructions are given, such proxies will be voted FOR the election of the nominees named in this Proxy Statement as directors and FOR approval of the appointment of Crowe Chizek as the Company’s independent audit firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005. Although the Board of Directors currently knows of no other matter to be brought before the Annual Meeting, if other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting and may properly be acted upon, including voting on a substitute nominee for director in the event that any director nominee named in this Proxy Statement becomes unwilling or unable to serve before the Annual Meeting, the proxies will be voted in accordance with the best judgment of the persons named in the proxies.

 

Any stockholder may revoke his or her proxy at any time before it is voted at the Annual Meeting by delivering a later signed and dated proxy or other written notice of revocation to Beverly A. Dyck, Secretary of the Company, at 4800 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90010. A proxy will also be considered revoked if the stockholder executing the proxy is present at the Annual Meeting and chooses to vote in person.

 

1


The principal solicitation of proxies is being made by mail. The Company has retained U. S. Stock Transfer Corporation, the Company’s transfer agent, to assist in the solicitation of proxies for an estimated fee of $1,600 plus reimbursement of certain expenses. To the extent necessary, proxies may be solicited by officers, directors and employees of the Company, or its wholly owned subsidiaries, none of whom will receive additional compensation, and may be solicited by telephone, personal contact or other means. The Company will bear the cost of the solicitation of proxies, including postage, printing and handling, and will reimburse brokers and other nominee holders of shares for their expenses incurred in forwarding solicitation material to beneficial owners of shares.

 

PROPOSAL 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes, with the term of one class of directors to expire each year. Three directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting. The Certificate of Incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors.

 

The following table sets forth the names and information regarding the persons who are currently members of the Company’s Board of Directors, including those nominated by the Board of Directors for election at the Annual Meeting. If elected, A. Odell Maddox, Daniel A. Medina and Virgil Roberts will each serve for a term of three years and until their respective successors are elected and qualified. Each has consented to be named in this Proxy Statement and has indicated his intention to serve if elected. If any of the nominees becomes unable to serve as a director for any reason, the shares represented by the proxies solicited hereby may be voted for a replacement nominee selected by the Board of Directors.

 

Name


   Age at
December 31,
2004


   Director
Since


   Term
Expires


  

Positions Currently Held with
The Company and the Bank


NOMINEES:

                   

A. Odell Maddox

   58    1986    2005    Director

Daniel A. Medina

   47    1997    2005    Director

Virgil Roberts

   57    2002    2005    Director

CONTINUING DIRECTORS:

                   

Paul C. Hudson (1)

   56    1985    2006    Director, President and Chief Executive Officer

Kellogg Chan

   65    1993    2006    Director

Rick McGill

   58    2004    2006    Director

Elbert T. Hudson (1)

   84    1959    2007    Director and Chairman of the Board

Robert C. Davidson, Jr.  

   59    2003    2007    Director

Rosa M. Hill

   75    1977    2007    Director

(1) Elbert T. Hudson and Paul C. Hudson are father and son.

 

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends

that you vote FOR the above nominees.

 

PROPOSAL 2. RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS

 

The Board of Directors has appointed Crowe Chizek and Company LLP as the Company’s independent audit firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005 and this appointment is being submitted to the stockholders for ratification. See “Independent Public Accountants” on page 13.

 

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote to ratify the appointment of Crowe Chizek and Company LLP as the Company’s Independent Auditors.

 

2


DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

Information Concerning Nominees and Continuing Directors

 

Certain information concerning each nominee for director and each continuing director is set forth below. For information regarding ownership of the Company’s Common Stock by nominees and directors, see “Voting Securities and Principal Holders Thereof” on page 8.

 

Nominees:

 

A. Odell Maddox is Manager of Maddox Co., a real estate property management and sales company. Mr. Maddox served as a real estate appraiser for the Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office from 1969 to 1972 and as a loan consultant for Citizens Savings and Loan Association from 1978 to 1979. Mr. Maddox served as President of Maddox & Stabler Construction Company Inc. (a public works construction company) from 1984 to 1999. Mr. Maddox is a member of the Executive and Compensation/Benefits Committees of the Company, and is the Chairman of the Asset Review Committee of the Bank and a member of the Loan and Executive Committees of the Bank.

 

Daniel A. Medina is a private investor. Until March 31, 2000 he was a Managing Director in the Global Corporate Finance Practice for Arthur Andersen, LLP which he joined in February 1999. Prior to joining Arthur Andersen, Mr. Medina had been Vice President-Acquisitions for Avco Financial Services, Inc., since October 1996 and Managing Director-Corporate Advisory Department for Union Bank of California, N.A., a subsidiary of the Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi Bank, since 1992. Mr. Medina has been a member of the Company’s Board of Directors since 1997. Prior to that time he was an advisor to the Broadway Federal Board of Directors beginning in 1993, and the Company’s Board of Directors beginning in 1996. Mr. Medina is the Chairman of the Audit and Nominating Committees of the Company, and the Chairman of the Audit/Compliance and Nominating Committees of the Bank and a member of the Executive Committee of the Bank.

