| Item 1.01 |
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement |
On March 9, 2022, Amerant Bancorp Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a Subordinated Note Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Amerant Florida Bancorp Inc. (the “Guarantor”), and qualified institutional buyers (the “Purchasers”), pursuant to which the Company sold and issued $30 million aggregate principal amount of its 4.25% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2032 (the “Notes”). The Notes have a stated maturity of March 15, 2032 and were sold and issued by the Company to the Purchasers at a price equal to 100% of their face amount. The Purchase Agreement contains certain customary representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Company and of the Purchasers (severally but not jointly).
The Notes will initially bear interest at a fixed rate of 4.25% per annum, from and including March 9, 2022, to but excluding March 15, 2027, with interest payable semi-annually in arrears. From and including March 15, 2027, to but excluding the stated maturity date or early redemption date, the interest rate will reset quarterly to an annual floating rate equal to the then-current benchmark rate, which will initially be the three-month Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) plus 251 basis points, with interest during such period payable quarterly in arrears. If three-month SOFR cannot be determined during the applicable floating rate period, a different index will be determined and used in accordance with the terms of the Notes.
The Notes were issued under an Indenture, dated March 9, 2022 (the “Indenture”), by and between the Company, the Guarantor and UMB Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The Notes are not subject to any sinking fund and are not convertible into or exchangeable (except pursuant to the Exchange Offer described below) 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 holders thereof. Prior to March 15, 2027, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole but not in part, only under certain limited circumstances as set forth in the Indenture. On or after March 15, 2027, the Company may, at its option, redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, on any interest payment date, subject to the receipt of any required regulatory approvals. In the case of Notes represented by a global note, any partial redemptions will be processed through the Depository Trust Issuer Corporation, in accordance with its rules and procedures, as a Pro Rata Pass-Through Distribution of Principal. Any redemption by the Company would be at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to but excluding the date of redemption.
The principal and interest on the Notes are subject to acceleration only in limited circumstances in the case of certain bankruptcy and insolvency-related events with respect to the Company. The Notes are unsecured, subordinated obligations of the Company and rank junior in right of payment to all of the Company’s current and future senior indebtedness. The Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantor (the “Guarantee”). The Notes have been structured to qualify as Tier 2 capital of the Company for regulatory capital purposes.
The Company intends to use the net proceeds of this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital, providing capital to support the organic growth of the Company’s main subsidiary, Amerant Bank, N.A., funding the opportunistic acquisition of similar or complementary financial service organizations and repaying outstanding indebtedness.
The Notes were offered and sold by the Company in a private placement offering transaction in reliance on exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506(b) of Regulation D under the Securities Act. In connection with the sale and issuance of the Notes, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement, pursuant to which 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 will have substantially the same terms.
The foregoing summaries of the Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantee
do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by, the full text of the forms thereof, which are filed as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2, 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.