POSASR
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2017

Registration No. 333-208307

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Amendment No. 1

to

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

HOME BANCSHARES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

 

Arkansas   71-0682831

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification Number)

719 Harkrider, Suite 100

Conway, Arkansas 72032

(501) 339-2929

(Address including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

C. Randall Sims

Chief Executive Officer

Home BancShares, Inc.

719 Harkrider

Conway, Arkansas 72032

(501) 328-4656

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

C. Douglas Buford, Jr., Esq.

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C.

425 West Capitol Avenue, Suite 1800

Little Rock, Arkansas 72201

Telephone: (501) 688-8866

Facsimile: (501) 918-7866

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  ☒

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☒

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer      Smaller reporting company  

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered

  Amount
to be
Registered(1)(2)
 

Proposed
Maximum

Offering Price
Per Security(1)(2)(3)

 

Proposed

Maximum

Aggregate
Offering Price(1)(2)(3)

  Amount of
Registration Fee(3)

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

               

Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share

               

Rights

               

Warrants

               

Subordinated Debt Securities

               

Total

               

 

 

(1) Not specified as to each class of securities to be registered pursuant to General Instruction II.E of Form S-3.
(2) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of securities of each identified class is being registered as may be issued at indeterminate prices from time to time. The securities registered include unspecified amounts and numbers of securities that may be issued upon conversion of or exchange for securities that provide for conversion or exchange or pursuant to the antidilution provisions of any such securities. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities issuable on exercise, conversion, or exchange of other securities.
(3) In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), the registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee subject to the conditions set forth in such rules. Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act, this registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) also covers any additional shares that may be offered or issued in connection with any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction.

 

 

 


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PROSPECTUS

HOME BANCSHARES, INC.

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Rights

Warrants

Subordinated Debt Securities

 

 

We may offer and sell, from time to time, in one or more offerings, any combination of securities that we describe in this prospectus.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of these securities. We will file prospectus supplements and may provide other offering material at later dates that will contain specific terms of each issuance of securities. These supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.

You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in the securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement. This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “HOMB.”

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” on page 4 of this prospectus and in the documents we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are incorporated in this prospectus by reference for certain risks and uncertainties you should consider.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense in the United States.

These securities are unsecured and are not deposits and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

 

 

This prospectus is dated March 28, 2017.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

About This Prospectus

     1  

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

     1  

Where You Can Find More Information

     3  

Documents Incorporated by Reference

     3  

The Company

     4  

Risk Factors

     4  

Use of Proceeds

     5  

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

     5  

Description of Securities We May Offer

     5  

Description of Capital Stock

     5  

Description of Rights

     7  

Description of Warrants

     8  

Description of Subordinated Debt Securities

     10  

Plan of Distribution

     16  

Legal Matters

     18  

Experts

     18  

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is a part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.

The registration statement containing this prospectus, including the exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus. The registration statement, including the exhibits and the documents incorporated herein by reference, can be read on the SEC website or at the SEC offices mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Each time we use this prospectus to offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the amounts, prices and terms of the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement may add, update or change information in this prospectus. If the information in the prospectus is inconsistent with a prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in that prospectus supplement. You should carefully read both this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for more information.

We have not authorized any dealer, salesman or other person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. You must not rely upon any information or representation not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. This prospectus and any prospectus supplement do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor do this prospectus and any prospectus supplement constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of such document or that any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, even though this prospectus and any prospectus supplement is delivered or securities are sold on a later date.

Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, all references to “Home BancShares,” “the Company,” “we,” “our,” “us” and similar terms refer to Home BancShares, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Unless otherwise indicated, currency amounts in this prospectus and in any applicable prospectus supplement are stated in U.S. dollars.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of our statements contained in this document are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future financial performance and include statements about the competitiveness of the banking industry, potential regulatory obligations, our entrance and expansion into other markets, our other business strategies and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance or results. When we use words like “may,” “plan,” “contemplate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “continue,” “expect,” “project,” “predict,” “estimate,” “could,” “should,” “would,” and similar expressions, you should consider them as identifying forward-looking statements, although we may use other phrasing. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on our beliefs and assumptions, and on the information available to us at the time that these disclosures were prepared. These forward-looking statements

 

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involve risks and uncertainties and may not be realized due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

    the effects of future local, regional, national and international economic conditions, including inflation or a decrease in commercial real estate and residential housing values;

 

    changes in the level of nonperforming assets and charge-offs, and credit risk generally;

 

    the risks of changes in interest rates or the level and composition of deposits, loan demand and the values of loan collateral, securities and interest-sensitive assets and liabilities;

 

    the effect of any mergers, acquisitions or other transactions to which we or our bank subsidiary may from time to time be a party, including our ability to successfully integrate any businesses that we acquire;

 

    the risk that expected cost savings and other benefits from acquisitions may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected;

 

    the possibility that an acquisition does not close when expected or at all because required regulatory, shareholder or other approvals and other conditions to closing are not received or satisfied on a timely basis or at all;

 

    the reaction to a proposed acquisition transaction of the respective companies’ customers, employees and counterparties;

 

    diversion of management time on acquisition-related issues;

 

    the ability to enter into and/or close additional acquisitions;

 

    the availability of and access to capital on terms acceptable to us;

