0000902664-11-001145.txt : 20110711 0000902664-11-001145.hdr.sgml : 20110711 20110711172517 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000902664-11-001145 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 13D PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 FILED AS OF DATE: 20110711 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20110711 GROUP MEMBERS: CLINTON GROUP, INC. GROUP MEMBERS: CLINTON MAGNOLIA MASTER FUND, LTD. GROUP MEMBERS: GEORGE HALL FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CLINTON GROUP INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001134119 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 32 OLD SLIP 5TH FLOOR CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10005 BUSINESS PHONE: 2128250400 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Porter Bancorp, Inc. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001358356 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021] IRS NUMBER: 611142247 STATE OF INCORPORATION: KY FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-82055 FILM NUMBER: 11962412 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2500 EASTPOINT PARKWAY CITY: LOUISVILLE STATE: KY ZIP: 40223 BUSINESS PHONE: 502-499-4800 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2500 EASTPOINT PARKWAY CITY: LOUISVILLE STATE: KY ZIP: 40223 SC 13D 1 p11-1344sc13d.htm PORTER BANCORP INC. p11-1344sc13d.htm
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
   
SCHEDULE 13D
(Rule 13d-101)
 
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
TO RULE 13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO
RULE 13d-2(a)
(Amendment No. )*
 
Porter Bancorp, Inc.
(Name of Issuer)
 
Common Stock, no par value
(Title of Class of Securities)
 
736233107
(CUSIP Number)
 
 
with a copy to:
Marc Weingarten and David E. Rosewater
Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP
919 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
(212) 756-2000
 
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
 
July 5, 2011
(Date of Event which Requires
Filing of this Schedule)

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

NOTE: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.
(Continued on following pages)
 
(Page 1 of 10 Pages)
 
--------------------------
* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

 
 

 


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


 
 

 
CUSIP No.  736233107
 
SCHEDULE 13D
Page 2 of 10 Pages



1
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS, I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS
(ENTITIES ONLY)
Clinton Group, Inc.
2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(a) ¨
(b) x
3
SEC USE ONLY
 
4
SOURCE OF FUNDS
AF
5
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e)
¨
6
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON WITH
7
SOLE VOTING POWER
- 0 -
8
SHARED VOTING POWER
744,135 shares of Common Stock (including warrants to purchase  228,261 shares of Common Stock)
9
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
- 0 -
10
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
744,135 shares of Common Stock (including warrants to purchase  228,261 shares of Common Stock)
11
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH PERSON
744,135 shares of Common Stock (including warrants to purchase  228,261 shares of Common Stock)
12
CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
¨
13
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) (see Item 5)
6.2%
14
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
IA; CO



 
 

 
CUSIP No.  736233107
 
SCHEDULE 13D
Page 3 of 10 Pages



1
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS, I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS
(ENTITIES ONLY)
Clinton Magnolia Master Fund, Ltd.
2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(a) ¨
(b) x
3
SEC USE ONLY
 
4
SOURCE OF FUNDS
WC
5
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e)
¨
6
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Cayman Islands
NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON WITH
7
SOLE VOTING POWER
- 0 -
8
SHARED VOTING POWER
744,135 shares of Common Stock (including warrants to purchase  228,261 shares of Common Stock)
9
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
- 0 -
10
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
744,135 shares of Common Stock (including warrants to purchase  228,261 shares of Common Stock)
11
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH PERSON
744,135 shares of Common Stock (including warrants to purchase  228,261 shares of Common Stock)
12
CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
¨
13
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) (see Item 5)
6.2%
14
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
CO


 
 

 
CUSIP No.  736233107
 
SCHEDULE 13D
Page 4 of 10 Pages



1
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS, I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS
(ENTITIES ONLY)
George Hall
2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(a) ¨
(b) x
3
SEC USE ONLY
 
4
SOURCE OF FUNDS
AF
5
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e)
¨
6
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
United States
NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON WITH
7
SOLE VOTING POWER
- 0 -
8
SHARED VOTING POWER
744,135 shares of Common Stock (including warrants to purchase  228,261 shares of Common Stock)
9
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
- 0 -
10
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
744,135 shares of Common Stock (including warrants to purchase  228,261 shares of Common Stock)
11
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH PERSON
744,135 shares of Common Stock (including warrants to purchase  228,261 shares of Common Stock)
12
CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
¨
13
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) (see Item 5)
6.2%
14
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
IN
 

 
 

 
CUSIP No. 736233107
 
SCHEDULE 13D
Page 5 of 10 Pages



Item 1.
SECURITY AND ISSUER.