 

Virgil Roberts is the managing partner of Bobbitt & Roberts, a law firm representing clients in the entertainment industry. He became President of Dick Griffey Productions in 1982 and President of Solar Records in 1990. Mr. Roberts is the past Chairman of the Los Angeles Annenberg Metropolitan Project and a past Chair of the California Community Foundation. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Community Build, Inc. and is a Trustee of Occidental College. Mr. Roberts is a member of the Executive, Audit and Nominating Committees of the Company. He is the Chairman of the Investment Committee of the Bank and a member of the Audit/Compliance and Nominating Committees of the Bank.

 

Continuing Directors:

 

Paul C. Hudson is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank. Mr. Hudson joined the Bank in 1981, was elected to the Board of Directors in 1985, and served in various positions prior to becoming President and Chief Executive Officer in 1992. He serves as Chairman of the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency. Mr. Hudson also serves on the board of Broadway Service Corporation (“BSC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank, California Bankers Association, Los Angeles Universal Preschool, Phillips Graduate Institute, Alliance for College-Ready Public Schools and Community Build, Inc. Mr. Hudson is a member of the Executive Committees of the Company and the Bank, and a member of the Loan Committee of the Bank.

 

Kellogg Chan has been President of Asia Capital Group, Ltd., a biotechnology holding company since 2001. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Bank and the Company since 1993. He was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Bank, f.s.b. from 1994 to 1995 and a consultant to Seyen Investments from 1993 to 1994. He was President and Chief Executive Officer of East-West Bank from 1976 to 1992. Mr. Chan is a past trustee of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, and past member of the Boards of Directors of the San Marino City Club, the Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association and the San Gabriel Valley Council of

 

3


Boy Scouts. Mr. Chan is a member of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance, Central City Optimists, and the San Marino City Club. Mr. Chan is a member of the Audit Committee of the Company, and is the Chairman of the Loan Committee of the Bank and a member of the Audit/Compliance Committee of the Bank.

 

Rick McGill is the Director of Asset Acquisitions for the Capital Market Group of Banco Popular. He is also the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Quaker City Bancorp, Inc., which was the holding company for Quaker City Bank. Mr. McGill has been in banking for over 33 years. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco and the California Bankers Association. Mr. McGill is a member of the Compensation/Benefits and Investment Committees of the Bank.

 

Elbert T. Hudson is Chairman of the Board of both the Company and the Bank and has engaged in the practice of law since his retirement as Chief Executive Officer of the Bank in 1992. He was elected as President/Chief Executive Officer of the Bank in 1972, a position he held until his retirement. Mr. Hudson is Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Bank, a committee he has served on continuously since 1972, and serves on the Board of Directors of Broadway Service Corporation (“BSC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank. He also served on the Loan Committee of the Bank from 1959 through 1984. Mr. Hudson, a member of the California Bar since 1953, was a practicing attorney prior to his election as President/Chief Executive Officer of Broadway Federal. Mr. Hudson is a member of the Board of Overseers Loyola University School of Law and former member of the Boards of Directors of West Los Angeles School of Law and the Los Angeles Trade Tech Foundation. Mr. Hudson is the Chairman of the Executive Committees of the Company and the Bank, and is a member of the Asset Review Committee of the Bank.

 

Robert C. Davidson, Jr. is Chairman/CEO of Surface Protection Industries, one of the largest African American owned manufacturing companies in California. Prior to acquiring Surface Protection Industries in 1978, Mr. Davidson held a number of entrepreneurial and consulting positions in Los Angeles, Boston and New York. He is a member of the Boards of Directors of Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., Morehouse College, Cedars Sinai Hospital and the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business Advisory Council. Mr. Davidson is the Chairman of the Compensation/Benefits Committees of the Company and the Bank, and a member of the Nominating Committees of the Company and the Bank and a member of the Investment Committee of the Bank.

 

Rosa M. Hill, an active volunteer in the Los Angeles area for over 50 years, was also employed by the Los Angeles Unified School District in the area of Special Education. Dr. Hill was employed as a social worker with the Los Angeles County Bureau of Public Assistance. She served on the Board of Trustees, Bennett College, Greensboro, North Carolina, for nine years, serving as Vice Chair of the Board for seven years. Dr. Hill has been an active member of the Holman United Methodist Church in Los Angeles for more than 50 years where she has held many leading roles. Dr. Hill is a member of the Compensation/Benefits Committees of the Company and the Bank and a member of the Asset Review Committee of the Bank.