 

    increased regulatory requirements and supervision that will apply as a result of our exceeding $10 billion in total assets;

 

    legislation and regulation affecting the financial services industry as a whole, and the Company and its subsidiaries in particular, including the effects resulting from the reforms enacted by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) and the adoption of regulations by regulatory bodies under the Dodd-Frank Act;

 

    governmental monetary and fiscal policies, as well as legislative and regulatory changes, including as a result of initiatives of the newly elected administration of President Donald J. Trump;

 

    the effects of terrorism and efforts to combat it;

 

    political instability;

 

    the ability to keep pace with technological changes, including changes regarding cybersecurity;

 

    an increase in the incidence or severity of fraud, illegal payments, security breaches or other illegal acts impacting our bank subsidiary or our customers;

 

    the effects of competition from other commercial banks, thrifts, mortgage banking firms, consumer finance companies, credit unions, securities brokerage firms, insurance companies, money market and other mutual funds and other financial institutions operating in our market area and elsewhere, including institutions operating regionally, nationally and internationally, together with competitors offering banking products and services by mail, telephone and the Internet;

 

    the effect of changes in accounting policies and practices and auditing requirements, as may be adopted by the regulatory agencies, as well as the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, and other accounting standard setters;

 

    higher defaults on our loan portfolio than we expect; and

 

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    the failure of assumptions underlying the establishment of our allowance for loan losses or changes in our estimate of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses.

All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this Cautionary Note. Our actual results may differ significantly from those we discuss in these forward-looking statements. For other factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from estimates and projections contained in these forward-looking statements, see the “Risk Factors” section provided below.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, we file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC, and have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act relating to the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which forms part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information, you should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits.

You may read and copy the registration statement and any document we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the Public Reference Room. You can also review our filings by accessing the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. The site contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. In addition to the foregoing, we maintain a website at http://www.homebancshares.com. Our website content is made available for informational purposes only. It should neither be relied upon for investment purposes nor is it incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We make available on our Internet website copies of our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to such documents as soon as practicable after we electronically file such material with or furnish such documents to the SEC.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with the SEC into this prospectus, which means we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus from the date on which we file that document. Any reports filed by us with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and before the termination of the offering of the securities by means of this prospectus will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, until the termination of the offering of the securities offered hereby:

(a) Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2017.

(b) Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 25, 2017, February 24, 2017, March 1, 2017, and March 27, 2017.

(c) The description of our Common Stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 10, filed under Section 12 of the Exchange Act on April 7, 2006, and all amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

 

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Unless otherwise stated in the applicable reports, information furnished under Item 2.02 or 7.01 of our Current Reports on Form 8-K is not incorporated by reference.

You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or calling us at the following address:

Home BancShares, Inc.

719 Harkrider, Suite 100

Conway, Arkansas 72032

Attn: Corporate Secretary

(501) 339-2929

THE COMPANY

We are a Conway, Arkansas headquartered bank holding company registered under the federal Bank Holding Company Act of 1956. The Company’s common stock is traded through the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “HOMB”. We are primarily engaged in providing a broad range of commercial and retail banking and related financial services to businesses, real estate developers and investors, individuals and municipalities through our wholly owned community bank subsidiary – Centennial Bank. Centennial Bank has branch locations in Arkansas, Florida, South Alabama and New York City.

Home BancShares acquires, organizes and invests in community banks that serve attractive markets. Our community banking team is built around experienced bankers with strong local relationships. The Company was formed in 1998 by an investor group led by John W. Allison, our Chairman, and Robert H. “Bunny” Adcock, Jr., our Vice Chairman. After obtaining a bank charter, we established First State Bank in Conway, Arkansas, in 1999. We acquired Community Bank, Bank of Mountain View and Centennial Bank in 2003, 2005 and 2008, respectively. Home BancShares and its founders were also involved in the formation of Twin City Bank and Marine Bank, both of which we acquired in 2005. During 2008 and 2009, we merged all of our banks into one charter and adopted Centennial Bank as the common name. In 2010, we acquired six banks in Florida through Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) assisted transactions with loss share, including Old Southern Bank, Key West Bank, Coastal Community Bank, Bayside Savings Bank, Wakulla Bank and Gulf State Community Bank. In 2012, we acquired three banks headquartered in Florida including Vision Bank, Premier Bank and Heritage Bank of Florida (“Heritage”). Heritage was acquired through an FDIC-assisted transaction without loss share. In 2013, we acquired Liberty Bancshares, Inc. headquartered in Jonesboro, Arkansas. During 2014, we acquired Florida Traditions Bank headquartered in Dade City, Florida and Broward Financial Holdings, Inc. headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. During 2015, we acquired Doral Bank’s Florida Panhandle operations (“Doral Florida”), a pool of national commercial real estate loans, and Florida Business BancGroup, Inc., headquartered in Tampa, Florida. In connection with the acquisition of the pool of national commercial real estate loans, we opened a loan production office in New York City, which was converted to a branch in 2016, and created Centennial Commercial Finance Group (“Centennial CFG”). In February 2017, we acquired Giant Holdings, Inc. headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and The Bank of Commerce headquartered in Sarasota, Florida.

Our principal executive office is located at 719 Harkrider, Suite 100, Conway, Arkansas, and our telephone number is (501) 339-2929.

RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves significant risks. Our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. The trading price of our securities could decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment. Before you make an investment

 

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decision regarding the securities, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described under “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and in any updates to those Risk Factors in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, together with all of the other information appearing in this prospectus or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, in light of your particular investment objectives and financial circumstances. The risks described in those documents are not the only ones that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business operations, our financial results and the value of the securities. The prospectus supplement applicable to each series of securities we offer may contain a discussion of additional risks applicable to an investment in us and the securities we are offering under that prospectus supplement.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the proceeds from the sale of the securities described in this prospectus for general corporate purposes and to support our ongoing and future anticipated growth, including potential acquisitions. Pending such use, we may temporarily invest the proceeds or use them to reduce indebtedness. The applicable prospectus supplement will provide more details on the use of proceeds of any specific offering.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth our consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods shown. For purposes of computing the ratio, earnings represent the sum of income from continuing operations before taxes plus fixed charges. Fixed charges represent total interest expense, capital debt expenses and estimated interest in rent. Interest on deposits is subtracted from both the numerator and denominator in the calculation of the “excluding interest on deposits” ratio. We have not had any preferred shares outstanding during the periods shown. We refer you to Exhibit 12.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 for additional information.

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2016      2015      2014      2013      2012  

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges:

              

Including interest on deposits

     10.01x        10.71x        10.03x        7.94x        5.48x  

Excluding interest on deposits

     19.31x        23.92x        26.96x        20.70x        15.10x  

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

This prospectus contains summary descriptions of our common stock, preferred stock, rights and warrants that we may offer from time to time. These summary descriptions are not meant to be complete descriptions of each security. The particular terms of any security will be described in the accompanying prospectus supplement and other offering material. The accompanying prospectus supplement may add, update or change the terms and conditions of the securities as described in this prospectus.

When we use the terms “security” or “securities” in this prospectus, we mean any of the securities we may offer with this prospectus, unless we say otherwise.

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following is a description of our common stock and certain provisions of our Restated Articles of Incorporation, Restated Bylaws and certain provisions of applicable law. The following is only a summary and is

 

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qualified by applicable law and by the provisions of our Restated Articles of Incorporation and Restated Bylaws, copies of which have been filed with the SEC and are also available upon request from us.

General

Under our Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, we have authority to issue up to 200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and up to 5,500,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. Each share of our common stock has the same relative rights as, and is identical in all respects to, each other share of our common stock.

As of March 24, 2017, 143,441,824 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding, and 4,778,236 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to the Company’s stock option and performance incentive plan. Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. The outstanding shares of our common stock are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

As of March 24, 2017, no shares of our preferred stock were issued and outstanding.

Common Stock

Voting Rights. Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. Holders of our common stock do not have cumulative voting rights.

Dividend Rights. Holders of our common stock are entitled to dividends when, as, and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends. Holders of any series of preferred stock we may issue in the future may have a priority over holders of common stock with respect to dividends. The payment of dividends is subject to government regulation, in that regulatory authorities may prohibit banks and bank holding companies from paying dividends in a manner that would constitute an unsafe or unsound banking practice. In addition, a bank may not pay cash dividends if doing so would reduce the amount of its capital below that necessary to meet minimum regulatory capital requirements. State laws also limit a bank’s ability to pay dividends. Accordingly, the dividend restrictions imposed on our subsidiaries by statute or regulation effectively may limit the amount of dividends we can pay.

Liquidation and Dissolution. In the event of the liquidation, dissolution and winding up of the Company, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably all of the assets of the Company available for distribution after satisfaction of all liabilities of the Company, subject to the rights of the holders of any of the Company’s preferred shares that may be issued from time to time.

Other Rights. Holders of our common stock have no preferential or preemptive rights with respect to any securities of Home BancShares, and there are no conversion rights or redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock.

Restrictions on Ownership. The Bank Holding Company Act requires any “bank holding company,” as defined in the Bank Holding Company Act, to obtain the approval of the Federal Reserve Board prior to the acquisition of 5% or more of our common stock. Any person, other than a bank holding company, is required to obtain prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board to acquire 10% or more of our common stock under the Change in Bank Control Act. Any holder of 25% or more of our common stock, or a holder of 5% or more if such holder otherwise exercises a “controlling influence” over us, is subject to regulation as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act.

Modification of Rights. Rights of the holders of our common stock may not be modified by less than a majority vote of the common stock outstanding. Additionally, under the Arkansas Business Corporation Act of 1987, a majority vote is required for the approval of a merger or consolidation with another corporation, and for the sale of all or substantially all of our assets and liquidation or dissolution of Home BancShares.

 

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Transfer Agent. The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare, 250 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021.

Preferred Stock

The 5,500,000 shares of our preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, are typically referred to as “blank check” preferred stock. This term means that these shares of preferred stock may be issued with such preferences, limitations, relative rights, and terms as determined by our board of directors. As such, the board of directors can, without shareholder approval, issue preferred stock with voting, dividend, liquidation and conversion rights that could dilute the voting strength of the holders of the common stock and may assist management in impeding an unfriendly takeover or attempted change in control.

The terms of any particular series of preferred stock will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that particular series of preferred stock.

DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

In this section, we describe the general terms and provisions of the rights to securities that we may offer to our shareholders. Rights may be issued independently or together with any other offered security and may or may not be transferable by the person purchasing or receiving the rights. In connection with any rights offering to our shareholders, we may enter into a standby underwriting or other arrangement with one or more underwriters or other persons pursuant to which such underwriters or other person would purchase any offered securities remaining unsubscribed for after such rights offering. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agent agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as rights agent, that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the certificates relating to the rights of the series of certificates and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights.

The prospectus supplement relating to any rights we offer will include specific terms relating to the offering, including, among others, the date of determining the shareholders entitled to the rights distribution, the aggregate number of rights issued and the aggregate amount of securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights, the exercise price, the conditions to completion of the offering, the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the right will expire, and any applicable U.S. federal income tax considerations. To the extent that any particular terms of the rights, rights agent agreements, or rights certificates described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described here, then the terms described here will be deemed to have been superseded by that prospectus supplement.

Each right would entitle the holder of the rights to purchase for cash the principal amount of securities at the exercise price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for the rights provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised rights would become void and of no further force or effect.

Holders may exercise rights as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of payment and the rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the rights agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights. If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than shareholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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The description in the applicable prospectus supplement and other offering material of any rights we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable rights agent agreement, which will be filed with the SEC if we offer rights. For more information on how you can obtain copies of the applicable rights agent agreement if we offer rights, see “Documents Incorporated by Reference” and “Where You Can Find More Information.” We urge you to read the applicable rights agent agreement and the applicable prospectus supplement and any other offering material in their entirety.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants from time to time in one or more series for the purchase of our common stock or preferred stock or any combination of those securities. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock or offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from common stock or preferred stock. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent, or any other bank or trust company specified in the related prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of warrants. The warrant agent will act as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of warrants or beneficial owners of warrants. The specific terms of a series of warrants will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to that series of warrants along with any general provisions applicable to that series of warrants.

The following is a general description of the warrants we may issue. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any issuance of warrants. The terms of any warrants we offer may differ from the terms described in this prospectus. As a result, we will describe in the prospectus supplement the specific terms of the particular series of warrants offered by that prospectus supplement. Accordingly, for a description of the terms of a particular series of warrants, you should carefully read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, and the applicable warrant agreement, which will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Terms. If warrants are offered by us, the prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the warrants, including the following if applicable to the particular offering:

 

    the title of the warrants;

 

    the total number of warrants;

 

    the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon exercise of the warrants to purchase common stock and the price at which such shares of common stock may be purchased upon exercise;

 

    the designation and terms of the preferred stock with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each share of preferred stock;

 

    the date on and after which the warrants and the related common stock or preferred stock will be separately transferable;

 

    if applicable, the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and the date on which this right will expire;

 

    if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants which may be exercised at any one time;

 

    a discussion of federal income tax, accounting and other special considerations, procedures and limitations relating to the warrants; and

 

    any other terms of the warrants including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.

 

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Warrants may be exchanged for new warrants of different denominations, may be presented for registration of transfer, and may be exercised at the office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement. Before the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock purchasable upon exercise, including the right to receive payments of dividends, if any, on the shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon such exercise or to exercise any applicable right to vote.

Exercise of Warrants. Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase a number of shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock at an exercise price as will in each case be set forth in, or calculable from, the prospectus supplement relating to those warrants. Warrants may be exercised at the times set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants. After the close of business on the expiration date (or any later date to which the expiration date may be extended by us), unexercised warrants will become void. Subject to any restrictions and additional requirements that may be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating thereto, warrants may be exercised by delivery to the warrant agent of the certificate evidencing the warrants properly completed and duly executed and of payment as provided in the prospectus supplement of the amount required to purchase shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock purchasable upon such exercise. The exercise price will be the price applicable on the date of payment in full, as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants. Upon receipt of the payment and the certificate representing the warrants to be exercised properly completed and duly executed at the office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, issue and deliver the shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the warrants represented by that certificate are exercised, a new certificate will be issued for the remaining amount of warrants.

The description in the applicable prospectus supplement and other offering material of any warrants we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable warrant agreement, which will be filed with the SEC if we offer warrants. For more information on how you can obtain copies of the applicable warrant agreement if we offer warrants, see “Documents Incorporated by Reference” and “Where You Can Find More Information.” We urge you to read the applicable warrant agreement and the applicable prospectus supplement and any other offering material in their entirety.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

The following description of the subordinated debt securities sets forth certain general terms that may apply to the subordinated debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus. The subordinated debt securities are sometimes referred to as the “debt securities.” Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue the subordinated debt securities under a subordinated indenture, which we will enter into with a trustee to be named in the subordinated indenture. The subordinated indenture is sometimes referred to as the “indenture.” The form of subordinated indenture is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The trustee under the indenture is referred to as the “indenture trustee.” The indenture is subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), and may be supplemented or amended from time to time. Prior to issuing any debt securities, we will select an indenture trustee for the indenture relating to the issuance of debt securities, qualify such indenture trustee under the Trust Indenture Act and execute such indenture.

The indenture gives us broad authority to set the particular terms of each series of debt securities, including the right to modify certain of the terms contained in the indenture. We will describe the specific terms of a series of debt securities and the extent, if any, to which the specific terms of the debt securities modify the terms of the indenture in the prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities.