     This statement on Schedule 13D (the "Schedule 13D") relates to the common stock, no par value, (the "Shares"), of Porter Bancorp, Inc, a Kentucky corporation (the "Issuer" or "Bank"). The principal executive offices of the Issuer are located at 2500 Eastpoint Parkway, Louisville, KY 40223.

     The Reporting Persons (as defined below) have previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G on March 31, 2011, File Number 005-82055 (the "Schedule 13G"), to report their beneficial ownership of the Shares that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and are filing this schedule pursuant to §240.13d-1(e) as the Reporting Persons may no longer be passive investors in the Issuer.

Item 2.
IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND.

(a)           This statement is filed by Clinton Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("CGI"), Clinton Magnolia Master Fund, Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company ("CMAG") and George Hall ("Mr. Hall," and together with CGI and CMAG, the "Reporting Persons").
 
(b)           The principal business address of CGI and Mr. Hall is 9 West 57th Street, 26th Floor, New York, New York 10019.  The principal business address of CMAG is c/o Fortis Fund Services (Cayman) Limited, P.O. Box 2003 GT, Grand Pavilion Commercial Centre, 802 West Bay Road, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.
 
(c)           The principal business of CGI is to invest on behalf of funds and accounts under its management.  The principal business of CMAG is to invest in securities.  Mr. Hall is the Chief Investment Officer and President of CGI.
 
(d)           None of the Reporting Persons nor any of the individuals set forth in Schedule A attached hereto has, during the last five years, been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).
 
(e)           None of the Reporting Persons nor any of the individuals set forth in Schedule A attached hereto has, during the last five years, been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.
 
(f)           Mr. Hall is a citizen of the United States of America.
 
The name, citizenship, present principal occupation or employment and business address of each director and executive officer of CGI and CMAG is set forth in Schedule A attached hereto.  To the best of the Reporting Persons' knowledge, except as set forth in this statement on Schedule 13D, none of such individuals owns any Shares.
 
Item 3.
SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION.

Funds for the purchase of the Shares reported herein were derived from available working capital of CMAG.  A total of approximately $5,520,387.10 was paid to acquire such Shares.

 
 

 
CUSIP No. 736233107
 
SCHEDULE 13D
Page 6 of 10 Pages



Item 4.
PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION.

The Shares reported in this Schedule 13D have been purchased and held for investment in the ordinary course of business.  The Reporting Persons purchased the Shares because they believed they were undervalued and represented an attractive investment opportunity.

On July 23, 2010, the Issuer and SBAV LP ("SBAV"), an affiliate of the Reporting Persons, entered into a letter agreement (the "Letter Agreement") pursuant to which SBAV purchased securities of the Issuer (the "Securities"): (i) 370,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock (the "Series B Preferred") and (ii) a warrant to purchase 185,000 shares of Non-Voting Common Stock.  In addition, the Issuer granted the affiliate of the Reporting Persons an option to purchase both 64,784 shares of common stock and a warrant to purchase 32,392 shares of Non-Voting Common Stock, which was exercised on September 28, 2010.  On or about September 23, 2010, the Series B Preferred were mandatorily converted to common stock of the Issuer.  On March 23, 2011, SBAV transferred all of its interests in the Issuer to CMAG.

The Letter Agreement incorporated by reference the terms of that certain Securities Purchase Agreement (the "Securities Purchase Agreement"), dated as of June 30, 2010, by and among the Issuer and certain institutional investors.  The Securities Purchase Agreement included various representations and warranties, including those related to the Issuer's financial statements, internal controls, compliance with law, Sarbanes Oxley compliance and loan loss reserves and an indemnification provision.