 

Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors

 

The Boards of Directors of the Company and the Bank each held eleven regular meetings during 2004. The Company’s Board of Directors held three special meetings and the Bank’s Board of Directors held four special meetings during 2004. The Company has four standing Board committees: the Executive Committee, the Audit Committee, the Compensation/Benefits Committee and the Nominating Committee. The Bank has seven committees: the Executive Committee, the Audit/Compliance Committee, the Compensation/Benefits Committee, the Loan Committee, the Asset Review Committee, the Investment Committee and the Nominating Committee. All directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate meetings held during 2004 by the Board and the committees of the Board on which they served.

 

Company Committees

 

The Executive Committee consists of Messrs. E. Hudson (Chairman), Maddox, Medina, Roberts and P. Hudson. This committee, together with the corresponding committee of the Bank’s Board of Directors, serves as

 

4


an interim decision-making body that functions between Board of Directors meetings, if required, to assist the chief executive officer by providing input on critical issues and ensuring appropriate Board of Directors involvement in the strategic planning process. The Executive Committee held two meetings during 2004.

 

The Audit Committee consists of Messrs Medina (Chairman), Chan and Roberts. The Audit Committee, together with the corresponding committee of the Bank’s Board of Directors, is responsible for oversight of the internal audit function for the Company, assessment of accounting and internal control policies and monitoring of regulatory compliance. This committee is also responsible for oversight of the Company’s independent auditors. The Audit Committee has a written charter that was included as Appendix A to the Company’s 2004 annual meeting proxy statement. The members of the Audit Committee are independent directors as defined under the National Association of Securities Dealers’ listing standards. In addition, Mr. Chan meets the definition of “audit committee financial expert,” as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). See “Audit Committee Report” on page 12.

 

The Compensation/Benefits Committee consists of Messrs Davidson (Chairman) and Maddox, and Mrs. Hill. This committee, together with the corresponding committee of the Bank’s Board of Directors, is responsible for the oversight of salary and wage administration and various employee benefits, policies and incentive compensation issues at the Company level. The Compensation/Benefits Committee held one meeting during 2004.

 

The Nominating Committee consists of Messrs. Medina (Chairman), Davidson and Roberts. This committee is responsible for the review of the qualifications of existing directors standing for re-election and new director nominees standing for election, including nominees proposed by stockholders, and making director nomination recommendations to the Company’s Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee met once in 2004. Nominees for this 2005 annual meeting of shareholders were recommended by the Nominating Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. There were no shareholder nominations. The nomination procedures, qualifications for director nominees, and procedures for shareholder nominations are described in the Nominating Committee Charter, which was included as Appendix B to the Company’s 2004 annual meeting proxy statement. The members of the Nominating Committee are independent directors as defined under the National Association of Securities Dealers’ listing standards.

 

Bank Committees

 

The Executive Committee consists of Messrs. E. Hudson (Chairman), P. Hudson, Maddox and Medina. This committee monitors financial matters, including capital adequacy and liquidity, and analyzes overall earnings performance, focusing on trends, regulations, projections and problem anticipation and resolution. It also monitors the status of litigation and serves as an interim decision-making body that functions between Board meetings, if required, to assist the chief executive officer by providing input on critical issues and ensuring appropriate Board involvement in the strategic planning process. The Executive Committee met five times during 2004.

 

The Audit/Compliance Committee consists of Messrs. Medina (Chairman), Chan and Roberts. The Audit/Compliance Committee is responsible for oversight of the internal audit function, assessment of accounting and internal control policies and monitoring Community Reinvestment Act/regulatory compliance. This committee is also responsible for oversight of the Bank’s independent auditors. The Audit/Compliance Committee met sixteen times during 2004. The members of the Audit/Compliance Committee are independent directors as defined under the National Association of Securities Dealers’ listing standards.

 

The Compensation/Benefits Committee consists of Mr. Davidson (Chairman), Mrs. Hill, and Mr. McGill. This committee is responsible for the oversight of salary and wage administration and various employee benefits policies and incentive compensation issues, as well as the appraisal of the chief executive officer’s performance,

 

5


determination of his salary and bonus, and making recommendations regarding such matters for approval by the Board of Directors. The committee met five times during 2004.

 

The Loan Committee consists of Messrs. Chan (Chairman), P. Hudson, Maddox and Mr. Heywood, Chief Loan Officer, a non-Board member. The Loan Committee is responsible for developing the lending policies of the Bank, monitoring the loan portfolio and compliance with established policies, and approving specific loans in accordance with the Bank’s loan policy. To expedite loan approvals, the Loan Committee communicates on an as needed basis by formal meetings, telephonic conferences or electronic correspondence, but at least monthly.

