STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Equity [Abstract]

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Preferred Stock

As of December 31, 2015, the Company had 100,000,000 shares authorized and 250,000 shares outstanding of $25.00 par value undesignated preferred stock. The Board of Directors or any authorized committee thereof are authorized to provide for the issuance of these shares in one or more series, and by filing a certificate pursuant to applicable law of the State of Delaware, to establish or change from time to time the number of shares of each such series, and to fix the designations, powers, including voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, preferences and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of the shares of each series and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof. There were no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2014.

On April 6, 2015, the Company issued $250 million, or 250,000 shares, of 5.500% fixed-to-floating rate non-cumulative perpetual Series A Preferred Stock, par value of $25.00 per share with a liquidation preference $1,000 per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) to the initial purchasers in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section (4)(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for resale pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. As a result of this issuance, the Company received net proceeds of $247 million after underwriting discount.

The Series A Preferred Stock has no stated maturity and is not subject to any sinking fund or other obligation of the Company. Holders of the Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive dividend payments when, and if, declared by the Company’s Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof. Any such dividends will be payable on a semi-annual basis at an annual rate equal to 5.500%. On April 6, 2020, the Series A Preferred Stock converts to a quarterly floating-rate basis equal to three-month U.S. dollar LIBOR on the related dividend determination date plus 3.960%.

Citizens may redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part on any dividend payment date, on or after April 6, 2020 or, in whole but not in part, at any time within 90 days following a regulatory capital treatment event at a redemption price equal to $1,000 per share, plus any declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends. Citizens may not redeem shares of the Series A Preferred Stock without obtaining the prior approval of the FRBG if then required under applicable capital guidelines.

Shares of the Series A Preferred Stock have priority over the Company's common stock with regard to the payment of dividends and, as such, the Company may not pay dividends on or repurchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of its common stock unless dividends for the Series A Preferred Stock have been declared for that period and sufficient funds have been set aside to make payment.

Except in certain limited circumstances, the Series A Preferred Stock does not have any voting rights.

Treasury Stock

On August 3, 2015, CFG used the net proceeds of its public offering of $250 million aggregate principal amount 4.350% Subordinated Notes due 2025 issued on July 31, 2015, to repurchase 9,615,384 shares of its outstanding common stock directly from RBS at a public offering price of $26.00 per share. The repurchased shares are held in treasury.

On April 7, 2015, the Company used the net proceeds of the Series A Preferred Stock offering to repurchase 10,473,397 shares of its common stock from RBS at a total cost of approximately $250 million and a price per share of $23.87, which equaled the volume-weighted average price of the Company’s common stock for all traded volume over the five trading days preceding the repurchase agreement date of April 1, 2015. The repurchased shares are held in treasury.

During the year endedDecember 31, 2015, the Company recorded an additional 876,087 shares of treasury stock associated with share-based compensation plan activity for a total cost of $22 million at a weighted-average price per share of $25.50.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company recorded an additional 80,358 shares of common stock associated with share-based compensation plan activity for a total cost of $2 million at an average price per share of $25.03.

On October 8, 2014, Citizens executed a capital exchange transaction which involved the issuance of $334 million of 10-year Subordinated Notes to RBS at a rate of 4.082% and the simultaneous repurchase of 14,297,761 shares of common stock owned by RBS for a total cost of $334 million and an average price per share of $23.36. The purchase price per share was the average of the daily volume-weighted average price of a share of our common stock as reported by the New York Stock Exchange over the five trading days preceding the purchase date.