UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
 
FORM 8-K
 
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): December 21, 2017 (December 20,2017)
 
 
OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
 
001-11713
 
22-3412577
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(Commission
File No.)
 
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
975 HOOPER AVENUE, TOMS RIVER, NEW JERSEY 08753
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(732)240-4500
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
 
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR 230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR 240.12b-2).

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 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐








ITEM 5.02
DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS OR CERTAIN OFFICERS; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS; APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN OFFICERS; COMPENSATORY ARRANGEMENTS OF CERTAIN OFFICERS
Background . As previously disclosed, OceanFirst Financial Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Sun Bancorp, Inc., a New Jersey corporation (“Sun”), and Mercury Merger Sub Corp., a New Jersey corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”) have entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 30, 2017 (the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which (i) Merger Sub will merge with and into Sun (the “First-Step Merger”), with Sun surviving the First-Step Merger, and (ii) immediately following the effective time of the First-Step Merger (the “Effective Time”), Sun will merge with and into the Company (the “Second-Step Merger” and, together with the First-Step Merger, the “Integrated Mergers”), with the Company surviving the Second-Step Merger. Immediately following the completion of the Integrated Mergers, as previously disclosed, Sun National Bank (“Sun Bank”) will merge with and into OceanFirst Bank (the “Bank”) pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 30, 2017, by and between Sun Bank and the Bank (the “Bank Merger” and, together with the Integrated Mergers, the “Transactions”). The Bank will be the surviving bank in the Bank Merger.
Director Appointments . On December 20, 2017, as contemplated by the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Company Board”) approved (i) the expansion of the size of the Company Board to fourteen members and (ii) the appointment of Anthony Coscia and Grace Torres, each being current members of the Board of Directors of Sun, to the Company Board, in each case, to be effective as of and contingent upon the occurrence of the Effective Time. In addition, on December 20, 2017, as contemplated by the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Board of Directors of the Bank (the “Bank Board”) approved (a) the expansion of the size of the Bank Board to fourteen members and (b) the appointment of Mr. Coscia and Ms. Torres to the Bank Board, in each case, to be effective as of and contingent upon the occurrence of the effective time of the Bank Merger. Mr. Coscia’s term will expire at the 2019 annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders, and Ms. Torres’s term will expire at the 2020 annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders.
At this time, neither Mr. Coscia nor Ms. Torres has been named to serve on any committee of the Company Board or the Bank Board, nor has the Company Board or the Bank Board identified any committees to which such individuals are expected to be appointed. Neither Mr. Coscia nor Ms. Torres has engaged in any transaction with the Company that would be reportable under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement and the Transactions does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement, which was attached as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 3, 2017 and is incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference.

ITEM 5.03
AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OR BYLAWS; CHANGE IN FISCAL YEAR

On December 20, 2017, the Company Board adopted a change to the Company’s Bylaws, which were effective upon adoption. The Bylaws, in amended and restated form, are filed herewith as Exhibit 3.2 and incorporated herein by reference. The Bylaws were updated to amend Section 1(d) of Article II to delete the requirement that members of the Company Board have a residence in the State of New Jersey, and Section 10 of Article II to remove the mandatory retirement age for members of the Company Board. Prior to this amendment, directors were prohibited from standing for re-election to the Board of Directors following his or her 72nd birthday.
ITEM 8.01
OTHER EVENTS
The information set forth above under Item s 5.02 and 5.03 are incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 9.01
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
 
(d)
EXHIBITS
 
 
3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of OceanFirst Financial Corp.

Cautionary Notes on Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may include: management plans relating to the Transaction; the expected timing of the completion of the Transaction; the ability to complete the Transaction; any statements of the plans and objectives of management for future operations, products or services, including the execution of integration plans; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing.





Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “outlook,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project” and other similar words and expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time and are beyond our control. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. The Company does not assume any duty and does not undertake to update forward-looking statements. Because forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions and uncertainties, actual results or future events could differ, possibly materially, from those that the Company anticipated in its forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from historical performance. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those included under Item 1A “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, those included under Item 1A “Risk Factors” in Sun’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, those included under Item 1A “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, those included under Item 1A “Risk Factors” in Sun’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, those disclosed in the Company’s and Sun’s respective other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as well as the possibility that expected benefits may not materialize in the timeframe expected or at all, or may be more costly to achieve; that the Transaction may not be timely completed, if at all; that prior to the completion of the Transaction or thereafter, the Company’s and Sun’s respective businesses may not perform as expected due to transaction-related uncertainty or other factors; that the parties are unable to successfully implement integration strategies; that outstanding customary closing conditions are not satisfied in a timely manner or at all; reputational risks and the reaction of the companies’ customers, employees and other constituents to the Transaction; and diversion of management time on merger-related matters. For any forward-looking statements made in this report or in any documents, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Additional Information about the Proposed Transaction

This communication is being made in respect of the proposed Transaction involving the Company and Sun. This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. In connection with the proposed Transaction, the Company has filed with the SEC and the SEC has declared effective, a definitive Registration Statement (File No. 333-220235) on Form S-4, as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to Form S-4, containing a joint proxy statement/prospectus and other documents regarding the proposed Transaction. Before making any investment decision, the respective investors and stockholders of the Company and Sun are urged to carefully read the entire joint proxy statement/prospectus that the Company and Sun have mailed to their respective stockholders and any other relevant documents filed by either company with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they will contain important information about the Company, Sun and the proposed Transaction. Copies of the joint proxy statement/prospectus may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov , or by directing a request to OceanFirst Financial Corp., 975 Hooper Avenue, Toms River, New Jersey 08753, Attn: Jill Apito Hewitt, Senior Vice President and Investor Relations Officer.

 









SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP.
 
 
 
Dated:
December 21, 2017
/s/ Steven J. Tsimbinos
 
 
Steven J. Tsimbinos
 
 
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary







Exhibit Index
 
Exhibit
  
 
  
Amended and Restated Bylaws of OceanFirst Financial Corp.





Exhibit 3.2
OceanFirst Financial Corp .

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

ARTICLE I ‑ STOCKHOLDERS


Section 1 .      Annual Meeting .

An annual meeting of the stockholders, for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as the Board of Directors shall each year fix, which date shall be within thirteen (13) months subsequent to the later of the date of incorporation or the last annual meeting of stockholders.

Section 2 .      Special Meetings .

Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies on the Board of Directors (hereinafter the "Whole Board").

Section 3 .      Notice of Meetings .

Written notice of the place, date, and time of all meetings of the stockholders shall be given, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law (meaning, here and hereinafter, as required from time to time by the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation).

When a meeting is adjourned to another place, date or time, written notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the place, date and time thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than thirty (30) days after the date for which the meeting was originally noticed, or if a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, written notice of the place, date, and time of the adjourned meeting shall be given in conformity herewith. At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting.

Section 4 .      Quorum .

At any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a majority of all of the shares of the stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or by proxy (after giving effect to the provisions of Article FOURTH of the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation), shall constitute a quorum for all purposes, unless or except to the extent that the presence of a larger number may be required by law. Where a separate vote by a class or classes is required, a majority of the shares of such class or classes present in person or represented by proxy (after giving effect to the provisions of Article FOURTH of the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation) shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter.

12/17

2017 OceanFirst Financial Corp ByLaws
1




If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chairman of the meeting or the holders of a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, may adjourn the meeting to another place, date, or time.

If a notice of any adjourned special meeting of stockholders is sent to all stockholders entitled to vote thereat, stating that it will be held with those present in person or by proxy constituting a quorum, then except as otherwise required by law, those present in person or by proxy at such adjourned meeting shall constitute a quorum, and all matters shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast at such meeting.

Section 5 .      Organization .

Such person as the Board of Directors may have designated or, in the absence of such a person, the Chairman of the Board of the Corporation or, in his or her absence, such person as may be chosen by the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, shall call to order any meeting of the stockholders and act as chairman of the meeting. In the absence of the Secretary of the Corporation, the secretary of the meeting shall be such person as the chairman appoints.

Section 6 .      Conduct of Business .

(a)      The chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the procedures at the meeting, including such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as seem to him or her in order. The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the meeting.

