S-3
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 12, 2017

Registration Statement No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

 

LOGO

LIVE OAK BANCSHARES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

North Carolina   26-4596286

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

1741 Tiburon Drive

Wilmington, North Carolina 28403

Telephone: (910) 790-5867

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

 

 

Gregory W. Seward

General Counsel

Live Oak Bancshares, Inc.

1741 Tiburon Drive

Wilmington, North Carolina 28403

Telephone: (910) 212-4710

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

 

 

Copies to:

Todd H. Eveson

Jonathan A. Greene

Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP

4101 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 300

Raleigh, North Carolina 27607

Telephone: (919) 781-4000

Fax (919) 781-4865

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer   ☐  (Do not check if smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company  
     Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act.  ☐

 

 

 


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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of each class of

securities to be registered

 

Amount

to be
registered(1)(2)

 

Proposed
maximum

offering price

per unit(1)(2)(3)

 

Proposed
maximum

aggregate

offering price(1)(2)(3)

 

Amount of

registration fee(4)

Voting common stock, no par value per share

               

Non-voting common stock, no par value per share

               

Preferred stock, no par value per share

               

Warrants

               

Debt securities(5)

               

Units

               

Depositary shares

               

Purchase contracts

               

Rights

               

Total

  $200,000,000   100%   $200,000,000   $23,180

 

 

(1) An unspecified aggregate initial offering price and number of securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be offered at unspecified prices. Also includes an indeterminate number of shares of voting common stock, non-voting common stock, preferred stock, warrants, purchase contracts, depositary shares, rights and units, and such indeterminate principal amount of senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities as may be issued by the registrant upon exercise, conversion or exchange of any securities that provide for such issuance, or that may from time to time become issuable by reason of any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction, for which no separate consideration will be received by registrant. In no event will the aggregate offering price of all types of securities issued by the registrant pursuant to this registration statement exceed $200,000,000. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or together with other securities registered hereunder. Includes an indeterminate number of depositary shares evidenced by depositary receipts as may be issued in the event that the registrant elects to offer fractional interests in its preferred stock registered hereby.
(2) Pursuant to General Instruction II.D of Form S-3, information as to each class of securities to be registered is not specified.
(3) Estimated for the sole purpose of computing the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, and exclusive of accrued interest and dividends, if any.
(4) Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o) of the Securities Act of 1933, based on the maximum aggregate offering price of all securities registered hereunder.
(5) May consist of one or more series of senior or subordinated debt.

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission acting pursuant to said Section 8(a) may determine.


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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities or accept an offer to buy these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities, and we are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to completion, dated July 12, 2017

Prospectus

 

LOGO

$200,000,000 of

Voting Common Stock,

Non-Voting Common Stock,

Preferred Stock,

Warrants,

Debt Securities,

Units,

Depositary Shares,

Purchase Contracts, and/or

Rights

 

 

We may offer and sell, from time to time, in one or more offerings, any combination of debt and equity securities that we describe in this prospectus. The aggregate amount of the securities offered by us under this prospectus will not exceed $200,000,000. We will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in the securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement. This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

Each time we sell securities, we will provide specific terms of the securities offered in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. We will specify in any accompanying prospectus supplement the terms of any offering. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, as well as any documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, carefully before you invest in any securities. This prospectus may not be used by us to consummate a sale of securities unless accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement.

We will sell these securities directly to our shareholders or to other purchasers or through agents on our behalf or through underwriters or dealers as designated from time to time. If any agents or underwriters are involved in the sale of any of these securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will provide the names of the agents or underwriters and any applicable fees, commissions or discounts.

Our voting common stock trades on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the trading symbol “LOB.” On July 11, 2017, the last reported sale price of our voting common stock was $24.35 per share. We recommend that you obtain current market quotations for our voting common stock prior to making an investment decision.

We qualify as an “emerging growth company,” as that term is defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act.

You should carefully read this prospectus, the prospectus supplement relating to any specific offering of securities and all information incorporated by reference herein and therein.

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. These risks are discussed in this prospectus under “Risk Factors” beginning on page 7 and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission 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 date of this prospectus is      2017.


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Table of Contents

 

     Page  

About This Prospectus

     1  

Prospectus Summary

     2  

Risk Factors

     7  

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

     8  

Use of Proceeds

     10  

Plan of Distribution

     10  

Description of Voting and Non-Voting Common Stock

     12  

Description of Preferred Stock

     13  

Description of Depositary Shares

     15  

Description of Debt Securities

     18  

Description of Warrants

     20  

Description of Units

     22  

Description of Purchase Contracts

     22  

Description of Rights

     22  

Charter, Bylaw and Statutory Provisions Having Potential Anti-Takeover Effects

     24  

Legal Matters

     25  

Experts

     25  

Where You Can Find More Information

     25  

Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference

     26  

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is a part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration statement, we may issue and sell to the public, either separately or together, any part or all of the securities described in the registration statement, at any time and from time to time, in one or more public offerings, up to an aggregate amount of $200,000,000 of our debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares, voting common stock, non-voting common stock, purchase contracts, units, warrants, or rights consisting of two or more securities. We may also issue voting common stock, non-voting common stock or preferred stock upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any of the securities mentioned above. This prospectus only provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the terms of the securities and the offering. A prospectus supplement may include a discussion of any risk factors or other special considerations applicable to those securities or to us. The supplement also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. You should carefully read both this prospectus and any supplement, together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” below.

The registration statement containing this prospectus, including exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus. That registration statement can be read at the SEC website or at the SEC office mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” below.

We may sell the securities (a) through agents; (b) through underwriters or dealers; (c) directly to one or more purchasers; or (d) through a combination of any of these methods of sale. We and our agents reserve the sole right to accept and to reject in whole or in part any proposed purchase of securities. See “Plan of Distribution” below. A prospectus supplement (or pricing supplement), which we will provide to you each time we offer securities, will provide the names of any underwriters, dealers, or agents involved in the sale of the securities, and any applicable fee, commission, or discount arrangements with them.

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement (or pricing supplement) and the documents we have incorporated by reference. We will disclose any material changes in our affairs in an amendment to this prospectus, a prospectus supplement (or pricing supplement) or a future filing with the SEC incorporated by reference in this prospectus. No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained or incorporated in this prospectus and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell or to buy any securities other than those to which it relates, or an offer or solicitation with respect to those securities to which it relates to any persons in any jurisdiction where such offer or solicitation would be unlawful. The delivery of this prospectus at any time does not imply that the information contained or incorporated herein at its date is correct as of any time subsequent to its date.

Except where the context otherwise requires, the “Company”, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, and the “Bank” refers to our wholly owned subsidiary bank, Live Oak Banking Company.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. Because it is a summary, it might not contain all of the information that is important to you. Accordingly, you are urged to carefully review this prospectus in its entirety, including “Risk Factors” beginning on page 7 and our financial statements and related notes thereto incorporated by reference herein, before making an investment decision.

Our Company

The Company predominately originates loans partially guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (the “SBA”), to small businesses and professionals with what the Company believes are lower risk characteristics. Industries, or “verticals,” on which the Company focuses its lending efforts are carefully selected. Within each vertical, the Company retains individuals who possess extensive industry-specific experience. Additionally, the Company’s domain experts are engaged and active in each of the industries served.

In addition to focusing on industry verticals, the Company emphasizes developing detailed knowledge of its customers’ businesses. This knowledge is developed, in part, through regular visits to customers’ operations, wherever they are located. These regular visits are designed to foster both for the Company and for the customer a deep and personalized experience throughout the lending relationship. The Company has developed and continues to refine a technology-based platform to facilitate providing financial services to the small business community on a national scale and has leveraged this technology to optimize the Company’s loan origination process, customer experience, reporting metrics, and servicing activity. The Company services customers efficiently throughout the loan process and monitors their performance by means of the technology-based platform, which eliminates the need to maintain traditional branch locations.

Corporate Information

The Company, headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, is the bank holding company for Live Oak Banking Company (the “Bank” or “Live Oak Bank”). The Bank was incorporated in February 2008 as a North Carolina-chartered commercial bank and operates an established national online platform for small business lending. The Company completed its initial public offering in July 2015. The Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of North Carolina on December 18, 2008, for the purpose of serving as the bank holding company of the Bank.