 

The Asset Review Committee consists of Messrs. Maddox (Chairman) and E. Hudson, and Mrs. Hill. The Asset Review Committee is responsible for the review and approval of asset classifications, and for monitoring delinquent loans and foreclosed real estate. In addition, the Asset Review Committee reviews the adequacy of the Bank’s loan valuation allowance. The committee met four times during 2004.

 

The Investment Committee consists of Messrs. Roberts (Chairman), Davidson and McGill. The Investment Committee is responsible for monitoring the Bank’s interest rate risk in order to reduce the Bank’s vulnerability to changes in interest rates. This committee also monitors and controls the level and types of securities investments made by the Bank. The committee met five times during 2004.

 

Board Policies Regarding Communications with the Board of Directors and Attendance at Annual Meetings

 

The Board of Directors has an established process for stockholders to communicate with the Board of Directors. Stockholders may send communications to the Board of Directors or any individual director by mail addressed to: Board of Directors, Broadway Federal Bank, 4800 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90010. Communications addressed to the Board of Directors will be reviewed by the Secretary and directed to the Chairman of the Board for further review and distribution to all members of the Board of Directors. Communications addressed to individual directors will be forwarded directly to the office of the named director. The Company encourages all members of the Board of Directors to attend the annual meeting of stockholders. In 2004, all of the Company’s directors attended the annual meeting.

 

Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors

 

The following table sets forth information with respect to executive officers of the Company and the Bank who are not directors. Officers of the Company and the Bank serve at the discretion of, and are elected annually by the respective Boards of Directors.

 

Name


   Age(1)

  

Positions Held With the Company and the Bank


Alvin D. Kang

   60    Chief Financial Officer of the Company and Executive Vice President/Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officer of the Bank

Eric V. Johnson

   45    Senior Vice President/Chief Retail Banking Officer of the Bank

Johnathan E. Heywood

   38    Senior Vice President/Chief Loan Officer of the Bank

(1) As of December 31, 2004.

 

The business experience of each of the executive officers is as follows:

 

Alvin D. Kang joined Broadway Federal in December 2001 as Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer. On March 16, 2005, he was promoted to Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officer of the Bank. Prior to joining Broadway Federal, Mr. Kang was Executive Vice President at Takenaka & Company, LLC, a consulting and investment-banking firm from August 1999 to April 2002, and was the Managing Member of Mu

 

6


& Kang Consultants L.L.C. from November 1995 to August 1999. Prior to that, Mr. Kang served as an Audit Partner with KPMG LLP and Ernst & Young LLP and he has 35 years experience in the thrift and banking industries. During his public accounting career, Mr. Kang was active in the Financial Managers Society and was a frequent speaker at industry conferences. He also served on the Savings and Loan Committee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

 

Eric V. Johnson joined Broadway Federal Bank in May 1999 as Senior Vice President/Chief Loan Officer and currently serves as Senior Vice President/Chief Retail Banking Officer and Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) Compliance Officer. Prior to joining Broadway Federal, Mr. Johnson was Senior Vice President of Loan Servicing at Home Savings of America, from 1993 to 1999. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Board of Directors of the Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law, AIDS Service Center in Pasadena and Holman Community Development Corp. (HCDC). Mr. Johnson has been an active member of Holman United Methodist Church for over 19 years and holds many leadership roles in the church.

 

Johnathan E. Heywood joined Broadway Federal Bank in May 2002 as Senior Vice President/Chief Loan Officer. Prior to joining Broadway Federal, from 1999 to 2001, Mr. Heywood was Vice President of Numerata, Inc., a corporation that provides Internet, web-based technologies to the real estate industry. From 1997 to 1999, Mr. Heywood was a Partner at Irvine City Financial, L.L.C, a real estate investment company. Mr. Heywood also served as Vice President-Loan Origination from 1995 to 1997 at First Fidelity Thrift and Loan Association and Vice President — Major Loans at Irvine City Bank from 1989 to 1995. Mr. Heywood is a member of the National Association of Realtors and Mortgage Bankers Association.

 

Code Of Ethics

 

Stockholders may obtain a copy of the Company’s Code of Ethics, free of charge, upon written request to: Broadway Financial Corp., 4800 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90010, Attention: Beverly Dyck.

 

7


VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF

 

The following table sets forth information, as of February 28, 2005, concerning the shares of the Company’s Common Stock owned by each person known to the Company to be a beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s Common Stock, by each of the directors and executive officers of the Company and the Bank, and by all directors and executive officers as a group.

