SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
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 Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
REDWOOD TRUST, INC.
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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(Name of Person(s)Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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[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
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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
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[ ] 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:
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4) Date Filed:
RWT
REDWOOD TRUST, INC.
591 Redwood Highway, Suite 3100
Mill Valley, California 94941
(415) 389-7373
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To the Stockholders
of Redwood Trust, Inc.
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
of Redwood Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Company"), to be held on
Thursday, June 12, 1997, at 10:00 a.m., PDT, at The Mandarin Oriental Hotel,
222 Sansome Street, San Francisco, California, for the following purposes:
1. The election of two Class III Directors to serve until the Company's
Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in 2000 or until such
directors' successors are elected and qualified;
2. Ratification of the selection of Coopers & Lybrand, L.L.P. as the
Company's independent public accountants for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 1997; and
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the annual
meeting or at any adjournments thereof.
A proxy statement describing the matters to be considered at the
annual meeting is attached to this notice. The Board of Directors has fixed
the close of business on March 31, 1997, as the record date for determination
of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting and
at any adjournments thereof.
Management desires to have a maximum representation of stockholders at
the Annual Meeting. The Company may incur substantial additional proxy
solicitation costs if a sufficient number of proxies are not returned in
advance of the Annual Meeting. In order that your shares may be represented at
the Annual Meeting, management respectfully requests that you date, execute and
promptly mail the enclosed proxy in the accompanying postage-paid envelope. A
proxy may be revoked by a shareholder by notice in writing to the Secretary of
the Company at any time prior to its use, by presentation of a later-dated
proxy, or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ Frederick H. Borden
------------------------------------
FREDERICK H. BORDEN
Secretary
Mill Valley, California
April 9, 1997
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YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
PLEASE PROMPTLY MARK, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN
YOUR PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
---------------------------------------------
RWT
REDWOOD TRUST, INC.
591 Redwood Highway, Suite 3100
Mill Valley, California 94941
(415) 389-7373
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD JUNE 12, 1997
To Our Stockholders:
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation
of proxies by the Board of Directors of Redwood Trust, Inc., a Maryland
corporation (the "Company"), for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of
the Company (the "Annual Meeting") to be held, on Thursday, June 12, 1997 at
10:00 a.m., Pacific Daylight Time, at The Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 222 Sansome
Street, San Francisco, California, and any adjournments thereof. This Proxy
Statement, the accompanying proxy card and the Notice of Annual Meeting are
being provided to stockholders beginning on or about April 10, 1997.
GENERAL INFORMATION
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of the
Company. The costs of this solicitation will be borne by the Company. Proxy
solicitations will be made by mail, and also may be made by personal interview,
telephone, facsimile transmission and telegram on behalf of the Company by
directors and officers of the Company. Banks, brokerage houses, nominees and
other fiduciaries will be requested to forward the proxy soliciting material to
the beneficial owners and to obtain authorization for the execution of proxies.
The Company will, upon request, reimburse such parties for their reasonable
expenses in forwarding proxy materials to their beneficial owners. The Company
does not expect to engage an outside firm to solicit votes, but if such a firm
is engaged subsequent to the date of this Proxy Statement, the cost is
estimated to be less than $10,000, plus reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
VOTING RIGHTS
Holders of shares of the Company's common stock ("Common Stock") at
the close of business on March 31, 1997, the record date, are entitled to
notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. On that date, 11,783,330 shares
of Common Stock were outstanding. Each share of Common Stock outstanding on
the record date is entitled to one vote on each matter presented at the Annual
Meeting. The presence, in person or by proxy, of stockholders representing 50%
or more of the issued and outstanding stock entitled to vote constitutes a
quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. If a quorum is
present, (i) a plurality of the votes cast at the Meeting is required for
election as a director, and (ii) the affirmative vote of the majority of the
shares present, in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting and entitled to
vote is required for all other matters. Cumulative voting in the election of
directors is not permitted. Abstentions are considered shares present and
entitled to vote, and therefore have the same legal effect as a vote against
all matters presented at the Annual Meeting other than the election of
directors. Any shares held in street name for which the broker or nominee
receives no instructions from the beneficial owner, and as to which such broker
or nominee does not have discretionary voting authority under applicable New
York Stock Exchange rules, will be considered as shares not entitled to vote
and will therefore not be considered in the tabulation of the votes.
