Item 1.01. Entry into a Definitive Material Agreement.
On September 30, 2019, Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into Subordinated Note Purchase Agreements (collectively, the “Purchase Agreement”) with certain qualified institutional buyers and accredited investors (the “Purchasers”) pursuant to which the Company sold and issued $23.0 million in aggregate principal amount of its 4.75% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”). The Notes were offered and sold by the Company to eligible purchasers in a private offering in reliance on the exemption from the registration requirements of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and the provisions of Regulation D promulgated thereunder (the “Private Placement”). The Company intends to use the proceeds from the offering, which are anticipated to be $22.5 million after deducting estimated expenses, for general corporate purposes, including providing capital to Southern First Bank (the “Bank”) and supporting organic growth.
The Notes have a ten-year term and, from and including the date of issuance to but excluding September 30, 2024, will bear interest at a fixed annual rate of 4.75%, payable semi-annually in arrears, for the first five years of the term. From and including September 30, 2024 to but excluding the maturity date or early redemption date, the interest rate shall reset quarterly to an interest rate per annum equal to a benchmark rate (which is expected to be Three-Month Term SOFR) plus 340.8 basis points, payable quarterly in arrears. As provided in the Notes, the interest rate on the Notes during the applicable floating rate period may be determined based on a rate other than Three-Month Term SOFR.
The Notes are redeemable, in whole or in part, on September 30, 2024, on any interest payment date thereafter, and at any time upon the occurrence of certain events. The Purchase Agreement contains certain customary representations, warranties and covenants made by the Company, on the one hand, and the Purchasers, severally and not jointly, on the other hand.
On September 30, 2019, in connection with the sale and issuance of the Notes, the Company entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with the Purchasers. Under the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company has agreed to take certain actions to provide for the exchange of the Notes for subordinated notes that are registered under the Securities Act and have substantially the same terms as the Notes (the “Exchange Notes”). Under certain circumstances, if the Company fails to meet its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, it would be required to pay additional interest to the holders of the Notes.
The Notes were issued under an Indenture, dated September 30, 2019 (the “Indenture”), by and between the Company and UMB Bank, National Association, as trustee. The Notes are not subject to any sinking fund and are not convertible into or, other than with respect to the Exchange Notes, exchangeable for any other securities or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The Notes are not subject to redemption at the option of the holder. The Notes are unsecured, subordinated obligations of the Company only and are not obligations of, and are not guaranteed by, any subsidiary of the Company. The Notes rank junior in right to payment to the Company’s current and future senior indebtedness. The Notes are intended to qualify as Tier 2 capital for regulatory capital purposes for the Company.
The form of Purchase Agreement, the form of Registration Rights Agreement, the Indenture and the form of Note are attached as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2, 4.1 and 4.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing descriptions of the Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes are summaries and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the relevant Exhibits to this Current Report on Form 8-K.