This summary is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the indenture, which contains the full legal text of the matters described in this section, and the description of the specific terms of the debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following summary is not complete. You should read all of the provisions of the indenture, including the definitions of certain terms.

Since we are a holding company, our right, and accordingly, the right of our creditors and shareholders, including the holders of the securities offered by this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, to participate in any distribution of assets of any of our subsidiaries upon its liquidation, reorganization or similar proceeding is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent that our claims as a creditor of the subsidiary may be recognized.

Terms of the Securities

The debt securities will not be secured by any of our assets. Neither the indenture nor the debt securities will limit or otherwise restrict the amounts of other indebtedness that we may incur, or the amount of other securities that we may issue. The indenture does not limit the principal amount of any particular series of debt securities. The debt securities will be subordinated as described below under “Subordination.” All of the debt securities issued under the indenture will rank equally and ratably with any additional debt securities issued under the same indenture.

Each prospectus supplement will specify the particular terms of the debt securities offered. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any debt securities being offered, including the following, as may be applicable:

 

    the title of the debt securities;

 

    the principal amount being offered and, if a series, the total amount authorized and the total amount outstanding;

 

    any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;

 

    the priority of payments on the debt securities;

 

    the issue price or prices (which may be expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount) of the debt securities;

 

    the date or dates, or the method of determining the dates, on which the debt securities will mature;

 

    the interest rate or rates of the debt securities, or the method of determining those rates;

 

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    the interest payment dates, the dates on which payment of any interest will begin and the regular record dates;

 

    if other than the entire principal amount, the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities that will be payable if the maturity date of the debt securities is accelerated;

 

    any event of default applicable to the debt securities;

 

    any covenants included for the benefit of the holders of the debt securities;

 

    provisions, if any, restricting the declaration of dividends or requiring the maintenance of any asset ratio or the creation or maintenance of reserves;

 

    provisions relating to modification of the terms of the debt securities or the rights of holders of the debt securities;

 

    provisions, if any, restricting the incurrence of additional debt or the issuance of additional securities;

 

    restrictions, if any, on transfer, sale or other assignment of the debt securities;

 

    whether the debt securities will be issuable in temporary or permanent global form and, if so, the identity of the depository for such global security, or the manner in which any interest payable on a temporary or permanent global security will be paid;

 

    any terms relating to the conversion of the debt securities into our common shares or preferred shares, including, without limitation, the time and place at which such debt securities may be converted, the conversion price and any adjustments to the conversion price and any other provisions that may be applicable;

 

    any sinking fund or similar provisions applicable to the debt securities;

 

    any mandatory or optional redemption, repurchase or repayment provisions applicable to the debt securities;

 

    the denomination or denominations in which the debt securities are authorized to be issued;

 

    whether any of the debt securities will be issued in bearer form and, if so, any limitations on issuance of such bearer securities (including exchanges for registered securities of the same series);

 

    information describing any book-entry features of the debt securities;

 

    whether any of the debt securities will be issued as “original issue discount” securities;

 

    the place of payment on the debt securities;

 

    each office or agency where the debt securities may be presented for registration of transfer, exchange or conversion;

 

    the method of determining the amount of any payments on the securities which are linked to an index or determined by a formula;

 

    if other than United States dollars, the currency or currencies in which payments on the debt securities will be payable, and whether the holder may elect payment to be made in a different currency;

 

    the identity of the indenture trustee, the nature of any material relationship between us or our affiliates and the indenture trustee, the percentage of debt securities of a series necessary to require the indenture trustee to take action, and what indemnification the indenture trustee may require before proceeding to take action;

 

    if other than the indenture trustee, the identity of the registrar and/or paying agent;

 

    any defeasance of certain obligations by us pertaining to the series of debt securities;

 

    a discussion of any material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the debt securities; and

 

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    any other terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, including any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations or in connection with the marketing of the debt securities.

Some of our debt securities may be issued as “original issue discount” securities. Original issue discount securities bear no interest or bear interest at below-market rates and will be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. The prospectus supplement will also contain any special tax, accounting or other information relating to original issue discount securities or relating to certain other kinds of securities that may be offered, including securities linked to an index.

Acceleration of Maturity

If an event of default with respect to any outstanding series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, the indenture trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal amount due and payable immediately by providing written notice of such acceleration to us, and, if notice is given by the holders instead of the indenture trustee, to the indenture trustee. Subject to certain conditions, the declaration of acceleration may be rescinded, and past defaults (except uncured payment defaults and certain other specified defaults) may be waived, by the holders of not less than a majority of the principal amount of debt securities of that series.

You should refer to the prospectus supplement relating to each series of debt securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of maturity upon the occurrence and continuation of an event of default.

Registration and Transfer

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, each series of the offered debt securities will be issued in registered form only, without coupons.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities we are offering will be issued in denominations of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of the debt securities, but we may require payment of an amount sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange.

Payment and Paying Agent

We will pay principal, interest and any premium on fully registered debt securities in the designated currency or currency unit at the office of a designated paying agent. At our option, payment of interest on fully registered debt securities may also be made by check mailed to the persons in whose names the debt securities are registered on the days specified in the indentures or any prospectus supplement.