VOTING OF PROXIES
Shares of the Common Stock represented by all properly executed
proxies received in time for the Annual Meeting will be voted in accordance
with the choices specified in the proxies. Unless contrary instructions are
indicated on the proxy, the shares will be voted FOR the election of the
nominees named in this proxy statement as directors and FOR the appointment of
Coopers & Lybrand, L.L.P. as the Company's auditors.
The management and the Board of Directors of the Company know of no
matters to be brought before the Annual meeting other than as set forth herein.
To date, no stockholders proposals have been received by the Company. However,
if any other matters of which the management and Board of Directors of the
Company are not now aware are presented properly to the stockholders for
action, it is the intention of the proxy holders named in the enclosed proxy to
vote in their discretion on all matters on which the shares represented by such
proxy are entitled to vote.
REVOCABILITY OF PROXY
The giving of the enclosed proxy does not preclude the right to vote
in person should the stockholder giving the proxy so desire. A proxy may be
revoked at any time prior to its exercise by delivering a written statement to
the Secretary of the Company that the proxy is revoked, by presenting to the
Company a later-dated proxy executing the prior proxy, or by attending the
Annual Meeting and voting in person.
ANNUAL REPORT
The 1996 Annual Report including financial statements for the year
ended December 31, 1996, which is being mailed to stockholders together with
the Proxy Statement, contains financial and other information about the
activities of the Company, but is not incorporated into this Proxy Statement
and is not to be considered a part of these proxy soliciting materials.
ITEM 1 - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Company's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws provide for a
classified Board of Directors comprised of Classes I, II and III. Class III
Directors are scheduled to be elected at the 1997 annual meeting to serve for a
three-year term and until their successors are elected and duly qualified. The
Company's Bylaws further provide that, except in the case of a vacancy, a
majority of the members of the Board of Directors and of any committee of the
Board of Directors will be at all times Independent Directors. The nominees
for Class III directors of the Board of Directors are set forth below. Unless
authorization is withheld, the persons named as proxies will vote FOR the
nominees for directors listed below unless otherwise specified by the
stockholder. In the event any nominee is unable or declines to serve as a
director at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxies will be voted for any
nominee who shall be designated by the present Board of Directors to fill the
vacancy. In the event that additional persons are nominated for election as
directors, the proxy holders intend to vote all proxies received by them for
the nominees listed below and against any other nominees. As of the date of
this Proxy Statement, the Board of Directors is not aware of any nominee who is
unable or will decline to serve as director. All of the nominees listed below
already are serving as directors of the Company.
The election to the Board of Directors of each of the two nominees
identified in this Proxy Statement will require a plurality of the votes cast,
in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE TWO NOMINEES IDENTIFIED
BELOW.
NOMINEES TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
NAME POSITION WITH THE COMPANY
- -------------------------- ------------------------------------------
George E. Bull Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
2
Certain biographical information regarding each nominee is set forth
below along with biographical information for each continuing director.
CLASS III NOMINEES
GEORGE E. BULL, age 48, has served as Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company since 1994 and as Chairman of the Board of
Sequoia Mortgage Funding Corporation, a subsidiary of the Company, since
February, 1997. From 1983 through March 1997 Mr. Bull was the President of
George E. Bull, III Capital Management, Inc. ("GB Capital"). GB Capital
discontinued operating as a business on March 31, 1997. GB Capital assisted
banks, insurance companies, and savings and loans in managing portfolios of
securitized and unsecuritized mortgage loans, in arranging collateralized
borrowings, in hedging balance sheet risks, and with other types of capital
markets transactions. In 1991 and 1992, Mr. Bull served as Acting Chief
Investment Officer of First Capital Life Insurance Company, managing its $4
billion securities portfolio and over $200 million in commercial real estate
loans. He also worked during this period in various aspects of fixed income
portfolio management with Wood Island Associates, Inc. From 1991 though 1993,
Mr. Bull and GB Capital oversaw the management of the $350 million portfolio of
commercial real estate investments and the $8 billion securities portfolio of
Executive Life Insurance Company (in Rehabilitation) on behalf of the
California Department of Insurance. Mr. Bull is currently a director of
EurekaBank, a subsidiary of America First Financial Fund 1987-A.
DAN A. EMMETT, age 57, has been a Director of the Company since 1994.