 

Name and Address
of Beneficial Owner


   Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership


    Percent of Class

 

Beneficial Owners:

            

Wellington Management Co.  

75 State Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02109

   181,280 (1)   10.78 %

First Financial Fund, Inc.  

1680 38th Street, Suite 800

Boulder, Colorado 80301

   129,280 (2)   7.69 %

Millenco, L.P.  

c/o Millenium Management, L.L.C.

666 5th Avenue

New York, New York 10103

   115,006 (3)   6.84 %

Stanley C. Cruden and Martha A. Cruden

31 Lake Road

Niverville, New York 12130-2309

   85,432 (4)   5.08 %

Broadway Federal Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan

   95,894 (5)   5.70 %

Directors and Executive Officers:

       (5 )      

Elbert T. Hudson

   28,274 (6)(7)   1.68 %

Paul C. Hudson

   100,911 (8)   6.00 %

Kellogg Chan

   26,076 (9)   1.55 %

Rosa M. Hill

   21,588 (10)(11)   1.28 %

A. Odell Maddox

   16,174 (12)   0.96 %

Daniel A. Medina

   5,626 (9)(13)   0.33 %

Virgil Roberts

   4,922 (14)(15)   0.29 %

Rick McGill

   —       0.00 %

Robert C. Davidson, Jr.

   516     0.03 %

Alvin D. Kang

   28,628 (16)(17)   1.70 %

Eric V. Johnson

   15,394 (18)   0.92 %

Johnathan E. Heywood

   18,213 (19)   1.08 %

All directors and executive officers as a group (12 persons)

   265,322     15.84 %

(1) Based on information derived from Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC by Wellington Management Company, LLP, a Massachusetts limited liability partnership (“WMC”), on February 14, 2005 in its capacity as investment advisor for First Financial Fund, Inc., a registered closed-end investment company. WMC may be deemed the beneficial owner of shares of Common Stock owned by its clients, including 129,280 shares owned by First Financial Fund, Inc. as to which WMC has shared dispositive power and which are reported in the total beneficial ownership of WMC of 181,280 shares.

 

(2) Based on information derived from Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC by First Financial Fund, Inc., a registered closed-end investment company, on February 15, 2005.

 

(3) Based on information derived from Schedule 13G filed with the SEC by Millenco, L.P., Millenium Management, L.L.C. (the general partner of Millenco L.P.) and Israel A. Englander (the managing member of Millenium Management, L.L.C.) on February 14, 2005. Each reporting person may be deemed the beneficial owner of the 115,006 shares of Common Stock owned by Millenco, L.P.

 

8


(4) Stanley C. Cruden and Martha A. Cruden exercise shared voting and investment power over 71,480 shares. Stanley C. Cruden is the beneficial owner of an additional 7,792 shares and Martha A. Cruden is the beneficial owner of an additional 6,160 shares.

 

(5) The address for each of the directors and executive officers and the Broadway Federal Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan is 4800 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90010.

 

(6) Includes 6,322 shares held jointly with spouse with whom voting and investment power are shared.

 

(7) Includes 3,689 allocated shares under the Broadway Federal Bank, f.s.b. Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the “ESOP”), and 15,655 shares subject to options granted under the Company’s Long Term Incentive Plan (the “LTIP”), which options are currently exercisable.

 

(8) Includes 14,639 allocated shares under the ESOP, and 64,609 shares subject to options granted under the LTIP, which options are currently exercisable.

 

(9) Includes 4,300 shares subject to options granted under the Company’s 1996 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors (the “Directors’ Stock Option Plan”), which options are all currently exercisable.

 

(10) Includes 20,286 shares held jointly with spouse with whom voting and investment power are shared.

 

(11) Includes 200 shares subject to options granted under the Directors’ Stock Option Plan, which options are all currently exercisable.

 

(12) Includes 660 shares subject to options granted under the Director’s Stock Option Plan, which options are all currently exercisable.

 

(13) Includes 432 shares held jointly with spouse with whom voting and investment power are shared.

 

(14) Includes 3,888 shares held jointly with spouse with whom voting and investment power are shared.

 

(15) Includes 713 shares subject to options granted under the Director’s Stock Option Plan, which options are all currently exercisable.

 

(16) Includes 4,500 shares held jointly with spouse with whom voting and investment power are shared.

 

(17) Includes 1,928 allocated shares under the ESOP and 20,000 shares subject to options granted under the LTIP, which options are all currently exercisable.

 

(18) Includes 4,834 allocated shares under the ESOP and 8,000 shares subject to options granted under the LTIP, which options are all currently exercisable.

