Current Report Filing (8-k)
July 01 2019 - 7:21AM
Edgar (US Regulatory)
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
June 28, 2019
Date of Report (Date of earliest event
reported)
Fidelity Southern Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified
in its charter)
Georgia
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001-34981
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58-1416811
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(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
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(Commission
file number)
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(IRS Employer
Identification Number)
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3490 Piedmont Road, Suite 1550
Atlanta, Georgia 30305
(Address of principal executive offices)
(404) 639-6500
(Registrant’s telephone number,
including area code)
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:
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Written communications
pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
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Soliciting material pursuant
to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
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Pre-commencement communications
pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
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Pre-commencement communications
pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange
Act:
Title of each class
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Trading Symbol(s)
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Name of each exchange on which registered
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Common Stock, no par value per share
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LION
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NASDAQ
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Indicate by check mark whether the
registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter)
or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging
growth company
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If an emerging growth company, indicate
by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial
accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
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Introductory Note
This Current Report on Form 8-K (this “Report”)
is being filed in connection with the consummation on July 1, 2019 of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of
Merger, dated as of December 17, 2018 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and between Fidelity Southern Corporation, a Georgia
corporation (“Fidelity”), and Ameris Bancorp, a Georgia corporation (“Ameris”), including the merger of
Fidelity with and into Ameris (the “Merger”), with Ameris surviving the Merger.
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Item 2.01
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Completion of an Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.
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The information set forth in the Introductory Note and Item
3.01 of this Report is incorporated herein by reference.
On July 1, 2019, pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement,
Fidelity merged with and into Ameris, with Ameris surviving the Merger. Immediately following the Merger, Fidelity’s wholly
owned bank subsidiary, Fidelity Bank, merged with and into Ameris’s wholly owned bank subsidiary, Ameris Bank (the “Bank
Merger”), with Ameris Bank surviving the Bank Merger.
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, at the effective
time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), each share of common stock, no par value per share, of Fidelity (“Fidelity
Common Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (except for shares that were by held by Fidelity
as treasury shares or by Ameris or any wholly owned subsidiary of Ameris or Fidelity immediately prior to the Effective Time, subject
to certain customary exceptions, which were cancelled in the Merger) was converted into the right to receive 0.80 shares (the “Exchange
Ratio”) of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of Ameris (“Ameris Common Stock”). No fractional shares of
Ameris Common Stock were issued in the Merger, and Fidelity’s shareholders became entitled to receive cash in lieu of fractional
shares.
Further, pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, at the
Effective Time, (i) each outstanding Fidelity restricted stock award fully vested and was cancelled and converted into the right
to receive 0.80 shares of Ameris Common Stock for each share of Fidelity Common Stock underlying such award and (ii) each outstanding
Fidelity stock option fully vested and was converted automatically into an option to purchase shares of Ameris Common Stock, with
the number of underlying shares and per share exercise price of such option adjusted to reflect the Exchange Ratio.
The foregoing description of the Merger and the Merger Agreement
is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement, a copy of which is attached
to this Report as Exhibit 2.1 and is incorporated into this Report by reference.
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Item 3.01
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Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.
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On July 1, 2019, Fidelity notified the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”)
that the Merger had been completed and requested that NASDAQ (i) suspend trading of the Fidelity Common Stock on NASDAQ effective
as of July 1, 2019, (ii) withdraw the Fidelity Common Stock from listing on NASDAQ and (iii) file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “SEC”) a notification of delisting and deregistration of the Fidelity Common Stock under Section 12(b)
of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
Additionally, Fidelity intends to file with the SEC certifications
on Form 15 under the Exchange Act requesting the deregistration of the Fidelity Common Stock and the suspension of Fidelity’s
reporting obligations under Section 13 and Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act as promptly as practicable.
The information set forth under Item 2.01 of this Report is
incorporated by reference into this Item 3.01.
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Item 3.03
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Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.
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At the Effective Time, shareholders of Fidelity immediately
prior to the completion of the Merger ceased to have any rights as shareholders of Fidelity other than the right to receive the
merger consideration in accordance with the Merger Agreement.
The information set forth in the Introductory Note, Item 2.01
and Item 3.01 of this Report is incorporated herein by reference.
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Item 5.01
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Changes in Control of Registrant.
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The information set forth in the Introductory Note, Item 2.01
and Item 3.01 of this Report is incorporated herein by reference.
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Item 5.02
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Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements
of Certain Officers.
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On July 1, 2019, effective upon the consummation of the Merger,
Fidelity’s directors and executive officers ceased serving in such capacities.
On June 28, 2019, Fidelity approved amendments to the agreements
governing stock option awards that are held by its employees (including the named executive officers) and non-employee directors.
The amendments applicable to employees provide that, if the holder’s employment is terminated without cause, due to death
or disability or for good reason (provided that good reason protections were included in the award agreement prior to amendment)
following the Effective Time, the holder will be entitled to exercise his or her vested options until the earlier of (a) the second
anniversary of the date of termination (or any longer period specified in the plan or agreement governing such option) and (b)
the original expiration date of such option to the same extent as if the holder had remained employed for the full term thereof.
The amendments applicable to non-employee directors provide that, following the holder’s separation from service, the holder
will be entitled to exercise his or her vested options until the original expiration date of such option to the same extent as
if the holder had continued providing services for the full term thereof.
On July 1, 2019, Ameris issued a press release announcing the
completion of the Merger, a copy of which is attached to this Report as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated into this Report by reference.
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Item 9.01
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Financial Statements and Exhibits.
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(d) Exhibits.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
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AMERIS BANCORP
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By:
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/s/ Nicole S. Stokes
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Nicole S. Stokes
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Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
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Date: July 1, 2019
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