Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-214192
(to Prospectus dated November 30, 2016)
Unity Bancorp, Inc.
$15,000,000
Common Stock
We have entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement, which we refer to as the Sales Agreement, with Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., whom we refer to as the Distribution Agent, relating to shares of our common stock offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. In accordance with the terms of the Sales Agreement, we may offer and sell shares of our common stock, no par value per share, having an aggregate offering price of up to $15,000,000 from time to time through the Distribution Agent.
Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “UNTY.” On December 1, 2016, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market was $13.75 per share.
Upon our delivery of a placement notice, if any, under the Sales Agreement, the Distribution Agent may sell shares of our common stock by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which we refer to as the Securities Act, including without limitation sales made directly on the NASDAQ Global Market, on any other existing trading market for the common stock or to or through a market maker. In addition, with our prior consent, the Distribution Agent may also sell the common stock by any other method permitted by law, including, but not limited to, negotiated transactions. Sales may be made at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The Distribution Agent is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of our common stock, but will act as agent using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its respective normal sales and trading practices on terms mutually agreed upon between the Distribution Agent and us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
The Distribution Agent will be entitled to compensation at a commission rate of 2.5% of the gross proceeds from each sale of common stock. In connection with the sale of the common stock on our behalf, the Distribution Agent will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation of the Distribution Agent will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to the Distribution Agent against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
The common stock is not a savings account, deposit or other obligation of our bank or non-bank subsidiaries and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or the FDIC, or any other government agency.
Investing in our common stock involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-3 of this prospectus supplement, as well as those risk factors contained in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, to read about other risk factors you should consider before buying shares of our common stock.
None of the SEC, any state securities commission, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the FDIC or any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods
A Stifel Company
The date of this prospectus supplement is December 1, 2016.
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering and also supplements and, in certain cases, updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, provides more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. You should read both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, as well as the information in the documents to which we have referred you in the sections entitled “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” and “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus supplement.
If the information set forth in this prospectus supplement differs from the information set forth in the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information set forth in this prospectus supplement. Similarly, if the information set forth in this prospectus supplement differs from the information contained in any document incorporated by reference that was filed prior to the date of this prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information set forth in this prospectus supplement.
You should not consider any information in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus to be investment, legal or tax advice. You should consult your own counsel, accountant and other advisors for legal, tax, business, financial and related advice regarding the purchase of our common stock. We are not making any representation to you regarding the legality of an investment in the common stock by you under applicable investment or similar laws.
You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any free writing prospectus filed by us with the SEC. This prospectus supplement may be used only for the purpose for which it has been prepared. No one is authorized to give information other than that contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any free writing prospectus filed by us with the SEC and the documents referred to in this prospectus supplement and which are made available to the public. We have not, and the Distribution Agent has not, authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it.
We are not, and the Distribution Agent is not, making an offer to sell the common stock in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any free writing prospectus filed by us with the SEC or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the applicable document. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date. Neither this prospectus supplement nor the accompanying prospectus constitutes an offer, or an invitation on our behalf or on behalf of the Distribution Agent, to subscribe for and purchase, any of the common stock and may not be used for or in connection with an offer or solicitation by anyone, in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is not authorized or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation.
All references in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus to “Unity Bancorp,” “Unity,” the “company,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or similar references refer to Unity Bancorp, Inc., and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, except where the context otherwise requires or as otherwise indicated.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein contain forward-looking information within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to future events or future predictions, including events or predictions relating to future financial performance, and are generally identifiable by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “plan,” “intend,” or “anticipate” or the negative thereof or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and estimates regarding future events and circumstances and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors, including the risks described under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, which is incorporated by reference herein, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our filings with the SEC, that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. This information is based upon various assumptions that may not prove to be correct.
In addition to the risks described under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the reports we file with the SEC under the Exchange Act, important factors to consider and evaluate with respect to such forward-looking statements include:
· changes in external competitive market factors that might impact our results of operations;
· changes in laws and regulations, including without limitation changes in capital requirements under Basel III;
· changes in our business strategy or an inability to execute our strategy due to the occurrence of unanticipated events;
· our ability to identify potential candidates for, and consummate, acquisition or investment transactions;
· local, regional and national economic conditions and events and the impact they may have on us and our customers;
· costs and effects of regulatory and legal developments, including the results of regulatory examinations and the outcome of regulatory or other governmental inquiries and proceedings, such as fines or restrictions on our business activities;
· our ability to attract deposits and other sources of liquidity;
· changes in the financial performance and/or condition of our borrowers;
· changes in the level of non-performing and classified assets and charge-offs;
· changes in estimates of future loan loss reserve requirements based upon the periodic review thereof under relevant regulatory and accounting requirements;
· inflation, interest rate, securities market and monetary fluctuations;
· timely development and acceptance of new banking products and services and perceived overall value of these products and services by users;
· changes in consumer spending, borrowing and saving habits;
· technological changes;
· our ability to increase market share and control expenses;
· continued volatility in the credit and equity markets and its effect on the general economy;
· effects of changes in accounting policies and practices, 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;
· our ability to implement and maintain our disclosure controls, processes and procedures, as well as our internal control over financial reporting, and to remediate any deficiencies or weaknesses in such systems;
· our ability to successfully implement our growth strategy, control expenses and maintain liquidity; and
· Unity Bank’s ability to pay dividends to Unity Bancorp.
You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, or, in the case of other documents referred to herein, the dates of those documents. We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly or otherwise provide any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable law.
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and in the documents we incorporate by reference. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before deciding to invest in our common stock. You should read this entire prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus carefully, including the “Risk Factors” section contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, and our financial statements and the related notes and the other documents incorporated by reference herein, which are described under the heading “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” in this prospectus supplement.
Unity Bancorp, Inc.
Unity Bancorp, Inc. is a bank holding company incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey to serve as a holding company for Unity Bank. The only significant activity of the Company is ownership and supervision of the Bank. The Company also owns 100% of the common equity of Unity (NJ) Statutory Trust II. The trust has issued $10.0 million of preferred securities to investors.
The Bank opened for business on September 16, 1991. The Bank is a full-service commercial bank, providing a wide range of business and consumer financial services through its main office in Clinton, New Jersey and sixteen New Jersey branches located in Clinton, Edison, Emerson, Flemington, Highland Park, Linden, Middlesex, North Plainfield, Phillipsburg, Scotch Plains, Somerset, Somerville, South Plainfield, Union, Washington and Whitehouse. In addition, the Bank has one Pennsylvania branch located in Forks Township. The Bank’s primary service area encompasses the Route 22/Route 78 corridors between the Forks Township, Pennsylvania office and its Linden, New Jersey branch, as well as the Bergen County, New Jersey communities served by the Emerson branch.
The principal executive offices of the Company are located at 64 Old Highway 22, Clinton, New Jersey 08809, and the telephone number is (800) 618-2265. The Company’s website address is www.unitybank.com.
The Company’s primary business is ownership and supervision of the Bank. The Company, through the Bank, conducts a traditional and community-oriented commercial banking business and offers services, including personal and business checking accounts, time deposits, money market accounts and regular savings accounts. The Company structures its specific services and charges in a manner designed to attract the business of the small and medium sized business and professional community, as well as that of individuals residing, working and shopping in its service area. The Company engages in a wide range of lending activities and offers commercial, Small Business Administration (“SBA”), consumer, mortgage, home equity and personal loans.
The Company’s primary service area is defined as the neighborhoods served by the Bank’s offices. The Bank’s main office, located in Clinton, NJ, in combination with its Flemington and Whitehouse offices, serves the greater area of Hunterdon County. The Bank’s North Plainfield and Somerset offices serve those communities located in the northern, eastern and central parts of Somerset County and the southernmost communities of Union County. The Bank’s Scotch Plains, Linden, and Union offices serve the majority of the communities in Union County and the southwestern communities of Essex County. The offices in Middlesex, South Plainfield, Highland Park, and Edison extend the Company’s service area into Middlesex County. The Bank’s Phillipsburg and Washington offices serve Warren County. The Bank’s Emerson office serves Bergen County, New Jersey. The Bank’s Forks Township office serves Northampton County, Pennsylvania.
The Company is located in an extremely competitive area. The Company’s service area is also serviced by national banks, major regional banks, large thrift institutions and a variety of credit unions. In addition, since passage of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Financial Modernization Act of 1999 (the “Modernization Act”), securities firms and insurance companies have been allowed to acquire or form financial institutions, thereby increasing competition in the financial services market. Most of the Company’s competitors have substantially more capital, and therefore greater lending limits than the Company. The Company’s competitors generally have established positions in the service area and have greater resources than the Company with which to pay for advertising, physical facilities, personnel and interest on deposited funds. The Company relies on the competitive pricing of its loans, deposits and other services, as well as its ability to provide local decision-making and personal service in order to compete with these larger institutions.
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Issuer |
Unity Bancorp, Inc. |
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Securities Offered |
Shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $15,000,000. |
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Manner of Offering |
“At the market offering” that may be made from time to time through the Distribution Agent. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page S-5 of this prospectus supplement. |
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Use of Proceeds |
We expect to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital to support organic growth at Unity Bank, and to support possible acquisitions of other financial institutions, should opportunities for such acquisitions arise. We have no current agreement to acquire any other financial institutions. We have not identified the amounts we will spend on any specific purpose. Accordingly, we will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds. See “Use of Proceeds” on page S-5 of this prospectus supplement. |
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NASDAQ Global Market Symbol |
UNTY |
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Risk Factors |
See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-3 of this prospectus supplement, as well as in our reports filed with the SEC, and other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus for a discussion of factors you should consider carefully before deciding to invest our common stock. |
An investment in our common stock involves substantial risks. In consultation with your own advisers, you should carefully consider, among other matters, the factors set forth below and in the accompanying prospectus as well as the other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus before deciding whether an investment in our common stock is suitable for you. In particular, you should carefully consider, among other things, the factors described under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference, and any reports we file with the SEC in the future, which may amend, supplement or supersede those factors. If any of the risks contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus develop into actual events, our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and prospects could be materially and adversely affected, the market price of our common stock could decline and you may lose all or part of your investment. Some statements in this prospectus supplement, including statements in the following risk factors, constitute forward-looking statements. See the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” sections in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying prospectus.