Mr. Emmett is the co-founder and President of Douglas Emmett Realty Advisors, a
leading real estate investment advisor in Los Angeles and of Douglas, Emmett &
Company, a leading commercial and multifamily real estate development and
management company. Mr. Emmett is also the co-founder of an affiliated real
estate brokerage business, the Jon Douglas Company, which is the largest
independent residential brokerage firm in California with substantial
affiliates in the mortgage brokerage, title and escrow businesses. Mr. Emmett
has been associated with such companies since 1971.
CLASS I AND CLASS II DIRECTORS - TERMS EXPIRING AFTER 1997
FREDERICK H. BORDEN, age 51, has served as Vice Chairman of the Board
and Secretary of the Company since 1994 and as Secretary and a Director of
Sequoia Mortgage Funding Corporation, a subsidiary of the Company, since
February, 1997. From 1983 through March of 1997 Mr. Borden was a Principal
with GB Capital. Prior to joining GB Capital, Mr. Borden was Senior Vice
President of Douglas, Emmett & Company, where he organized an institutional
capital raising effort to fund debt and equity investments in West Los Angeles
commercial real estate properties. From 1985 to 1990, Mr. Borden worked as a
specialist in raising capital for financial institutions and as a high yield
bond salesman for Drexel Burnham Lambert. In 1984, Mr. Borden was the sales
manager for the mortgage loan trading department of Farmer's Savings Bank. Mr.
Borden was one of the founding members of Salomon Brothers' mortgage securities
department in 1978 and was manager of the West Coast mortgage sales department
until 1984. Mr. Borden is a Class I director whose term expires in 1998.
DOUGLAS B. HANSEN, age 39, has served as President, Chief Financial
Officer and a Director of the Company since 1994 and as President and a
Director of Sequoia Mortgage Funding Corporation, a subsidiary of the Company,
since February, 1997. From 1990 through March 1997 Mr. Hansen was a Principal
with GB Capital. From 1991 to 1993, Mr. Hansen also served as a Special Deputy
Insurance Commissioner of the State of California and as the Acting Chief
Investment Officer of Executive Life Insurance Company (in Rehabilitation),
managing its $8 billion portfolio of securities and its Investment Department.
In 1991 and 1992, Mr. Hansen worked in various aspects of fixed income
portfolio management with Wood Island Associates, Inc. From 1992 to 1994, Mr.
Hansen served as the Acting Chief Investment Officer of Old Colony Life
Insurance Company, a failed insurance company conserved by the State of
Georgia. Prior to joining GB Capital, Mr. Hansen worked from 1987 through 1990
at Merrill Lynch as a specialist in mortgage loans and securities and hedging
instruments. Mr. Hansen is a Class II director whose term expires in 1999.
3
NELLO GONFIANTINI, age 42, has been a Director of the Company since
1994. Mr. Gonfiantini manages a private mortgage finance and real estate
development business in Reno, Nevada. From 1986 until 1994, Mr. Gonfiantini
was the Chairman, CEO, and President of Home Federal Savings Bank of Nevada.
Mr. Gonfiantini is a Class I director whose term expires in 1998.
THOMAS F. FARB, age 40, has been a Director of the Company since 1994.
Mr. Farb is the Executive Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer of Interneuron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a publicly-held
pharmaceutical company. From 1992 to 1994, Mr. Farb was the Vice President of
Finance and Corporate Development, Chief Financial Officer and Controller of
Cytyc Corporation, a medical device/diagnostics company. From 1989 to 1992,
Mr. Farb was Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director of
AIRFUND Corporation, where he closed numerous international aircraft financing
transactions involving various interest rate hedges and multiple layers of debt
and equity. Mr. Farb is currently a director of HNC Software, Inc., a public
company and AIRFUND corporation. Mr. Farb is a Class II director whose term
expires in 1999.
CHARLES J. TOENISKOETTER, age 52, has been a Director of the Company
since 1994. Mr. Toeniskoetter is the President of Toeniskoetter & Breeding,
Inc. Development, a company which has developed, and owns and manages over $85
million of commercial and industrial real estate properties, and is the
President of Toeniskoetter & Breeding, Inc. Construction, a commercial and
industrial construction company that has completed over $200 million of
construction contracts since its founding. Mr. Toeniskoetter co-founded both
of these companies in 1983. Mr. Toeniskoetter serves on the Board of the San
Jose Water Company and a number of non-profit foundations and other community
entities. Mr. Toeniskoetter is a Class II director whose term expires in
1999.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors consists of Mr. Emmett
and Mr. Toeniskoetter. The Audit Committee reviews and approves the scope of
the annual audit undertaken by the Company's independent certified public
accountants. The Audit Committee met one time in 1996. The Board of Directors
also has a Compensation Committee consisting of Mr. Farb and Mr. Gonfiantini.