(b)      At any annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been brought before the meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote with respect thereto and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 6(b). For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the business must relate to a proper subject matter for stockholder action and the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder's notice must be delivered or mailed to and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days prior to the date of the annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that less than one hundred (100) days notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be received not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made. A stockholder's notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter such stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting: (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (ii) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation's books, of the stockholder proposing such business, (iii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation's capital stock that are beneficially owned by such stockholder, and (iv) any material interest of such stockholder in such business. Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be brought before or conducted at an annual meeting except in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(b). The officer of the Corporation or other person presiding over the annual meeting shall, if the facts so warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(b), and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and any such business so determined to be not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.

At any special meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors.

2017 OceanFirst Financial Corp ByLaws
2





(c)      Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws shall be eligible for election as directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be made at a meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected only: (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation entitled to vote for the election of Directors at the meeting who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 6(c). Such nominations, other than those made by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, shall be made by timely notice in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder's notice shall be delivered or mailed to and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days prior to the date of the meeting; provided, however, that in the event that less than one hundred (100) days notice or prior disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made. Such stockholder's notice shall set forth: (i) as to each person whom such stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re‑election as a director, all information relating to such person that would indicate such person's qualification under Article II, Section 1, including an affidavit that such person would not be disqualified under the provisions of Section 1(d), and such information that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including such person's written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected), and (ii) as to the stockholder giving the notice (x) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation's books, of such stockholder, and (y) the class and number of shares of the Corporation's capital stock that are beneficially owned by such stockholder. At the request of the Board of Directors any person nominated by the Board of Directors for election as a director shall furnish to the Secretary of the Corporation that information required to be set forth in a stockholder's notice of nomination which pertains to the nominee. No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c). The officer of the Corporation or other person presiding at the meeting shall, if the facts so warrant, determine that a nomination was not made in accordance with such provisions and, if he or she shall so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.

Section 7 .      Proxies and Voting .

At any meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder entitled to vote may vote in person or by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting. Any facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this paragraph may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.

All voting, including on the election of directors but excepting where otherwise required by law or by the governing documents of the Corporation, may be made by a voice vote; provided, however, that upon demand therefor by a stockholder entitled to vote or his or her proxy, a stock vote shall be taken. Every stock vote shall be taken by ballot, each of which shall state the name of the stockholder or proxy voting and such other information as may be required under the procedures established for the meeting. The Corporation shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector,

2017 OceanFirst Financial Corp ByLaws
3




before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability.

All elections shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast, and except as otherwise required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, all other matters shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast.

Section 8 .      Stock List .

A complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order for each class of stock and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in his or her name, shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held.

The stock list shall also be kept at the place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder who is present. This list shall presumptively determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by each of them.

Section 9 .      Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting .

Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders.

ARTICLE II ‑ BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1 .      General Powers, Number and Term of Office and Qualifications .

(a)      General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be under the direction of its Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall annually elect a Chairman of the Board from among its members who shall, when present, preside at its meetings.

(b)      Number. The number of directors who shall constitute the Whole Board shall be such number as the Board of Directors shall from time to time have designated, except that in the absence of such designation shall be nine (9).

(c)      Term of Office. The directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock, shall be divided, with respect to the time for which they severally hold office, into three classes, with the term of office of the first class to expire at the first annual meeting of stockholders, the term of office of the second class to expire at the annual meeting of stockholders one year thereafter and the term of office of the third class to expire at the annual meeting of stockholders two years thereafter, with each director to hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. At each annual meeting of stockholders, directors elected to succeed those directors whose terms then expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election, with each director to hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

(d)      Qualifications. No person shall be eligible for election or appointment to the Board of Directors: (i) if such person has, within the previous 10 years, been the subject of supervisory action by a