Risks Related to Our Business
For a discussion of risks applicable to our business and operations, please refer to the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, and which may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future, each of which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
Risks Related to this Offering and our Common Stock
We have broad discretion in using the net proceeds, if any, from this offering and may use the proceeds in ways with which you may not agree and in ways that may not enhance our operating results or the value of our common stock.
We are not guaranteed to receive any particular amount of proceeds from this offering. In addition, our management will retain broad discretion over the use of any proceeds we do receive from this offering, and we may ultimately use the proceeds in ways that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our common stock or otherwise in ways with which you do not agree. If we do not invest or apply the proceeds of this offering effectively and on a timely basis, it could have a material adverse effect on our business and could cause the market price of our common stock to decline.
We may issue additional shares of common stock, preferred stock or equity, debt or derivative securities in the future, which could adversely affect the value or voting power of your shares of common stock.
We are generally able to offer shares of our common stock or preferred stock by action of our board of directors without further shareholder approval. In addition, our board of directors has authority to issue senior and subordinated debt without further shareholder approval. These securities may be issued in a variety of circumstances and for a variety of purposes, for cash, services or as full or partial consideration in connection with acquisitions of assets or businesses. Future issuances may result in the dilution of the value and/or voting power of the shares of our common stock you purchase in this offering, and could cause the market price of our common stock to decline.
General market conditions and unpredictable factors could adversely affect market prices for the common stock.
There can be no assurance about the market prices for the common stock. A variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control, could influence the market price of the common stock, including:
· our operating performance, financial condition and prospects, or the operating performance financial condition and prospects of our competitors;
· developments in the securities, credit and housing markets, and developments with respect to financial institutions generally; and
· economic, financial, corporate, securities market, geopolitical, regulatory or judicial events that affect us, the banking industry or the financial markets generally.
We are a holding company and depend on our subsidiaries for dividends, distributions and other payments.
Unity Bancorp, Inc. is a legal entity separate and distinct from our banking and other subsidiaries. Our principal source of cash flow, including cash flow to pay dividends to our shareholders and to pay principal of and interest on our outstanding debt, is dividends from our banking subsidiary, Unity Bank. Various federal and state statutes, regulations and rules limit, directly or indirectly, the amount of dividends that our banking and other subsidiaries may pay to us without regulatory approval. In particular, dividend and other distributions from Unity Bank to us could require notice to or approval of the applicable regulatory authority in certain circumstances. There can be no assurances that we would receive such approval, if it were required.
In addition, the Federal Reserve and the FDIC have the authority to prohibit or to limit the payment of dividends by a banking organization under its jurisdiction if, in the regulator’s opinion, the organization is engaged in or is about to engage in an unsafe or unsound practice. Depending on the financial condition of Unity Bank, we may be deemed to be engaged in an unsafe or unsound practice if Unity Bank were to pay dividends. Federal Reserve policy generally requires insured banks only pay dividends out of current operating earnings.
Payment of dividends could also be subject to regulatory limitations if Unity Bank became “under-capitalized” for purposes of the “prompt corrective action” regulations of the federal bank regulatory agencies. See “Item 1, Business—Supervision and Regulation” in Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 for more information relating to federal and state regulations and rules that may limit the payment of dividends.
No assurances can be given that Unity Bank will, in any circumstances, pay dividends to us. If Unity Bank fails to make dividend payments to us, and sufficient cash or liquidity is not otherwise available, we may not be able to make principal and interest payments on our outstanding debt or dividend payments on our common stock.
An investment in our common stock is not an FDIC insured deposit.
The shares of common stock are not savings accounts, deposits or other obligations of any of our bank or non-bank subsidiaries and are not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other governmental agency or instrumentality. Your investment will be subject to investment risk and you may experience complete loss with respect to your investment.
We are not guaranteed to receive any particular amount of proceeds from this offering. The amount of the proceeds we receive from this offering will depend upon the number of shares of our common stock sold and the market price at which they are sold.
We expect to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital to support organic growth at Unity Bank, and to support future acquisitions of other financial institutions, should opportunities to acquire other institutions arise. We have no current agreement to acquire any other financial institution. We have not identified the amounts we will spend on any specific purpose. Accordingly, we will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds.
We currently pay a quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per share. Although we expect to continue paying dividends quarterly, any future determination to pay dividends on our common stock will be made by our board of directors and will depend upon our results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements, regulatory and contractual restrictions, our business strategy and other factors that our board of directors deems relevant.
We have entered into the Sales Agreement with the Distribution Agent under which we may issue and sell shares of our common stock having aggregate gross proceeds of up to $15,000,000 from time to time through the Distribution Agent. The Sales Agreement was filed with the SEC as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 1, 2016 and is incorporated herein by reference. The sales, if any, of shares of our common stock made under the Sales Agreement may be made by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act, including, without limitation, sales made directly on the NASDAQ Global Market, on any other existing trading market for the common stock or to or through a market maker. In addition, with our prior consent, the Distribution Agent may also sell the common stock by any other method permitted by law, including, but not limited to, negotiated transactions. We may instruct the Distribution Agent not to sell shares of the common stock if the sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by us from time to time. We or the Distribution Agent may suspend the offering of the common stock upon notice and subject to other conditions. As agent, the Distribution Agent will not engage in any transactions that stabilize the price of our common stock.
Each time we wish to issue and sell shares of our common stock under the Sales Agreement, we will notify the Distribution Agent of the number of shares to be issued, the dates on which such sales are anticipated to be made, any minimum price below which sales may not be made and other sales parameters as we deem appropriate. Once we have so instructed the Distribution Agent, unless the Distribution Agent declines to accept the terms of the notice, the Distribution Agent has agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such shares up to the amount specified on such terms. The obligations of the Distribution Agent under the Sales Agreement to sell our common stock are subject to a number of conditions that we must meet.
We will pay the Distribution Agent commissions for its services in acting as our agent in the sale of common stock. The Distribution Agent will be entitled to compensation at a commission rate of 2.5% of the gross proceeds from each sale of common stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. In connection with the sale of the common stock on our behalf, the Distribution Agent will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of the Distribution Agent will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to the Distribution Agent against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We estimate that the total expenses for the offering, excluding
compensation payable to the Distribution Agent under the terms of the Sales Agreement, will be approximately $125,000.
Settlement for sales of our common stock will occur on the third business day following the date on which any sales are made, or on another date that is agreed upon by us and the Distribution Agent in connection with a particular transaction, in return for payment of the net proceeds to us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
The offering pursuant to the Sales Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the issuance and sale of all common shares subject to the agreement or (ii) termination of the Sales Agreement by us or the Distribution Agent as permitted therein.
The Distribution Agent and its respective affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide various investment banking and other financial services to us and our affiliates, for which services they have received, and may in the future receive, customary fees. To the extent required by Regulation M, the Distribution Agent will not engage in any market making activities involving our common stock while the offering is ongoing under this prospectus supplement.
The validity of the shares of common stock offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP, New Brunswick, New Jersey. The Distribution Agent is being represented in connection with this offering by Silver, Freedman, Taff & Tiernan LLP, Washington, D.C.
Our audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2015 incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of RSM US, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated herein by reference, given on the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. These documents may include periodic reports, such as our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and definitive Proxy Statements. Any documents that we subsequently file with the SEC will automatically update and replace the information we previously filed with the SEC. Therefore, in the case of a conflict or inconsistency between information set forth in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus and information incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in the document that was filed later.
This prospectus supplement incorporates by reference the documents listed below that we previously have filed with the SEC (other than, in each case, documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules):
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 27, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 25, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 29, 2016
· our Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on March 4, 2016
· our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on March 4, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 24, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on April 25, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on April 28, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on April 29, 2016
· our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on May 10, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on May 11, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on May 27, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 25, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 25, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 2, 2016
· our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on August 8, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 26, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on October 25, 2016
· our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on November 9, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on November 18, 2016
We are also incorporating by reference all other documents that we subsequently file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (other than, in each case, information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules), prior to the termination of this offering.
You may obtain a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus (other than an exhibit to a document unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that document) from the SEC on its web site at http://www.sec.gov. You also may obtain these documents from us without charge by visiting our web site at http://www.unitybank.com or by requesting them from Alan J. Bedner, Chief Financial Officer, Unity Bancorp, Inc., 64 Old Highway 22, Clinton, New Jersey 08809; telephone (908) 713-4580.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy these reports, proxy statements and other information that 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 more information about the operation of the Public Reference Room. You can request copies of these documents by writing to the SEC and paying a fee for the copying costs. Our SEC filings are also available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, which contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. In addition, we maintain a website that contains information about us at http://www.unitybank.com. The information found on, or otherwise accessible through, our website is not incorporated into, and does not form a part of, this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or any other report or document we file with or furnish to the SEC.
We have also filed a registration statement (No. 333-214192) with the SEC relating to the securities offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are parts of the registration statement. You may obtain from the SEC a copy of the registration statement and exhibits that we filed with the SEC when we registered the securities offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The registration statement may contain additional information that may be important to you.