The Compensation Committee met one time in 1996. The Company has no other
standing committees of the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors held eight regular meetings in 1996. None of
the Directors attended fewer than 75% of the meetings of the Board of Directors
and the committees on which he served except for Mr. Emmett who attended five
of the eight regular meetings of the Board.
The Directors who are not employed by the Company (the "Independent
Directors") receive an annual fee of $6,000 per year, plus a fee of $500 for
each meeting of the Board of Directors attended in person and $250 for each
meeting attended telephonically. They also are granted options to purchase
2,500 shares of the Company's Common Stock at the fair market value on the date
of grant each year on the day after the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Independent Directors are reimbursed for expenses related to their attendance
at Board of Directors meetings.
MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY
The executive officers of the Company and their positions are as
follows:
NAME POSITION WITH THE COMPANY AGE
- -------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- -----------
George E. Bull Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer 48
Douglas B. Hansen President, Chief Financial Officer and Director 39
Frederick H. Borden Vice Chairman of the Board and Secretary 51
Vickie L. Rath Vice President, Treasurer and Controller 37
4
The executive officers serve at the discretion of the Company's Board
of Directors. Biographical information regarding Mr. Bull, Mr. Hansen and Mr.
Borden is provided above. Biographical information regarding Ms. Rath is set
forth on the following page.
VICKIE L. RATH, age 37, has served as Vice President, Treasurer and
Controller of the Company since 1994 and as Treasurer and Assistant Secretary
of Sequoia Mortgage Funding Corporation, a subsidiary of the Company, since
February, 1997. Ms. Rath acted as an independent consultant to GB Capital from
February 1994 to August 1994 and served as a Vice President of GB Capital from
August 1994 to December 1995. From 1993 to 1994, Ms. Rath served as Principal
and Controller of Wells Fargo Nikko Investment Advisors. From 1988 to 1993,
Ms. Rath was Vice President and Controller of TIS Mortgage Investment Company,
a NYSE-listed REIT and served as its Treasurer from 1989 to 1993. In addition,
Ms. Rath served as the Principal Financial Officer of TIS Financial Services,
Inc. from 1988 to 1993, as Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer of TIS Asset
Management from 1991 to 1993 and as Assistant Treasurer of INVG Mortgage
Securities Corp., a REIT traded on NASDAQ from 1992 to 1993. Ms. Rath is a
Certified Public Accountant.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of Common
Stock of the Company as of March 1, 1997, by each person who is known to the
Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the Company's Common Stock, by each
director, by each of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation
Table, and by all directors and executive officers as a group:
NUMBER OF SHARES APPROXIMATE
NAME BENEFICIALLY OWNED % OWNED (1)
- ----------------- ------------------ -----------
Robert Day (2) 1,254,933 10.7%
Wallace R. Weitz & Company (3) 895,830 7.6%
George E. Bull (4) 118,256 1.0%
Douglas B. Hansen (5) 100,799 *
Frederick H. Borden (6) 80,796 *
Dan A. Emmett (7) 9,795 *
Thomas F. Farb (7) 3,125 *
Nello Gonfiantini (7) 28,237 *
Charles J. Toeniskoetter (8) 4,845 *
Vickie L. Rath (9) 14,700 *
All Directors and Executive Officers as a group (8 persons) (10) 360,553 3.1%
_________________
* LESS THAN ONE PERCENT
(1) ASSUMES NO EXERCISE OF WARRANTS (EXCEPT BY ENTITIES OR INDIVIDUALS
NAMED SEPARATELY).
(2) ADDRESS: 200 PARK AVE., SUITE 220, NEW YORK, NY 10166. CONSISTS OF:
954,733 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK HELD OF RECORD BY MR. DAY AND 300,200
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK HELD OF RECORD BY THE TCW GROUP, INC. ("TCW").
MR. DAY IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO MAY BE DEEMED TO CONTROL TCW AND
THEREFORE MAY BE DEEMED TO BENEFICIALLY OWN SUCH SHARES OF COMMON
STOCK.
