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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 (AMENDMENT NO. )
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|X| Soliciting Material Pursuant to ss.240.14a-12
First Financial Bancorp
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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August 19, 2004
To Our Valued Shareholder:
Recently three disgruntled dissident directors mailed a letter once again
attacking the Board and executive management. CONSIDERING THE SIGNIFICANT
PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE THIS YEAR, IT IS MOST UNFORTUNATE THAT THESE DISSIDENTS
FIND IT NECESSARY TO SEND SHAREHOLDERS YET ANOTHER ACCUSATORY LETTER, CONTAINING
FALSE AND MISLEADING STATEMENTS.
It is clear to us that they sent you this letter in an attempt to undermine the
financial credibility of the Bank, and the integrity of management and the
remainder of the Board. THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO DISTRACT YOU FROM THE REAL ISSUE
- - THE FINANCIAL PROGRESS OF BANK OF LODI. We are successfully implementing a
strategic business plan that is working and should benefit all shareholders.
FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP EARNED MORE MONEY DURING THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS
YEAR THAN ALL OF 2003! THIS IS INDEED PROGRESS!
We are disturbed that these dissidents continue to engage in activities that we
believe are in violation of the U.S. securities laws, and in breach of their
fiduciary responsibilities as directors. Their actions undermine the Bank on
numerous levels, but here are the facts:
o Consistent with California law, the Board identified two uniquely
qualified and independent persons for appointment to the Company's Board
for the EXPRESS PURPOSE OF FORMING A SPECIAL LITIGATION COMMITTEE TO
INDEPENDENTLY DETERMINE WHAT ACTION THE COMPANY SHOULD TAKE ON THE
PENDING LITIGATION. Judge William Giffen and Paul Gross are highly
respected and we feel fortunate to have them join us. They were
appointed to the Company's Board of Directors and to the Special
Litigation Committee for this limited purpose and, once their Committee
work is complete, WILL NOT BE RENOMINATED AT THIS YEAR'S ANNUAL MEETING.
Also, the need for their expertise and the narrow scope of their duties
fully justified a waiver from compliance with some of the Board
qualifications designed for longer-term service.
o THE NUMBERS TRULY SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. Your Bank increased its net
income by 78% for the first six months of the year, and by 89% for the
second quarter, over the same periods last year. These are significant
improvements! As a public company, we can't make these numbers up; they
were reviewed by our auditors, KPMG. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING NEW
ABOUT THE WAY WE REPORTED OUR QUARTERLY RESULTS, THEY ARE CONSISTENT
WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, AND WE STAND BY OUR VIEW THAT THE NUMBERS
REPRESENT REMARKABLE PROGRESS!
We believe the actions taken by this dissident group are very disruptive to the
Bank and not in the best interests of shareholders. WE ARE COMMITTED TO CARRYING
OUT OUR FIDUCIARY DUTY OF PROTECTING THE RIGHTS AND INTERESTS OF ALL OF OUR
SHAREHOLDERS AND WILL TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO FULFILL THAT OBLIGATION. We
have reported the dissident's securities laws violations to the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
We have confidence in our strategic business plan and believe in its success. We
intend to continue to meet the milestones set out in the plan.
We will send you First Financial's proxy statement for our upcoming shareholders
meeting in the near future. We urge you to read this document because it
contains important information. Also, you will be able to obtain the proxy
statement and other documents filed by First Financial with the SEC free of
charge at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. These documents will also be
available free of charge from Allen R. Christenson, Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer, First Financial Bancorp, 701 South Ham Lane, Lodi,
California 95242 and on the Company's website at http://www.bankoflodi.com.
Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
/s/ BENJAMIN R. GOEHRING /s/ LEON ZIMMERMAN
________________________ _____________________
Benjamin R. Goehring Leon Zimmerman
Chairman of the Board President and CEO