PROSPECTUS
$50,000,000
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Warrants
Debt Securities
Depositary Shares
Units
Unity Bancorp, Inc. may offer, issue and sell from time to time, together or separately, in one or more offerings, any combination of (i) our common stock, (ii) our preferred stock, which we may issue in one or more series, (iii) warrants, (iv) senior or subordinated debt securities, (v) depositary shares and (vi) units, up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $50,000,000. The debt securities may consist of debentures, notes, or other types of debt. The debt securities, preferred stock and warrants may be convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, common or preferred stock or other securities of ours. The preferred stock may be represented by depositary shares. The units may consist of any combination of the securities listed above.
We may offer and sell these securities in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of the offering. We will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, as well as the documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in this prospectus, carefully before you make your investment decision. Our common stock is quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market System under the symbol “UNTY.” On November 21, 2016, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market System was $13.65 per share. You are urged to obtain current market quotations of the common stock. Each prospectus supplement will indicate if the securities offered thereby will be listed on any securities exchange.
This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
We may offer to sell these securities on a continuous or delayed basis, through agents, dealers or underwriters, or directly to purchasers. The prospectus supplement for each offering of securities will describe in detail the plan of distribution for that offering. If our agents or any dealers or underwriters are involved in the sale of the securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the names of the agents, dealers or underwriters and any applicable commissions or discounts. Our net proceeds from the sale of securities will also be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. For general information about the distribution of securities offered, please see “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus.
Investing in these securities involves substantial risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 3 herein and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated by reference herein, updated and supplemented by our periodic reports and other information filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission and incorporated by reference herein. The prospectus supplement applicable to each type or series of securities we offer may contain a discussion of additional risks applicable to an investment in us and the particular type of securities we are offering under that prospectus supplement.
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR REGULATORY BODY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
THE SECURITIES ARE NOT SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF ANY BANK AND ARE NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY.
The date of this prospectus is November 30, 2016.
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference herein. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any other or different information. If anyone provides you with information that is different from, or inconsistent with, the information in this prospectus, you should not rely on it. You should assume that the information in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference is accurate only as of their respective dates. This document may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sales of our shares of common stock.
Neither we, nor any of our officers, directors, agents or representatives, make any representation to you about the legality of an investment in our common stock. You should not interpret the contents of this prospectus to be legal, business, investment or tax advice. You should consult with your own advisors for that type of advice and consult with them about the legal, tax, business, financial and other issues that you should consider before investing in our common stock.
This prospectus does not offer to sell, or ask for offers to buy, any shares of our common stock in any state or jurisdiction where it would not be lawful or where the person making the offer is not qualified to do so.
No action is being taken in any jurisdictions outside the United States to permit a public offering of our common stock or possession or distribution of this prospectus in those jurisdictions. Persons who come into possession of this prospectus in jurisdictions outside the United States are required to inform themselves about, and to observe, any restrictions that apply in those jurisdictions to this offering or the distribution of this prospectus.
As used in this prospectus, “Unity Bancorp, Inc.” “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Unity Bancorp, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some of the statements in this document discuss future expectations, contain projections or results of operations or financial conditions or state other “forward-looking” information. Those statements are subject to known and unknown risk, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements. We based the forward-looking statements on various factors and using numerous assumptions. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ from those contemplated by forward-looking statements include those disclosed or incorporated by reference under “Risk Factors” as well as the following factors:
· the success or failure of our efforts to implement our business strategy;
· the effect of changing economic conditions and, in particular, changes in interest rates;
· changes in government regulations, tax rates and similar matters;
· our ability to attract and retain quality employees; and
· risks which may be described in our future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (referred to as the SEC).
We do not undertake to update forward-looking information to reflect actual results or changes in assumptions or other factors that could affect those statements.
The Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, allows us to “incorporate by reference” information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to other documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus. We incorporate by reference each of the documents listed below, except for portions of such reports which were deemed to be furnished and not filed:
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 27, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 29, 2016
· Our Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on March 4, 2016
· our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on March 4, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 24, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on April 25, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on April 28, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on April 29, 2016
· our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on May 10, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on May 11, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on May 27, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 25, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 25, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 2, 2016
· our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on August 8, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 26, 2016
· our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on October 25, 2016
· our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on November 9, 2016
In addition, all filings filed by the Company pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and all documents subsequently filed after the date of this prospectus pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c),14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended shall be deemed incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
You can obtain these documents from us, without charge (other than exhibits, unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference), by requesting them in writing or by telephone at the following address:
Unity Bancorp, Inc.
Attn: Alan Bedner, Chief Financial Officer
64 Old Highway 22
Clinton, NJ 08809
(908) 730-7630
Or by visiting our following website, and clicking on the “Investor Relations” link:
http://www.unitybank.com/
This prospectus is a part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell any combination of 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. You should read the registration statement and the accompanying exhibits for further information. The registration statement, including the exhibits and the documents incorporated or deemed incorporated herein by reference, can be read and are available to the public on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 27.
Each time we sell securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the terms of a particular offering by us. That prospectus supplement may include a discussion of any risk factors or other special considerations that apply to those securities. 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 read both this prospectus and, if applicable, any prospectus supplement. See “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 27 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 this prospectus indicates otherwise or the context otherwise requires, the terms “we,” “our,” “us,” “Unity,” “Unity Bancorp” or the “Company” as used in this prospectus refer to Unity Bancorp, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including Unity Bank, which we sometimes refer to as the “Bank,” except that such terms refer to only Unity Bancorp, Inc. and not its subsidiaries in the sections entitled “Description of Common Stock,” “Description of Preferred Stock,” “Description of Warrants,” “Description of Debt Securities,” “Description of Depositary Shares” and “Description of Units.”
Unity Bancorp, Inc.
Unity Bancorp, Inc. is a bank holding company incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey to serve as a holding company for Unity Bank. The Company was organized at the direction of the Board of Directors of the Bank for the purpose of acquiring all of the capital stock of the Bank. The only significant activity of the Company is ownership and supervision of the Bank. The Company also owns 100% of the common equity of Unity (NJ) Statutory Trust II. The trust has issued $10.0 million of preferred securities to investors.
The Bank opened for business on September 16, 1991. The Bank is a full-service commercial bank, providing a wide range of business and consumer financial services through its main office in Clinton, New Jersey and fifteen New Jersey branches located in Clinton, Edison, Emerson, Flemington, Highland Park, Linden, Middlesex, North Plainfield, Phillipsburg, Scotch Plains, Somerset, South Plainfield, Union, Washington and Whitehouse. In addition, the Bank has one Pennsylvania branch located in Forks Township. The Bank’s primary service area encompasses the Route 22/Route 78 corridors between the Forks Township, Pennsylvania office and its
Linden, New Jersey branch. The Bank anticipates opening a new branch in Somerville, New Jersey in November 2016.
The principal executive offices of the Company are located at 64 Old Highway 22, Clinton, New Jersey 08809, and the telephone number is (800) 618-2265. The Company’s website address is www.unitybank.com.
The Company’s primary business is ownership and supervision of the Bank. The Company, through the Bank, conducts a traditional and community-oriented commercial banking business and offers services, including personal and business checking accounts, time deposits, money market accounts and regular savings accounts. The Company structures its specific services and charges in a manner designed to attract the business of the small and medium sized business and professional community, as well as that of individuals residing, working and shopping in its service area. The Company engages in a wide range of lending activities and offers commercial, Small Business Administration (“SBA”), consumer, mortgage, home equity and personal loans.
The Company’s primary service area is defined as the neighborhoods served by the Bank’s offices. The Bank’s main office, located in Clinton, NJ, in combination with its Flemington and Whitehouse offices, serves the greater area of Hunterdon County. The Bank’s North Plainfield and Somerset offices serve those communities located in the northern, eastern and central parts of Somerset County and the southernmost communities of Union County. The Bank’s Scotch Plains, Linden, and Union offices serve the majority of the communities in Union County and the southwestern communities of Essex County. The offices in Middlesex, South Plainfield, Highland Park, and Edison extend the Company’s service area into Middlesex County. The Bank’s Phillipsburg and Washington offices serve Warren County. The Bank’s Emerson office serves Bergen County, New Jersey. The Bank’s Forks Township office serves Northampton County, Pennsylvania.
The Company is located in an extremely competitive area. The Company’s service area is also serviced by national banks, major regional banks, large thrift institutions and a variety of credit unions. In addition, since passage of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Financial Modernization Act of 1999 (the “Modernization Act”), securities firms and insurance companies have been allowed to acquire or form financial institutions, thereby increasing competition in the financial services market. Most of the Company’s competitors have substantially more capital, and therefore greater lending limits than the Company. The Company’s competitors generally have established positions in the service area and have greater resources than the Company with which to pay for advertising, physical facilities, personnel and interest on deposited funds. The Company relies on the competitive pricing of its loans, deposits and other services, as well as its ability to provide local decision-making and personal service in order to compete with these larger institutions.
An investment in our securities involves risks. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and in our updates to those Risk Factors in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q following the most recent Form 10-K, and in all other information appearing in this prospectus or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. The material risks and uncertainties that management believes affect us will be described in those documents. In addition to those risk factors, there may be additional risks and uncertainties of which management is not aware or focused on or that management deems immaterial. Our business, financial condition or 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. This prospectus is qualified in its entirety by these risk factors.