(3) ADDRESS: 1125 SOUTH 103RD STREET, SUITE 600, OMAHA, NEBRASKA 68124.
(4) INCLUDES 109,284 SHARES CURRENTLY OUTSTANDING HELD OF RECORD BY THE
BULL TRUST, 3,302 SHARES ISSUABLE UPON THE EXERCISE OF WARRANTS HELD
BY THE BULL TRUST, 2,670 SHARES ISSUABLE UPON THE EXERCISE OF STOCK
OPTIONS EXERCISABLE WITHIN 60 DAYS, 2,500 SHARES CURRENTLY OUTSTANDING
HELD OF RECORD BY MR. BULL'S CHILDREN AND 500 SHARES ISSUABLE UPON THE
EXERCISE OF WARRANTS HELD BY MR. BULL'S CHILDREN.
(5) INCLUDES 2,670 SHARES ISSUABLE UPON THE EXERCISE OF STOCK OPTIONS
EXERCISABLE WITHIN 60 DAYS.
(6) INCLUDES 2,670 SHARES ISSUABLE UPON THE EXERCISE OF STOCK OPTIONS
EXERCISABLE WITHIN 60 DAYS, 130 SHARES CURRENTLY OUTSTANDING HELD OF
RECORD BY MR. BORDEN'S CHILDREN AND 130 SHARES ISSUABLE UPON THE
EXERCISE OF WARRANTS HELD OF RECORD BY MR. BORDEN'S CHILDREN.
(7) INCLUDES 1,875 SHARES ISSUABLE UPON THE EXERCISE OF STOCK OPTIONS
EXERCISABLE WITHIN 60 DAYS.
(8) INCLUDES 660 AND 1,875 SHARES ISSUABLE UPON THE EXERCISE OF WARRANTS
AND STOCK OPTIONS EXERCISABLE WITHIN 60 DAYS, RESPECTIVELY. ALSO
INCLUDES 400 SHARES ON WHICH MR. TOENISKOETTER HAS VOTING AND
INVESTMENT POWER IN THE TBI CONSTRUCTION PROFIT SHARING TRUST.
(9) INCLUDES 2,700 SHARES ISSUABLE UPON THE EXERCISE OF STOCK OPTIONS
EXERCISABLE WITHIN 60 DAYS.
(10) INCLUDES 4,592 AND 18,210 SHARES ISSUABLE UPON THE EXERCISE OF WARRANTS
AND STOCK OPTIONS EXERCISABLE WITHIN 60 DAYS, RESPECTIVELY.
5
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following Summary Compensation Table sets forth information
concerning compensation earned in the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995
and for the period from August 19, 1994 (commencement of operations) to
December 31, 1994 by the Company's Chief Executive Officer and its three other
executive officers.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
ANNUAL COMPENSATION AWARDS
DIVIDEND SECURITIES OTHER
EQUIVALENT UNDERLYING COMPEN-
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY ($) BONUS($)(1) RIGHTS(#)(2) OPTIONS (#) SATION($)(3)
--------------------------- ---- ---------- ----------- ------------ ----------- ------------
George E. Bull 1996 $ 169,646 $11,111 2,839 27,100 $ 19,975
Chairman of the Board and 1995 75,408 ----- 590 46,528 7,688
Chief Executive Officer 1994 9,998 ----- ----- 49,445 -----
Douglas B. Hansen 1996 $ 169,646 $11,111 2,839 27,100 $ 19,975
President and Chief 1995 75,408 ----- 590 46,528 7,688
Financial Officer 1994 9,998 ----- ----- 49,444 -----
Frederick H. Borden 1996 $ 169,646 $11,111 1,764 27,100 $ 19,975
Vice Chairman of the 1995 75,408 ----- 367 28,905 7,688
Board and Secretary 1994 9,998 ----- ----- 49,444 -----
Vickie L. Rath 1996 $ 113,097 $28,564 915 14,500 $ 19,380
Vice President, Treasurer 1995 66,217 33,108 190 15,000 6,327
and Controller 1994 16,667 2,083 ----- 16,000 -----
_________________
(1) AMOUNTS STATED INCLUDE BONUS AMOUNTS ACCRUED DURING THE FISCAL YEAR
AND PAID IN THE FOLLOWING JANUARY. A PORTION OF THE 1996 BONUSES ARE
ATTRIBUTABLE TO CASH DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT RIGHTS ("DERS") BASED ON
DIVIDENDS WITH A RECORD DATE AFTER DECEMBER 13, 1996 ON 27,100 SHARES
IN THE CASE OF MESSRS. BULL, HANSEN AND BORDEN AND 14,500 SHARES IN
THE CASE OF MS. RATH. SUBJECT TO CONTINUING SATISFACTION OF THE
INCENTIVE-PERFORMANCE CRITERIA ESTABLISHED FOR SUCH CASH DERS, THE
NAMED OFFICER WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE PAYMENTS THEREUNDER UNTIL THE
RELATED OPTIONS ARE EXERCISED OR TERMINATED.