 

(19) Includes 1,013 allocated shares under the ESOP and 16,000 shares subject to options granted under the LTIP, which options are all currently exercisable.

 

9


EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND RELATED MATTERS

 

Executive Compensation

 

The following table sets forth the annual and long-term compensation for the Company’s President/Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Retail Banking Officer and Chief Lending Officer (collectively, the “Named Executive Officers”) during the Company’s last three fiscal years.

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

          Annual Compensation

   Long-Term Compensation

      
               Awards

   Payouts

      

Name and Principal Position


   Year

   Salary
($)


  

Bonus

($)


   Restricted
Stock
Awards
($)


   Securities
Underlying
Options/
SARS (#)


  

LTIP

Payouts

($)


  

All Other

Compensation

($)


 

Paul C. Hudson

President/Chief

Executive Officer

   2004    206,640    66,612    5,750    —      —      5,641
442
12,263
(1)
(2)
(3)
     2003    180,000    66,403    10,108    —      —      5,427
1,548
14,583
(1)
(2)
(3)
     2002    155,138    21,375    2,448    29,718    5,010    4,654
971
13,946
(1)
(2)
(3)

Alvin D. Kang

Chief Financial Officer

   2004    156,334    49,343    12,925    —      —      3,793
442
10,078
(1)
(2)
(3)
     2003    150,000    54,180    13,035    —      —      4,348
1,612
14,583
(1)
(2)
(3)
     2002    135,833    —      5,500    50,000    —      2,100
1,548
(1)
(2)

Eric V. Johnson

Chief Retail

Banking Officer

   2004    126,164    31,758    10,082    —      —      3,792
442
8,702
(1)
(2)
(3)
     2003    123,624    36,905    10,507    —      —      3,700
2,139
12,471
(1)
(2)
(3)
     2002    120,322    16,477    2,400    28,704    2,086    3,610
375
10,808
(1)
(2)
(3)

Johnathan E. Heywood

Chief Loan

Officer (4)

   2004    130,000    40,783    7,050    —      —      3,750
442
8,656
(1)
(2)
(3)
     2003    100,000    26,123    7,110    —      —      2,625
351
4,164
(1)
(2)
(3)
     2002    52,334    —      3,000    40,000    —     
202
(1)
(2)

(1) Reflects amounts contributed by the Company to the 401(k) Plan on behalf of each individual. The amounts contributed by the Company each year represent 100% of each employee’s contribution up to 3% of salary.

 

(2) Reflects the dollar value of group term life insurance paid by the Bank during the periods covered.

 

(3) Reflects the dollar value of contributed ESOP shares.

 

(4) Johnathan E. Heywood was hired in May 2002.

 

10


Option/SAR Grants

 

The Company did not grant any options or stock appreciation rights to the Named Executive Officers during 2004.

 

Option Exercises and Holdings

 

The following table provides information with respect to the Named Executive Officers concerning the exercise of options during 2004 and unexercised options held by the Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2004:

 

Aggregated Option/SAR Exercises In Last Fiscal Year

And Fiscal Year-End Option/SAR Values

 

Name


   Shares
Acquired on
Exercise (#)


   Value
Realized
($)


   Number of Securities
Underlying Unexercised
Options/SARS at
Fiscal Year-End
(#) Exercisable (E)/
Unexercisable (U)


    Value of Unexercised
In-the-Money Options/
SARS at Fiscal Year-End
($) Exercisable (E)/
Unexercisable (U)


 

Paul C. Hudson

   —      —      18,961
64,609
(U)
(E)
  112,883
462,148
(U)
(E)

Alvin D. Kang

   —      —      30,000
20,000
(U)
(E)
  174,435
116,290
(U)
(E)

Eric V. Johnson

   12,517    77,597    19,483
8,000
(U)
(E)
  118,553
51,783
(U)
(E)

Johnathan E. Heywood

   —      —      24,000
16,000
(U)
(E)
  139,548
93,032
(U)
(E)

 

Director Compensation

 

No remuneration was paid to the directors by the Company in 2004. Currently, the Chairman of the Board of Broadway Federal receives a monthly retainer fee of $3,224, and all other directors of Broadway Federal, who are not employees, receive a monthly retainer fee of $1,000 each. A fee of $500 is paid to each director of Broadway Federal, other than the Chairman of the Board and the President, for special Board meetings. Committee meeting fees of $250 per meeting, except for the Loan and Audit Committees, are also paid to directors of Broadway Federal, other than the Chairman of the Board and the President. Loan Committee and Audit Committee members, other than the President and the Chief Lending Officer, are paid a monthly fee of $500.

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

 

The Company’s current loan policy provides that all loans made by the Company or its subsidiaries to its directors and executive officers must be made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons and must not involve more than the normal risk of collectibility or present other unfavorable features.