2017 OceanFirst Financial Corp ByLaws
4




financial regulatory agency that resulted in a cease and desist order or an agreement or other written statement subject to public disclosure under 12 U.S.C. 1818(u), or any successor provision; (ii) if such person has been convicted of a crime involving dishonesty or breach of trust which is punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year under state or federal law; (iii) if such person is currently charged in any information, indictment, or other complaint with the commission of or participation in such a crime. No person may serve on the Board of Directors and at the same time be a director or officer of another co-operative bank, credit union, savings bank, savings and loan association, trust company, bank holding company or banking association (in each case whether chartered by a state, the federal government or any other jurisdiction) or any affiliate thereof. No person shall be eligible for election to the Board of Directors if such person is the representative or agent of a person or acting in concert (as that term is used to describe relationships involved in either presumptive or actual concerted action under 12 C.F.R. Section 174.4 (d)) with respect to the Corporation or its subsidiaries, with a person who is ineligible for election to the Board of Directors under this Section 1(d). No nomination of any individual who would not be qualified to be elected or appointed to or serve as a member of the Board of Directors under this Article II, Section 1(d) shall be valid, accepted or voted upon. The Board of Directors shall have the power to construe and apply the provisions of this Section 1(d) and to make all determinations necessary to implement such provisions, including but not limited to determinations as to whether any persons are a group acting in concert, as defined by this Section 1(d). The Board may request from a nominee information it deems relevant to assessing a nominee's satisfaction of the requirements of this Section 1(d).

Section 2 .      Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships .

Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock, and unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause may be filled only by a majority vote of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, and directors so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders at which the term of office of the class to which they have been elected expires and until such director's successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. No decrease in the number of authorized directors constituting the whole Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
Section 3 .      Regular Meetings .

Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place or places, on such date or dates, and at such time or times as shall have been established by the Board of Directors and publicized among all directors. A notice of each regular meeting shall not be required.

Section 4 .      Special Meetings .

Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by one‑third (1/3) of the directors then in office (rounded up to the nearest whole number), by the Chairman of the Board or the President and shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as they, or he or she, shall fix. Notice of the place, date, and time of each such special meeting shall be given each director by whom it is not waived by mailing written notice not less than five (5) days before the meeting, or by overnight delivery sent not less than three (3) days before the meeting, or by telegraphing, telexing, facsimile transmission or e-mail with a confirmation of receipt, of the same not less than twenty‑four (24) hours before the meeting. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.

Section 5 .      Quorum .


2017 OceanFirst Financial Corp ByLaws
5




At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the Whole Board shall constitute a quorum for all purposes. If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting to another place, date, or time, without further notice or waiver thereof.

Section 6 .      Participation in Meetings By Conference Telephone or Electronic Means .

Members of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 7 .      Conduct of Business .

At any meeting of the Board of Directors, business shall be transacted in such order and manner as the Board may from time to time determine, and all matters shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the directors present, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law. Action may be taken by the Board of Directors without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.

Section 8 .      Powers .

The Board of Directors may, except as otherwise required by law, exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the unqualified power:

(1)      To declare dividends from time to time in accordance with law;

(2)      To purchase or otherwise acquire any property, rights or privileges on such terms as it shall determine;

(3)      To authorize the creation, making and issuance, in such form as it may determine, of written obligations of every kind, negotiable or non‑negotiable, secured or unsecured, and to do all things necessary in connection therewith;

(4)      To remove any officer of the Corporation with or without cause, and from time to time to devolve the powers and duties of any officer upon any other person for the time being;

(5)      To confer upon any officer of the Corporation the power to appoint, remove and suspend subordinate officers, employees and agents;

(6)      To adopt from time to time such stock, option, stock purchase, bonus or other compensation plans for directors, officers, employees and agents of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as it may determine;

(7)      To adopt from time to time such insurance, retirement, and other benefit plans for directors, officers, employees and agents of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as it may determine; and,

(8)      To adopt from time to time regulations, not inconsistent with these Bylaws, for the management of the Corporation's business and affairs.


2017 OceanFirst Financial Corp ByLaws
6




Section 9 .      Compensation of Directors .

Directors, as such, may receive, pursuant to resolution of the Board of Directors, fixed fees and other compensation for their services as directors, including, without limitation, their services as members of committees of the Board of Directors.

Section 10      Director Emeritus .

Any Director of this Company who ceases to be such Director may be elected by the Board of Directors as 'Director Emeritus' and such persons who accept such election shall serve for life or until removed as a Director Emeritus of this Company by the Board of Directors, and, when invited, may sit with the Board of Directors at regular meetings and discuss any questions under consideration provided, however, that such Director Emeritus shall cast no vote.
 