In addition to the Bank, the Company held the following wholly owned subsidiaries as of the date of this prospectus:

 

    Live Oak Clean Energy Financing LLC, formed in November 2016 for the purpose of providing financing to entities for renewable energy applications;

 

    Live Oak Ventures, Inc., formed in August 2016 for the purpose of investing in businesses that align with the Company’s strategic initiative to be a leader in financial technology;

 

    Live Oak Grove, LLC, opened in September 2015 for the purpose of providing Company employees and business visitors an on-site restaurant location;

 

    Government Loan Solutions, Inc., a management and technology consulting firm that specializes in the settlement, accounting, and securitization processes for government-guaranteed loans, including loans originated under the SBA 7(a) loan program and USDA-guaranteed loans; and

 



 

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    504 Fund Advisors, LLC, formed to serve as the investment advisor to the 504 Fund, a closed-end mutual fund organized to invest in SBA section 504 loans.

On February 1, 2017, the Company completed its acquisition of Reltco, Inc. and National Assurance Title, Inc., two companies under common control based in Tampa, Florida, that provide nationwide title agency and settlement services.

Until it was dissolved at the end of December 2015, the Company also owned Independence Aviation, LLC, which was formed for the purpose of purchasing and operating aircraft used for business purposes of the Company.

The Company’s principal executive office is located at 1741 Tiburon Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403, telephone number (910) 790-5867. The Company maintains a website at www.liveoakbank.com. The information contained in, or that can be access through, our website is not part of this prospectus.

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company

We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. As an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of specified reduced disclosure and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include, among others:

 

    inclusion of only two years of audited financial statements, in addition to any required unaudited interim financial statements, with correspondingly reduced “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” disclosure;

 

    reduced disclosure about our executive compensation arrangements;

 

    no non-binding advisory votes on executive compensation or golden parachute arrangements; and

 

    exemption from the auditor attestation requirement in the assessment of our internal controls over financial reporting.

We may take advantage of these exemptions for up to five years from our initial public offering or such earlier time that we are no longer an emerging growth company. We would cease to be an emerging growth company if we have more than $1 billion in annual revenue, if we have more than $700 million in market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates, or we issue more than $1 billion of non-convertible debt over a three-year period. We may choose to take advantage of some, but not all, of the available exemptions. We have taken advantage of certain reduced reporting burdens in this prospectus and in documents incorporated herein by reference. Accordingly, the information contained herein may be different than the information you receive from other public companies in which you hold stock.

Offerings Under This Prospectus

We may issue and sell to the public, either separately or together, any part or all of the securities described in this prospectus, at any time and from time to time, in one or more public offerings, up to an aggregate amount of $200,000,000 of our debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares, voting common stock, non-voting common stock, purchase contracts, units, warrants, or rights consisting of two or more securities at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of any offering. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer a type or series of securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the securities.

 



 

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A prospectus supplement also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in documents we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. However, no prospectus supplement will fundamentally change the terms that are set forth in this prospectus or offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of its effectiveness.

This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of any securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

We may sell the securities directly to investors or to or through agents, underwriters or dealers. We, and our agents or underwriters, reserve the right to accept or reject all or part of any proposed purchase of securities. If we offer securities through agents or underwriters, we will include in the applicable prospectus supplement:

 

    the names of those agents or underwriters;

 

    applicable fees, discounts and commissions to be paid to them;

 

    details regarding over-allotment options, if any; and

 

    the net proceeds to us.

Voting Common Stock

We may issue shares of our voting common stock from time to time. The holders of voting common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by shareholders. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding preferred stock, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends that may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of voting common stock along with the holders of our non-voting common stock, together as one class, are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities, subject to prior distribution rights of any preferred stock then outstanding.

Non-Voting Common Stock

We may issue shares of our non-voting common stock from time to time. Shares of our non-voting common stock do not have voting rights, except to the extent required by law. Aside from voting rights, all rights of holders of non-voting common stock are identical to the rights of holders of voting common stock. Our non-voting common stock automatically converts to voting common stock if it is transferred to a subsequent holder in a “permitted transfer,” as that term is defined in our amended and restated articles of incorporation.

A “permitted transfer” is a transfer (i) to an affiliate of the holder or to the Company, (ii) in a widespread public distribution, (iii) in transfers in which no transferee (or group of associated transferees) would receive 2% or more of any class of the voting securities of the Company, or (iv) to a transferee that would control more than 50% of the voting securities of the Company without any transfer from the transferor.

Preferred Stock and Depositary Shares

We may offer preferred stock in one or more series. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe for each offer of preferred stock the specific designation of the series offered; the aggregate number of shares offered; the rate and periods, or manner of calculating the rate and periods, for dividends, if any; the stated value and liquidation preference amount, if any; the redemption, liquidation and voting rights, if any; and any other specific terms. We may also offer depositary shares, each of which would represent an interest in a fractional

 



 

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share of preferred stock. We will issue the depositary shares under one or more deposit agreements to be entered into between us and one or more depositaries.

Warrants

We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities in one or more series. We may issue warrants independently or together with common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from these securities. We will evidence each series of warrants by warrant certificates that we will issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into warrant agreements with a bank or trust company that we select to be our warrant agent. We will indicate the name and address of the warrant agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of warrants.

In this prospectus, we have summarized certain general features of the warrants. We urge you, however, to read the applicable prospectus supplement related to the particular series of warrants being offered, as well as the warrant agreements and warrant certificates that contain the terms of the warrants. We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of warrant agreement or warrant certificate containing the terms of the warrants we are offering before the issuance of the warrants.

Debt Securities

We may offer debt securities from time to time, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. The senior debt securities will rank equally with any other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner described in the instrument governing the debt, to all of our senior indebtedness. Convertible debt securities will be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock or our other securities. Conversion may be mandatory or at your option or both and would be at prescribed conversion rates.

Units

We may issue units consisting of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities and/or warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities in one or more series. In this prospectus, we have summarized certain general features of the units. We urge you, however, to read the applicable prospectus supplement related to the series of units being offered, as well as the unit agreements that contain the terms of the units. We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference reports that we file with the SEC, the form of unit agreement and any supplemental agreements that describe the terms of the series of units we are offering before the issuance of the related series of units.

Purchase Contracts

We also may issue purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and obligating us to sell to holders, a fixed or varying number of shares of common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or debt securities at a future date or dates. The consideration per share of common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or debt securities may be fixed at the time that purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the purchase contracts. Any purchase contract may include anti-dilution provisions to adjust the number of shares issuable pursuant to such purchase contract upon the occurrence of certain events.

The purchase contracts may be issued separately or as a part of units with one or more other securities. These contracts, and the holders’ obligations to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock, depositary

 



 

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shares or debt securities under the purchase contracts may be secured by cash, certificates of deposit, U.S. government securities that will mature prior to or simultaneously with, the maturity of the purchase contract, standby letters of credit from an affiliated U.S. bank that is FDIC-insured or other collateral satisfactory to the Federal Reserve. The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to holders of the purchase units, or vice versa, and such payments may be unsecured or prefunded and may be paid on a current or on a deferred basis.

Any one or more of the above securities, common stock or the purchase contracts or other collateral may be pledged as security for the holders’ obligations to purchase or sell, as the case may be, the common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or debt securities under the purchase contracts.

Rights

We may offer rights to our existing shareholders to purchase additional shares of our common stock or any series of our preferred stock. For any particular subscription rights, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of such rights, including the period during which such rights may be exercised, the manner of exercising such rights, the transferability of such rights and the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock that may be purchased in connection with each right and the subscription price for the purchase of such common stock or preferred stock. In connection with a rights offering, we may enter into a separate agreement with one or more underwriters or standby purchasers to purchase any shares of our common stock or preferred stock not subscribed for in the rights offering by existing stockholders, which will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Listing

If any securities are to be listed or quoted on a securities exchange or quotation system, the applicable prospectus supplement will so indicate. Our voting common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and trades under the symbol “LOB.”

