EJF Capital SC 13G FIRST BANCSHARES / EJF Capital ownership change

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

The First Bancshares, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

318916103

(CUSIP Number)

September 1, 2021

(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

☐ Rule 13d-1(b)

 ☑  Rule 13d-1(c)

 ☐  Rule 13d-1(d)

*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 the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in 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).

 

CUSIP No. 318916103 13G Page 2 of 12 Pages

1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
	EJF Capital LLC
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
	(a)☐
	(b)☒
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Delaware
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH		5	SOLE VOTING POWER
			0
		6	SHARED VOTING POWER
			1,137,034
		7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0
		8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
			1,137,034
9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	1,137,034
10	CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	☐
11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
	5.4% (1)
12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	IA

(1) Based on 21,020,397 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share (“Common Stock”) outstanding as of August 2, 2021, based on the Form 10-Q filed by the Issuer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on August 9, 2021.

CUSIP No. 318916103 13G Page 3 of 12 Pages

1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
	Emanuel J. Friedman
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
	(a)☐
	(b)☒
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	United States
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH		5	SOLE VOTING POWER
			0
		6	SHARED VOTING POWER
			1,137,034
		7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0
		8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
			1,137,034
9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	1,137,034
10	CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	☐
11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
	5.4% (1)
12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	IN

(1) Based on 21,020,397 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of August 2, 2021, based on the Form 10-Q filed by the Issuer with the SEC on August 9, 2021.

 

CUSIP No. 318916103 13G Page 4 of 12 Pages

1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
	EJF Debt Opportunities Master Fund, L.P.
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
	(a)☐
	(b)☒
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Cayman Islands
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH		5	SOLE VOTING POWER
			0
		6	SHARED VOTING POWER
			960,297
		7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0
		8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
			960,297
9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	960,297
10	CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	☐
11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
	4.6% (1)
12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	PN

(1) Based on 21,020,397 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of August 2, 2021, based on the Form 10-Q filed by the Issuer with the SEC on August 9, 2021.

CUSIP No. 318916103 13G Page 5 of 12 Pages

1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
	EJF Debt Opportunities GP, LLC
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
	(a)☐
	(b)☒
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Delaware
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH		5	SOLE VOTING POWER
			0
		6	SHARED VOTING POWER
			960,297
		7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0
		8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
			960,297
9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	960,297
10	CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	☐
11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
	4.6% (1)
12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	OO

 

(1) Based on 21,020,397 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of August 2, 2021, based on the Form 10-Q filed by the Issuer with the SEC on August 9, 2021.

CUSIP No. 318916103 13G Page 6 of 12 Pages

1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
	EJF Financial Services Fund, LP
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
	(a)☐
	(b)☒
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Delaware
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH		5	SOLE VOTING POWER
			0
		6	SHARED VOTING POWER
			74,911
		7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0
		8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
			74,911
9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	74,911
10	CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	☐
11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
	0.4% (1)
12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	PN

(1) Based on 21,020,397 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of August 2, 2021, based on the Form 10-Q filed by the Issuer with the SEC on August 9, 2021.

CUSIP No. 318916103 13G Page 7 of 12 Pages

1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
	EJF Financial Services GP, LLC
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
	(a)☐
	(b)☒
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Delaware
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH		5	SOLE VOTING POWER
			0
		6	SHARED VOTING POWER
			74,911
		7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0
		8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
			74,911
9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	74,911
10	CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	☐
11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
	0.4% (1)
12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	OO

(1) Based on 21,020,397 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of August 2, 2021, based on the Form 10-Q filed by the Issuer with the SEC on August 9, 2021.

Item 1. (a) Name of Issuer

The First Bancshares, Inc.

Item 1. (b) Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices

6480 U.S. Highway 98 West, Suite A 

Hattiesburg, Mississippi  39402

Item 2. (a) Name of Person Filing

This Schedule 13G is being filed on behalf of the following persons (the “Reporting Persons”)*:

(i)	EJF Capital LLC;
(ii)	Emanuel J. Friedman;
(iii)	EJF Debt Opportunities Master Fund, L.P. (the “Debt Fund”);
(iv)	EJF Debt Opportunities GP, LLC
(v)	EJF Financial Services Fund, LP (the “Financial Services Fund”);
(vi)	EJF Financial Services GP, LLC;

*Attached as Exhibit A is a copy of an agreement among the Reporting Persons that this Schedule 13G is being filed on behalf of each of them.

Item 2. (b) Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence

The address of the principal business office of each Reporting Person is:

2107 Wilson Boulevard

Suite 410  

Arlington, VA 22201

Item 2. (c) Citizenship

See Item 4 of the attached cover pages.

