Newark, NJ (October 30, 2010) – Unbeaten lightweight prospect and 2008 National Golden Gloves Champion Michael Angelo “The Artist” Perez, 9-0 (4 KO’s), will be featured on News 12’s “Jersey Sports Final” tomorrow evening at 10:30 PM.
The Newark native, who faces tough Hevinson Herrera November 6 in his hometown at the Prudential Center, will discuss his upbringing in one of America’s roughest cities, how he got started in boxing and where he believes the sport will take him.
Replays will air at 11:30 pm Sunday and 12:30 am on Monday. Cablevision subscribers can tune into channel 12 and Comcast customers can see Perez’ story on channel 62.
Tickets to the fight priced at $53, $78, $103 and $253 (ringside) are still available and can be purchased at Prudential Center Box Office, by calling TicketMaster at 800-745-3000 or www.Prucenter.com.
For more information on News 12 New Jersey, go to News12.com.
Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.-Based First Community Bancorp Makes Acquisition.
Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News April 18, 2003 By Conor Dougherty, The San Diego Union-Tribune Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Apr. 18–First Community Bancorp, a Rancho Santa Fe holding company that has acquired 10 Southern California banks since 2000, said yesterday that it will buy Verdugo Banking, a Glendale-based bank with $169 million in assets. ranchosantafenow.net rancho santa fe
The $35 million cash deal, which is subject to approval from regulatory agencies and Verdugo’s shareholders, is expected to close in August. At that point, Verdugo would be merged into Pacific Western National Bank, First Community’s Los Angeles-based subsidiary.
In San Diego, First Community operates under the name First National Bank.
The company has acquired banks in San Diego, San Bernadino and Los Angeles, and will have assets of about $2.4 billion after the Verdugo transaction closes.
“Verdugo has a good business mix and it will integrate nicely,” said Matt Wagner, president and chief executive of First Community Bancorp.
Wagner said Verdugo’s president and chief executive, Raymond Dumser, is leaving his post but will remain a consultant for two years. Other key employees will remain with First Community, Wagner said, but “there will be some departures over time.” Matt Allen, a managing director at the investment banking firm of Hoefer & Arnett, represented Verdugo in the sale. He said the bank is active in lending to small and medium-sized businsses in the so-called Tri-Cities area of Glendale, Burbank and Pasadena.
Also, Verdugo has just one branch, which at $169 million in assets is of considerable size. Such mega-branches are desirable because they are generally the most efficient. “Whenever you’re trying to build a franchise, the larger branches are the most valuable,” Allen said.
There has been much speculation in banking circles that First Community’s ultimate strategy is to roll up several banking institutions, then sell the entire operation to a large out-of-town bank itching to get a toehold in Southern California.
The speculation, which First Community’s founders have repeatedly scoffed at, is based on the background of First Community’s chairman: San Diego investor John Eggemeyer III.
In 1999, after acquiring a string of similarly sized banks, Eggemeyer sold Newport Beach-based Western Bancorp, which had about $2.5 billion in assets, to Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp for $900 million in stock. here rancho santa fe
Wagner, who was also the chief executive of Western Bancorp and a friend of Eggemeyer’s for two decades, said things were different back then.
“That was a ridiculous offer, we couldn’t not do it,” he said. “And the ridiculous-offer days seem to be over.” Furthermore, Wagner added, since First Community is actively buying banks, it has not been able to fully consolidate its operations and maximize its earnings potential.
“We’re building a Southern California Community bank,” Wagner said. “But it’s not for sale.” FCBP,