(2) REPRESENTS THE NUMBER OF SHARES OF STOCK WHICH ARE ACCRUED STOCK DERS
AND ARE ISSUABLE TO HOLDERS UPON THE EXERCISE OF THE RELATED STOCK
OPTIONS.
(3) ANNUAL COMPANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMPANY'S PROFIT SHARING PLAN.
The following table sets forth, for each of the executive officers
named in the Summary Compensation Table above, certain information concerning
stock options granted during the 1996 fiscal year:
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
NUMBER OF % OF TOTAL POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE
SECURITIES OPTIONS EXERCISE AT ASSUMED ANNUAL RATES OF
UNDERLYING GRANTED TO OR STOCK PRICE APPRECIATION
OPTIONS EMPLOYEES BASE EXPIRATIO FOR OPTION TERM
IN PRICE N
NAME GRANTED FISCAL ($/SH) DATE 5% ($) 10% ($)
---- ------- ------ ------ ---- ------ -------
S>
(#) YEAR
--- ----
George E. Bull 27,100 20.64% $ 36.875 12/13/06 $ 628,462 $ 1,592,647
Douglas B. Hansen 27,100 20.64% $ 36.875 12/13/06 628,462 1,592,647
Frederick H. Borden 27,100 20.64% $ 36.875 12/13/06 628,462 1,592,647
Vickie L. Rath 14,500 11.04% $ 36.875 12/13/06 336,262 852,154
All Stockholders as a group 241,166,290 611,162,731
Named Executives' options as
a % of assumed value gained
by all Stockholders 0.92% 0.92%
6
The following table sets forth, for the executive officers named in
the Summary Compensation Table above, certain information regarding the
exercise of stock options during the 1996 fiscal year and the value of options
held at fiscal year end:
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND
FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
NUMBER OF SECURITIES
UNDERLYING VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
UNEXERCISED OPTIONS IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
SHARES ACQUIRED VALUE AT FISCAL YEAR-END AT FISCAL YEAR-END
NAME ON EXERCISE (#) REALIZED ($)(1) (#) ($)(2)
---- ------------ ---------------
EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE
------------------------- -------------------------
George E. Bull 12,361 $329,297 2,670/99,111 $1,001/$1,939,165
Douglas B. Hansen 12,361 $329,297 2,670/99,110 $1,001/$1,939,128
Frederick H. Borden 12,361 $329,297 2,670/80,188 $1,001/$1,555,900
Vickie L. Rath 4,000 $106,600 2,700/35,906 $1,013/$627,813
_________________
(1) THE VALUE REALIZED IS BASED ON THE MARKET VALUE OF UNDERLYING
SECURITIES AT EXERCISE DATE, MINUS THE EXERCISE PRICE.