 



 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves risk. Please see the “Risk Factors” section in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K, along with a disclosure related to the risk factors contained in any of the Company’s subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, which are incorporated herein by reference in this prospectus, as updated by our future filings with the SEC. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. The risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or that the Company currently deems immaterial may also impair its business operations, its financial results and the value of the securities. 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 the Company and the particular type of securities we are offering under that prospectus supplement.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements included in this prospectus, including information incorporated herein by reference, which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, forward looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

These statements generally relate to the financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance or business of Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”). They usually can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as “believes,” “expects,” or “are expected to,” “plans,” “projects,” “goals,” “estimates,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “continues,” “intends to,” “outlook” or “anticipates,” or variations of these and similar words, or by discussions of strategies that involve risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance on these statements, as they are subject to risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, those described in this prospectus. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind these risks and uncertainties, as well as any cautionary statements management may make. Moreover, you should treat these statements as speaking only as of the date they are made and based only on information actually known to the Company at the time. Management undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company’s business, management’s beliefs and assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of the Company’s future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, without limitation:

 

    deterioration in the financial condition of borrowers resulting in significant increases in the Company’s loan losses and provisions for those losses and other adverse impacts to results of operations and financial condition;

 

    changes in Small Business Administration (“SBA”) rules, regulations and loan products, including specifically the Section 7(a) program, changes in SBA standard operating procedures or changes to the status of Live Oak Banking Company (the “Bank”) as an SBA Preferred Lender;

 

    changes in rules, regulations or procedures for other government loan programs, including those of the United States Department of Agriculture;

 

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

 

    the failure of assumptions underlying the establishment of reserves for possible loan losses;

 

    changes in loan underwriting, credit review or loss reserve policies associated with economic conditions, examination conclusions, or regulatory developments;

 

    a reduction in or the termination of the Company’s ability to use the technology-based platform that is critical to the success of the Company’s business model, including a failure in or a breach of the Company’s operational or security systems or those of its third party service providers;

 

    changes in financial market conditions, either internationally, nationally or locally in areas in which the Company conducts operations, including reductions in rates of business formation and growth, demand for the Company’s products and services, commercial and residential real estate development and prices, premiums paid in the secondary market for the sale of loans, and valuation of servicing rights;

 

    changes in accounting principles, policies, and guidelines applicable to bank holding companies and banking;

 

    fluctuations in markets for equity, fixed-income, commercial paper and other securities, which could affect availability, market liquidity levels, and pricing;

 

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

 

    the Company’s ability to attract and retain key personnel;

 

    changes in governmental monetary and fiscal policies as well as other legislative and regulatory changes, including with respect to SBA lending programs and investment tax credits;

 

    changes in political and economic conditions;

 

    the impact of heightened regulatory scrutiny of financial products and services, primarily led by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau;

 

    the Company’s ability to comply with any requirements imposed on it by regulators, and the potential negative consequences that may result;

 

    operational, compliance and other factors, including conditions in local areas in which the Company conducts business such as inclement weather or a reduction in the availability of services or products for which loan proceeds will be used, that could prevent or delay closing and funding loans before they can be sold in the secondary market;

 

    the effect of any mergers, acquisitions or other transactions, to which the Company or the Bank may from time to time be a party, including management’s ability to successfully integrate any businesses acquired;

 

    the success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing.

Except as otherwise disclosed, forward-looking statements do not reflect: (i) the effect of any acquisitions, divestitures or similar transactions that have not been previously disclosed; (ii) any changes in laws, regulations or regulatory interpretations; or (iii) any change in current dividend or repurchase strategies, in each case after the date as of which such statements are made.

Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements are incorporated by reference under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and may be described in any prospectus supplement and in the “Risk Factors” and other sections of the documents that we incorporate by reference into this prospectus, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in our other reports filed with the SEC. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those anticipated. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by reference to these risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any statement, to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities offered under this prospectus for general corporate purposes. General corporate purposes may include repayment of debt or the interest payments thereon, capital expenditures, possible acquisitions, investments and any other purposes that we may specify in any prospectus supplement. We may invest the net proceeds temporarily until we use them for their stated purpose. We cannot predict whether the proceeds invested will yield a favorable return.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell securities offered under this prospectus:

 

    through underwriters or dealers;

 

    through agents;

 

    directly to one or more purchasers; or

 

    through a combination of any of these methods for sale.

The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed from time to time, or at negotiated prices. For each type and series of securities offered, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering, including, without limitation:

 

    the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;

 

    the purchase price of the securities;

 

    the use of proceeds to us from the sale of the securities;

 

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

 

    any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or repaid to dealers; and

 

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

If underwriters are used in an offering, we will execute an underwriting agreement with such underwriters and will specify the name of each underwriter and the terms of the transaction (including any underwriting discounts and other terms constituting compensation of the underwriters and any dealers) in a prospectus supplement. If we use underwriters in any sale of securities offered under this prospectus, the underwriters will buy the securities for their own account. The underwriters may then resell the securities in one or more transactions at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale or thereafter. The underwriters may sell the securities directly or through underwriting syndicates managed by managing underwriters. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities offered if they purchase any securities. The offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time. In connection with an offering, underwriters and their affiliates may engage in transactions to stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities in accordance with applicable law.

Underwriters or agents may make sales in privately negotiated transactions and/or any other method permitted by law, including sales deemed to be an “at-the-market” offering as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, which includes sales made directly on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the existing trading market for our voting common stock, or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange.

 

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If we use dealers in any sale of securities offered under this prospectus, the securities will be sold to such dealers as principals. The dealers may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealers at the time of resale. If agents are used in any sale of securities offered under this prospectus, they will generally use their reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment. If securities offered under this prospectus are sold directly, no underwriters, dealers or agents would be involved. We are not making an offer of securities in any state that does not permit such an offer.

Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in any distribution of securities may be deemed to be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act. Any discounts, commissions or profit they receive when they resell the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. We expect that any agreements we may enter into with underwriters, dealers and agents will include provisions indemnifying them against certain civil liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act, or providing for contributions with respect to payments that they may be required to make.

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

Sales of securities offered under this prospectus also may be effected by us from time to time in one or more types of transactions (which may, without limitation, include block transactions, special offerings, exchange distributions, secondary distributions, purchases by a broker or dealer, or other direct sales by us to one or more purchasers) on the NASDAQ Global Select Market or any other national securities exchange or automated trading and quotation system on which our common stock or other securities are listed, in the over-the-counter market, in transactions otherwise than on such exchanges and systems or the over-the-counter market, including negotiated transactions, through options transactions relating to the shares, or a combination of such methods of sale, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at negotiated prices or at fixed prices. Such transactions may or may not involve brokers or dealers. Any shares of our voting common stock offered under this prospectus will be listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, subject to notice of issuance.

Each issue of a new series of debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares, purchase contracts, units, warrants and rights will be a new issue of securities with no established trading market, except as indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. In addition, there is no established trading market for our non-voting common stock. It has not been established whether the underwriters, if any, of the securities offered under this prospectus will make a market in these securities. If a market in our non-voting common stock or any series of debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares, purchase contracts, units, warrants and rights is made by any such underwriters, such market-making may be discontinued at any time without notice. We can give no assurance as to the liquidity of the trading market of these securities.

In order to facilitate the offering of any of the securities offered under this prospectus, the underwriters with respect to any such offering may, as described in the prospectus supplement, engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities or any other securities the prices of which may be used to determine payments on these securities. Specifically, the underwriters may over-allot in connection with the offering, creating a short position in these securities for their own accounts. In addition, to cover over-allotments or to stabilize the price of these securities or of any other securities, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, these securities or any other securities in the open market. Finally, in any offering of the securities offered under this prospectus through a syndicate of underwriters, the underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer for distributing these securities in the offering, if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed securities in transactions to cover syndicate short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of these securities above

 

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independent market levels. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities at any time, all as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, one or more firms, which we refer to as “remarketing firms,” acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us, may offer and sell the securities offered under this prospectus as part of a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with their terms. We will identify any remarketing firm, the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and its compensation in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Remarketing firms, agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under agreements with us to indemnification by or contribution from us against some civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

Any person participating in the distribution of securities will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, including without limitation, Regulation M, which may limit the timing of transactions involving the securities offered under this prospectus. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of such securities to engage in market-making activities with respect to the particular securities being distributed. All of the above may affect the marketability of the securities offered under this prospectus and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to such securities.

Under the securities laws of various states, the securities offered under this prospectus may be sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in various states the securities offered under this prospectus may not be offered and sold unless such securities have been registered or qualified for sale in the state or an exemption from such registration or qualification is available and is complied with.

