REPUBLIC <RSLA> TO MERGE WITH PIONEER SAVINGS Republic Savings and Loan Association and <Pioneer Savings> of Racine, Wis., said they have signed a definitive agreement to combine the two associations into a publicly held holding company to be called Republic Capital Group Inc. The associations said they would form the company by exchanging Republic's stock for shares in the holding company, which Pioneer savers could purchase when Pioneer converts from mutual to stock ownership. The associations added that they would remain independent, but wholly owned, units of the holding company. The associations said they would continue to do business using their present names and management. The combination of Republic's 459 mln dlrs in assets with Pioneer's 125 mln dlrs would make the new holding company the fifth largest savings and loan organization in Wisconsin, they said. The associations said the move is subject to approval by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board and the Wisconsin Commissioner of Savings and Loan, as well as Republic's shareholders and Pioneer's depositors.