(2) THE VALUE OF UNEXERCISED OPTIONS IS BASED ON THE MARKET VALUE OF THE
UNDERLYING SECURITIES AT FISCAL YEAR END, MINUS THE EXERCISE PRICE.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
The Company has entered into employment agreements with Messrs. Bull,
Hansen and Borden. Each agreement provides for a term through December 31,
2000 and is automatically extended for an additional year at the end of each
year of the agreement, unless either party provides a prescribed prior written
notice to the contrary. Each agreement provides for an annual base salary and
for participation in any bonus incentive compensation plan. Each agreement
provides for the officer to receive his base salary and bonus compensation to
the date of the termination of employment by reason of death, disability or
resignation and to receive base compensation to the date of the termination of
employment by reason of a termination of employment for cause as defined in the
agreement. Each agreement also provides for the officer to receive, in the
event that the Company terminates the subject officer's employment without
cause, or if the officer resigns for "good reason" (as defined in the
agreement, including the occurrence of a "Change of Control" of the Company as
defined in the agreement), an amount, 50% payable immediately and 50% payable
in monthly installments over the succeeding twelve months, equal to three times
the greater of such officer's combined maximum base salary and actual bonus
compensation, subject in each case to a maximum amount of 1% of the Company's
book equity value (exclusive of valuation adjustments) and a minimum amount of
$250,000. Each agreement also contains a "non-compete" provision prohibiting
the officer from competing with the Company for a period of one year following
termination of employment following the Company's termination of the officer
without cause or resignation of the officer for "good reason" (including a
"Change of Control"). In addition, all outstanding options and Awards granted
to the officer under the Stock Option Plan shall immediately vest upon his
termination without cause or termination for "good reason" (including upon a
"Change of Control"). "Change of Control" for purposes of the agreements would
include a merger or consolidation of the Company, a sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company, changes in the identity of a
majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company (other than
due to the death, disability or age of a director) or acquisitions of more than
9.8% of the combined voting power of the Company's capital stock, subject to
certain limitations. Mr. Bull's agreement also restricts the Company from
entering into a separate management agreement or arrangement, without Mr.
Bull's consent, pursuant to which another entity would perform all or a
substantial portion of Mr. Bull's duties.
The Company has entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Rath on
substantially the same terms as for the executive officers set forth in the
immediately preceding paragraph with the following exceptions: Ms. Rath's
agreement provides for a term through December 31, 1998 and is automatically
extended for an additional year at the end of each year of the agreement unless
either party provides a prescribed prior written notice to the contrary; and
the payment to Ms. Rath in the event the Company terminates her employment
without cause is six months of
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compensation (based on base salary and bonus compensation for the last fiscal
year), calculated and payable as set forth above.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the
Company's directors and executive officers, and holders of more than 10% of the
Company's Common Stock, to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC") initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of
Common Stock and other equity securities of the Company. Such officers,
directors and 10% stockholders are required by SEC regulation to furnish the
Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
Based solely on its review of such forms that it received, or written
representations from reporting persons that no Form 5s were required for such
persons, the Company believes that, during fiscal 1996, all Section 16(a)
filing requirements were satisfied on a timely basis.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The Company's compensation committee is comprised of Thomas F. Farb
and Nello Gonfiantini. The compensation committee establishes the compensation
of the officers of the Company and also administers the Company Stock Option
Plan. None of the compensation committee members or named executive officers
have any relationships which must be disclosed under this caption.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of the
Company's previous or future filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that might
incorporate future filings, including this Proxy Statement, in whole or in
part, the following report and the Performance Graph shall not be incorporated
by reference into any such filings.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors, which
is comprised exclusively of Independent Directors, administers the Company's
executive compensation program. All issues pertaining to executive
compensation are reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee.
The Compensation Committee believes that executive compensation should
reward sustained earnings and long-term value created for shareholders and
reflect the business strategies and long-range plans of the Company. The
guiding principles in regards to compensation are (i) to attract key high
caliber executives; (ii) to provide levels of compensation competitive with
those offered by the Company's competitors; (iii) to motivate executives to
enhance earnings and long-term stockholder value by linking stock performance
(on a total return basis) with long-term incentive compensation; and (iv) to
design a long-term compensation program that leads to management retention.
Executive officer compensation is based on three principal components:
base salary, annual bonus and stock options granted under the Company's Stock
Option Plan. At February 1, 1997 the base salary is $190,104 in the case of
Messrs. Bull, Hansen and Borden, and $126,736 in the case of Ms. Rath. Base
salary is reviewed at least annually by the Compensation Committee. The
salaries will grow with the Consumer Price Index and may be raised at the
discretion of the Compensation Committee. In addition, the Board of Directors
has established a bonus incentive compensation plan for executive officers.
This program permits the Board of Directors, in their discretion, to award cash
bonuses annually to executive officers. Stock option grants are governed by
the overall limitations of the Stock Option Plan. Overall compensation is
intended to be set at a level competitive with the amounts paid to the
management of companies with similar business structure, size and marketplace
orientation, with additional emphasis on professional experience.
