Filing Details

Accession Number:
0001193125-22-073691
Form Type:
13D Filing
Publication Date:
2022-03-13 20:00:00
Filed By:
Norcross George E Iii
Company:
Republic First Bancorp Inc (NASDAQ:FRBK)
Filing Date:
2022-03-14
SEC Url:
13D Filing
Ownership Summary

Please notice the below summary table is generated without human intervention and may contain errors. Please refer to the complete filing displayed below for exact figures.

Name Sole Voting Power Shared Voting Power Sole Dispositive Power Shared Dispositive Power Aggregate Amount Owned Power Percent of Class
George E. Norcross, III 674,572 0 674,572 0 674,572 1.1%
Avery Conner Capital Trust 0 4,219,627 0 4,219,627 4,219,627 7.1%
Philip A. Norcross 400,000 4,219,627 400,000 4,219,627 4,619,627 7.8%
Susan D. Hudson, in her capacity as a Trustee 0 4,219,627 0 4,219,627 4,219,627 7.1%
Geoffrey B. Hudson, in his capacity as a Trustee 0 4,219,627 0 4,219,627 4,219,627 7.1%
Rose M. Guida, in her capacity as a Trustee 0 4,219,627 0 4,219,627 4,219,627 7.1%
Gregory B. Braca 412,384 0 412,384 0 412,384 0.7%
Filing

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Schedule 13D/A

(Rule 13d-101)

Information to be Included in Statements Filed Pursuant to § 240.13d-1(a) and Amendments Thereto Filed Pursuant to § 240.13d-2(a)

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. 9)*

 

 

Republic First Bancorp, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

760416107

(CUSIP Number)

 

George E. Norcross, III

350 Royal Palm Way, Suite 500

Palm Beach, Florida 33480

(561) 500-4600

With a Copy to:

H. Rodgin Cohen

Mitchell S. Eitel

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

125 Broad Street

New York, NY 10004

212-558-4000

(Name, address and telephone number of person authorized to receive notices and communications)

March 11, 2022

(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

 

 

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box  ☐.

 

 

Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See § 240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

 

 

 

*

The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting persons initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be filed for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Act) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

 

 

 


CUSIP No. 760416107    SCHEDULE 13D/A    Page 2 of 10

 

  1    

  Names of Reporting Persons

 

  George E. Norcross, III

  2    

  Check the Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

  a.  ☒        b.  ☐

 

  3    

  SEC Use Only

 

  4    

  Source of Funds (See Instructions)

 

  PF

  5    

  Check Box If Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)

 

  ☐

  6    

  Citizenship or Place of Organization

 

  United States of America

Number of

Shares

  Beneficially  

Owned By

Each

Reporting

Person

With

    7     

  Sole Voting Power

 

  674,572

  8     

  Shared Voting Power

 

  0

  9     

  Sole Dispositive Power

 

  674,572

  10     

  Shared Dispositive Power

 

  0

11    

  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

 

  674,572(1)

12    

  Check Box If the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)

 

  ☐

13    

  Percent of Class Represented By Amount in Row (11)

 

  1.1%(2)

14    

  Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

 

  IN

 

(1)

The Reporting Person is reporting on this Schedule 13D as a member of a group with the other Reporting Persons. The group beneficially owns 5,706,583 shares of Common Stock owned by all of the Reporting Persons in the aggregate, representing approximately 9.6% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. See Item 5.

(2)

For purposes of calculating beneficial ownership percentages in this statement on Schedule 13D, the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of November 5, 2021 is 59,454,998, as reported by the Issuer in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2021, filed with the SEC on November 8, 2021.


CUSIP No. 760416107    SCHEDULE 13D/A    Page 3 of 10

 

  1    

  Names of Reporting Persons

 

   Avery Conner Capital Trust

  2    

  Check the Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

  a.  ☒        b.  ☐

 

  3    

  SEC Use Only

 

  4    

  Source of Funds (See Instructions)

 

  AF, WC

  5    

  Check Box If Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)

 

  ☐

  6    

  Citizenship or Place of Organization

 

  Florida

Number of

Shares

  Beneficially  

Owned By

Each

Reporting

Person

With

    7     

  Sole Voting Power

 

  0

  8     

  Shared Voting Power

 

  4,219,627(3)

  9     

  Sole Dispositive Power

 

  0

  10     

  Shared Dispositive Power

 

  4,219,627(3)

11    

  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

 

  4,219,627(1)

12    

  Check Box If the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)

 

  ☐

13    

  Percent of Class Represented By Amount in Row (11)

 

  7.1%(2)

14    

  Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

 

  OO

 

(3)

4,219,627 shares of Common Stock held by the Avery Conner Capital Trust, of which Philip A. Norcross, Susan D. Hudson, Geoffrey B. Hudson and Rose M. Guida serve as Trustees and may be deemed to have shared beneficial ownership as Trustees.