DESCRIPTION OF VOTING AND NON-VOTING COMMON STOCK, NO PAR VALUE PER SHARE

Voting RightsEach share of our voting common stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote on all matters upon which shareholders have the right to vote. Our shareholders are not entitled to cumulate their votes for the election of directors. Shares of our non-voting common stock do not have voting rights, except to the extent otherwise required by law.

DividendsSubject to preferences to which holders of any shares of our preferred stock may be entitled, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends that may be declared from time to time by the board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose. Under North Carolina law, we are authorized to pay dividends as declared by our board of directors, provided that no such distribution results in our insolvency on a going concern or balance sheet basis. However, although we are a legal entity separate and distinct from the Bank, our principal source of funds with which we can pay dividends to our shareholders is dividends we receive from the Bank. For that reason, our ability to pay dividends is effectively subject to the same limitations that apply to the Bank. The Bank’s ability to pay dividends to us is subject to regulatory restrictions that apply to North Carolina chartered commercial banks.

No Preemptive RightsWith the exception of contractual preemptive rights granted to certain of our institutional shareholders, holders of our common stock do not have preemptive, conversion or subscription rights to acquire other or additional shares of any class of stock or other securities we may issue in the future.

Liquidation. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, the holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to receive, after payment of all debts and liabilities, all of our remaining assets available for distribution in cash or in kind. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the

 

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Bank, we, as the sole shareholder of the Bank’s common stock, would be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Bank available for distribution in cash or in kind after payment of all debts and liabilities of the Bank including all deposits and accrued interest on deposits.

MiscellaneousHolders of our common stock do not have any redemption, sinking fund or conversion rights. Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc., Edgewood, New York, acts as registrar and transfer agent for our common stock. The rights of the holders of our common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any other series of preferred stock that we may establish in the future. See “Charter, Bylaw, and Statutory Provisions Having Potential ‘Anti-Takeover’ Effects.”

NASDAQ Global Select Market. Our voting common stock is listed for quotation on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “LOB.” On July  11, 2017, the last reported sale price of our voting common stock was $24.35 per share.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

The following outlines the general provisions of the shares of preferred stock, no par value per share, which we may offer from time to time. The specific terms of a series of preferred stock will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to that series of preferred stock. The following description of the preferred stock and any description of preferred stock in a prospectus supplement is only a summary and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the articles of amendment to our articles of incorporation relating to the particular series of preferred stock, a copy of which we will file with the SEC in connection with the sale of any series of preferred stock.

General. Under our articles of incorporation, our board of directors is authorized, without shareholder approval, to adopt resolutions providing for the issuance of up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value per share, in one or more series. As of the date of this prospectus, no shares of our preferred stock are issued and outstanding.

Our board of directors may fix the voting powers, designations, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions of each series of preferred stock that we may offer.

In addition, as described under “Description of Depositary Shares,” we may, instead of offering full shares of any series of preferred stock, offer depositary shares evidenced by depositary receipts, each representing a fraction of a share of the particular series of preferred stock issued and deposited with a depositary. The fraction of a share of preferred stock which each depositary share represents will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to such depositary shares.

The prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of preferred stock will contain a description of the specific terms of that series, including, as applicable:

 

    the title, designation, number of shares and stated or liquidation value of the preferred stock;

 

    the dividend amount or rate or method of calculation, the payment dates for dividends and the place or places where the dividends will be paid, whether dividends will be cumulative or noncumulative, and, if cumulative, the dates from which dividends will begin to accrue;

 

    any conversion or exchange rights;

 

    whether the preferred stock will be subject to redemption and the redemption price and other terms and conditions relative to the redemption rights;

 

    any liquidation rights;

 

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    any sinking fund provisions;

 

    any voting rights;

 

    the exchange or market, if any, where the preferred stock will be listed or traded; and

 

    any other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions that are not inconsistent with the terms of the our articles of incorporation.

Upon the issuance and payment for shares of preferred stock, the shares will be fully paid and nonassessable. Except as otherwise may be specified in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of preferred stock, holders of preferred stock will not have any preemptive or subscription rights to acquire any class or series of our capital stock and each series of preferred stock will rank on a parity in all respects with each other series of our preferred stock and prior to our common stock as to dividends and any distribution of our assets.

The authorization of the preferred stock could have the effect of making it more difficult or time consuming for a third party to acquire a majority of our outstanding voting stock or otherwise effect a change of control. Shares of the preferred stock may also be sold to third parties that indicate that they would support the board of directors in opposing a hostile takeover bid. The availability of the preferred stock could have the effect of delaying a change of control and of increasing the consideration ultimately paid to our stockholders. The board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock for capital-raising activities, acquisitions, joint ventures or other corporate purposes that have the effect of making an acquisition of the Company more difficult or costly, as could also be the case if the board of directors were to issue additional common stock for such purposes. See “Charter, Bylaw and Statutory Provisions Having Potential ‘Anti-Takeover’ Effects.”

Redemption. If so specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, a series of preferred stock may be redeemable at any time, in whole or in part, at our option, and may be mandatorily redeemable or convertible. Restrictions, if any, on the repurchase or redemption by us of any series of our preferred stock will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to that series. Generally, any redemption of our preferred stock will be subject to prior Federal Reserve approval. Any partial redemption of a series of preferred stock would be made in the manner described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to that series.

Upon the redemption date of shares of preferred stock called for redemption or upon our earlier call and deposit of the redemption price, all rights of holders of the preferred stock called for redemption will terminate, except for the right to receive the redemption price.

Dividends. Holders of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive cash dividends only when, as and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for dividends. The rates or amounts and dates of payment of dividends will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to each series of preferred stock. Dividends will be payable to holders of record of preferred stock on the record dates fixed by our board of directors. Dividends on any series of preferred stock may be cumulative or noncumulative, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Our board of directors may not declare, pay or set apart funds for payment of dividends on a particular series of preferred stock unless full dividends on any other series of preferred stock that ranks equally with or senior to such series of preferred stock with respect to the payments of dividends have been paid or sufficient funds have been set apart for payment for either of the following:

 

    all prior dividend periods of each such series of preferred stock that pay dividends on a cumulative basis; or

 

    the immediately preceding dividend period of each such series of preferred stock that pays dividends on a noncumulative basis.

 

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Partial dividends declared on shares of any series of preferred stock and other series of preferred stock ranking on an equal basis as to dividends will be declared pro rata. A pro rata declaration means that the ratio of dividends declared per share to accrued dividends per share will be the same for all series of preferred stock of equal priority.

Liquidation Preference. In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company, holders of each series of preferred stock will have the right to receive distributions upon liquidation in the amount described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to each series of preferred stock, plus an amount equal to any accrued but unpaid dividends. These distributions will be made before any distribution is made on our common stock or on any securities ranking junior to such preferred stock upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up.

However, holders of the shares of preferred stock will not be entitled to receive the liquidation price of their shares until we have paid or set aside an amount sufficient to pay in full the liquidation preference of any class or series of our capital stock ranking senior as to rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, neither a consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another corporation nor a merger of another corporation with or into the Company nor a sale or transfer of all or part of the Company’s assets for cash or securities will be considered a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company.

If the liquidation amounts payable to holders of preferred stock of all series ranking on a parity regarding liquidation are not paid in full, the holders of the preferred stock of these series will have the right to a ratable portion of our available assets up to the full liquidation preference. Holders of these series of preferred stock or such other securities will not be entitled to any other amounts from us after they have received their full liquidation preference.

Conversion and Exchange. The prospectus supplement will indicate whether and on what terms the shares of any future series of preferred stock will be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of any other class, series or security of the Company or any other corporation or any other property (including whether the conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or our option, the period during which conversion or exchange may occur, the initial conversion or exchange price or rate and the circumstances or manner in which the amount of common or preferred stock or other securities issuable upon conversion or exchange may be adjusted). It will also indicate for preferred stock convertible into common stock, the number of shares of common stock to be reserved in connection with, and issued upon conversion of, the preferred stock (including whether the conversion or exchange is mandatory, the initial conversion or exchange price or rate and the circumstances or manner in which the amount of common stock issuable upon conversion or exchange may be adjusted) at the option of the holder or our option and the period during which conversion or exchange may occur.

Voting Rights. The holders of shares of preferred stock will have no voting rights, except:

 

    as otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement;

 

    as otherwise stated in the articles of amendment to our articles of incorporation establishing the series of such preferred stock; and

 

    as otherwise required by applicable law.

