SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
MidSouth Bancorp, Inc.
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, Par Value $0.10
(Title of Class of Securities)
598039105
(CUSIP Number)
Matthew Lindenbaum
Basswood Capital Management, L.L.C.
645 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10022
(212) 521-9500
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
(with copies to)
Michael E. Brandt, Esq.
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019
(212) 728-8000
April 30, 2019
(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box: ☒
Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.
* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).
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CUSIP No. 598039105 | Page 2 of 19 Pages | |||||
1 | NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Basswood Capital Management, L.L.C. | |||||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP | (a) ☐ (b) ☒ | ||||
3 | SEC USE ONLY | |||||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS AF | |||||
5 | CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) ☐ | |||||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware | |||||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER 0 | ||||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER 1,641,562 (see Item 5) | |||||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 | |||||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,641,562 (see Item 5) | |||||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,641,562 (see Item 5) | |||||
12 | CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) ☐ | |||||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 9.82% | |||||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) IA |
2
CUSIP No. 598039105 | Page 3 of 19 Pages | |||||
1 | NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Basswood Partners, L.L.C. | |||||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP | (a) ☐ (b) ☒ | ||||
3 | SEC USE ONLY | |||||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS AF | |||||
5 | CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) ☐ | |||||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware | |||||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER 0 | ||||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER 456,831 (see Item 5) | |||||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 | |||||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 456,831 (see Item 5) | |||||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 456,831 (see Item 5) | |||||
12 | CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) ☐ | |||||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 2.73% | |||||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) OO |
3
CUSIP No. 598039105 | Page 4 of 19 Pages | |||||
1 | NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Basswood Enhanced Long Short GP, LLC | |||||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP | (a) ☐ (b) ☒ | ||||
3 | SEC USE ONLY | |||||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS AF | |||||
5 | CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) ☐ | |||||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware | |||||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER 0 | ||||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER 403,749 (see Item 5) | |||||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 | |||||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 403,749 (see Item 5) | |||||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 403,749 (see Item 5) | |||||
12 | CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) ☐ | |||||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 2.42% | |||||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) OO |
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CUSIP No. 598039105 | Page 5 of 19 Pages | |||||
1 | NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Basswood Financial Fund, LP | |||||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP | (a) ☐ (b) ☒ | ||||
3 | SEC USE ONLY | |||||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS WC | |||||
5 | CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) ☐ | |||||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware | |||||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER 0 | ||||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER 125,828 (see Item 5) | |||||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 | |||||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 125,828 (see Item 5) | |||||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 125,828 (see Item 5) | |||||
12 | CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) ☐ | |||||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 0.75% | |||||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) PN |
5
CUSIP No. 598039105 | Page 6 of 19 Pages | |||||
1 | NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Basswood Financial Fund, Inc. | |||||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP | (a) ☐ (b) ☒ | ||||
3 | SEC USE ONLY | |||||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS WC | |||||
5 | CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) ☐ | |||||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Cayman Islands | |||||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER 0 | ||||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER 21,553 (see Item 5) | |||||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 | |||||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 21,553 (see Item 5) | |||||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 21,553 (see Item 5) | |||||
12 | CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) ☐ | |||||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 0.13% | |||||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) CO |
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CUSIP No. 598039105 | Page 7 of 19 Pages | |||||
1 | NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Basswood Financial Long Only Fund, LP | |||||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP | (a) ☐ (b) ☒ | ||||
3 | SEC USE ONLY | |||||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS WC | |||||
5 | CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) ☐ | |||||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware | |||||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER 0 | ||||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER 42,169 (see Item 5) | |||||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 | |||||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 42,169 (see Item 5) | |||||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 42,169 (see Item 5) | |||||
12 | CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) ☐ | |||||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 0.25% | |||||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) PN |
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CUSIP No. 598039105 | Page 8 of 19 Pages | |||||
1 | NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Basswood Enhanced Long Short Fund, LP | |||||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP | (a) ☐ (b) ☒ | ||||
3 | SEC USE ONLY | |||||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS WC | |||||