Our common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Market, under the symbol “UNTY.” As of November 17, 2016, we had approximately 385 holders of record. The following table shows the high and low sales price during the periods indicated, as well as dividends declared:
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Price Range |
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Quarterly Dividends |
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|
High |
|
Low |
|
Stock |
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2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
|
Fourth Quarter |
|
$ |
11.37 |
|
$ |
7.39 |
|
$ |
0.027 |
|
|
Third Quarter |
|
8.83 |
|
7.52 |
|
0.027 |
| |||
|
Second Quarter |
|
8.44 |
|
7.12 |
|
0.018 |
| |||
|
First Quarter |
|
7.43 |
|
6.50 |
|
0.018 |
| |||
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
|
2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
|
Fourth Quarter |
|
$ |
11.71 |
|
$ |
8.66 |
|
$ |
0.036 |
|
|
Third Quarter |
|
9.22 |
|
8.55 |
|
0.036 |
| |||
|
Second Quarter |
|
9.00 |
|
8.10 |
|
0.027 |
| |||
|
First Quarter |
|
9.00 |
|
8.00 |
|
0.027 |
| |||
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
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2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
|
Fourth Quarter (through November 21, 2016) |
|
$ |
13.85 |
|
$ |
11.85 |
|
$ |
0.050 |
|
|
Third Quarter |
|
12.82 |
|
10.72 |
|
0.045 |
| |||
|
Second Quarter |
|
12.15 |
|
10.10 |
|
0.036 |
| |||
|
First Quarter |
|
12.24 |
|
8.66 |
|
0.036 |
| |||
In addition to the cash dividends described in the table above, on August 26, 2016, the Board of Directors announced a 10% stock dividend, which was paid on on September 30, 2016 to shareholders of record as of September 15, 2016. The figures above have been restated to adjust for this stock dividend.
The Company declared a $0.05 per share cash dividend on November 17, 2016, which will be paid on December 30, 2016, to shareholders of record as of December 16, 2016. Our future dividend policy will depend on a number of factors, including our earnings and financial condition, liquidity and capital requirements, the general economic and regulatory climate, our ability to service any equity or debt obligations senior to our common stock, and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. At this time, no decision has been made regarding the payment of future cash dividends.
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement to this prospectus used to offer specific securities, we expect to use the net proceeds from any offering of securities by us for general corporate purposes, which may include acquisitions, capital expenditures, investments, supporting operations and additional lending and the repayment, redemption or refinancing of all or a portion of any indebtedness or other securities outstanding at a particular time. Pending the application of the net proceeds, we expect to invest the proceeds in short-term, interest-bearing instruments or other investment-grade securities.
DESCRIPTIONS OF SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER
This prospectus contains summary descriptions of the common stock, preferred stock, warrants, debt securities, depositary shares and units that we may offer and sell from time to time. We may issue the debt securities as exchangeable and/or convertible debt securities exchangeable for or convertible into shares of common stock or preferred stock. The preferred stock may also be exchangeable for and/or convertible into shares of common stock or another series of preferred stock. When one or more of these securities are offered in the future, a prospectus supplement will explain the particular terms of the securities and the extent to which these general provisions may apply. These summary descriptions and any summary descriptions in the applicable prospectus supplement do not purport to be complete descriptions of the terms and conditions of each security and are qualified in their entirety by reference to our certificate of incorporation, our by-laws and by applicable New Jersey law and any other documents referenced in such summary descriptions and from which such summary descriptions are derived. If any particular terms of a security described in the applicable prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described herein, then the terms described herein will be deemed superseded by the terms set forth in that prospectus supplement.
We may issue securities in book-entry form through one or more depositaries, such as The Depository Trust Company, Euroclear or Clearstream, named in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each sale of a security in book-entry form will settle in immediately available funds through the applicable depositary, unless otherwise stated. We will issue the securities only in registered form, without coupons, although we may issue the securities in bearer form if so specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. If any securities are to be listed or quoted on a securities exchange or quotation system, the applicable prospectus supplement will say so.
General
Our certification of incorporation provides that we may issue up to 12,500,000 shares of capital stock, of which 12,000,000 shares are designated as common stock, no par value, and 500,000 shares are designated as preferred stock, no par value. Our board of directors is authorized to issue the preferred stock from time to time in one or more classes or series, with such designations, preferences, rights and limitations as the board shall determine. We may increase our authorized shares of capital stock subsequent to the date of this prospectus. As of September 30, 2016, there were 9,330,600 shares of our common stock outstanding and no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding. All outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “UNTY.”
Dividend Rights
Unity Bancorp is a legal entity separate and distinct from the Bank. Virtually all of the revenue of the Unity Bancorp available for payment of dividends on its capital stock will result from amounts paid to the Company by the
Bank. All such dividends are subject to the laws of the state of New Jersey, the Banking Act, the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (“FDIA”) and the regulation of the DOBI and of the FDIC.
Under the New Jersey Corporation Act, the Company is permitted to pay cash dividends provided that the payment does not leave us insolvent. As a bank holding company under the BHCA, we would be prohibited from paying cash dividends if we are not in compliance with any capital requirements applicable to us. However, as a practical matter, for so long as our major operations consist of ownership of the Bank, the Bank will remain our source of dividend payments, and our ability to pay dividends will be subject to any restrictions applicable to the Bank.
Under the New Jersey Banking Act of 1948, as amended, dividends may be paid by the Bank only if, after the payment of the dividend, the capital stock of the Bank will be unimpaired and either the Bank will have a surplus of not less than 50% of its capital stock or the payment of the dividend will not reduce the Bank’s surplus. The payment of dividends is also dependent upon the Bank’s ability to maintain adequate capital ratios pursuant to applicable regulatory requirements.
The FRB has issued a policy statement regarding the payment of dividends by bank holding companies. In general, the FRB’s policies provide that dividends should be paid only out of current earnings and only if the prospective rate of earnings retention by the bank holding company appears consistent with the organization’s capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition. FRB regulations also require that a bank holding company serve as a source of financial strength to its subsidiary banks by standing ready to use available resources to provide adequate capital funds to those banks during periods of financial stress or adversity and by maintaining the financial flexibility and capital-raising capacity to obtain additional resources for assisting its subsidiary banks where necessary. Under the prompt corrective action regulations, the ability of a bank holding company to pay dividends may be restricted if a subsidiary bank becomes undercapitalized, and under regulations implementing the Basel III accord, a bank holding company’s ability to pay cash dividends may be impaired if it fails to satisfy certain capital buffer requirements. These regulatory policies could affect the ability of the Company to pay dividends or otherwise engage in capital distributions.
Voting Rights
Each outstanding share of our common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders, except as otherwise required by law. The quorum for shareholders’ meetings is a majority of the outstanding shares. Generally, actions and authorizations to be taken or given by shareholders require the approval of a majority of the votes cast by holders of our common stock at a meeting at which a quorum is present. There is no cumulative voting.
Liquidation Rights
In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Unity Bancorp, holders of our common stock are entitled to share equally and ratably in assets available for distribution after payment of debts and liabilities, subject to the rights of the holders of our preferred stock described below.
Assessment and Redemption
All outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. Our common stock is not redeemable at the option of the issuer or the holders thereof.
Other Matters
Certain provisions in our certificate of incorporation, applicable New Jersey corporate law and applicable federal banking law may have the effect of discouraging a change of control of Unity Bancorp, even if such a transaction is favored by some of our shareholders and could result in shareholders receiving a substantial premium over the current market price of our shares. The primary purpose of these provisions is to encourage negotiations with our management by persons interested in acquiring control of our corporation. These provisions may also tend
to perpetuate present management and make it difficult for shareholders owning less than a majority of the shares to be able to elect even a single director.
Computershare is presently the transfer agent and registrar for our common stock.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK
“Blank Check” Preferred Stock
The 500,000 unissued shares of preferred stock are typically referred to as “blank check” preferred stock. This term refers to stock for which the rights and restrictions are determined by the board of directors of a corporation. In general, our certificate of incorporation, authorizes our board of directors to issue new shares of our common stock or preferred stock without further shareholder action, provided that there are sufficient authorized shares.
The issuance of additional common or preferred stock may be viewed as having adverse effects upon the holders of common stock. Holders of our common stock do not have preemptive rights with respect to any newly issued stock. Our board could adversely affect the voting power of holders of our common stock by issuing shares of preferred stock with certain voting, conversion and/or redemption rights. In the event of a proposed merger, tender offer or other attempt to gain control of Unity Bancorp that the board of directors does not believe to be in the best interests of its shareholders, the board could issue additional preferred stock which could make any such takeover attempt more difficult to complete. Our board of directors does not intend to issue any preferred stock except on terms that the board deems to be in the best interests of our company and our shareholders.
Terms of the Preferred Stock That We May Offer and Sell to You
We summarize below some of the provisions that will apply to the preferred stock that we may offer to you unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise. This summary may not contain all information that is important to you. The complete terms of the preferred stock will be contained in the prospectus supplement. You should read the prospectus supplement, which will contain additional information and which may update or change some of the information below.
Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by the shareholders, to issue preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the number of shares, dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption rights, liquidation preferences, sinking funds, and any other rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions applicable to each such series of preferred stock.
Prior to the issuance of a new series of preferred stock, we will further amend our certificate of incorporation, designating the stock of that series and the terms of that series. The issuance of any preferred stock could adversely affect the rights of the holders of common stock and, therefore, reduce the value of the common stock. The ability of our board of directors to issue preferred stock could discourage, delay or prevent a takeover or other corporate action.