The Letter Agreement and Securities Purchase Agreement, copies of which are referenced, respectively, as Exhibit 1 and Exhibit 2 hereto (which incorporates by reference Exhibit 10 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Issuer on July 29, 2010 and Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Issuer on July 7, 2010) are incorporated herein by reference.

On July 11, 2011, CMAG sent a letter (the "July Letter") to the Issuer setting forth its grave concerns about the Issuer's executive leadership team and its ability to properly manage the Bank's operations, compliance with GAAP, financial disclosures and relationships with regulators, which concerns CMAG believes have been confirmed and expanded upon by the Consent Order (the "Consent Order") recently imposed on the Bank by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Commonwealth of Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions.  CMAG specified the steps it believes the Bank must take to maximize shareholder value and comply with the Consent Order, including:
 
  the replacement of the Bank's Chief Executive Officer;
 
 
the augmentation of the board of directors (the "Board") by expanding it to eight members, filling the vacancy so created with an appropriately qualified individual designated by the Reporting Persons (the "Clinton Designee") ;
 
the creation a special committee of the Board, to include the Clinton Designee, to oversee asset sales; and
  the raising of additional capital, if necessary. 
 
    In addition, CMAG stated its belief that it is likely that a number of representations and warranties made by the Bank at the time of the Letter Agreement were false, and demanded that the Issuer take immediate steps to redress such breaches and make CMAG and the other Purchasers (as such term is defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) whole.  A copy of the July Letter is attached hereto as Exhibit 3 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 

 
 

 
CUSIP No. 736233107
 
SCHEDULE 13D
Page 7 of 10 Pages

 
 
As a result of the actions undertaken on behalf of the Reporting Persons as stated above, the Reporting Persons may be deemed members of a "group" within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").

Except as set forth in this Item 4, none of the Reporting Persons has any present plans or proposals that relate to or would result in any of the actions specified in clauses (a) through (j) of the instructions to Item 4 of Schedule 13D. The Reporting Persons intend to review their investment in the Issuer on a continuing basis. Depending on various factors including, without limitation, the progress of discussions with the Issuer's management team and Board, the Issuer's financial position and business strategy, actions or threatened actions by the Issuer's regulatory bodies, the price levels of the Shares, the terms of the Acquisition, other investment opportunities available to the Reporting Persons, conditions in the securities markets and general economic and industry conditions, the Reporting Persons may in the future take such actions with respect to their investment in the Issuer as they deem appropriate including, without limitation, seeking Board representation, making proposals to the Issuer concerning changes to the capitalization, ownership structure, management or operations of the Issuer, calling a special meeting of stockholders, purchasing additional Shares, selling some or all of their Shares, engaging in short selling of or any hedging or similar transactions with respect to the Shares and/or otherwise changing their intention with respect to any and all matters referred to in clauses (a) through (j) of the instructions to Item 4 of Schedule 13D.

Item 5.
INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.

(a) The aggregate percentage of Shares beneficially owned by the Reporting Persons is based upon 12,582,563 Shares outstanding, which includes 11,838,428 Shares outstanding as of April 30, 2011, as reported in the Issuer's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 16, 2011, and as adjusted to take account for the warrants held by the Reporting Persons.  The Reporting Persons may be deemed the beneficial owners of an aggregate of 744,135 Shares, constituting approximately 6.2% of the Shares outstanding.

(b) By virtue of an investment management agreement with CMAG, CGI has the power to vote or direct the voting, and to dispose or direct the disposition, of all of the 744,135 Shares beneficially owned by CMAG. By virtue of his direct and indirect control of CGI and CMAG, George Hall may be deemed to have shared voting power and shared dispositive power with respect to all Shares as to which CGI and CMAG has voting power or dispositive power.
 
(c) Not applicable.
 
(d) No person (other than the Reporting Persons) is known to have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the Shares.
 
(e) Not applicable.

Item 6.
CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR
RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESPECT TO SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.