Transfer Agent and Registrar. The transfer agent, registrar, dividend paying agent and depositary, if any, for any preferred stock offering will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement.

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

The following briefly summarizes the general provisions of the depositary shares representing a fraction of a share of preferred stock of a specific series, or “depositary shares,” and depositary receipts (as defined below) that we may issue from time to time and which would be important to holders of depositary receipts. The specific

 

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terms of any depositary shares or depositary receipts, including pricing and related terms, will be disclosed in the applicable prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will also state whether any of the general provisions summarized below apply or not to the depositary shares or depositary receipts being offered. The following description and any description in a prospectus supplement is a summary only and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms and provisions of the deposit agreement(s), which we will file with the SEC in connection with an issuance of depositary shares.

Description of Depositary Shares. We may offer depositary shares evidenced by receipts for such depositary shares, which we sometimes refer to as “depositary receipts.” Each depositary receipt represents a fraction of a share of the particular series of preferred stock issued and deposited with a depositary. The fraction of a share of preferred stock which each depositary share represents will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We will deposit the shares of any series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares according to the provisions of a deposit agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, which we will select as our preferred stock depositary, and which may be the same institution that serves as an indenture trustee. The depositary must have its principal office in the United States and have combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000. We will name the depositary in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each owner of a depositary share will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the underlying preferred stock in proportion to the applicable fraction of a share of preferred stock represented by the depositary share. These rights include dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights. The depositary will send the holders of depositary shares all reports and communications that we deliver to the depositary and which we are required to furnish to the holders of depositary shares. We may issue depositary receipts in temporary, definitive or book-entry form.

Withdrawal of Preferred Stock. A holder of depositary shares may receive the number of whole shares of the series of preferred stock and any money or other property represented by the holder’s depositary receipts after surrendering the depositary receipts at the corporate trust office of the depositary. Partial shares of preferred stock will not be issued. If the surrendered depositary shares exceed the number of depositary shares that represent the number of whole shares of preferred stock the holder wishes to withdraw, then the depositary will deliver to the holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares. Once the holder has withdrawn the preferred stock, the holder will not be entitled to re-deposit such preferred stock under the deposit agreement or to receive depositary shares in exchange for such preferred stock.

Dividends and Other Distributions. Holders of depositary shares of any series will receive their pro rata share of cash dividends or other cash distributions received by the depositary on the preferred stock of that series held by it. Each holder will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of depositary shares owned by the holder. The depositary will distribute only whole United States dollars and cents. The depositary will add any fractional cents not distributed to the next sum received for distribution to record holders of depositary shares. In the event of a non-cash distribution, the depositary will distribute property to the record holders of depositary shares, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such a distribution. If this occurs, the depositary, with our approval, may sell the property and distribute the net proceeds from the sale to the holders.

Redemption of Depositary Shares. If a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares is subject to redemption, then we will give the necessary proceeds to the depositary. The depositary will then redeem the depositary shares using the funds they received from us for the preferred stock. The depositary will notify the record holders of the depositary shares to be redeemed not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption at the holders’ addresses appearing in the depositary’s books. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the redemption price payable per share for the applicable series of the preferred stock and any other amounts per share payable with respect to that series of preferred stock multiplied by the fraction of a share of preferred stock represented by one depositary share. Whenever we redeem shares of a series of preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem the depositary shares representing the shares

 

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of preferred stock on the same day. If fewer than all the depositary shares of a series are to be redeemed, the depositary shares will be selected by lot, ratably or by such other equitable method as we and the depositary may determine.

Upon and after the redemption of shares of the underlying series of preferred stock, the depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be considered outstanding. Therefore, all rights of holders of the depositary shares will then cease, except that the holders will still be entitled to receive any cash payable upon the redemption and any money or other property to which the holder was entitled at the time of redemption.

Voting Rights. Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of preferred stock of the related series are entitled to vote, the depositary will notify holders of depositary shares of the upcoming vote and arrange to deliver our voting materials to the holders. The record date for determining holders of depositary shares that are entitled to vote will be the same as the record date for the related series of preferred stock. The materials the holders will receive will (1) describe the matters to be voted on and (2) explain how the holders, on a certain date, may instruct the depositary to vote the shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares. For instructions to be valid, the depositary must receive them on or before the date specified. The depositary will attempt, as far as practical, to vote the shares as instructed by the holder. We will cooperate with the depositary to enable it to vote as instructed by holders of depositary shares. If any holder does not instruct the depositary how to vote the holder’s shares, the depositary will abstain from voting those shares.

Conversion or Exchange. The depositary will convert or exchange all depositary shares on the same day that the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares is converted or exchanged. In order for the depositary to do so, we will deposit with the depositary any other preferred stock, common stock or other securities into which the preferred stock is to be converted or for which it will be exchanged.

The exchange or conversion rate per depositary share will be equal to the exchange or conversion rate per share of preferred stock, multiplied by the fraction of a share of preferred stock represented by one depositary share. All amounts per depositary share payable by us for dividends that have accrued on the preferred stock to the exchange or conversion date that have not yet been paid shall be paid in appropriate amounts on the depositary shares.

The depositary shares, as such, cannot be converted or exchanged into other preferred stock, common stock, securities of another issuer or any other of our securities or property. Nevertheless, if so specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, a holder of depositary shares may be able to surrender the depositary receipts to the depositary with written instructions asking the depositary to instruct us to convert or exchange the preferred stock represented by the depositary shares into other shares of preferred stock or common stock or to exchange the preferred stock for securities of another issuer. If the depositary shares carry this right, we would agree that, upon the payment of applicable fees and taxes, if any, we will cause the conversion or exchange of the preferred stock using the same procedures as we use for the delivery of preferred stock. If a holder is only converting part of the depositary shares represented by a depositary receipt, new depositary receipts will be issued for any depositary shares that are not converted or exchanged.

Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement. We may agree with the depositary to amend the deposit agreement and the form of depositary receipt without consent of the holder at any time. However, if the amendment adds or increases fees or charges payable by holders of the depositary shares or prejudices an important right of holders, it will only become effective with the approval of holders of at least a majority of the affected depositary shares then outstanding. If an amendment becomes effective, holders are deemed to agree to the amendment and to be bound by the amended deposit agreement if they continue to hold their depositary receipts.

The deposit agreement will automatically terminate if:

 

    all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed and all amounts payable upon redemption have been paid;

 

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    each share of preferred stock held by the depositary has been converted into or exchanged for common stock, other preferred stock or other securities; or

 

    a final distribution in respect of the preferred stock held by the depositary has been made to the holders of depositary receipts in connection with our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up.

We may also terminate the deposit agreement at any time. Upon such event, the depositary will give notice of termination to the holders not less than 30 days before the termination date. Once depositary receipts are surrendered to the depositary, it will send to each holder the number of whole and fractional shares of the series of preferred stock underlying that holder’s depositary receipts, provided that, at our election we may pay cash in lieu of fractional shares of preferred stock that may be issuable.

Charges of Depositary and Expenses. We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges in connection with the establishment of the depositary arrangements. We will pay all charges and fees of the depositary for the initial deposit of the preferred stock, the depositary’s services and redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary shares will pay transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and the charges that are provided in the deposit agreement to be for the holder’s account.

Limitations on Our Obligations and Liability to Holders of Depositary Receipts. The deposit agreement will limit our obligations and the obligations of the depositary. It will also limit our liability and the liability of the depositary as follows:

 

    We and the depositary will only be obligated to take the actions specifically set forth in the deposit agreement in good faith;

 

    We and the depositary will not be liable if either is prevented or delayed by law or circumstances beyond our or its control from performing our or its obligations under the deposit agreement;

 

    We and the depositary will not be liable if either exercises discretion permitted under the deposit agreement;

 

    We and the depositary will have no obligation to become involved in any legal or other proceeding related to the depositary receipts or the deposit agreement on behalf of the holders of depositary receipts or any other party, unless we and the depositary are provided with satisfactory indemnity; and

 

    We and the depositary will be permitted to rely upon any written advice of counsel or accountants and on any documents we believe in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party.

In the deposit agreement, we will agree to indemnify the depositary under certain circumstances.

