FDEF First Defiance Financial Corporation

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 21, 2014

 

FIRST DEFIANCE FINANCIAL CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

OHIO		0-26850		34-1803915
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(Commission File No.)		(IRS Employer I.D. No.)

 

601 Clinton Street, Defiance, Ohio 43512

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (419) 782-5015

 

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

Section 5 – Corporate Governance and Management.

 

Item 5.02

Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.

 

On July 21, 2014, the Board of Directors of First Defiance Financial Corp. (“FDEF”) elected Charles D. Niehaus to the Board of Directors to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Thomas A. Voigt. Mr. Niehaus will serve will serve on the Board until FDEF’s annual meeting of shareholders in 2017, and until his successor is duly elected and qualified.

 

Mr. Niehaus has been appointed to the Corporate Governance Committee of FDEF. A copy of the press release announcing his election is attached as Exhibit 99.1.

 

Section 9 – Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)

Exhibits.

 

	Exhibit Number		Description
	99.1		Press Release dated July 22, 2014

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

	FIRST DEFIANCE FINANCIAL CORP.
	By:	/s/ Kevin T. Thompson
		Kevin T. Thompson
		Chief Financial Officer

 

Date: July 24, 2014

 

 

	NEWS RELEASE
	Contact:	Donald P. Hileman
		President and CEO
		(419) 782-5104
		dhileman@first-fed.com

 

 

For Immediate Release

Exhibit 99.1

 

FIRST DEFIANCE FINANCIAL CORP. ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT

OF CHARLES D. NIEHAUS TO ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

DEFIANCE, OHIO (July 22, 2014) – First Defiance Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: FDEF), the holding company for First Federal Bank of the Midwest and First Insurance Group, today announced that Charles D. Niehaus has been appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors and First Federal Bank Board of Directors, effective as of July 21, 2014, filling the seat left vacant by the retirement of Thomas A. Voigt. Currently, Niehaus is Managing Partner at Niehaus & Associates, Ltd., Toledo, Ohio. Niehaus has represented corporate and business clients for over twenty years on a wide range of business issues including the representation of financial institutions in formation, acquisitions, shareholder matters, commercial lending, bank litigation and regulatory compliance.

 

“We are delighted to have Mr. Niehaus join our Board,” said William J. Small, Chairman of the Board of First Defiance. “He brings extensive experience in the legal and financial services areas and will undoubtedly provide valuable guidance and insight with respect to our strategy and compliance.”

 

Niehaus is a member of the Toledo Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association, and American Bar Association. He received his Juris Doctorate from The University of Toledo Law School and Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Lawrence Technological University.

 

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About First Defiance Financial Corp.

First Defiance Financial Corp., headquartered in Defiance, Ohio, is the holding company for First Federal Bank of the Midwest and First Insurance Group. First Federal operates 32 full service branches and 42 ATM locations in northwest Ohio, southeast Michigan and northeast Indiana. First Insurance Group is a full-service insurance agency with five offices throughout northwest Ohio.

 

For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.fdef.com.