 

On September 30, 1999, the Bank made a $550,000 loan to Maddox & Stabler LLC. Mr. A. Odell Maddox is a director of the Company and the Bank. The loan is secured by a 24-unit multi-family property located in Los Angeles, California. The terms of the 30-year loan include an initial interest rate of 8% fixed for the first five years. Thereafter the interest rate will be 2.50% over the one-year Treasury Bill rate. Since inception, payments on the loan have been made as agreed. As of March 31, 2005, the outstanding balance of the loan was $512,794.

 

11


Severance Agreements

 

The Company and the Bank have entered into severance agreements with each of Messrs. Paul Hudson, Kang, Johnson and Heywood. Each agreement provides that if, within three years of any Change in Control (as defined in the agreement), the officer’s employment is terminated, either by the officer following a demotion or other specified adverse treatment or by the Company or the Bank other than for Cause (as defined in the agreement), then the officer will receive a severance payment equal to the sum of (A) the officer’s unpaid salary and bonus or other incentive compensation for the remainder of the year in which employment is terminated, and (B) a specified multiple of the highest Annual Compensation (as defined in the agreement) paid to the officer in any of the three years preceding termination of employment. The multiple is 2.5 for Mr. Hudson, 2 for Mr. Kang and 1.5 for each of Messrs. Johnson and Heywood. In addition to these payments, any stock options and similar rights held by the officer will become fully vested and exercisable, and the health and other benefits coverage provided to the officer will be continued for one year after termination of employment.

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

 

The Audit Committee oversees the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the Company’s systems of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Committee reviewed the audited financial statements in the Annual Report with management including a discussion of the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments, and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements.

 

The Committee reviewed with the independent auditors, who are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of the audited financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, their judgments as to the quality, as well as the acceptability, of the Company’s accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the Committee under auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, including SAS 61. In addition, the Committee has discussed with the independent auditors the auditors’ independence from management and the Company, including the matters in the written disclosures required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, and considered the compatibility of non-audit services provided by the auditor with the auditors’ independence.

 

The Committee discussed with the Company’s internal and independent auditors the overall scope and plans for their respective audits. The Committee meets with the internal and independent auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluations of the Company’s internal controls, and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting.

 

In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 2004. The Committee has also recommended to the Board the selection of the Company’s independent auditors.

 

This report of the Audit Committee shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating this Proxy Statement by reference into filings under the Securities Act of 1933, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.

 

Mr. Daniel A. Medina

Mr. Kellogg Chan

Mr. Virgil Roberts

 

12


INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

 

KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) was the Company’s independent auditor for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. As discussed below, the Audit Committee engaged Crowe Chizek and Company LLP (“Crowe Chizek”) as the Company’s independent auditor for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005.

 

Change of Auditors for 2005

 

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company made a decision to seek competitive bids for the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2005. KPMG, the incumbent independent auditor was invited to submit their bid. In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Company’s Audit Committee, received on April 19, 2005, KPMG declined to stand for re-appointment as principal accountants of the Company. After a comprehensive review of proposals received for audit services from several other public accountants, the Audit Committee recommended that the Board of Directors engage Crowe Chizek as the Company’s independent auditor for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005. The Company’s Board of Directors approved the selection of Crowe Chizek as the Company’s independent auditor on April 20, 2005.

 

The reports of KPMG on the Company’s financial statements, as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were such reports qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

 

In connection with the audits of the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2004, and the subsequent interim period through April 19, 2005, there were: (1) no disagreements with KPMG LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements if not resolved to their satisfaction would have caused them to make reference in connection with their opinion to the subject matter of the disagreement, or (2) no reportable events.

 

During the two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 and the subsequent interim period through the date of this report, the Company did not consult with Crowe Chizek regarding the application of accounting principles to a specific transaction, either proposed or completed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, or any other matters or reportable events as set forth in Item 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-B.

 

Representatives of KPMG and Crowe Chizek will be present at the Annual Meeting. Each of these representatives will have an opportunity to make a statement, if he or she wishes to do so, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

 

KPMG Fees

 

The following table sets forth information regarding the aggregate fees billed to the Company for services rendered by KPMG for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003:

 

     2004

   2003

Audit fees

   $ 202,500    $ 148,500

Audit related fees

     —        —  

Tax fees (1)

     —        55,750

All other fees

     —        —  
    

  

Total Fees

   $ 202,500    $ 204,250
    

  


(1) For tax consultation and tax compliance services.

 

Audit Preapproval Policy

 

In accordance with its charter, all services to be performed by the Company’s Independent Auditor must be preapproved by the Audit Committee or a designated member of the Audit Committee.