Resignation and Removal of Depositary. The depositary may resign at any time by notifying us of its election to do so. In addition, we may remove the depositary at any time. Such resignation or removal will take effect when we appoint a successor depositary and it accepts the appointment. We must appoint the successor depositary within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and the new depositary must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of any debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any future debt securities we may offer, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in the

 

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applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any debt securities we may offer under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. For any debt securities that we may offer, an indenture (and any relevant supplemental indenture) will contain additional important terms and provisions, the form of which we filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and is incorporated therein by reference. We will file any definitive indenture as an exhibit to reports that we file with the SEC and incorporate by reference in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement. Any indenture would be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

Terms of Debt Securities. With respect to any debt securities that we issue, we will describe in each prospectus supplement the following terms relating to a series of debt securities:

 

    the title;

 

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

 

    any limit on the amount that may be issued;

 

    whether or not we will issue the series of debt securities in global form, and if so, the terms and who the depository will be;

 

    the maturity date;

 

    the principal amount due at maturity;

 

    whether and under what circumstances, if any, we will pay additional amounts on any debt securities held by a person who is not a United States person for tax purposes, and whether we can redeem the debt securities if we have to pay such additional amounts;

 

    the annual interest rate, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates;

 

    whether or not the debt securities will be convertible into shares of our common stock or our preferred stock and, if so, the terms of such conversion;

 

    whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured by some or all of our assets, and the terms of any secured debt;

 

    the terms of the subordination of any series of subordinated debt;

 

    the place where payments will be payable;

 

    restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any;

 

    our right, if any, to defer payment or interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period;

 

    the date, if any, after which and the conditions upon which, and the price at which, we may, at our option, redeem the series of debt securities pursuant to any optional or provisional redemption provisions and the terms of those redemptions provisions;

 

    the date, if any, on which, and the price at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder’s option to purchase, the series of debt securities and the currency or currency unit in which the debt securities are payable;

 

    whether the indenture will restrict our ability to pay dividends, or will require us to maintain any asset ratios or reserves;

 

    whether we will be restricted from incurring any additional indebtedness, issuing additional securities, or entering into a merger, consolidation or sale of our business;

 

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

 

    information describing any book-entry features;

 

    any provisions for payment of additional amounts for taxes;

 

    whether the debt securities are to be offered at a price such that they will be deemed to be offered at an “original issue discount” as defined in paragraph (a) of Section 1273 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;

 

    the denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;

 

    events of default;

 

    whether we and/or the indenture trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders;

 

    the form of debt security and how it may be exchanged and transferred;

 

    description of the indenture trustee and paying agent, and the method of payments; and

 

    any other specified terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations.

Terms of Indenture. We summarize below the material terms of the form of indenture or indicate which material terms will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The indenture:

 

    does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue;

 

    allows us to issue debt securities in one or more series;

 

    does not require us to issue all of the debt securities of a series at the same time;

 

    allows us to reopen a series to issue additional debt securities without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of such series; and

 

    provides that the debt securities will be unsecured, except as may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

For purposes of this section, the terms “we,” “our” and “us” refer only to Live Oak Bancshares, Inc., and not to its subsidiaries.

General. We may issue warrants in one or more series to purchase senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares, common stock or any combination of these securities. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any underlying securities and may be attached to or separate from the underlying securities. We will issue each series of warrants under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants of such series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency for or on behalf of holders or beneficial owners of warrants. The following outlines some of the general terms and provisions of the warrants. Further terms of the warrants and the applicable warrant agreement will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following description and any description of the warrants in a prospectus supplement are not complete and are subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to the terms and provisions of the warrant agreement, which we will file with the SEC in connection with the issuance of any warrants.

 

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The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any warrants, including the following, as may be applicable:

 

    the title of the warrants;

 

    the total number of warrants to be issued and the amount of warrants outstanding;

 

    the consideration for which we will issue the warrants, including the applicable currency or currencies;

 

    anti-dilution provisions to adjust the number of shares of our common stock or other securities to be delivered upon exercise of the warrants;

 

    the designation and terms of the underlying securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

    the price at which and the currency or currencies in which investors may purchase the underlying securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants and provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price;

 

    the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire;

 

    the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of the warrants;

 

    whether the warrants will be in registered or bearer form;

 

    information with respect to book-entry registration and transfer procedures, if any;

 

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

 

    the designation and terms of the underlying securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each underlying security;

 

    the date on and after which the warrants and securities issued with the warrants will be separately transferable;

 

    a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations;

 

    the identity of the warrant agent; and

 

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

Warrant certificates may be exchanged for new warrant certificates of different denominations, and warrants may be exercised at the warrant agent’s corporate trust office or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Prior to the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants exercisable for debt securities will not have any of the rights of holders of the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise and will not be entitled to payments of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise. Prior to the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants exercisable for shares of common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares will not have any rights of holders of the common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares purchasable upon such exercise, including any rights to vote such shares or to receive any distributions or dividends thereon.

Exercise of Warrants. A warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash an amount of securities at an exercise price that will be stated in, or that will be determinable as described in, the applicable prospectus supplement. Warrants may be exercised at any time prior to the close of business on the expiration date and in accordance with the procedures set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon and after the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will be void and have no further force, effect or value.

Enforceability of Rights. The holders of warrants, without the consent of the warrant agent, may, on their own behalf and for their own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against us to enforce their rights to exercise and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of their warrants.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We also may offer two or more of the securities described in this prospectus in the form of a “unit,” including pursuant to a unit agreement. The unit may be transferable only as a whole, or the securities that make up a unit may, as described in the prospectus supplement, be separated and transferred by the holder separately. There may or may not be an active market for units or the underlying securities, and not all the securities comprising a unit may be listed or traded on a securities exchange or market.

DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

We also may issue purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and obligating us to sell to holders, a fixed or varying number of shares of common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or debt securities at a future date or dates. The consideration per share of common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or debt securities may be fixed at the time that the purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the purchase contracts. Any purchase contract may include anti-dilution provisions to adjust the number of shares issuable pursuant to such purchase contract upon the occurrence of certain events.

The purchase contracts may be issued separately or as a part of units consisting of a purchase contract, debt securities and preferred securities. These contracts, and the holders’ obligations to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or debt securities under the purchase contracts may be secured by cash, certificates of deposit, U.S. government securities that will mature prior to or simultaneously with, the maturity of the purchase contract, standby letters of credit from an affiliated U.S. bank that is FDIC-insured or other collateral satisfactory to the Federal Reserve. The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to holders of the purchase units, or vice versa, and such payments may be unsecured or prefunded and may be paid on a current or on a deferred basis.

Any one or more of the above securities, common stock or the purchase contracts or other collateral may be pledged as security for the holders’ obligations to purchase or sell, as the case may be, the common stock or preferred stock under the purchase contracts.

DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

For purpose of this section, the terms “we”, “our”, “our” and “us” refer only to Live Oak Bancshares, Inc., and not to its subsidiaries.

The following briefly summarizes the general provisions of rights that we may offer to purchase additional shares of our common stock or any series of preferred stock, which we may issue. The following description and any description in a prospectus supplement is a summary only and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms and provisions of the rights, which we will file with the SEC in connection with an issuance of rights to holders of our common stock or any series of our preferred stock. The specific terms of any rights, including the period during which the rights may be exercised, the manner of exercising such rights, and the transferability of rights, will be disclosed in the applicable prospectus supplement. Although we may issue rights, in our sole discretion, we have no obligation to do so.

General. We may distribute rights, which may or may not be transferable, to the holders of our common stock or any series of our preferred stock as of a record date set by our board of directors, at no cost to such holders. Each holder will be given the right to purchase a specified number of whole shares of our common stock or preferred stock for every share of our common stock or a series of preferred stock that the holder thereof owned on such record date, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise provided in an

 

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applicable prospectus supplement, no fractional rights or rights to purchase fractional shares will be distributed in any rights offering. The rights will be evidenced by rights certificates, which may be in definitive or book-entry form. Each right will entitle the holder to purchase shares of our common stock or a series of preferred stock at a rate and price per share to be established by our board of directors, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. If holders of rights wish to exercise their rights, they must do so before the expiration date of the rights offering, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon the expiration date, the rights will expire and will no longer be exercisable, unless, in our sole discretion prior to the expiration date, we extend the rights offering.