If any amount payable on a debt security or coupon remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such amount became due and payable, the paying agent will release any unclaimed amounts, and the holder of the debt security or coupon will look only to us for payment.

Global Securities

The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global certificates (“Global Securities”) that will be deposited with a depository that we will identify in a prospectus supplement. Global Securities may be issued in either temporary or permanent form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for individual certificates evidencing debt securities in definitive form represented thereby, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depository to a nominee of that depository or by a nominee of that depository to a depository or another nominee of that depository.

 

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The specific terms of the depository arrangements for each series of debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Modification and Waiver

The indenture provides that modifications and amendments may be made by us and the indenture trustee with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the amendment or modification. However, no modification or amendment may, without the consent of each holder affected:

 

    change the stated maturity date of the debt security;

 

    reduce the principal amount, any rate of interest, or any additional amounts in respect of any debt security, or reduce the amount of any premium payable upon the redemption of any debt security;

 

    change the time or place of payment, currency or currencies in which any debt security or any premium or interest thereon is payable;

 

    impair the holders’ rights to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the stated maturity date of any debt security or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date;

 

    reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities required to consent to any modification, amendment or waiver under the indenture;

 

    modify, except under limited circumstances, any provision of the applicable indenture relating to modification and amendment of the indenture, waiver of compliance with conditions and defaults thereunder or the right of a majority of holders to take action under the applicable indenture;

 

    alter the provisions regarding subordination of the debt securities in any way that would be adverse to the holders of those securities; or

 

    reduce the principal amount of original issue discount debt securities which could be declared due and payable upon an acceleration of their maturity.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive compliance by us and the indenture trustee with certain provisions of the indentures. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive any past default under the indenture with respect to that series, except a default in the payment of the principal, or any premium, interest, or additional amounts payable on a debt security of that series or in respect of a covenant or provision which under the terms of the indenture cannot be modified or amended, without the consent of each affected holder.

With the indenture trustee, we may modify and amend the indenture without the consent of any holder for any of the following purposes:

 

    to evidence the succession of another person to us as obligor under the indenture;

 

    to evidence and provide for the acceptance or appointment of a successor trustee with respect to one or more series of the debt securities or facilitate the administration of the trusts under the indenture by more than one trustee;

 

    to add to the covenants for the benefit of the holders of al or any series of the debt securities or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us in the indenture, provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the outstanding debt securities;

 

    to add or eliminate additional events of default, provided such change does not apply to any outstanding series of debt securities;

 

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    to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture, provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the outstanding debt securities in any material respect;

 

    to secure the debt securities or add obligors;

 

    to establish the form of any securities and to provide for the issuance of any series of securities under the indenture and to set forth the terms thereof;

 

    to provide for the issuance of debt securities in uncertificated form in place of certificated debt securities;

 

    to qualify the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or

 

    to comply with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the debt securities may be listed or traded.

Calculation of Outstanding Debt Securities

To calculate whether the holders of a sufficient principal amount of the outstanding securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver under the indenture:

 

    in the case of original issue discount securities, the principal amount that may be included in the calculation is the amount of principal that would be declared to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration according to the terms of that original issue discount security as of the date of the calculation; and

 

    any debt securities owned by us, or owned by any other obligor of the debt securities or any affiliate of ours or of any other obligor, should be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for purposes of the calculation.

Additional Provisions

Other than the duty to act with the required standard of care during an event of default, the indenture trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the debt securities, unless the holders have offered the indenture trustee reasonable indemnification. The indenture provides that the holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series may, in certain circumstances, direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the indenture trustee, or exercising any trust or other power conferred on the indenture trustee.

No holder of a debt security of any series will have the right to institute any proceeding for any remedy under the applicable indenture, unless:

 

    the holder has provided the indenture trustee with written notice of a continuing event of default regarding the holder’s series of debt securities;

 

    the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series have made a written request to the indenture trustee, and offered indemnity satisfactory to the indenture trustee, to institute a proceeding for remedy;

 

    the indenture trustee has failed to institute the proceeding within 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity; and

 

    the indenture trustee has not received any direction during such 60-day period inconsistent with such request from the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series.

 

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However, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal, any premium, any interest or any additional amounts in respect of such debt security on or after the date expressed in such debt security and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment.

We are required to file annually with the indenture trustee a certificate of no default, or specifying any default that exists.

Events of Default

The following will be events of default under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of a series:

 

    failure to make any payment on any subordinated debt security of that series or any coupon pertaining thereto when due, and continuance of such default for 30 days;

 

    failure to deposit any sinking fund payment for a subordinated debt security of that series when due;

 

    certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of us or Centennial Bank;

 

    certain breaches in any covenants of warranties made by us and continuance of such breaches after notice given pursuant to the indenture; and

 

    any other event of default regarding that series of subordinated debt securities.

There is no right of acceleration of the payment of principal of a series of subordinated debt securities upon a default in the performance of any covenant or agreement in the subordinated debt securities of a particular series or in the indenture. In the event of a default in the payment of interest or principal, the holders of senior indebtedness will be entitled to be paid in full before any payment can be made to the holders of subordinated debt securities. However, a holder of a subordinated debt security (or the indenture trustee under the indenture on behalf of all of the holders of the affected series) may, subject to certain limitations and conditions, seek to enforce overdue payments of interest or principal on the subordinated debt securities.