As described in Item 4 above, in connection with the issuances of the Securities, the Issuer and SBAV entered into the Letter Agreement, which incorporates by reference the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement, copies of which are referenced as Exhibits 1 and 2 hereto, respectively (which incorporates by reference Exhibit 10 of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Issuer on July 29, 2010 and Exhibit 10.1 of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Issuer on July 7, 2010).  As described in Item 4 above, on March 23, 2011, SBAV transferred all of its outstanding interests in the Company to CMAG.

 
 

 
CUSIP No. 736233107
 
SCHEDULE 13D
Page 8 of 10 Pages


 
        In addition, the Reporting Persons also hold warrants to purchase 228,261 shares of Common Stock.  A copy of the form of such warrant are referenced as Exhibit 3 hereto (which incorporates by reference Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Issuer on July 29, 2010 and Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Issuer on July 7, 2010).  The warrants have an exercise price of $11.50 per share.
 
The Reporting Persons are parties to an agreement with respect to the joint filing of this Schedule 13D and any amendments thereto.  A copy of such agreement is attached as Exhibit 4 and is incorporated by reference herein.
 
 

Item 7.
MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS.

Exhibit
Description
1
Letter Agreement, dated July 23, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Porter Bancorp, Inc. on July 29, 2010).
2
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated June 30, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Porter Bancorp, Inc. on July 7, 2010).
 3 Warrant, dated July 23, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Porter Bancorp, Inc. on July 7, 2010).
4
Letter from Clinton Magnolia Master Fund, Ltd. to Porter Bancorp, Inc. dated July 11, 2011.
5
Joint Filing Agreement, dated July 11, 2011.

 
 

 
 

 
CUSIP No. 736233107
 
SCHEDULE 13D
Page 9 of 10 Pages



SIGNATURES
 
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of his or its knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
 
Date: July 11, 2011
 
 
Clinton Group, Inc.
 
       
       
 
By:
 /s/ Francis Ruchalski  
 
Name:
Francis Ruchalski
 
 
Title:
Chief Financial Officer
 
       

 
Clinton Magnolia Master Fund, Ltd.
 
       
 
By:
Clinton Group, Inc., its investment advisor
 
       
       
 
By:
/s/ Francis Ruchalski  
 
Name:
Francis Ruchalski
 
 
Title:
Chief Financial Officer
 
       

       
   /s/ George Hall   
 
George Hall
 
       
       



 
 

 
CUSIP No. 736233107
 
SCHEDULE 13D
Page 10 of 10 Pages


SCHEDULE A

Directors and Executive Officers of Certain Reporting Persons

CLINTON GROUP, INC.

The following sets forth the name, position and principal occupation of each director and executive officer of CGI.  Each such person is a citizen of the United States of America.  The business address of each director and executive officer is 9 West 57th Street, 26th Floor, New York, New York 10019.
 
 
 Name  Position  
 George Hall  Director and President  
 Francis A. Ruchalski  Director and Chief Financial Officer  
 John L. Hall  Director  
 
 
CLINTON MAGNOLIA MASTER FUND, LTD.

The following sets forth the name, principal occupation and business address of each director of CMAG.  There are no executive officers of CMAG.  Each such person is a citizen of the United Kingdom.

Jane Fleming is a citizen of the United Kingdom. Her principal occupation is Client Accountant of Queensgate Bank & Trust Company Ltd. Her business address is Queensgate Bank & Trust Company Ltd., Harbour Place, 5th Floor, 103 South Church Street, P.O. Box 30464 SMB, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.

Dennis Hunter is a citizen of the United Kingdom. His principal occupation is Director of Queensgate Bank & Trust Company Ltd. His business address is Queensgate Bank & Trust Company Ltd., Harbour Place, 5th Floor, 103 South Church Street, P.O. Box 30464 SMB, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.

Roger Hanson is a citizen of the United Kingdom. His principal occupation is director of dms Management Ltd. His business address is dms Management Ltd., P.O. Box 31910 SMB, Ansbacher House, 20 Genesis Close, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.
 