Exercise Price. Our board of directors will determine the exercise price or prices for the rights based upon a number of factors, including, without limitation, our business prospects; our capital requirements; the price or prices at which an underwriter or standby purchasers may be willing to purchase shares that remain unsold in the rights offering; and general conditions in the securities markets, especially for securities of financial institutions. The subscription price may or may not reflect the actual or long-term fair value of the common stock or preferred stock offered in the rights offering. We provide no assurances as to the market values or liquidity of any rights issued, or as to whether or not the market prices of the common stock or preferred stock subject to the rights will be more or less than the rights’ exercise price during the term of the rights or after the rights expire.

Exercising Rights; Fees and Expenses. The manner of exercising rights will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Any subscription agent or escrow agent will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will pay all fees charged by any subscription agent and escrow agent in connection with the distribution and exercise of rights. Rights holders will be responsible for paying all other commissions, fees, taxes or other expenses incurred in connection with their transfer of rights that are transferable. Neither we nor the subscription agent will pay such expenses.

The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the expiration date and time (“Expiration Date”) for exercising rights. If holders of rights do not exercise their rights prior to such time, their rights will expire and will no longer be exercisable and will have no value.

We will extend the Expiration Date as required by applicable law and may, in our sole discretion, extend the Expiration Date. If we elect to extend the Expiration Date, we will issue a press release announcing such extension prior to the scheduled Expiration Date.

Withdrawal and Termination. We may withdraw the rights offering at any time prior to the Expiration Date for any reason. We may terminate the rights offering, in whole or in part, at any time before completion of the rights offering if there is any judgment, order, decree, injunction, statute, law or regulation entered, enacted, amended or held to be applicable to the rights offering that in the sole judgment of our board of directors would or might make the rights offering or its completion, whether in whole or in part, illegal or otherwise restrict or prohibit completion of the rights offering. We may waive any of these conditions and choose to proceed with the rights offering even if one or more of these events occur. If we terminate the rights offering, in whole or in part, all affected rights will expire without value, and all subscription payments received by the subscription agent will be returned promptly without interest.

Rights of Subscribers. Holders of rights will have no rights as stockholders with respect to the shares of common stock or preferred stock for which the rights may be exercised until they have exercised their rights by payment in full of the exercise price and in the manner provided in the prospectus supplement, and such shares of common stock or preferred stock, as applicable, have been issued to such persons. Holders of rights will have no right to revoke their subscriptions or receive their monies back after they have completed and delivered the materials required to exercise their rights and have paid the exercise price to the subscription agent. All exercises of rights are final and cannot be revoked by the holder of rights.

Regulatory Limitations. We will not be required to issue any person or group of persons shares of our common stock or preferred stock pursuant to the rights offering if, in our sole opinion, such person would be

 

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required to give prior notice to or obtain prior approval from, any state or federal governmental authority to own or control such shares if, at the time the rights offering is scheduled to expire, such person has not obtained such clearance or approval in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to us.

Standby Agreements. We may enter into one or more separate agreements with one or more standby underwriters or other persons to purchase, for their own account or on our behalf, any shares of our common stock or preferred stock not subscribed for in the rights offering. The terms of any such agreements will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

CHARTER, BYLAW AND STATUTORY PROVISIONS HAVING POTENTIAL ANTI-TAKEOVER EFFECTS

The following paragraphs summarize certain provisions of our articles of incorporation, bylaws and North Carolina law that may have the effect, or be used as a means, of delaying or preventing attempts to acquire or take control of the Company, or to remove or replace incumbent directors, that are not first approved by our board of directors, even if those proposed actions are favored by our shareholders.

Authorized Shares. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation currently authorize the issuance of 110,000,000 shares of common stock and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Our board of directors is authorized to approve the issuance of shares of our common stock or preferred stock from time to time and, in the case of preferred stock, to create separate series of preferred stock within the class, and to determine the number of shares, designations, terms, relative rights, preferences and limitations of the preferred stock, or of shares within each series of preferred stock, at the time of issuance, all by its resolution. Those provisions give our board of directors considerable flexibility to effect, among other transactions, financings, acquisitions, stock dividends, stock splits and grants of stock options. However, the board’s authority also could be used, consistent with the board’s fiduciary duty, to deter future attempts to gain control of the Company by issuing additional common stock, or by issuing a series of preferred stock, to persons friendly to management in order to attempt to block a tender offer, merger or other transaction by which a third party seeks to gain control.

Advance Notice of Director Nominations. Our bylaws provide that in order to be eligible for consideration at a meeting of shareholders, all nominations for election to the board of directors, other than those made by the board of directors or a duly appointed committee thereof, must be in writing and must be delivered to the Corporate Secretary of the Company not less than 120 days prior to the meeting of shareholders at which nominees for director will be considered for election to the board of directors. Only shareholders may make recommendations for nominations and any shareholder making such a nomination must submit a detailed resume of the nominee, stating the reasons why such person would be qualified to serve on the board of directors and the written consent of the nominee to serve as a member of the board of directors if elected.

Special Meetings of Shareholders. Our bylaws provide that special meetings of our shareholders may be called only by or at the direction of (a) the Chairman of our board of directors, (b) the President of the Company, or (c) the Corporate Secretary of the Company at the request of the board of directors of the Company or shareholders holding fifteen (15%) or more of our outstanding shares of voting common stock.

Amendment of Bylaws. Subject to certain limitations under North Carolina law, our bylaws may be amended or repealed by either our board of directors or our shareholders. Therefore, our Board is authorized to amend or repeal bylaws without the approval of our shareholders. However, a bylaw adopted, amended or repealed by our shareholders may not be readopted, amended or repealed by the board alone unless our articles of incorporation or a bylaw adopted by our shareholders authorizes the board to adopt, amend or repeal that particular bylaw or the bylaws generally.

Certain Provisions of Federal Law. The acquisition of more than 10% of our outstanding common stock may, in certain circumstances, be subject to the provisions of the Change in Bank Control Act of 1978. The FDIC

 

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has also adopted a regulation pursuant to the Change in Bank Control Act which generally requires persons who at any time intend to acquire control of an FDIC-insured state-chartered non-member bank, either directly or indirectly through an acquisition of control of its holding company, to provide 60 days prior written notice and certain financial and other information to the FDIC. Control for the purpose of this Act exists in situations in which the acquiring party has voting control of at least 25% of any class of voting stock or the power to direct the management or policies of the bank or the holding company. However, under FDIC regulations, control is presumed to exist where the acquiring party has voting control of at least 10% of any class of voting securities if (a) the bank or holding company has a class of voting securities which is registered under section 12 of the Exchange Act, or (b) the acquiring party would be the largest holder of a class of voting shares of the bank or the holding company. The statute and underlying regulations authorize the FDIC to disapprove a proposed acquisition on certain specified grounds.

Prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board would be required for any acquisition of control of the Company or the Bank by any bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act. Control for purposes of the Bank Holding Company Act would be based on, among other factors, a 25% voting stock test or on the ability of the holding company otherwise to control the election of a majority of our Board of Directors. As part of such acquisition, the acquiring company (unless already so registered) would be required to register as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act.

LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities being offered hereby will be passed upon by Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton, LLP, Raleigh, North Carolina. A partner in Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP owns 8,000 shares of the Company’s voting common stock. Any underwriters will be represented by their own legal counsel.

EXPERTS

The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and 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 at the SEC’s public reference facilities at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. You can request copies of these documents by writing to the SEC and paying a fee for the copying cost. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information about the operation of the public reference facilities. SEC filings are also available at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov and on our website at www.liveoakbank.com under “Investors.” Information on, or that can be accessible through, our website does not constitute a part of, and is not incorporated by reference in, this prospectus.

This prospectus, which is a part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we have filed with the SEC under the Securities Act, omits certain information set forth in the registration statement. Accordingly, for further information, you should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits on file with the SEC. Furthermore, statements contained in this prospectus concerning any document filed as an exhibit are not necessarily complete and, in each instance, we refer you to the copy of such document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement.

 

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with them. Incorporation by reference allows us to disclose important information to you by referring you to those other documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We filed a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with the SEC with respect to the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus. This prospectus omits certain information contained in the registration statement, as permitted by the SEC. You should refer to the registration statement, including the exhibits, for further information about us and the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus. Statements in this prospectus regarding the provisions of certain documents filed with, or incorporated by reference in, the registration statement are not necessarily complete and each statement is qualified in all respects by that reference. Copies of all or any part of the registration statement, including the documents incorporated by reference or the exhibits, may be obtained upon payment of the prescribed rates at the offices of the SEC listed above in “Where You Can Find More Information.” The documents we are incorporating by reference are:

 

    our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the SEC on March 9, 2017;

 

    our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on May 8, 2017;

 

    Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 2, 2017; February 23, 2017; February 24, 2017; May 9, 2017; and May 15, 2017 (two reports);

 

    the description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-205126) filed with the SEC on June 19, 2015, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description; and

 

    all of the filings pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, after the date of the filing of the original registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement.