5 | CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) ☐ | |||||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware | |||||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER 0 | ||||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER 403,749 (see Item 5) | |||||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 | |||||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 403,749 (see Item 5) | |||||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 403,749 (see Item 5) | |||||
12 | CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) ☐ | |||||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 2.42% | |||||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) PN |
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CUSIP No. 598039105 | Page 9 of 19 Pages | |||||
1 | NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Basswood Opportunity Partners, LP | |||||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP | (a) ☐ (b) ☒ | ||||
3 | SEC USE ONLY | |||||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS WC | |||||
5 | CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) ☐ | |||||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware | |||||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER 0 | ||||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER 288,834 (see Item 5) | |||||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 | |||||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 288,834 (see Item 5) | |||||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 288,834 (see Item 5) | |||||
12 | CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) ☐ | |||||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 1.73% | |||||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) PN |
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CUSIP No. 598039105 | Page 10 of 19 Pages | |||||
1 | NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Basswood Opportunity Fund, Inc. | |||||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP | (a) ☐ (b) ☒ | ||||
3 | SEC USE ONLY | |||||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS WC | |||||
5 | CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) ☐ | |||||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Cayman Islands | |||||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER 0 | ||||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER 41,740 (see Item 5) | |||||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 | |||||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 41,740 (see Item 5) | |||||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 41,740 (see Item 5) | |||||
12 | CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) ☐ | |||||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 0.25% | |||||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) CO |
10
CUSIP No. 598039105 | Page 11 of 19 Pages | |||||
1 | NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Matthew Lindenbaum | |||||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP | (a) ☐ (b) ☒ | ||||
3 | SEC USE ONLY | |||||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS AF | |||||
5 | CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) ☐ | |||||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION United States | |||||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER 0 | ||||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER 1,641,562 (see Item 5) | |||||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 | |||||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,641,562 (see Item 5) | |||||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,641,562 (see Item 5) | |||||
12 | CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) ☐ | |||||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 9.82% | |||||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) IN |
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CUSIP No. 598039105 | Page 12 of 19 Pages | |||||
1 | NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Bennett Lindenbaum | |||||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP | (a) ☐ (b) ☒ | ||||
3 | SEC USE ONLY | |||||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS AF | |||||
5 | CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) ☐ | |||||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION United States | |||||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER 0 | ||||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER 1,641,562(see Item 5) | |||||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 | |||||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,641,562 (see Item 5) | |||||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,641,562 (see Item 5) | |||||
12 | CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) ☐ | |||||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 9.82% | |||||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) IN |
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Item 1. Security and the Issuer
This Schedule 13D relates to the common stock, par value $0.10 per share (the “Common Stock”), of MidSouth Bancorp, Inc., a Louisiana corporation (the “Issuer”), and is being filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The address of the Issuer’s principal executive offices is 102 Versailles Boulevard, Lafayette, Louisiana 70501.
Item 2. Identity and Background
(a) | This Schedule 13D is being filed on behalf of: |
(i) | Basswood Capital Management, L.L.C. (the “Management Company”), Basswood Partners, L.L.C. (“Basswood Partners”), Basswood Enhanced Long Short GP, LLC (“Basswood Long Short GP”), each a Delaware limited liability company; |
(ii) | Basswood Financial Fund, LP, Basswood Enhanced Long Short Fund, LP, Basswood Financial Long Only Fund, LP, Basswood Opportunity Partners, LP (“BOP”), each a Delaware limited partnership, Basswood Financial Fund, Inc., Basswood Opportunity Fund, Inc., each a Cayman Islands corporation (collectively, the “Funds”); and |
(iii) | Matthew Lindenbaum and Bennett Lindenbaum. |
The Funds and certain managed accounts directly own shares of Common Stock. The Management Company is the investment manager or adviser to the Funds and the managed accounts and may be deemed to have beneficial ownership over the Common Stock directly owned by the Funds and managed accounts by virtue of the authority granted to it to vote and to dispose of the securities held by them, including the Common Stock held by them. Basswood Partners is the general partner of each of Basswood Financial Fund, LP, Basswood Opportunity Partners, LP and Basswood Financial Long Only Fund, LP and may be deemed to have beneficial ownership over the Common Stock directly owned by such Funds by virtue of its position as general partner. Basswood Long Short GP is the general partner of Basswood Enhanced Long Short Fund, LP and may be deemed to have beneficial ownership over the Common Stock directly owned by such Fund by virtue of its position as general partner. Matthew Lindenbaum and Bennett Lindenbaum are the managing members of the Management Company and control the business activities of the Management Company. The Management Company, Basswood Partners, Basswood Long Short GP, the Funds, Matthew Lindenbaum and Bennett Lindenbaum may be referred to herein as the “Reporting Persons”.