 

 

13


STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR PRESENTATION AT THE ANNUAL MEETING

 

Any stockholder of the Company wishing to have a proposal considered for inclusion in the Company’s 2006 proxy solicitation materials must set forth such proposal in writing and file it with the Secretary of the Company on or before January 1, 2006. The Board of Directors will review any stockholder proposals which are filed as required and will determine whether such proposals meet applicable criteria for inclusion in the proxy solicitation materials and for consideration at the Annual Meeting. Except for director nominations, any stockholder may make any proposal at the 2006 Annual Meeting and the same may be discussed and considered, but unless stated in writing and filed with the Secretary of the Company on or before May 23, 2006, such proposal may only be voted upon at a meeting held at least 30 days after the Annual Meeting at which it is presented. Stockholder director nominations must be received by the Company no earlier than March 24, 2006 and no later than April 23, 2006.

 

Under the Company’s Bylaws, stockholder nominations for election of directors may only be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the Secretary of the Company not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior to the anniversary date of the previous year’s Annual Meeting (between March 24, 2006 and April 24, 2006) to be considered at the Annual Meeting in year 2006. Such notice must state the nominee’s name, age and business and residence addresses, the nominee’s principal occupation or employment, and the class and number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the nominee on the date of the notice. The required notice must also disclose certain information relating to the nominee of the type required to be disclosed in a proxy statement and in certain other filings under federal securities laws.

 

ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-KSB

 

The 2004 Annual Report to Stockholders containing the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2004 accompanies this proxy statement.

 

Stockholders may obtain, without charge, a copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, without accompanying exhibits, by writing to Beverly A. Dyck, Investor Relations Representative, Broadway Financial Corporation, 4800 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90010. Stockholders may obtain any of the exhibits that are referred to in the list of exhibits in the Form 10-KSB upon payment to the Company of the cost of furnishing them.

 

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
LOGO

Beverly A. Dyck

Secretary

 

14


                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                           BROADWAY FINANCIAL CORPORATION    
     
                                 P         REVOCABLE PROXY FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS    
                                 R         TO BE HELD JUNE 22, 2005    
                                 O         THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS SOLICITING THIS PROXY    
                                 X              
                                 Y        

I/we hereby constitute and appoint Elbert T. Hudson and Paul C. Hudson, and each of them, my/our attorneys, agents and proxies, with full power of substitution to each, to attend and act as proxy or proxies at the 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Broadway Financial Corporation, which will be held at its principal executive offices, 4800 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90010, on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 at 2:00 p.m., and at any postponement or adjournment thereof, and to vote as I/we have indicated the number of shares which I/we, if personally present, would be entitled to vote.

   
                                              
                                              
                                              
                                              
                                                               
                                           1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS               
     
                                           ¨  

FOR all nominees listed below (except as indicated

to the contrary (below).

     ¨  

WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to

vote for all nominees listed below.

   
                                                               
                                          

Nominees: A. Odell Maddox, Daniel A. Medina and Virgil Roberts

INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for individual nominee(s) write that nominee’s(s’) name in the space below.

   
     
                                                               
       
                                          

2. RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF CROWE CHIZEK AND COMPANY LLP as the independent audit firm of

    Broadway Financial Corporation for the year ending December 31, 2005

   
     
                                           ¨   FOR                                    ¨    AGAINST      ¨   ABSTAIN    
     
                                                               
     
                                                               


TO RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD BY MAIL

 

    Mark, sign and date your proxy card.
    Detach your proxy card.
    Mail your proxy card in the postage paid envelope provided.

 

Ú DETACH PROXY CARD HERE Ú

 

BROADWAY FINANCIAL CORPORATION

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS NOMINATED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND “FOR” RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF CROWE CHIZEK AND COMPANY LLP. THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, IT WILL VOTED “FOR” THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS NOMINATED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND “FOR” RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF CROWE CHIZEK AND COMPANY LLP.

 

     PLEASE SIGN AND DATE BELOW
     I/we hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and proxies, or any of them, or their substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done because of this proxy, and hereby revoke any and all proxies I/we have given before to vote at the meeting. I/we acknowledge receipt of the notice of Annual Meeting and the Proxy Statements which accompanies the notice.
     Dated:                                                                                                    , 2005
                                                                                                                                   
     Signature
                                                                                                                                   
     Signature
     Please date this Proxy and sign above as your name(s) appear(s) on this card. Joint owners should each sign personally. Corporate proxies should be signed by an authorized officer. Executors, administrators, trustees, etc. should give their full titles.

 

Please Detach Here

Ú You Must Detach This Portion of the Proxy Card Ú

Before Returning it in the Enclosed Envelope