Item 1. Security and Issuer.
The class of equity securities to which this statement relates is the Common Stock, no par value (the "Shares"), of American River Bankshares (the "Issuer"), a company incorporated in California, with its principal office at 3100 Zinfandel Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670.
Item 2. Identity and Background.
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(a), (f)
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The persons filing this statement are Maltese Capital Management LLC, a New York limited liability company ("MCM"), Maltese Capital Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Holdings"), and Terry Maltese, Managing Member of MCM and Holdings and a citizen of the United States of America ("Mr. Maltese"), with respect to Shares that each of the foregoing may be deemed to have a beneficial ownership. The foregoing persons are hereinafter sometimes referred to collectively as the "Reporting Persons".
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(b)
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The address of the principal offices of Holdings and MCM and the business address of Mr. Maltese is Maltese Capital Management LLC, 150 East 52
nd
Street, 30th
th
Floor, New York, New York 10022.
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(c)
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The principal occupation of Mr. Maltese is serving as Managing Member of MCM and Holdings. The principal business of MCM is that of providing administrative and investment management services to certain investment entities in its capacity as an investment advisor. The principal business of Holdings is that of acting as general partner for certain partnerships.
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(d), (e)
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None of the Reporting Persons have, during the last five years, (a) been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or (b) been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and, as a result of such proceeding, was or is subject to a judgment, decree, or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting, or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or a finding of any violation with respect to such laws.
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Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds.
The funds for the purchase of the 440,709 Shares beneficially owned by MCM came from the working capital of certain private investment funds that MCM manages. No borrowed funds were used to purchase such Shares, other than any borrowed funds used for working capital purposes (including certain leverage arrangements) in the ordinary course of business. The net investment cost (including commissions, if any) of the Shares beneficially owned by MCM was $2,933,716.36.
The funds for the purchase of the 314,863 Shares beneficially owned by Holdings came from the working capital of certain private investment funds for which it serves as the sole general partner. No borrowed funds were used to purchase such Shares, other than any borrowed funds used for working capital purposes (including certain leverage arrangements) in the ordinary course of business. The net investment cost (including commissions, if any) of the Shares beneficially owned by Holdings was $2,017,182.49.
The funds for the purchase of the 440,709 shares beneficially owned by Mr. Maltese, as a result of Mr. Maltese being the control person of MCM and Holdings, came from the working capital of certain private investment funds for which MCM manages and certain private investment funds for which Holdings serves as the general partner. No borrowed funds were used to purchase such Shares, other than any borrowed funds used for working capital purposes (including certain leverage arrangements) in the ordinary course of business. The net investment cost (including commissions, if any) of the Shares beneficially owned by Mr. Maltese was $2,933,716.36.
Page 5 of 10 Pages
Item 4. Purpose of Transaction.
The Shares held by the Reporting Persons were acquired for, and are being held for, investment purposes. As such, in the ordinary course of their business, the Reporting Persons intend to review their investment in the Issuer on a continuing basis and may engage in discussions with management, the board of directors, other shareholders of the Issuer and other relevant parties concerning the business, operations, management, governance, strategy and future plans of the Issuer. Depending on various factors including, without limitation, the Issuer's financial position and strategic direction, the outcome of the discussions and actions referenced above, actions taken by the board of directors, price levels of the Shares, other investment opportunities available to the Reporting Persons, conditions in the securities market and general economic and industry conditions, the Reporting Persons may in the future take such actions with respect to their investment in the Issuer as they deem appropriate including, without limitation, purchasing additional Shares or selling some or all of their Shares, engaging in short selling of or any hedging or similar transactions with respect to the Shares, voting for or against and expressing support for or against the proposals of the board of directors of the Issuer or other shareholders of the Issuer and/or otherwise changing their intention with respect to any and all matters referred to in Item 4 of Schedule 13D.
Except as otherwise set forth herein, the Reporting Persons do not have any present plans or proposals which would relate to, or result in, the matters set forth in subparagraphs (a) – (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D.
Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer.
(a)-(b) Based upon an aggregate of 6,679,909 Shares outstanding, as determined by the Issuer's most recently available Form 10-K, as of the close of business on February 22, 2017:
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(i)
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MCM owned directly no shares of Common Stock. By reason of its position as investment advisor, MCM may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of 440,709 Shares, constituting approximately 6.60% of the Shares outstanding. MCM does not have the sole power to vote or direct the vote of any Shares. MCM has the shared power to vote or direct the vote of 440,709 Shares. MCM does not have the sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of any Shares. MCM has the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of 440,709 Shares.