CUSIP No. 760416107    SCHEDULE 13D/A    Page 4 of 10

 

  1    

  Names of Reporting Persons

 

  Philip A. Norcross

  2    

  Check the Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

  a.  ☒        b.  ☐

 

  3    

  SEC Use Only

 

  4    

  Source of Funds (See Instructions)

 

  PF, OO See Item 3

  5    

  Check Box If Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)

 

  ☐

  6    

  Citizenship or Place of Organization

 

  United States of America

Number of

Shares

  Beneficially  

Owned By

Each

Reporting

Person

With

    7     

  Sole Voting Power

 

  400,000

  8     

  Shared Voting Power

 

  4,219,627(3)

  9     

  Sole Dispositive Power

 

  400,000

  10     

  Shared Dispositive Power

 

  4,219,627(3)

11    

  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

 

  4,619,627(1), (3)

12    

  Check Box If the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)

 

  ☐

13    

  Percent of Class Represented By Amount in Row (11)

 

  7.8%(2)

14    

  Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

 

  IN


CUSIP No. 760416107    SCHEDULE 13D/A    Page 5 of 10

 

  1    

  Names of Reporting Persons

 

  Susan D. Hudson, in her capacity as a Trustee

  2    

  Check the Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

  a.  ☒        b.  ☐

 

  3    

  SEC Use Only

 

  4    

  Source of Funds (See Instructions)

 

  OO See Item 3

  5    

  Check Box If Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)

 

  ☐

  6    

  Citizenship or Place of Organization

 

  United States of America

Number of

Shares

  Beneficially  

Owned By

Each

Reporting

Person

With

    7     

  Sole Voting Power

 

  0

  8     

  Shared Voting Power

 

  4,219,627(3)

  9     

  Sole Dispositive Power

 

  0

  10     

  Shared Dispositive Power

 

  4,219,627(3)

11    

  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

 

  4,219,627(1), (3)

12    

  Check Box If the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)

 

  ☐

13    

  Percent of Class Represented By Amount in Row (11)

 

  7.1%(2)

14    

  Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

 

  IN


CUSIP No. 760416107    SCHEDULE 13D/A    Page 6 of 10

 

  1    

  Names of Reporting Persons

 

  Geoffrey B. Hudson, in his capacity as a Trustee

  2    

  Check the Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

  a.  ☒        b.  ☐

 

  3    

  SEC Use Only

 

  4    

  Source of Funds (See Instructions)

 

  OO See Item 3

  5    

  Check Box If Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)

 

  ☐

  6    

  Citizenship or Place of Organization

 

  United States of America

Number of

Shares

  Beneficially  

Owned By

Each

Reporting

Person

With

    7     

  Sole Voting Power

 

  0

  8     

  Shared Voting Power

 

  4,219,627(3)

  9     

  Sole Dispositive Power

 

  0

  10     

  Shared Dispositive Power

 

  4,219,627(3)

11    

  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

 

  4,219,627(3)

12    

  Check Box If the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)

 

  ☐

13    

  Percent of Class Represented By Amount in Row (11)

 

  7.1%(2)

14    

  Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

 

  IN


CUSIP No. 760416107    SCHEDULE 13D/A    Page 7 of 10

 

  1    

  Names of Reporting Persons

 

  Rose M. Guida, in her capacity as a Trustee

  2    

  Check the Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

  a.  ☒        b.  ☐

 

  3    

  SEC Use Only

 

  4    

  Source of Funds (See Instructions)

 

  OO See Item 3

  5    

  Check Box If Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)

 

  ☐

  6    

  Citizenship or Place of Organization

 

  United States of America

Number of

Shares

  Beneficially  

Owned By

Each

Reporting

Person

With

    7     

  Sole Voting Power

 

  0

  8     

  Shared Voting Power

 

  4,219,627(3)

  9     

  Sole Dispositive Power

 