The terms of any particular series of preferred stock will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that particular series of preferred stock, including, where applicable:
· the designation, stated value and liquidation preference of such preferred stock and the amount of stock offered;
· the offering price;
· the dividend rate or rates (or method of calculation), the date or dates from which dividends shall accrue, and whether such dividends shall be cumulative or noncumulative and, if cumulative, the dates from which dividends shall commence to cumulate;
· any redemption or sinking fund provisions;
· the amount that shares of such series shall be entitled to receive in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up;
· the terms and conditions, if any, on which shares of such series shall be convertible or exchangeable for shares of our stock of any other class or classes, or other series of the same class;
· the voting rights, if any, of shares of such series;
· the status as to reissuance or sale of shares of such series redeemed, purchased or otherwise reacquired, or surrendered to us on conversion or exchange;
· the conditions and restrictions, if any, on the payment of dividends or on the making of other distributions on, or the purchase, redemption or other acquisition by us or any subsidiary, of the common stock or of any other class of our shares ranking junior to the shares of such series as to dividends or upon liquidation;
· the conditions and restrictions, if any, on the creation of indebtedness by us or by any subsidiary, or on the issuance of any additional stock ranking on a parity with or prior to the shares of such series as to dividends or upon liquidation; and
· any additional dividend, liquidation, redemption, sinking or retirement fund and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions of such preferred stock.
The description of the terms of a particular series of preferred stock in the applicable prospectus supplement will not be complete. You should refer to the applicable amendment to our certificate of incorporation for complete information regarding a series of preferred stock.
The preferred stock will, when issued against payment of the consideration payable therefor, be fully paid and nonassessable. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each series of preferred stock will, upon issuance, rank senior to the common stock and on a parity in all respects with each other outstanding series of preferred stock. The rights of the holders of our preferred stock will be subordinate to that of our general creditors.
We summarize below some of the provisions that will apply to the warrants unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise. This summary may not contain all information that is important to you. The complete terms of the warrants will be contained in the applicable warrant certificate and warrant agreement. These documents have been or will be included or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the warrant certificate and the warrant agreement. You should also read the prospectus supplement, which will contain additional information and which may update or change some of the information below.
General
We may issue, together with other securities or separately, warrants to purchase debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or other securities. We may issue the warrants under warrant agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The warrant agent would act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants of the series being offered and
would not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms, where applicable, of warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:
· the title of the warrants;
· the designation, amount and terms of the securities for which the warrants are exercisable and the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of such warrants;
· the designation and terms of the other securities, if any, with which the warrants are to be issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security;
· the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;
· the aggregate number of warrants;
· any provisions for adjustment of the number or amount of securities receivable upon exercise of the warrants or the exercise price of the warrants;
· the price or prices at which the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants may be purchased;
· if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants will be separately transferable;
· if applicable, a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the warrants;
· any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants;
· the date on which the right to exercise the warrants shall commence and the date on which the right shall expire;
· if applicable, the maximum or minimum number of warrants which may be exercised at any time;
· the identity of the warrant agent;
· any mandatory or optional redemption provision;
· whether the warrants are to be issued in registered or bearer form;
· whether the warrants are extendible and the period or periods of such extendibility;
· information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; and
· any other terms of the warrants.
Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to receive dividends, if any, or payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up or to exercise voting rights, if any.
Exercise of Warrants
Each warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase the amount of such principal amounts of debt securities or such number of shares of common stock or preferred stock or other securities at the exercise price as
will in each case be set forth in, or be determinable as set forth in, the applicable prospectus supplement. Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void. Warrants may be exercised as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the warrants offered thereby. Upon receipt of payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the purchased securities. If less than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate are exercised, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining warrants.
Enforceability of Rights of Holders of Warrants
Each warrant agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action its right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, that holder’s warrant(s).
Modification of the Warrant Agreement
The warrant agreement will permit us and the warrant agent, without the consent of the warrant holders, to supplement or amend the agreement in the following circumstances:
· to cure any ambiguity;
· to correct or supplement any provision which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions; or
· to add new provisions regarding matters or questions that we and the warrant agent may deem necessary or desirable and which do not adversely affect the interests of the warrant holders.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We summarize below some of the provisions that will apply to the debt securities unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise. This summary may not contain all information that is important to you. The complete terms of the debt securities will be contained in the applicable notes. The notes will be included or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the provisions of the notes. You should also read the prospectus supplement, which will contain additional information and which may update or change some of the information below.
General
This prospectus describes certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities. The debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and a trustee to be designated prior to the issuance of the debt securities. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of the securities in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will also indicate whether the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of debt securities.
We may issue, from time to time, debt securities, in one or more series, that will consist of either our senior debt (“senior debt securities”), our senior subordinated debt (“senior subordinated debt securities”), our subordinated debt (“subordinated debt securities”) or our junior subordinated debt (“junior subordinated debt securities” and, together with the senior subordinated debt securities and the subordinated debt securities, the “subordinated securities”). Debt securities, whether senior, senior subordinated, subordinated or junior subordinated, may be issued as convertible debt securities or exchangeable debt securities.
We have summarized herein certain terms and provisions of the form of Subordinated Indenture and the Senior Debt Indenture (collectively, the “indenture”). The summary is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual text of the indenture. The indenture is an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the indenture for the provisions which may be important to you. The indenture is subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities which we may issue. We may issue debt securities up to an aggregate principal amount as we may authorize from time to time, which securities may be in any currency or currency unit designated by us. The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to (a) a supplemental indenture, and (b) a resolution of our board of directors. The prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any debt securities being offered, including:
· the title of the debt securities;
· the limit, if any, upon the aggregate principal amount or issue price of the debt securities of a series;
· ranking of the specific series of debt securities relative to other outstanding indebtedness, including any debt of any of our subsidiaries;
· the price or prices at which the debt securities will be issued;
· the designation, aggregate principal amount and authorized denominations of the series of debt securities;
· the issue date or dates of the series and the maturity date of the series;
· whether the securities will be issued at par or at a premium over or a discount from their face amount;
· the interest rate, if any, and the method for calculating the interest rate and basis upon which interest shall be calculated;
· the right, if any, to extend interest payment periods and the duration of the extension;
· the interest payment dates and the record dates for the interest payments;
· any mandatory or optional redemption terms or prepayment, conversion, sinking fund or exchangeability or convertibility provisions;
· the currency of denomination of the securities;
· the place where we will pay principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, and the place where the debt securities may be presented for transfer;
· if payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the debt securities will be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the debt securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to these payments will be determined;
· if other than denominations of $1,000 or multiples of $1,000, the denominations the debt securities will be issued in;
· whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of global securities or certificates;
· the applicability of and additional provisions, if any, relating to the defeasance of the debt securities;
· the portion of principal amount of the debt securities payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date, if other than the entire principal amount;
· the currency or currencies, if other than the currency of the United States, in which principal and interest will be paid;
· the dates on which premium, if any, will be paid;
· any addition to or change in the “Events of Default” described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities and any change in the acceleration provisions described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;
· any addition to or change in the covenants described in the prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;
· our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of this deferral period; and
· other specific terms, including any additional events of default or covenants.
We may issue debt securities at a discount below their stated principal amount. Even if we do not issue the debt securities below their stated principal amount, for United States federal income tax purposes the debt securities may be deemed to have been issued with a discount because of certain interest payment characteristics. We will describe in any applicable prospectus supplement the United States federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued at a discount or deemed to be issued at a discount, and will describe any special United States federal income tax considerations that may be applicable to the particular debt securities.
We may structure one or more series of subordinated securities so that they qualify as capital under federal regulations applicable to bank holding companies. We may adopt this structure whether or not those regulations may be applicable to us at the time of issuance.
We are a holding company and Unity Bancorp’s operating assets are owned by our subsidiaries. We rely primarily on dividends from such subsidiaries to meet our obligations. We are a legal entity separate and distinct from our subsidiaries. The principal sources of our income are dividends and interest from the Bank. Supplementing this income is rental income from our Clinton branch location in the amount of approximately $400,000 per year The Bank is subject to restrictions imposed by federal law on any extensions of credit to, and certain other transactions with, us and certain other affiliates, and on investments in stock or other securities thereof. In addition, payment of dividends to us by the Bank is subject to ongoing review by banking regulators. Because we are a holding company, our right to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon the subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is subject to the prior claims of creditors of the subsidiary, except to the extent we may ourselves be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary. Accordingly, the debt securities will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities, including deposits, of our subsidiaries, and holders of the debt securities should look only to our assets for payments on the debt securities. The indenture does not limit the incurrence or issuance of our debt including senior indebtedness.
Senior Debt
Senior debt securities will rank equally and pari passu with all of our other unsubordinated debt from time to time outstanding.
Subordinated Debt
The indenture does not limit our ability to issue subordinated debt securities. Any subordination provisions of a particular series of debt securities will be set forth in a supplemental indenture related to that series of debt securities and will be described in the relevant prospectus supplement.
If this prospectus is being delivered in connection with a series of subordinated debt securities, the accompanying prospectus supplement or the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus will set forth the approximate amount of senior indebtedness outstanding as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter.
Conversion or Exchange Rights
Debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our other securities or property. The terms and conditions of conversion or exchange will be set forth in the supplemental indenture, board resolution or officers’ certificate related to that series of debt securities and will be described in the relevant prospectus supplement. The terms will include, among others, the following:
· the conversion or exchange price;
· the conversion or exchange period;
· provisions regarding our ability or the ability of the holder to convert or exchange the debt securities;
· events requiring adjustment to the conversion or exchange price; and
· provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of our redemption of the debt securities.
Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets
The indenture prohibits us from merging into or consolidating with any other person or selling, leasing or conveying substantially all of our assets and the assets of our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person, unless:
· either we are the continuing corporation or the successor corporation or the person which acquires by sale, lease or conveyance substantially all our or our subsidiaries’ assets is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia, and expressly assumes the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on all the debt securities and the due performance of every covenant of the indenture to be performed or observed by us, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the trustee by such corporation;
· immediately after giving effect to such transactions, no Event of Default described under the caption “Events of Default and Remedies” below or event which, after notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default, has happened and is continuing; and
· we have delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel each stating that such transaction and such supplemental indenture comply with the indenture provisions relating to merger, consolidation and sale of assets and that such supplemental indenture, if any, constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such corporation.
Upon any consolidation or merger with or into any other person or any sale, conveyance, lease, or other transfer of all or substantially all of our or our subsidiaries’ assets to any person, the successor person shall succeed, and be substituted for, us under the indenture and each series of outstanding debt securities, and we shall be relieved of all obligations under the indenture and each series of outstanding debt securities to the extent we were the predecessor person.
Events of Default and Remedies
When we use the term “Event of Default” in the indenture with respect to the debt securities of any series, we mean:
(1) default in paying interest on the debt securities when it becomes due and the default continues for a period of 30 days or more;
(2) default in paying principal, or premium, if any, on the debt securities when due;
(3) default is made in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation when the same becomes due, and such default continues for 30 days or more;
(4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty in the indenture (other than defaults specified in clause (1), (2) or (3) above) and the default or breach continues for a period of 60 days or more after we receive written notice of such default from the trustee or we and the trustee receive notice from the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series;
(5) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, administration or similar proceedings with respect to us have occurred; and
(6) any other Event of Default provided with respect to debt securities of that series that is set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus.
No Event of Default with respect to a particular series of debt securities (except as to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) necessarily constitutes an Event of Default with respect to any other series of debt securities. The occurrence of certain Events of Default or an acceleration under the indenture may constitute an event of default under certain of our other indebtedness that we may have outstanding from time to time. Unless otherwise provided by the terms of an applicable series of debt securities, if an Event of Default under the indenture occurs with respect to the debt securities of any series and is continuing, then the trustee or the holders of not less than 51% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may by written notice require us to repay immediately the entire principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series (or such lesser amount as may be provided in the terms of the securities), together with all accrued and unpaid interest and premium, if any. In the case of an Event of Default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the principal (or such specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding debt securities will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder of outstanding debt securities. We refer you to the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities that are discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of a portion of the principal amount of such discount securities upon the occurrence of an Event of Default.
After a declaration of acceleration, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series may rescind this accelerated payment requirement if all existing Events of Default, except for nonpayment of the principal on the debt securities of that series that has become due solely as a result of the accelerated payment requirement, have been cured or waived and if the rescission of acceleration would not conflict with any judgment or decree. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series also have the right to waive past defaults, except a default in paying principal or interest on any outstanding debt security, or in respect of a covenant or a provision that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of all holders of the debt securities of that series.
No holder of any debt security may seek to institute a proceeding with respect to the indenture unless such holder has previously given written notice to the trustee of a continuing Event of Default, the holders of not less than 51% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series have made a written request to the trustee to institute proceedings in respect of the Event of Default, the holder or holders have offered indemnity satisfactory to the trustee and the trustee has failed to institute such proceeding within 60 days after it received this notice. In addition, within this 60-day period the trustee must not have received directions inconsistent with this written request by holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series. These limitations do not apply, however, to a suit instituted by a holder of a debt security for the enforcement of the payment of principal, interest or any premium on or after the due dates for such payment.
During the existence of an Event of Default actually known to a responsible officer of the trustee, the trustee is required to exercise the rights and powers vested in it under the indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would under the circumstances in the conduct of that person’s own affairs. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the trustee is not under any obligation to exercise any
of its rights or powers at the request or direction of any of the holders unless the holders have offered to the trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the trustee. Subject to certain provisions, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust, or power conferred on the trustee.
The trustee will, within 90 days after receiving notice of any default, give notice of the default to the holders of the debt securities of that series, unless the default was already cured or waived. Unless there is a default in paying principal, interest or any premium when due, the trustee can withhold giving notice to the holders if it determines in good faith that the withholding of notice is in the interest of the holders. In the case of a default specified in clause (4) above describing Events of Default, no notice of default to the holders of the debt securities of that series will be given until 60 days after the occurrence of the event of default.
The indenture requires us, within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year, to furnish to the trustee a statement as to compliance with the indenture. Upon the occurrence of a default or Event of Default, the Company shall promptly provide notice thereof to the Trustee.
Modification and Waiver
The indenture may be amended or modified without the consent of any holder of debt securities in order to:
· evidence a successor to the trustee;
· cure ambiguities, defects or inconsistencies;
· provide for the assumption of our obligations in the case of a merger or consolidation or transfer of all or substantially all of our assets that complies with the covenant described under “— Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets”;
· make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the holders of the debt securities of a series;
· add guarantors or co-obligors with respect to the debt securities of any series;
· secure the debt securities of a series;
· establish the form or forms of debt securities of any series;
· add additional Events of Default with respect to the debt securities of any series;
· add additional provisions as may be expressly permitted by the Trust Indenture Act;
· maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or
· make any change that does not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any holder as certified to the Trustee in an Officer’s Certificate.
Other amendments and modifications of the indenture or the debt securities issued may be made with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate 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 the holder of each outstanding debt security affected:
· change the maturity date or the stated payment date of any payment of premium or interest payable on the debt securities;
· reduce the principal amount, or extend the fixed maturity, of the debt securities;
· change the method of computing the amount of principal or any interest of any debt security;
· change or waive the redemption or repayment provisions of the debt securities;
· change the currency in which principal, any premium or interest is paid or the place of payment;
· reduce the percentage in principal amount outstanding of debt securities of any series which must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver or consent to take any action;
· impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on the debt securities;
· waive a payment default with respect to the debt securities;
· reduce the interest rate or extend the time for payment of interest on the debt securities;
· adversely affect the ranking or priority of the debt securities of any series; or
· release any guarantor or co-obligor from any of its obligations under its guarantee or the indenture, except in compliance with the terms of the indenture.
Satisfaction, Discharge and Covenant Defeasance
We may terminate our obligations under the indenture with respect to the outstanding debt securities of any series, when:
· either:
· all debt securities of any series issued that have been authenticated and delivered have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation; or
· all the debt securities of any series issued that have not been delivered to the trustee for cancellation have become due and payable, will become due and payable within one year, or are to be called for redemption within one year and we have made arrangements satisfactory to the trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by such trustee in our name and at our expense, and in each case, we have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the trustee sufficient funds to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the series of debt securities; and
· we have paid or caused to be paid all other sums then due and payable under the indenture; and
· we have delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent under the indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of the indenture have been complied with.
We may elect to have our obligations under the indenture discharged with respect to the outstanding debt securities of any series (“legal defeasance”). Legal defeasance means that we will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the outstanding debt securities of such series under the indenture, except for:
· the rights of holders of the debt securities to receive principal, interest and any premium when due;
· our obligations with respect to the debt securities concerning issuing temporary debt securities, registration of transfer of debt securities, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment for security payments held in trust;
· the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the trustee; and
· the defeasance provisions of the indenture.
In addition, we may elect to have our obligations released with respect to certain covenants in the indenture (“covenant defeasance”). If we so elect, any failure to comply with these obligations will not constitute a default or an event of default with respect to the debt securities of any series. In the event covenant defeasance occurs, certain events, not including non-payment, bankruptcy and insolvency events, described under “Events of Default and Remedies,” will no longer constitute an event of default for that series.
In order to exercise either legal defeasance or covenant defeasance with respect to outstanding debt securities of any series, we must irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the trustee as trust funds for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to the benefits of the holders of the debt securities of a series:
· money in an amount; or
· U.S. government obligations (or equivalent government obligations in the case of debt securities denominated in other than U.S. dollars or a specified currency) that will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount; or
· a combination of money and U.S. government obligations (or equivalent government obligations, as applicable),
in each case sufficient, in the written opinion (with respect to U.S. or equivalent government obligations or a combination of money and U.S. or equivalent government obligations, as applicable) of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the trustee to pay and discharge, all of the principal (including mandatory sinking fund payments), interest and any premium at due date or maturity;
· in the case of legal defeasance, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that, under then applicable federal income tax law, the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge to be effected and will be subject to the same federal income tax as would be the case if the deposit, defeasance and discharge did not occur;
· in the case of covenant defeasance, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and covenant defeasance to be effected and will be subject to the same federal income tax as would be the case if the deposit and covenant defeasance did not occur;
· no event of default or default with respect to the outstanding debt securities of that series has occurred and is continuing at the time of such deposit after giving effect to the deposit or, in the case of legal defeasance, no default relating to bankruptcy or insolvency has occurred and is continuing at any time on or before the 91st day after the date of such deposit, it being understood that this condition is not deemed satisfied until after the 91st day;
· the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance will not cause the trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, assuming all debt securities of a series were in default within the meaning of such Act;
· the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement or instrument to which we are a party;
· if prior to the stated maturity date, notice shall have been given in accordance with the provisions of the indenture;
· the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance will not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, unless the trust is registered under such Act or exempt from registration; and
· we have delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel stating that all conditions precedent with respect to the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance have been complied with.
Covenants
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement any restrictive covenants applicable to any issue of debt securities.
Paying Agent and Registrar
The trustee will initially act as paying agent and registrar for all debt securities. We may change the paying agent or registrar for any series of debt securities without prior notice, and we or any of our subsidiaries may act as paying agent or registrar.