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(ii)
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Holdings owned directly no shares of Common Stock. By reason of its position as general partner of certain private investment funds, Holdings may be deemed to beneficially own 314,863 Shares, constituting approximately 4.71% of the Shares outstanding. Holdings does not have the sole power to vote or direct the vote of any Shares. Holdings has the shared power to vote or direct the vote of 314,863 Shares. Holdings does not have the sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of any Shares. Holdings has the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of 314,863 Shares.
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(iii)
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Mr. Maltese directly owned no shares of Common Stock. By reason of his position as Managing Member of MCM and Holdings, Mr. Maltese may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of 440,709 shares, constituting approximately 6.60% of the Shares outstanding. Mr. Maltese does not have the sole power to vote or direct the vote of any Shares. Mr. Maltese has the shared power to vote or direct the vote of 440,709 Shares. Mr. Maltese does not have the sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of any Shares. Mr. Maltese has the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of 440,709 Shares.
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(c)
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The transactions by the Reporting Persons in the securities of the Issuer during the past sixty days are set forth in Exhibit B.
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(e)
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Holdings ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the Shares outstanding as of March 13, 2017.
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Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer.
The Reporting Persons are parties to an agreement with respect to the joint filing of this Schedule 13D and any amendments thereto. A copy of such agreement is attached as Exhibit A and is incorporated by reference herein.
Other than the joint filing agreement filed as an exhibit hereto, there are no contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships among the persons named in Item 2 or between such persons and any other person with respect to any securities of the Issuer.
Item 7. Material to be Filed as Exhibits.
Exhibit A: Written Agreement relating to the filing of joint acquisition statements as required by Rule 13d-1(f)(1) of the Securities and Exchange Commission
Exhibit B: Schedule of Transactions in Shares by the Reporting Persons
Page 7 of 10 Pages
SIGNATURES
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Dated: March 30, 2017
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Maltese Capital Management LLC
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Terry Maltese
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By:
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/s/ Terry Maltese
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By:
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/s/ Terry Maltese
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Terry Maltese
Managing Member
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Terry Maltese
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Maltese Capital Holdings, LLC
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By:
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/s/ Terry Maltese
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Terry Maltese
Managing Member
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*Each Reporting Person specifically disclaims the beneficial ownership in the Shares reported herein except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein.
Page 8 of 10 Pages
EXHIBIT A
JOINT ACQUISITION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-1(f)(1)
The undersigned acknowledge and agree that the foregoing statement on Schedule 13D is filed on behalf of each of the undersigned and that all subsequent amendments to this statement on Schedule 13D shall be filed on behalf of each of the undersigned without the necessity of filing additional joint acquisition statements. The undersigned acknowledge that each shall be responsible for the timely filing of such amendments, and for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning it contained herein, but shall not be responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning the other, except to the extent that it knows or has reason to believe that such information is inaccurate.
Dated: March 30, 2017
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Maltese Capital Management LLC
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Terry Maltese
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By:
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/s/ Terry Maltese
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By:
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/s/ Terry Maltese
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Terry Maltese
Managing Member
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Terry Maltese
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Maltese Capital Holdings, LLC
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By:
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/s/ Terry Maltese
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Terry Maltese
Managing Member
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EXHIBIT B
SCHEDULE OF TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES BY THE REPORTING PERSONS
Schedule of Transactions in Shares by MCM on behalf of private funds for which MCM or an affiliate of MCM acts as an investment advisor:
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Date of Transaction
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Title of Class
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Number of Shares Acquired
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Number of Shares Disposed
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Price Per Share
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02/16/17
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Common Stock
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N/A
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(700)
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15.3000
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02/17/17
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Common Stock
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N/A
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(100)
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15.3000
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02/21/17
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Common Stock
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N/A
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(1,400)
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15.3029
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02/22/17
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Common Stock
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N/A
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(2,700)
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15.3000
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03/01/17
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Common Stock
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N/A
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(28,400)
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14.9500
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03/13/17
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Common Stock
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N/A
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(40,000)
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15.0000
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