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During 1996, the Compensation Committee reviewed the executive
compensation of a variety of financial institutions, finance companies, REITs
and mortgage-related companies. Based on this information, the Compensation
Committee concluded that the base salary, annual bonus and stock options
awarded, taken together as a whole, were at a reasonable level. This
information was one of the factors considered in establishing the 1997
compensation level for executive officers. A more detailed review of the
Company's compensation of executive officers and certain other employees is
currently being conducted.
The Compensation Committee believes that the total compensation
package of executive officers should be linked to such factors as return on
equity and to the total return of the Company's stock, both on an absolute
basis and relative to similar companies, and to the attainment of planned
objectives established at the beginning of the year. The Company uses stock
options, and in some cases related DERs, to align the long-range interest of
its executive officers with the interests of shareholders. The amount of stock
options and DERs that are granted to executive officers is determined by the
Compensation Committee taking into consideration the officer's position with
the Company, overall individual performance, the Company's performance and an
estimate of the long-term value of the award considering current base salary
and any cash bonus awarded.
The Compensation Committee applies the foregoing principles and
policies in determining the compensation of Mr. George E. Bull, the Company's
Chief Executive Officer. During fiscal 1996 Mr. Bull received a salary of
$169,646 and a cash DER bonus of $11,111. The Committee believes that Mr.
Bull, as Chief Executive Officer, significantly and directly influences the
Company's overall performance. Accordingly, based of the performance of the
Company in fiscal 1996, the Committee granted stock options for 27,100 shares
of the Company's Common Stock to Mr. Bull in December 1996.
The Compensation Committee will monitor the effects of its
compensation programs with regard to Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m). A
substantial portion of the compensation program will be exempt from the
$1,000,000 deduction limitation. The Company will continue to evaluate
alternatives to ensure executive compensation is reasonable, performance-based
and consistent with the Company's overall compensation objectives. The
Compensation Committee reserves the right to design programs that recognize a
full range of performance criteria important to the Company's success, even
where compensation payable under such programs may not be deductible.
Compensation Committee
Thomas F. Farb
Nello Gonfiantini
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PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph presents a total return comparison of the Company's
Common Stock, since the Company's initial public offering on August 4, 1995
through December 31, 1996, to the S&P Composite-500 Stock Index and the National
Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, Inc. ('NAREIT') Mortgage REIT
Index. The total returns reflect stock price appreciation and the value of
dividends for the Company's Common Stock and for each of the comparative
indices. The information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable,
but neither its accuracy nor its completeness is guaranteed. The total return
performance shown on the graph is not necessarily indicative of future total
return performance of the Company's Common Stock.
TOTAL RETURN COMPARISON SINCE THE COMPANY'S INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 1996
MEASUREMENT PERIOD REDWOOD TRUST, S&P COMPOSITE- 500 NAREIT MORTGAGE
(FISCAL YEAR COVERED) INC. INDEX REIT INDEX
8/4/95 100.00 100.00 100.00
12/31/95 120.58 111.53 118.80
12/31/96 261.77 135.83 179.22
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ITEM 2 - RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Board of Directors has selected the accounting firm of Coopers &
Lybrand, L.L.P. to audit the Company's financial statements for, and otherwise
act as the Company's independent certified public accountants with respect to,
the year ended December 31, 1997. The Board of Directors' selection of Coopers
& Lybrand, L.L.P. for the current fiscal year is being presented to
shareholders for ratification at the Annual Meeting. To the Company's
knowledge, neither Coopers & Lybrand, L.L.P. nor any of its partners has any
direct financial interest or any material indirect financial interest in the
Company, or has had any connection since the inception of the Company in the
capacity of promoter, underwriter, voting trustee, director, officer or
employee. A representative of Coopers & Lybrand, L.L.P. will be present at the
Annual Meeting.
OTHER BUSINESS
The Board of Directors knows of no other matters which may be
presented for stockholder action at the meeting. However, if other matters do
properly come before the meeting, it is intended that the persons named in the
proxies will vote upon them in accordance with their best judgment.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS - 1998 ANNUAL MEETING
Stockholders are entitled to present proposals for action at a
forthcoming stockholders' meeting if they comply with the requirements of the
proxy rules and the Company's Bylaws. Any proposals intended to be presented
at the 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company must be received at a
Company's offices on or before December 5, 1997 in order to be considered for
inclusion in the Company's proxy statement and form of proxy relating to such
meeting.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
/s/ Frederick H. Borden
--------------------------------------
Frederick H. Borden
Secretary
Mill Valley, California
April 9, 1997
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