(b) The address of the principal business and principal office of each of the Reporting Persons is 645 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, New York 10022.
(c) The principal business of the Management Company is to serve as investment manager or adviser to the Funds and the managed accounts, and to control the investing and trading in securities of the Funds and the managed accounts. The principal business of each of Basswood Partners and Basswood Long Short GP is to serve as the general partner to the applicable Funds. The principal business of each of the Funds is investing and trading in securities. The principal business of each of Matthew Lindenbaum and Bennett Lindenbaum is to act as the managing member of each of the Management Company, Basswood Partners and Basswood Long Short GP.
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(d) None of the Reporting Persons, nor, to the best of their knowledge, any of their directors, executive officers, general partners or members has, during the last five years, been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).
(e) None of the Reporting Persons, nor, to the best of their knowledge, any of their directors, executive officers, general partners or members has, during the last five years, 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 finding any violation with respect to such laws.
(f) Each of Matthew Lindenbaum and Bennett Lindenbaum is a citizen of the United States of America.
Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.
The Funds and the managed accounts expended an aggregate of $19,637,403 (excluding commissions, if any) to acquire the shares of Common Stock reported herein as beneficially owned by them. The Funds and the managed accounts effect purchases and hold securities primarily through margin accounts maintained for them with each of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co., and BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage, which may extend margin credit to the Funds and the managed accounts as and when required to open or carry positions in the margin accounts, subject to applicable Federal margin regulations, stock exchange rules and the firms’ credit policies. In such instances, the positions held in the margin accounts are pledged as collateral security for the repayment of debit balances in the accounts. Certain managed accounts hold securities in custody accounts with The Bank of New York Mellon.
Item 4. Purpose of Transaction.
Based on, among other things, the Management Company’s belief that the shares of Common Stock were trading at a significant discount to their fair value, the Management Company acquired the shares of Common Stock for the purpose of investment.
On April 30, 2019, the Issuer and Hancock Whitney Corporation, a Mississippi corporation (“Hancock Whitney”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) pursuant to which, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, the Issuer will merge with and into Hancock Whitney (the “Merger”), with Hancock Whitney as the surviving corporation in the Merger. Immediately following the Merger, MidSouth Bank, N.A., a wholly-owned bank subsidiary of MidSouth, will merge with and into Hancock Whitney Bank, a Mississippi bank and wholly-owned subsidiary of Hancock Whitney (“Hancock Whitney Bank” and such merger, the “Bank Merger”), with Hancock Whitney Bank as the surviving entity in the Bank Merger.
In connection with entering into the Merger Agreement, Hancock Whitney entered into a voting and support agreement with the Management Company (the “Basswood Support Agreement”). Subject to the terms and conditions of the Basswood Support Agreement, the Management Company agreed, among other things, to vote the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by it in favor of the approval of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, and against alternative acquisition proposals.