Item 2. (d) Title of Class of Securities

Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share per share (“Common Stock”)

Item 2. (e) CUSIP Number

318916103

Item 3. If This Statement is Filed Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b) or (c), Check Whether the Person Filing is a:

Not Applicable.

Item 4. Ownership

(a)	Amount beneficially owned:
	See Item 9 of the attached cover pages.
(b)	Percent of class:
	See Item 11 of the attached cover pages.
(c)	Number of shares as to which such person has:
	(i)	Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
		See Item 5 of the attached cover pages.
	(ii)	Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
		See Item 6 of the attached cover pages.
	(iii)	Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition:
		See Item 7 of the attached cover pages.
	(iv)	Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition:
		See Item 8 of the attached cover pages.

Each of the Debt Fund and the Financial Services Fund is the record owner of the number of shares of Common Stock shown on Item 9 of its respective cover page.

EJF Debt Opportunities GP, LLC is the general partner of the Debt Fund and an investment manager of certain affiliates thereof and may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the Common Stock of which the Debt Fund is the record owner.  

EJF Financial Services GP, LLC is the general partner of the Financial Services Fund and an investment manager of certain affiliates thereof and may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock of which the Financial Services Fund is the record owner. 

EJF Capital LLC is the sole member of each of EJF Debt Opportunities GP and EJF Financial Services GP, LLC, and may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock of which such entities may share beneficial ownership.  EJF Capital LLC also separately manages accounts holding shares of Common Stock and may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the 101,826 shares of Common Stock of which the managed accounts, in the aggregate, are the record owners.

Emanuel J. Friedman is the controlling member of EJF Capital LLC and may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock of which EJF Capital LLC may share beneficial ownership.

 

Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class

Not Applicable.

Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person

Not Applicable.

Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the   Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company

Not Applicable.

Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group

Not Applicable.

Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group

Not Applicable.

Item 10. Certification

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

SIGNATURE

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:  September 2, 2021

EJF CAPITAL LLC
By:	/s/ David Bell
	Name: David Bell
	Title:   General Counsel

EMANUEL J. FRIEDMAN
By:	/s/ Emanuel J. Friedman
	Name: Emanuel J. Friedman

EJF DEBT OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND, L.P.
By:	EJF DEBT OPPORTUNITIES GP, LLC
Its:	General Partner
By:	EJF CAPITAL LLC
Its:	Sole Member
By:	/s/ David Bell
	Name: David Bell
	Title:   General Counsel

EJF DEBT OPPORTUNITIES GP, LLC
By:	EJF CAPITAL LLC
Its:	Sole Member
By:	/s/ David Bell
	Name: David Bell
	Title:   General Counsel

EJF FINANCIAL SERVICES FUND, LP
By:	EJF FINANCIAL SERVICES GP, LLC
Its:	General Partner
By:	EJF CAPITAL LLC
Its:	Sole Member
By:	/s/ David Bell
	Name: David Bell
	Title:   General Counsel

EJF FINANCIAL SERVICES GP, LLC
By:	EJF CAPITAL LLC
Its:	Sole Member
By:	/s/ David Bell
	Name: David Bell
	Title:   General Counsel

EXHIBIT A

The undersigned, EJF Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Emanuel J. Friedman, EJF Debt Opportunities Master Fund, L.P., an exempted limited partnership organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands, EJF Debt Opportunities GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, EJF Financial Services Fund, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and EJF Financial Services GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, hereby agree and acknowledge that the information required by this Schedule 13G, to which this Agreement is attached as an exhibit, is filed on behalf of each of them.  The undersigned further agree that any further amendments or supplements thereto shall also be filed on behalf of each of them.

Dated:  September 2, 2021

EJF CAPITAL LLC
By:	/s/ David Bell
	Name: David Bell
	Title:   General Counsel

EMANUEL J. FRIEDMAN
By:	/s/ Emanuel J. Friedman
	Name: Emanuel J. Friedman

EJF DEBT OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND, L.P.
By:	EJF DEBT OPPORTUNITIES GP, LLC
Its:	General Partner
By:	EJF CAPITAL LLC
Its:	Sole Member
By:	/s/ David Bell
	Name: David Bell
	Title:   General Counsel

EJF DEBT OPPORTUNITIES GP, LLC
By:	EJF CAPITAL LLC
Its:	Sole Member
By:	/s/ David Bell
	Name: David Bell
	Title:   General Counsel

EJF FINANCIAL SERVICES FUND, LP
By:	EJF FINANCIAL SERVICES GP, LLC
Its:	General Partner
By:	EJF CAPITAL LLC
Its:	Sole Member
By:	/s/ David Bell
	Name: David Bell
	Title:   General Counsel

EJF FINANCIAL SERVICES GP, LLC
By:	EJF CAPITAL LLC
Its:	Sole Member
By:	/s/ David Bell
	Name: David Bell
	Title:   General Counsel