 
EX-99 2 p11-1344exhibit4.htm PORTER BANCORP LETTER p11-1344exhibit4.htm

EXHIBIT 4

Letter from Clinton Magnolia Master Fund, Ltd. to Porter Bancorp, Inc., dated July 11, 2011
 
 
  
CLINTON MAGNOLIA MASTER FUND, LTD.
c/o Clinton Group Inc.
9 West 57th Street, 26th Floor
New York, New York 10019

 
July 11, 2011
 
By Facsimile and Fedex
 
Porter Bancorp, Inc.
2500 Eastpoint Parkway
Louisville, Kentucky 40223
Attention: J. Chester Porter
   Chairman

Dear Mr. Porter:
 
             Clinton Magnolia Master Fund, Ltd. (together with its affiliates, “Clinton”) is the direct beneficial owner of 744,135 shares (the “Shares”) of common stock, no par value (the “Common Stock”), of Porter Bancorp, Inc. (together with PBI Bank, Inc., the “Bank”), which represents approximately 6.2% of the Common Stock outstanding.
 
                 At the time of our investment, we believed in the underlying value of the Bank and its future growth prospects.
    
                 However, we have come to believe that the Bank will only remain a safe and sound Bank and reach its full potential if its Board of Directors (the “Board”) brings in new executive leadership. Very recently, the Bank consented to the issuance of a Consent Order (the “Consent Order”) against it by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions that mandated a third-party evaluation of the executive team “for the purpose of providing qualified management for the Bank.” The Consent Order, as you know, also requires the Bank to take near-term action in a number of areas that, frankly, would have already been addressed by qualified executive leadership: shoring up the Bank’s capital, reducing substandard assets, “accurately” reporting its ALLL, strengthening its loan review function, eliminating loss assets, and reducing loan concentrations, to name a few.
 
                 In the interest of the Bank’s safety and soundness, we believe the time has come for the Board of Directors to replace the Chief Executive Officer with an experienced executive who can quickly resolve the Bank’s ongoing issues and properly manage the Bank’s operations, compliance with GAAP, financial disclosures and relationships with the regulators going forward. We trust that any third party consultant hired by the Bank in compliance with the Consent Order will so demand and we urge the Board to act quickly on the consultant’s recommendation.
 
 
 
 

 
 
  
                 For months the Bank’s Chief Executive has assured us that she was diligently working to resolve the Bank’s NPA issues. But essentially nothing substantial has happened. The quarters of dawdling on this front have threatened the safety and soundness of the Bank (as now confirmed by the Consent Order), stymied the Bank’s business plan, destroyed a tremendous amount of shareholder value (more than $75 million in just the last twelve months), and discouraged sell-side analysts (each of whom has only been able to muster a “hold” recommendation, despite the Bank’s low valuation) and investors alike.
 
                 More generally, as I am sure you can appreciate, it is disconcerting to us as a large investor in the Bank that the regulators have found so many deficiencies and that the executive team and the Board have to be led into compliance by the Bank’s regulators. Moreover, the Consent Order requires the Bank to eliminate or correct “all violations of law, rule and regulation” identified in the January 3, 2011 Evaluation Report. It should go without saying that the Bank’s operating procedures and standards should have been compliant with law all along. We again encourage the Bank to deal with its NPA issues and to do so immediately.
 
                 On a related topic, it is now also apparent that a number of the representations and warranties made to us in connection with our investment were likely false, including, but not limited to, representations and warranties with respect to financial statements, internal controls, compliance with law, Sarbanes Oxley compliance and loan loss reserves. We have reason to believe that in addition to the areas explicitly noted in the Consent Order, there were significant deficiencies in the appraisals of the Bank’s loan portfolio and in the Bank’s review of those appraisals. As a result of the deficiencies explicitly noted by the regulators and those relating to appraisals, we believe that the Bank’s financial statements were not prepared in accordance with GAAP and did not reflect the true financial position of the Bank, and that the internal controls over financial reporting and Sarbanes-Oxley disclosure controls were not effective as represented.
 