Forms of Securities
Each debt security will be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global securities representing the entire issuance of the series of debt securities. Certificated securities will be issued in definitive form and global securities will be issued in registered form. Definitive securities name you or your nominee as the owner of the security, and in order to transfer or exchange these securities or to receive payments other than interest or other interim payments, you or your nominee must physically deliver the securities to the trustee, registrar, paying agent or other agent, as applicable. Global securities name a depositary or its nominee as the owner of the debt securities represented by these global securities. The depositary maintains a computerized system that will reflect each investor’s beneficial ownership of the securities through an account maintained by the investor with its broker/dealer, bank, trust company or other representative, as we explain more fully below.
Global Securities
We may issue the registered debt securities in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its custodian identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of that depositary or its nominee. In those cases, one or more registered global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal or face amount of the securities to be represented by registered global securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole for securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole by and among the depositary for the registered global security, the nominees of the depositary or any successors of the depositary or those nominees.
If not described below, any specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any securities to be represented by a registered global security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.
Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons, called participants, that have accounts with the depositary or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal or face amounts of the securities beneficially owned by the
participants. Any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of participants, with respect to interests of persons holding through participants. The laws of some states may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of these securities in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.
So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a registered global security, that depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security will not be entitled to have the securities represented by the registered global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the securities under the indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for that registered global security and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture. We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the indenture, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through them to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.
Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the registered global security. Neither we nor the trustee or any other agent of ours or the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial ownership interests.
We expect that the depositary for any of the securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, interest or other distribution of underlying securities or other property to holders on that registered global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in that registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security held through participants will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of those participants.
If the depositary for any of these securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security that had been held by the depositary. Any securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security will be registered in the name or names that the depositary gives to the trustee or other relevant agent of ours or theirs. It is expected that the depositary’s instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the registered global security that had been held by the depositary.
Unless we state otherwise in a prospectus supplement, the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) will act as depositary for each series of debt securities issued as global securities. DTC has advised us that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company created to hold securities for its participating organizations (collectively, the “Participants”) and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of transactions in those securities between Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its Participants. The Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access to DTC’s system is also available to other entities such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a
custodial relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly (collectively, the “Indirect Participants”). Persons who are not Participants may beneficially own securities held by or on behalf of DTC only through the Participants or the Indirect Participants. The ownership interests in, and transfers of ownership interests in, each security held by or on behalf of DTC are recorded on the records of the Participants and the Indirect Participants.
Governing Law
The indenture and each series of debt securities are governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
We summarize below some of the provisions that will apply to depositary shares unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise. This summary may not contain all information that is important to you. The complete terms of the depositary shares will be contained in the depositary agreement and depositary receipt applicable to any depositary shares. These documents have been or will be included or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the depositary agreement and the depositary receipt. You should also read the prospectus supplement, which will contain additional information and which may update or change some of the information below.
General
We may offer fractional shares of preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we do so, we may issue receipts for depositary shares that each represent a fraction of a share of a particular series of preferred stock. The prospectus supplement will indicate that fraction. The shares of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a depositary agreement between us and a bank or trust company that meets certain requirements and is selected by us, which we refer to as the “bank depositary.” Each owner of a depositary share will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by the depositary share. The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the depositary agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional shares of preferred stock in accordance with the terms of the offering.
The following summary description of certain common provisions of a depositary agreement and the related depositary receipts and any summary description of the depositary agreement and depositary receipts in the applicable prospectus supplement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to all of the provisions of such depositary agreement and depositary receipts. The forms of the depositary agreement and the depositary receipts relating to any particular issue of depositary shares will be filed with the SEC each time we issue depositary shares, and you should read those documents for provisions that may be important to you.
Dividends and Other Distributions
If we pay a cash distribution or dividend on a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the bank depositary will distribute such dividends to the record holders of such depositary shares. If the distributions are in property other than cash, the bank depositary will distribute the property to the record holders of the depositary shares. However, if the bank depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution of property, the bank depositary may, with our approval, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from such sale to the record holders of the depositary shares.
Redemption of Depositary Shares
If we redeem a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the bank depositary will redeem the depositary shares from the proceeds received by the bank depositary in connection with the redemption. The redemption price per depositary share will equal the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share of the preferred stock. If fewer than all the depositary shares are redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as the bank depositary may determine.
Voting the Preferred Stock
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock represented by depositary shares are entitled to vote, the bank depositary will mail the notice to the record holder of the depositary shares relating to such preferred stock. Each record holder of these depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock, may instruct the bank depositary as to how to vote the preferred stock represented by such holder’s depositary shares. The bank depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the amount of the preferred stock represented by such depositary shares in accordance with such instructions, and we will take all action that the bank depositary deems necessary in order to enable the bank depositary to do so. The bank depositary will abstain from voting shares of the preferred stock to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares representing such preferred stock.
Amendment and Termination of the Depositary Agreement
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement or required by law, the form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the depositary agreement may be amended by agreement between the bank depositary and us. The depositary agreement may be terminated by the bank depositary or us only if:
· all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed, or
· there has been a final distribution in respect of the preferred stock in connection with the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, and such distribution has been distributed to the holders of depositary receipts.
Charges of Bank Depositary
We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay charges of the bank depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary receipts will pay other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and any other charges, including a fee for the withdrawal of shares of preferred stock upon surrender of depositary receipts, as are expressly provided in the depositary agreement for their accounts.
Withdrawal of Preferred Stock
Except as may be provided otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, upon surrender of depositary receipts at the principal office of the bank depositary, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, the owner of the depositary shares may demand delivery of the number of whole shares of preferred stock and all money and other property, if any, represented by those depositary shares. Partial or fractional shares of preferred stock will not be issued. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holders evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of whole shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the bank depositary will deliver to such holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares. Holders of preferred stock thus withdrawn may not thereafter deposit those shares under the depositary agreement or receive depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares therefor.
Miscellaneous
The bank depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts all reports and communications from us that are delivered to the bank depositary and that we are required to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock.
Neither the bank depositary nor we will be liable if we are prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond our control in performing our obligations under the depositary agreement. The obligations of the bank depositary and us under the depositary agreement will be limited to performance in good faith of our duties
thereunder, and we will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or upon information provided by persons presenting preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.
Resignation and Removal of Bank Depositary
The bank depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so, and we may at any time remove the bank depositary. Any such resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor bank depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. The successor bank depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company meeting the requirements of the depositary agreement.
We may issue units comprised of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date. The applicable prospectus supplement may describe:
· the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;
· any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units;
· the terms of the unit agreement governing the units;
· United States federal income tax considerations relevant to the units; and
· whether the units will be issued in fully registered global form.
This summary of certain general terms of units and any summary description of units in the applicable prospectus supplement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to all provisions of the applicable unit agreement and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements relating to such units. The forms of the unit agreements and other documents relating to a particular issue of units will be filed with the SEC each time we issue units, and you should read those documents for provisions that may be important to you.
We are authorized by our certificate of incorporation to issue 12,500,000 shares of common stock, no par value per share, and 500,000 shares of preferred stock, the terms, rights and features of which are determined by our Board of Directors upon issuance. As of the date hereof, we have 9,344,031 shares of common stock issued and outstanding and no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding, as adjusted for the 10% stock dividend announced on August 26, 2016, and paid on September 30, 2016 to shareholders of records as of September 15, 2016.
All shares of common stock are entitled to share equally in dividends from funds legally available therefore, when, as and if declared by our Board of Directors, and upon liquidation or dissolution of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, to share equally in the assets of the Company available for distribution to shareholders, after satisfying in full the preferential liquidation rights of any series of preferred stock that may be
authorized and issued in the future. Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share on all matters submitted to the shareholders.
There is no cumulative voting, redemption right, sinking fund provision, or right of conversion in existence with respect to the common stock. Our certificate of incorporation does not provide for preemptive rights to acquire additional shares of common stock when issued. All of the outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.
Preferred Stock
We have no shares of preferred stock outstanding. We currently have 500,000 shares of preferred stock authorized and available for issuance from time to time at the discretion of the Board of Directors without shareholder approval. The Board of Directors has the authority to prescribe for each series of preferred stock it establishes the number of shares in that series, the number of votes (if any) to which the shares in that series are entitled, the consideration for the shares in that series, and the designations, powers, preferences and other rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions of the shares in that series. Depending upon the rights prescribed for a series of preferred stock, the issuance of preferred stock could have an adverse effect on the voting power of the holders of common stock and could adversely affect holders of common stock by delaying or preventing a change in control, making removal of our present management more difficult or imposing restrictions upon the payment of dividends and other distributions to the holders of common stock.
Anti-Takeover Provisions
The provisions of our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and the New Jersey corporation law summarized in the following paragraphs may be deemed to have anti-takeover effects and may delay, defer, or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a shareholder might consider to be in such shareholder’s best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares held by shareholders, and may make removal of management more difficult.
Authorized but Unissued Stock
The authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock will be available for future issuance without shareholder approval. These additional shares may be used for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions, and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved shares of common and preferred stock may enable our Board of Directors to issue shares to persons friendly to current management, which could render more difficult or discourage any attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise, and thereby protect the continuity of our management.
Number of Directors
Our current board is comprised of 12 directors. Our certificate of incorporation currently provides that the Board of Directors shall consist of not less than 1 or more than 15 directors. The number of directors may be amended only by the affirmative vote of a majority of directors then in office or the affirmative vote of shareholders owning at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares entitled to vote.