Subordination

The debt securities will be unsecured and will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner set forth below, to the prior payment in full of all of the Company’s senior indebtedness, as more fully described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

If any of the following circumstances has occurred, payment in full of all principal, premium, if any, and interest must be made or provided for with respect to all outstanding senior indebtedness before we can make any payment or distribution of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the subordinated debt securities:

 

    any insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar proceeding relating to us or to our property has been commenced;

 

    any voluntary liquidation, dissolution or other winding up relating to us has been commenced, whether or not such event involves our insolvency or bankruptcy;

 

    any of our subordinated debt securities of any series is declared or otherwise becomes due and payable before its maturity date because of any event of default under the subordinated indenture, provided that such declaration has not been rescinded or annulled as provided in the subordinated indenture; or

 

    any default with respect to senior indebtedness which permits its holders to accelerate the maturity of the senior indebtedness has occurred and is continuing, and either (a) notice of such default has been given to us and to the indenture trustee and judicial proceedings are commenced in respect of such default within 180 days after notice in the case of a default in the payment of principal or interest, or within 90 days after notice in the case of any other default, or (b) any judicial proceeding is pending with respect to any such default.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities described in this prospectus on a continuous or delayed basis directly to purchasers or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, who may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from us or the purchasers of the securities. These discounts, concessions or commissions as to any particular underwriter, broker-dealer or agent may be in excess of those customary in the types of transactions involved.

The securities may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions at fixed prices, which may be changed from time to time, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. These sales may be effected in transactions, which may involve crosses or block transactions:

 

    on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, including, as of the date of this prospectus, the NASDAQ Global Select Market in the case of our common stock;

 

    in the over-the-counter market;

 

    in transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or services or in the over-the-counter market; or

 

    through the writing of options, whether the options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise.

Each time that we use this prospectus to sell our securities, we will also provide a prospectus supplement. For each series of securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering including:

 

    the public offering price;

 

    the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;

 

    the purchase price of the securities;

 

    the proceeds from the sale of the securities to us;

 

    any underwriting discounts, agency fees, or other compensation payable to underwriters or agents;

 

    any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or repaid to dealers; and

 

    the securities exchanges on which the securities will be listed, if any.

If we use underwriters in the sale of securities, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account. The underwriters may then resell the securities in one or more transactions at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale or thereafter. The securities may be either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters, or directly by underwriters. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities offered if they purchase any securities. The public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

If we use dealers in the sale of securities, we will sell securities to such dealers as principals. The dealers may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealers at the time of resale. We may solicit offers to purchase the securities directly, and we may sell the securities directly to institutional or other investors, who may be deemed underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resales of those securities. The terms of these sales will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we use agents in the sale of securities, unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, they will use their reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, if we sell directly, no underwriters, dealers or agents would be involved. We will not make an offer of securities in any jurisdiction that does not permit such an offer.

 

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We may grant underwriters who participate in the distribution of securities an option to purchase additional securities to cover overallotments, if any, in connection with the distribution. Any underwriter may engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions, short covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with SEC orders, rules and regulations and applicable law. To the extent permitted by applicable law and SEC orders, rules and regulations, an overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. To the extent permitted by applicable law and SEC orders, rules and regulations, short covering transactions involve purchases of the common stock in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the common stock originally sold by the dealer is purchased in a covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the common stock to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time.

Any underwriters who are qualified market makers on the NASDAQ Stock Market may engage in passive market making transactions in the common stock on the NASDAQ Stock Market in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M, during the business day prior to the pricing of the offering, before the commencement of offers or sales of the common stock. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as passive market makers. In general a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid for such security; if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, however, the passive market maker’s bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded.

Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in any distribution of securities may be deemed to be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act. Any discounts, commissions or profit they receive when they resell the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement are underwriters of the securities offered in the prospectus supplement. We may have agreements with underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments that they may be required to make.

We may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers from certain institutions whereby the institution contractually agrees to purchase the securities from us on a future date at a specific price. This type of contract may be made only with institutions that we specifically approve. Such institutions could include banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies and educational and charitable institutions. The underwriters, dealers or agents will not be responsible for the validity or performance of these contracts.

Each series of securities will be a new issue of securities. Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the securities will not be listed on any exchange. It has not presently been established whether the underwriters, if any, of the securities will make a market in the securities. If the underwriters make a market in the securities, such market making may be discontinued at any time without notice.

Agents, dealers and underwriters may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which the agents, dealers or underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof. Agents, dealers or underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us and our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus has been passed upon for us by Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C., Little Rock, Arkansas. As of March 24, 2017, attorneys with Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C. participating in this matter beneficially own approximately 6,268 shares of our common stock. If legal matters in connection with offerings made pursuant to this prospectus are passed upon by counsel for the underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, such counsel will be named in the prospectus supplement relating to such offering.

EXPERTS

BKD, LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, as set forth in their reports, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on BKD, LLP’s reports, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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HOME BANCSHARES, INC.