In addition, all documents (other than current reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits filed in such forms that are related to such items unless such Form 8-K expressly provides to the contrary) subsequently filed by us pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, before the date our offering is terminated or completed are deemed to be incorporated by reference into, and to be a part of, this prospectus.

Any statement contained in this prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or any other subsequently filed document that is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus modifies or supersedes the statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

We will furnish without charge to you, on written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference, including exhibits to these documents. You should direct any requests for documents to Live Oak Bancshares, Inc., Attn: General Counsel, 1741 Tiburon Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403.

You should rely only on information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We are not making offers to sell the securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following is an itemized statement of the estimated fees and expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities registered hereby:

 

SEC registration fee

   $   23,180  

Legal fees and expenses

   $ *  

Accounting fees and expenses

   $ *  

Printing and mailing expenses

   $ *  

Miscellaneous

   $ *  

Total

   $ *  

 

* These expenses are not presently known and cannot be estimated. The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the aggregate amount of expenses payable in respect of any offering of securities.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Sections 55-8-50 through 55-8-58 of the North Carolina General Statutes permit a corporation to indemnify its directors, officers, employees or agents under either or both a statutory or nonstatutory scheme of indemnification. Under the statutory scheme, a corporation may, with certain exceptions, indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation who was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or completed legal action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, because of the fact that such person was a director, officer, agent or employee of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. This indemnity may include the obligation to pay any judgment, settlement, penalty, fine (including an excise tax assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan) and reasonable expenses incurred in connection with a proceeding (including counsel fees), but no such indemnification may be granted unless such director, officer, agent or employee (i) conducted himself in good faith, (ii) reasonably believed (a) that any action taken in his official capacity with the corporation was in the best interest of the corporation or (b) that in all other cases his conduct at least was not opposed to the corporation’s best interest, and (iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. Whether a director has met the requisite standard of conduct for the type of indemnification set forth above is determined by the board of directors, a committee of directors, special legal counsel or the shareholders in accordance with Section 55-8-55. A corporation may not indemnify a director under the statutory scheme in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation in which the director was adjudged liable to the corporation or in connection with a proceeding in which a director was adjudged liable on the basis of having received an improper personal benefit.

In addition to, and separate and apart from, the indemnification described above under the statutory scheme, Section 55-8-57 of the North Carolina General Statutes permits a corporation to indemnify or agree to indemnify any of its directors, officers, employees or agents against liability and expenses (including attorney’s fees) in any proceeding (including proceedings brought by or on behalf of the corporation) arising out of their status as such or their activities in such capacities, except for any liabilities or expenses incurred on account of activities that were, at the time taken, known or believed by the person to be clearly in conflict with the best interests of the corporation. The bylaws of the Company provide for indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by law for persons who serve as a director, officer, agent or employee of the Company or at the request of the Company serve as a director, officer, agent or employee for any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or as a trustee or administrator under an employee benefit plan. Accordingly, the Company may indemnify its directors, officers, agents or employees in accordance with either the statutory or nonstatutory standards.

 

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Sections 55-8-52 and 55-8-56 of the North Carolina General Statutes require a corporation, unless its articles of incorporation provide otherwise, to indemnify a director or officer who has been wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which such director or officer was a party. Unless prohibited by the articles of incorporation, a director or officer also may make application and obtain court-ordered indemnification if the court determines that such director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to such indemnification as provided in Sections 55-8-54 and 55-8-56.

Finally, Section 55-8-57 of the North Carolina General Statutes provides that a corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of an individual who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation against certain liabilities incurred by such persons, whether or not the corporation is otherwise authorized by the North Carolina Business Corporation Act to indemnify such party. The Company has purchased a standard directors’ and officers’ liability policy which will, subject to certain limitations, indemnify the Company and its officers and directors for damages they become legally obligated to pay as a result of any negligent act, error, or omission committed by directors or officers while acting in their capacity as such.

As permitted by North Carolina law, Article VI of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company limits the personal liability of directors for monetary damages for breaches of duty as a director arising out of any legal action whether by or in the right of the Company or otherwise, provided that such limitation will not apply to (i) acts or omissions that the director at the time of such breach knew or believed were clearly in conflict with the best interests of the Company, (ii) any liability under Section 55-8-33 of the General Statutes of North Carolina, or (iii) any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit (which does not include a director’s reasonable compensation or other reasonable incidental benefit for or on account of his service as a director, officer, employee, independent contractor, attorney, or consultant of the Company).

Item 16. Exhibits.

The exhibits to the registration statement are listed in the exhibit index included herewith and incorporated by reference herein.

Item 17. Undertakings

(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

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

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

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

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

Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or

 

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furnished to the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

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

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

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

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

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

(d) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:

(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective; and

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

(e) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act (“Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

(f) If applicable, the undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Wilmington, State of North Carolina, on July 12, 2017.

 

LIVE OAK BANCSHARES, INC.
By:   /s/ James S. Mahan III
 

James S. Mahan III

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities shown and on July 12, 2017.

 

Signature

  

Capacity

 

Date

/s/ James S. Mahan III

James S. Mahan III

   Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)   July 12, 2017

/s/ S. Brett Caines

S. Brett Caines

   Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)   July 12, 2017

/s/ J. Wesley Sutherland

J. Wesley Sutherland

   Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)   July 12, 2017

*

William L. Williams III

   Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors   July 12, 2017

*

William H. Cameron

   Director   July 12, 2017

*

Diane B. Glossman

   Director   July 12, 2017

*

Glen F. Hoffsis

   Director   July 12, 2017

*

Howard K. Landis

   Director   July 12, 2017

*

David G. Lucht

   Director   July 12, 2017

*

Miltom E. Petty

   Director   July 12, 2017

*

Jerald L. Pullins

   Director   July 12, 2017

*

Neil L. Underwood

   Director   July 12, 2017

 

*By:   /s/ James S. Mahan III
  James S. Mahan III
  Attorney-in-Fact


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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit Number

  

Exhibit Description

  1.1*    Form of Underwriting Agreement for Debt Securities.
  1.2*    Form of Underwriting Agreement for Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares.
  1.3*    Form of Underwriting Agreement for Voting Common Stock.
  1.4*    Form of Underwriting Agreement for Non-Voting Common Stock.
  1.5*    Form of Underwriting Agreement for Purchase Contracts.
  1.6*    Form of Underwriting Agreement for Units.
  1.7*    Form of Standby Underwriting Agreement for Rights.
  2.1    Contribution Agreement dated as of May 9, 2017 (filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 15, 2017), incorporated herein by reference.
  4.1    Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-205126) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 19, 2015), incorporated herein by reference.
  4.2    Amended Bylaws of Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-205126) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 19, 2015), incorporated herein by reference.
  4.3    Form of Common Stock Certificate (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-205126) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 19, 2015), incorporated herein by reference.
  4.4    Registration and Other Rights Agreement between Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. and Wellington purchasers (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-205126) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 19, 2015), incorporated herein by reference.
  4.5*    Form of Articles of Amendment Establishing a Series of Preferred Stock
  4.6    Form of Senior Indenture
  4.7*    Form of Senior Note
  4.8    Form of Subordinated Indenture
  4.9*    Form of Subordinated Debt Security
  4.10*    Form of Unit Agreement
  4.11*    Form of Warrant Agreement
  4.12*    Form of Rights Agreement
  4.13    Form of Deposit Agreement
  4.14*    Form of Purchase Contract Agreement
  4.15    Form of Depositary Receipt (included in Exhibit 4.13)
  5.1    Opinion of Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP
  8.1*    Opinion of Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP as to certain U.S. federal income tax matters
23.1    Consent of Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP
23.2    Consent of Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1    Power of Attorney


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Exhibit Number

  

Exhibit Description

25.1**    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility to act as trustee under the Senior Indenture
25.2**    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility to act as trustee under the Subordinated Indenture

 

* To be filed, if necessary, by amendment or as an exhibit to a report filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and incorporated by reference.
** To be filed separately pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.