Classified Board of Directors
Our certificate of incorporation divides the Board of Directors into three classes of directors serving staggered three-year terms. As a result, approximately one-third of the Board of Directors will be elected at each annual meeting of shareholders. The classification of directors will have the effect of making it more difficult for shareholders to change the composition of the Board of Directors. As a result, at least two annual meetings of shareholders may be required for the shareholders to change a majority of the directors, whether or not a change in the Board of Directors would be beneficial to the Company and its shareholders and whether or not a majority of the Company’s shareholders believes that such a change would be desirable.
Bank Regulatory Requirements
Under the Federal Change in Bank Control Act (the “Control Act”), a 60 day prior written notice must be submitted to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“FRB”) if any person, or any group acting in concert, seeks to acquire 10% or more of any class of outstanding voting securities of a bank holding company, unless the FRB determines that the acquisition will not result in a change of control. Under the Control Act, the FRB has 60 days within which to act on such notice taking into consideration certain factors, including the financial and managerial resources of the acquirer, the convenience and needs of the community served by the bank holding company and its subsidiary banks and the antitrust effects of the acquisition. Under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (‘BHCA”), a company is generally required to obtain prior approval of the FRB before it may obtain control of a bank holding company. Under the BHCA, control is generally described to mean the beneficial ownership of 25% or more of the outstanding voting securities of a company, although a presumption of control may exist if a party beneficially owns 10% or more of the outstanding voting securities of a company and certain other circumstances are present.
New Jersey Shareholders Protection Act
A provision of New Jersey law, the New Jersey Shareholders Protection Act (the “SPA”), prohibits certain transactions involving an “interested stockholder” and a corporation. An “interested stockholder” is generally defined as one who is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power of the outstanding stock of the corporation. The SPA prohibits certain business combinations between an interested stockholder and a New Jersey corporation subject to the SPA for a period of five years after the date the interested stockholder acquired his stock, unless the transaction was approved by the corporation’s board of directors prior to the time the interested stockholder acquired his stock. After the five-year period expires, the prohibition on business combinations with an interested stockholder continues unless certain conditions are met. The conditions include (i) that the business combination is approved by the board of directors of the target corporation; (ii) that the business combination is approved by a vote of two-thirds of the voting stock not owned by the interested stockholder; and (iii) that the stockholders of the corporation receive a price in accordance with the SPA.
Initial Offering and Sale of Securities
Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, we, and certain holders of our securities, may sell the securities being offered hereby, from time to time, by one or more of the following methods:
· to or through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters;
· through one or more underwriters without a syndicate for them to offer and sell to the public;
· through dealers or agents; and
· to investors directly in negotiated sales or in competitively bid transactions.
Offerings of securities covered by this prospectus also may be made into an existing trading market for those securities in transactions at other than a fixed price, either:
· on or through the facilities of the NASDAQ or any other securities exchange or quotation or trading service on which those securities may be listed, quoted, or traded at the time of sale; and/or
· to or through a market maker otherwise than on the securities exchanges or quotation or trading services set forth above.
Those at-the-market offerings, if any, will be conducted by underwriters acting as principal or agent of the Company, who may also be third-party sellers of securities as described above. The prospectus supplement with respect to the offered securities will set forth the terms of the offering of the offered securities, including:
· the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;
· the purchase price of the offered securities and the proceeds to us from such sale;
· any underwriting discounts and commissions or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation, provided that such compensation shall not exceed 8% of any offering proceeds as calculated pursuant to applicable rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA;
· any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and
· any securities exchange on which such offered securities may be listed.
Any underwriter, agent or dealer involved in the offer and sale of any series of the securities will be named in the prospectus supplement.
The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions:
· at fixed prices, which may be changed;
· at market prices prevailing at the time of the sale;
· at varying prices determined at the time of sale; or
· at negotiated prices.
Each prospectus supplement will set forth the manner and terms of an offering of securities including:
· whether that offering is being made by us, or certain holders of our securities;
· whether that offering is being made to underwriters or through agents or directly;
· the rules and procedures for any auction or bidding process, if used;
· the securities’ purchase price or initial public offering price; and
· the proceeds we anticipate from the sale of the securities, if any.
In addition, we may enter into derivative or hedging transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with such a transaction, the third parties may sell securities covered by and pursuant to this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle such sales and may use securities received from us to close out any related short positions. We may also loan or pledge securities covered by this prospectus and an applicable
prospectus supplement to third parties, who may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement.
Sales Through Underwriters
If underwriters are used in the sale of some or all of the securities covered by this prospectus, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities, either directly to the public or to securities dealers, at various times in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions. Unless indicated otherwise in a prospectus supplement, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities of the series offered if any of the securities are purchased.
Any initial public offering price and any concessions allowed or reallowed to dealers may be changed intermittently.
Sales Through Agents
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, when securities are sold through an agent, the designated agent will agree, for the period of its appointment as agent, to use its best efforts to sell the securities for our account and will receive commissions from us as will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Securities bought in accordance with a redemption or repayment under their terms also may be offered and sold, if so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing by one or more firms acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and its compensation will be described in the prospectus supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with the securities remarketed by them.
If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers by certain specified institutions to purchase securities at a price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date specified in the prospectus supplement. These contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth the commissions payable for solicitation of these contracts.
Direct Sales
We may also sell offered securities directly to institutional investors or others. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. The terms of such sales will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
General Information
Broker-dealers, agents or underwriters may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from us and/or the purchasers of securities for whom such broker-dealers, agents or underwriters may act as agents or to whom they sell as principal, or both (this compensation to a particular broker-dealer might be in excess of customary commissions).
Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in any distribution of the offered securities may be deemed “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, so any discounts or commissions they receive in connection with the distribution may be deemed to be underwriting compensation. Those underwriters and agents may be entitled, under their agreements with us, to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution by us to payments that they may be required to make in respect of those civil liabilities. Certain of those underwriters or agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of business. We will identify any underwriters or agents, and describe their compensation, in a prospectus supplement. Any institutional investors or others that purchase offered securities directly from us, and then resell the securities, may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts or
commissions received by them from us and any profit on the resale of the securities by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
We will file a supplement to this prospectus, if required, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, if we enter into any material arrangement with a broker, dealer, agent or underwriter for the sale of securities through a block trade, special offering, exchange distribution or secondary distribution or a purchase by a broker or dealer. Such prospectus supplement will disclose:
· the name of any participating broker, dealer, agent or underwriter;
· the number and type of securities involved;
· the price at which such securities were sold;
· any securities exchanges on which such securities may be listed;
· the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to any such broker, dealer, agent or underwriter where applicable; and
· other facts material to the transaction.
In order to facilitate the offering of certain securities under this prospectus or an applicable prospectus supplement, certain persons participating in the offering of those securities may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of those securities during and after the offering of those securities. Specifically, if the applicable prospectus supplement permits, the underwriters of those securities may over-allot or otherwise create a short position in those securities for their own account by selling more of those securities than have been sold to them by us and may elect to cover any such short position by purchasing those securities in the open market.
In addition, the underwriters may stabilize or maintain the price of those securities by bidding for or purchasing those securities in the open market and may impose penalty bids, under which selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers participating in the offering are reclaimed if securities previously distributed in the offering are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions or otherwise. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. The imposition of a penalty bid may also affect the price of securities to the extent that it discourages resales of the securities. No representation is made as to the magnitude or effect of any such stabilization or other transactions. Such transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the securities must be sold in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain states the securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.
Rule 15c6-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 generally requires that trades in the secondary market settle in three business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Your prospectus supplement may provide that the original issue date for your securities may be more than three scheduled business days after the trade date for your securities. Accordingly, in such a case, if you wish to trade securities on any date prior to the third business day before the original issue date for your securities, you will be required, by virtue of the fact that your securities initially are expected to settle in more than three scheduled business days after the trade date for your securities, to make alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.
This prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable pricing supplement in electronic format may be made available on the Internet sites of, or through other online services maintained by, us and/or one or more of the agents and/or dealers participating in an offering of securities, or by their affiliates. In those cases,
prospective investors may be able to view offering terms online and, depending upon the particular agent or dealer, prospective investors may be allowed to place orders online.
Other than this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable pricing supplement in electronic format, the information on our or any agent’s or dealer’s website and any information contained in any other website maintained by any agent or dealer:
· is not part of this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable pricing supplement or the registration statement of which they form a part;
· has not been approved or endorsed by us or by any agent or dealer in its capacity as an agent or dealer, except, in each case, with respect to the respective website maintained by such entity; and
· should not be relied upon by investors.
There can be no assurance that we will sell all or any of the securities offered by this prospectus.
This prospectus may also be used in connection with any issuance of common stock or preferred stock upon exercise of a warrant if such issuance is not exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
In addition, we may issue the securities as a dividend or distribution or in a subscription rights offering to our existing security holders. In some cases, we or dealers acting with us or on our behalf may also purchase securities and reoffer them to the public by one or more of the methods described above. This prospectus may be used in connection with any offering of our securities through any of these methods or other methods described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The validity of the shares of common stock offered hereby will be passed upon by Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 and for each of the two years then ended, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement have been so incorporated by reference upon the report from RSM US LLP independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on the investor relations page of our website at www.unitybank.com. Information on our website is not part of, and is not incorporated into or included in, this prospectus. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can also obtain copies of the documents upon the payment of a duplicating fee to the SEC. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the Public Reference Room. The SEC maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the SEC’s website is www.sec.gov.
This prospectus omits some information contained in the registration statement in accordance with SEC rules and regulations. You should review the information and exhibits included in the registration statement for further information about us and the securities we are offering. Statements in this prospectus concerning any document we filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or that we otherwise filed with the SEC are not intended to be comprehensive and are qualified by reference to these filings. You should review the complete document to evaluate these statements.