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
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): October 22, 2020
BUSINESS FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Louisiana | 333-200112 | 20-5340628 |
| (State of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| | | |
500 Laurel Street, Suite 101 Baton Rouge, Louisiana | | 70801 |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip code) |
| | | |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (225) 248-7600 |
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:
☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
| Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share | BFST | NASDAQ Global Select Market |
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 ☒
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. ☒
2.02 | Results of Operations and Financial Condition. |
On October 22, 2020, Business First Bancshares, Inc. (“Business First”), the parent company of b1BANK, issued a press release announcing financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. The release also announced that the Board of Directors of Business First declared a cash dividend on October 22, 2020, in the amount of $0.10 to the shareholders of record of Business First as of November 15, 2020. The dividend is to be paid on November 30, 2020, or as soon as practicable thereafter. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated by reference herein.
The information in this Item 2.02, including Exhibit 99.1, is being furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 of Form 8-K and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, unless specifically identified therein as being incorporated therein by reference.
7.01 | Regulation FD Disclosure |
On October 22, 2020, Business First made available the supplemental information prepared for use with the press release.
The information in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.2, is being furnished pursuant to Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, unless specifically identified therein as being incorporated therein by reference.
On October 22, 2020, the Board of Directors of Business First Bancshares, Inc. (“Business First”) approved a stock repurchase plan which authorizes Business First to repurchase shares of its common stock with an aggregate purchase price of up to $30,000,000 from time to time, subject to certain limitations and conditions. The stock repurchase program is effective immediately and will continue until December 31, 2021. The stock repurchase program does not obligate Business First to repurchase any shares of its common stock and there is no assurance that Business First will do so.
Concurrent with the approval of the October 22, 2020 stock repurchase plan, the Board terminated the previously announced stock repurchase plan which was approved on December 13, 2018 and set to expire on December 13, 2020.
Repurchases under the program may be effected through open market or privately negotiated transactions. Any open market repurchases will be conducted in accordance with the limitations set forth in Rule 10b-18 of the Securities and Exchange Commission and other applicable legal requirements. The number, price and timing of the repurchases, if any, will be at the sole discretion of Business First’s management and will depend on a number of factors, including compliance with applicable laws and regulations, general market and economic conditions, the financial and regulatory condition of Business First and b1Bank, Business First’s and b1Bank’s liquidity needs and other factors.
9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
| Exhibit No. | | Description of Exhibit |
99.1 99.2 104 | | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: October 22, 2020
| Business First bancshares, inc. | |
| | | |
| | | |
| By: | /s/ David R. Melville, III | |
| | David R. Melville, III | |
| | President and Chief Executive Officer | |