  0

  10     

  Shared Dispositive Power

 

  4,219,627(3)

11    

  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

 

  4,219,627(1), (3)

12    

  Check Box If the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)

 

  ☐

13    

  Percent of Class Represented By Amount in Row (11)

 

  7.1%(2)

14    

  Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

 

  IN


CUSIP No. 760416107    SCHEDULE 13D/A    Page 8 of 10

 

  1    

  Names of Reporting Persons

 

  Gregory B. Braca

  2    

  Check the Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

  a.  ☒        b.  ☐

 

  3    

  SEC Use Only

 

  4    

  Source of Funds (See Instructions)

 

  PF

  5    

  Check Box If Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)

 

  ☐

  6    

  Citizenship or Place of Organization

 

  United States of America

Number of

Shares

  Beneficially  

Owned By

Each

Reporting

Person

With

    7     

  Sole Voting Power

 

  412,384

  8     

  Shared Voting Power

 

  0

  9     

  Sole Dispositive Power

 

  412,384

  10     

  Shared Dispositive Power

 

  0

11    

  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

 

  412,384(1)

12    

  Check Box If the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)

 

  ☐

13    

  Percent of Class Represented By Amount in Row (11)

 

  0.7%(2)

14    

  Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

 

  IN


CUSIP No. 760416107    SCHEDULE 13D/A    Page 9 of 10

 

This Amendment No. 9 (Amendment No. 9) amends the statement on Schedule 13D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on January 31, 2022, as amended prior to the date of this Amendment No. 9 (the Original Schedule 13D) as specifically set forth herein (as so amended, the Schedule 13D). Except as provided herein, each Item of the Original Schedule 13D remains unchanged.

 

Item 4.

Purpose of the Transaction.

Item 4 of the Original Schedule 13D is hereby amended to delete the last paragraph thereof and add the following:

On March 11, 2022, Raymond James & Associates, Inc. submitted a non-binding proposal to the Issuers financial advisors, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., on behalf of the Reporting Persons (the Term Sheet). The Term Sheet sets forth certain key terms of the Reporting Persons proposal to (i) make an initial direct investment of $50,000,000 through the purchase of newly-issued non-voting preferred shares of the Issuer and (ii) a second-step transaction that will provide additional liquidity to the Issuers shareholders through the acquisition of shares of Common Stock, in each case, subject to receipt of all necessary or appropriate corporate and regulatory approvals. The Term Sheet also sets forth certain governance arrangements, including that upon executing a transaction agreement, at least one of an identified group of four directors will resign, the Reporting Persons will have the right to nominate two directors to the board of directors of the Issuer and Republic First Bank, Mr. Vernon Hill will resign as the Issuers Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the Board will appoint Mr. Gregory B. Braca, effective upon receipt of any required regulatory approvals, as the Issuers Chief Executive Officer. Additional arrangements will be agreed to and reflected in the transaction agreement.

The foregoing summary of the Term Sheet does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Term Sheet, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 7(e) and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The Term Sheet is only a proposal, and the Reporting Persons give no assurance that any transaction will be entered into, or as to the timing of any such transaction or steps toward a transaction. The Reporting Persons cannot predict the Issuers response to the Term Sheet, and there can be no assurances as to how such proposal may be supplemented or revised or what further actions would be taken by the Reporting Persons. Each Reporting Person reserves the right to take actions and make proposals other than as described in the Term Sheet described in this Item 4.

 

Item 7.

Material to be Filed as Exhibits.

Item 7 of the Original Schedule 13D is hereby amended to add the following exhibit:

 

Exhibit
Number
  Description
7(e)   Term Sheet

CUSIP No. 760416107    SCHEDULE 13D/A    Page 10 of 10

 

SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Date: March 11, 2022    

 

George E. Norcross, III

By:

 

/s/ George E. Norcross, III

Avery Conner Capital Trust

By:

 

/s/ Philip A. Norcross

Name:

  Philip A. Norcross

Title:

  Trustee
Philip A. Norcross

By:

 

/s/ Philip A. Norcross

Susan D. Hudson

By:

 

/s/ Susan D. Hudson

Geoffrey B. Hudson

By:

 

/s/ Geoffrey B. Hudson

Rose M. Guida

By:

 

/s/ Rose M. Guida

Gregory B. Braca

By:

 

/s/ Gregory B. Braca