                 We are mindful that the biggest beneficiaries of the lofty valuation in the June and July 2010 private placement were Ms. Bouvette and you, as the largest holders of the Bank’s equity. We note with some trepidation that the Consent Order specifically admonishes the Bank, if it is to raise capital again, to do so this time through offering materials that provide “an accurate description of the financial condition of the Bank”. We fear that was not done the last time and that we are the victims of those “inaccurate” descriptions of the Bank’s then condition.
 
                 In light of the apparent misrepresentations, we demand that the Bank take immediate steps to make investors in the June and July 2010 transactions, such as us, whole, through the issuance of additional securities that do not reduce the Bank’s capital or affect its safety and soundness.  If the Bank fails to do, we reserve our right to pursue all available remedies to us for breach.
 
 
 
 

 
 
                 The circumstances here – strong regulatory action, operational mismanagement, substantial loss of shareholder value, misrepresentations made to investors, and an ongoing failure to confront the NPAs on the books – give rise to heightened duties for the Board. In addition to compensating investors such as ourselves that were induced to purchase securities through misrepresentations in a manner that is consistent with the safety and soundness of the Bank, we believe the Board must immediately implement the various requirements of the Consent Order and, consistent with that Consent Order and subject to any required regulatory consent, should also take the following steps to preserve shareholder value and ensure the safety and soundness of the Bank:

       
  
replace the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer by conducting an expedited search with input from the Bank’s significant stakeholders, such as Clinton;

  
augment the Board by expanding it to eight members, filling the vacancy so created with an appropriately qualified individual designated by Clinton;

  
raise additional capital, if necessary, in way that does not disadvantage the existing shareholders; and

  
create a special committee of the Board, including the Clinton Board designee, to oversee asset sales.

                 We hope that the Board will act in accordance with the foregoing.  If the Board fails to do so, we reserve our right to pursue all available remedies against the Bank and the Board to protect the safety and soundness of the Bank, achieve redress for the misrepresentations made to us, and prevent the further deterioration of shareholder value.
 
                 This letter is without prejudice to, and we fully and specifically reserve, any and all rights, powers, privileges and remedies, with respect to the improper management of the Bank, including failures of oversight by the Board, and for the breaches of representations made to us in connection with our investment.
 
                 We stand ready to assist in the Bank’s return to safety and soundness, including potentially committing additional capital, provided the aforementioned necessary steps are taken.
 
 
Very truly yours,
   
 
CLINTON MAGNOLIA MASTER FUND, LTD.
   
   
 
By:
/s/ George Hall 
   
Name:  George Hall
   
Title:  Authorized Signatory
 
 
cc:
Members of the Board of Directors
 
     
 
Frost Brown Todd LLC
 
 
400 West Market Street
 
 
Suite 3200
 
 
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
 
 
Attention:  Alan MacDonald
 
 
                    James Straus
 

 



EX-99 3 p11-1344exhibit5.htm JOINT FILING AGREEMENT p11-1344exhibit5.htm
EXHIBIT 5

Joint Filing Agreement, dated July 11, 2011

PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-1(k)

The undersigned acknowledge and agree that the foregoing statement on Schedule 13D is filed on behalf of each of the undersigned and that all subsequent amendments to this statement on Schedule 13D may be filed on behalf of each of the undersigned without the necessity of filing additional joint filing agreements. The undersigned acknowledge that each shall be responsible for the timely filing of such amendments, and for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning him or it contained herein and therein, but shall not be responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning the others, except to the extent that he or it knows that such information is inaccurate.

Dated: July 11, 2011

 
Clinton Group, Inc.
 
       
       
 
By:
/s/ Francis Ruchalski  
 
Name:
Francis Ruchalski
 
 
Title:
Chief Financial Officer 
 
       

 
Clinton Magnolia Master Fund, Ltd.
 
       
 
By:
Clinton Group, Inc., its investment advisor
 
       
       
 
By:
/s/ Francis Ruchalski   
 
Name:
Francis Ruchalski
 
 
Title:
Chief Financial Officer 
 
       

       
   /s/ George Hall  
 
George Hall