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The foregoing description of the Basswood Support Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Basswood Support Agreement, a copy of which is filed with this Schedule 13D as Exhibit 99.2 hereto, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Except as otherwise provided in the Basswood Support Agreement, the Reporting Persons may engage in discussions with the Board, the Issuer’s management, other shareholders of the Issuer, knowledgeable industry or market observers, potential acquirors of the Issuer and other persons regarding the Issuer’s business, strategy and future plans or any other matters set forth in subparagraphs (a) – (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D. The Reporting Persons may make further acquisitions of Common Stock from time to time or dispose of any or all of the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Funds and a managed account at any time. Any such acquisition or disposition may be effected through privately negotiated transactions, in the open market, in block transactions or otherwise. In addition, except as provided in the Basswood Voting Agreement, the Reporting Persons may enter into hedging or derivative transactions with respect to the securities of the Issuer, including the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by them. Any determination to acquire or dispose of securities of the Issuer will depend on a number of factors, including the Issuer’s business and financial position and prospects, other developments concerning the Issuer, the price levels of the Common Stock, general market and economic conditions, the availability of financing and other opportunities available to the Reporting Persons.
Except as set forth in this Schedule 13D, the Reporting Persons have no plans or proposals at present that relate to or would result in any of the matters set forth in subparagraphs (a) – (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D.
Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer.
(a) As of the date of this Schedule 13D, each of the Reporting Persons beneficially owns shares of Common Stock in such numbers as set forth on the cover pages of this Schedule 13D. The total number of shares each of the Reporting Persons beneficially owns represents such percentages as set forth on the cover pages to this Schedule 13D of the Common Stock outstanding. The percentages used in this Schedule 13D are calculated based upon the 16,717,021 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of April 25, 2019, as reported in the Issuer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 and filed on April 30, 2019.
(b) The Management Company, Matthew Lindenbaum and Bennett Lindenbaum share voting and dispositive power over the 1,641,562 shares of Common Stock held directly by the Funds and the managed accounts. Basswood Partners, the Management Company, Matthew Lindenbaum and Bennett Lindenbaum share voting and dispositive power over the 456,831 shares of Common Stock held directly by Basswood Financial Fund, LP, Basswood Opportunity Partners, LP and Basswood Financial Long Only Fund, LP. Basswood Long Short GP, the Management Company, Matthew Lindenbaum and Bennett Lindenbaum share voting and dispositive power over the 403,749 shares of Common Stock held directly by Basswood Enhanced Long Short Fund, LP.
By virtue of the relationships among the Reporting Persons, as described in this Schedule 13D, the Reporting Persons may be deemed to be a “group” under the Federal securities laws. If the Reporting Persons were deemed to be such a “group,” such group would collectively beneficially own 1,641,562 shares of Common Stock or 9.82%. Except as otherwise set forth in this Schedule 13D, (i) each Fund expressly disclaims voting and investment power with respect to the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by each other Reporting Person, (ii) each of Basswood Partners and Basswood Long Short GP expressly disclaims voting and investment power with respect to the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by each other Reporting Person, other than the shares of Common Stock held directly by the Fund or Funds for which each, respectively, serves as general partner, and the filing of this Statement shall not be construed as an admission, for the purposes of Sections 13(d) and 13(g) or under any provision of the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder or for any other purpose, that any such person is a beneficial owner of any shares as to which it disclaims voting and dispositive power.
15
(c) Schedule I hereto sets forth all transactions with respect to the Common Stock effected by the Reporting Persons during the past sixty (60) days. All the transactions set forth on Schedule I were internal transactions between Funds and managed accounts managed by the Management Company.
(d) Other than the Funds and the managed accounts that directly hold shares of Common Stock, and except as set forth in this Item 5, no other person is known to have the right to receive, or the power to direct the receipt of, dividends from or proceeds from the sale, of such shares of Common Stock.
(e) Not applicable.
Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer.
Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(k) promulgated under the Exchange Act, the Reporting Persons have entered into a Joint Filing Agreement, a copy of which is filed with this Schedule 13D as Exhibit 99.1, with respect to the joint filing of this Schedule 13D and any amendment or amendments thereto.
Other than as described herein, there are no contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships (legal or otherwise) between the Reporting Persons and any other person with respect to the securities of the Issuer.
Item 7. Material to be filed as Exhibits.