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Rights

Warrants

Subordinated Debt Securities

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

 

 

 


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PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the various expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities registered hereby. Home BancShares will bear all of these expenses. All amounts are estimated:

 

SEC registration fee

   $     *  

Legal fees and expenses

         **  

Accounting fees and expenses

         **  

Miscellaneous fees and expenses

         **  
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

   $         **  

 

* Under Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act, the SEC registration fee will be paid at the time of any particular offering of securities under the registration statement, and is therefore not currently determinable.
** An estimate of the aggregate amount of these expenses will be reflected in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Our Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and Restated Bylaws authorize and require us to indemnify our directors, officers, employees and agents to the full extent permitted by law. Section 4-27-850 of the Arkansas Business Corporation Act of 1987 contains detailed and comprehensive provisions providing for indemnification of directors and officers of Arkansas corporations against expenses, judgments, fines and settlements in connection with litigation. Under Arkansas law, other than an action brought by or in the right of Home BancShares, such indemnification is available if it is determined that the proposed indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Home BancShares and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

In actions brought by or in the right of Home BancShares, the Arkansas statute limits such indemnification to expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in the defense or settlement of such action if the indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Home BancShares. However, no indemnification is allowed in actions brought by or in the right of Home BancShares with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person has been adjudged to be liable to us, unless and only to the extent that the court determines upon application that, in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper.

To the extent that the proposed indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding (or any claim, issue or matter therein), under Arkansas law we must indemnify him or her against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) that he or she actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such defense.

Our Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, also provide that no director shall be liable to us or our shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director to the fullest extent permitted by the Arkansas Business Corporation Act.

 

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Item 16. Exhibits.

The exhibits to this registration statement are listed on the exhibit index, which appears elsewhere herein and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 17. Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

Provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) above do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for

 

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liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(6) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 15 above, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, that the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Home BancShares, Inc. certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Conway, State of Arkansas, on March 28, 2017.

 

HOME BANCSHARES, INC.
By:  

/S/ C. RANDALL SIMS

  C. Randall Sims
  Chief Executive Officer and President

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Brian S. Davis and Jennifer C. Floyd, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature    Title   Date

/S/ JOHN W. ALLISON

John W. Allison

  

Chairman of the Board of Directors

  March 28, 2017

/S/ C. RANDALL SIMS

C. Randall Sims

   Chief Executive Officer, President and Director (Principal Executive Officer)   March 28, 2017

/S/ BRIAN S. DAVIS

Brian S. Davis

   Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Director (Principal Financial Officer)   March 28, 2017

/S/ JENNIFER C. FLOYD

Jennifer C. Floyd

   Chief Accounting Officer and Investor Relations Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)   March 28, 2017

/S/ MILBURN ADAMS

Milburn Adams

   Director   March 28, 2017

 

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/S/ ROBERT H. ADCOCK, JR.

Robert H. Adcock, Jr.

   Vice Chairman of the Board and Director   March 28, 2017

/S/ RICHARD H. ASHLEY

Richard H. Ashley

   Director   March 28, 2017

/S/ MIKE D. BEEBE

Mike D. Beebe

   Director   March 28, 2017

/S/ DALE A. BRUNS

Dale A. Bruns

   Director   March 28, 2017

/S/ JACK E. ENGELKES

Jack E. Engelkes

   Director   March 28, 2017

/S/ TRACY M. FRENCH

Tracy M. French

   Director   March 28, 2017

/S/ JAMES G. HINKLE

James G. Hinkle

   Director   March 28, 2017

/S/ ALEX R. LIEBLONG

Alex R. Lieblong

   Director   March 28, 2017

/S/ THOMAS J. LONGE

Thomas J. Longe

   Director   March 28, 2017

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

      

Description

  4.1      Restated Articles of Incorporation of Home BancShares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Home BancShares’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-132427), as amended)
  4.2      Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of Home BancShares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of Home BancShares’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-132427), as amended)
  4.3      Second Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of Home BancShares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of Home BancShares’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-132427), as amended)
  4.4      Third Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of Home BancShares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 of Home BancShares’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-132427), as amended)
  4.5      Fourth Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of Home BancShares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Home BancShares’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, filed on August 8, 2007)
  4.6      Fifth Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of Home BancShares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 of Home BancShares’s registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-157165))
  4.7      Certificate of Designations of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Arkansas on January 14, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Home BancShares’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 21, 2009)
  4.8      Seventh Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of Home BancShares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Home BancShares’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on April 19, 2013)
  4.9      Eighth Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of Home BancShares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Home BancShares’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on April 22, 2016)
  4.10      Restated Bylaws of Home BancShares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.5 of Home BancShares’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-132427), as amended)
  4.11      Specimen Stock Certificate representing Home BancShares, Inc. Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 of Home BancShares’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-132427), as amended)
  4.12*      Form of Certificate of Designations with respect to any series of preferred stock issued hereunder
  4.13*      Form of Preferred Stock Certificate
  4.14*      Form of Rights Agreement
  4.15*      Form of Warrant Agreement, including form of Warrant Certificate
  4.16      Form of Subordinated Indenture
  4.17*      Form of Subordinated Debt Security
  5.1      Opinion of Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C.


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Exhibit
Number

      

Description

12.1      Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 12.1 of Home BancShares’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed on February 28, 2017)
23.1      Consent of BKD, LLP
23.2      Consent of Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C. (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1      Power of Attorney (on signature page)
25.1      Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 under the Subordinated Indenture

 

* To be filed by a post-effective amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.