1. | Exhibit 99.1 - Joint Filing Agreement, dated as of May 9, 2019 |
2. | Exhibit 99.2 - Voting and Support Agreement, dated April 30, 2019, by and between Basswood Capital Management, L.L.C. and Hancock Whitney Corporation |
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SIGNATURES
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of each of the undersigned’s knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned, severally and not jointly, certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Dated: May 9, 2019 | BASSWOOD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.L.C. | |
By: | /s/ Matthew Lindenbaum | |
Name: Matthew Lindenbaum | ||
Title: Managing Member | ||
Dated: May 9, 2019 | BASSWOOD PARTNERS, L.L.C. | |
By: | /s/ Matthew Lindenbaum | |
Name: Matthew Lindenbaum | ||
Title: Managing Member | ||
Dated: May 9, 2019 | BASSWOOD ENHANCED LONG SHORT GP, LLC | |
By: | /s/ Matthew Lindenbaum | |
Name: Matthew Lindenbaum | ||
Title: Managing Member | ||
Dated: May 9, 2019 | BASSWOOD ENHANCED LONG SHORT FUND, LP | |
By: Basswood Capital Management, L.L.C. | ||
By: | /s/ Matthew Lindenbaum | |
Name: Matthew Lindenbaum | ||
Title: Managing Member | ||
Dated: May 9, 2019 | BASSWOOD FINANCIAL FUND, LP | |
By: Basswood Capital Management, L.L.C. | ||
By: | /s/ Matthew Lindenbaum | |
Name: Matthew Lindenbaum | ||
Title: Managing Member | ||
17
Dated: May 9, 2019 | BASSWOOD FINANCIAL LONG ONLY FUND, LP | |
By: Basswood Capital Management, L.L.C. | ||
By: | /s/ Matthew Lindenbaum | |
Name: Matthew Lindenbaum | ||
Title: Managing Member | ||
Dated: May 9, 2019 | BASSWOOD FINANCIAL FUND, INC. | |
By: Basswood Capital Management, L.L.C. | ||
By: | /s/ Matthew Lindenbaum | |
Name: Matthew Lindenbaum | ||
Title: Managing Member | ||
Dated: May 9, 2019 | BASSWOOD OPPORTUNITY PARTNERS, LP | |
By: Basswood Capital Management, L.L.C. | ||
By: | /s/ Matthew Lindenbaum | |
Name: Matthew Lindenbaum | ||
Title: Managing Member | ||
Dated: May 9, 2019 | BASSWOOD OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. | |
By: Basswood Capital Management, L.L.C. | ||
By: | /s/ Matthew Lindenbaum | |
Name: Matthew Lindenbaum | ||
Title: Managing Member | ||
Dated: May 9, 2019 | /s/ Matthew Lindenbaum | |
Matthew Lindenbaum | ||
Dated: May 9, 2019 | /s/ Bennett Lindenbaum | |
Bennett Lindenbaum | ||
18
Schedule I
Transaction Type | Fund | Trade Date | Shares Purchased / Sold | Price (Gross) | Trade Amount |
Buy | Basswood Opportunity Partners, LP | 03/29/19 | 84,495 | $ 11.41 | $ 964,087.95 |
Buy | Basswood Opportunity Fund, Inc | 03/29/19 | 16,253 | $ 11.41 | $ 185,446.73 |
Buy | Basswood Financial Fund, LP | 03/29/19 | 13,680 | $ 11.41 | $ 156,088.80 |
Buy | Basswood Financial Long Only Fund, LP | 03/29/19 | 12,331 | $ 11.41 | $ 140,696.71 |
Buy | Basswood Managed Account | 03/29/19 | 283,920 | $ 11.41 | $ 3,239,527.20 |
Sell | Basswood Financial Fund, Inc. | 03/29/19 | 75,019 | $ 11.41 | $ 855,966.79 |
Sell | Basswood Enhanced Long Short Fund, LP | 03/29/19 | 296,251 | $ 11.41 | $ 3,380,223.91 |
Sell | Basswood Managed Account | 03/29/19 | 39,409 | $ 11.41 | $ 449,656.69 |
19