ARTICLE III ‑ COMMITTEES

Section 1 .      Committees of the Board of Directors .

The Board of Directors, by a vote of a majority of the Board of Directors, may from time to time designate committees of the Board, with such lawfully delegable powers and duties as it thereby confers, to serve at the pleasure of the Board and shall, for these committees and any others provided for herein, elect a director or directors to serve as the member or members, designating, if it desires, other directors as alternate members who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Any committee so designated may exercise the power and authority of the Board of Directors to declare a dividend, to authorize the issuance of stock or to adopt a certificate of ownership and merger pursuant to Section 253 of the Delaware General Corporation Law if the resolution which designates the committee or a supplemental resolution of the Board of Directors shall so provide. In the absence or disqualification of any member of any committee and any alternate member in his or her place, the member or members of the committee present at the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she or they constitute a quorum, may by unanimous vote appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.

Section 2 .      Conduct of Business .

Each committee may determine the procedural rules for meeting and conducting its business and shall act in accordance therewith, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law. Adequate provision shall be made for notice to members of all meetings; one-third (1/3) of the members, but no less than two members, shall constitute a quorum unless the committee shall consist of one (1) or two (2) members, in which event one (1) member shall constitute a quorum; and all matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present. Action may be taken by any committee without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of such committee.

Section 3 .      Nominating Committee .

The Board of Directors shall appoint a Nominating Committee of the Board, consisting of not less than three (3) members. The Nominating Committee shall have authority: (a) to review any nominations for election to the Board of Directors made by a stockholder of the Corporation pursuant to Section 6(c)(ii) of Article I of these Bylaws in order to determine compliance with such Bylaw, and (b) to recommend to the

2017 OceanFirst Financial Corp ByLaws
7




Whole Board nominees for election to the Board of Directors to replace those directors whose terms expire at the annual meeting of stockholders next ensuing.

ARTICLE IV - CHAIRMAN AND OFFICERS

Section 1 .      Generally .

(a)      The Board of Directors as soon as may be practicable after the annual meeting of stockholders shall choose a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary and a Treasurer and from time to time may choose such other officers as it may deem proper. The Chairman of the Board shall be chosen from among the directors. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.

(b)      The term of office of all officers shall be until the next annual election of officers and until their respective successors are chosen but any officer may be removed from office at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the authorized number of directors then constituting the Board of Directors.

(c)      All officers chosen by the Board of Directors shall have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the specific provisions of this ARTICLE IV. Such officers shall also have such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Board of Directors or by any committee thereof.

Section 2 .      Chairman of the Board of Directors .

The Chairman of the Board shall, subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and to the direction of the Board of Directors, unless the Board has designated another person, when present, preside at all meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation. The Chairman of the Board shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the office of the Chairman of the Board or which are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors, but shall not be an executive officer of the Company solely by virtue of such position. He or she shall have power to sign all stock certificates, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation which are authorized.

Section 3 .      Chief Executive Officer and President .

The Chief Executive Officer shall have general responsibility for the management and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the office of Chief Executive Officer or which are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors. Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall have power to sign all stock certificates, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation which are authorized and shall have general supervision of all of the other officers (other than the Chairman of the Board, if he or she is an officer), employees and agents of the Corporation.

The Corporation shall have a President. If the Chief Executive Officer is not the President, the President shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the office of President or which are delegated to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer. Subject to the direction of the Chief Executive Officer, the President shall have power to sign all stock certificates, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation which are authorized and shall have general supervision of all of the other officers (other than the Chief Executive Officer), employees and agents of the Corporation.

Section 4 .      Vice President .


2017 OceanFirst Financial Corp ByLaws
8




The Vice President or Vice Presidents shall perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer and/or President in their absence or during the inability of either to act. In addition, the Vice Presidents shall perform the duties and exercise the powers usually incident to their respective offices and/or such other duties and powers as may be properly assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. A Vice President or Vice Presidents may be designated as Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President.

Section 5 .      Secretary .

The Secretary or Assistant Secretary shall issue notices of meetings, shall keep their minutes, shall have charge of the seal and the corporate books, shall perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as are usually incident to such office and/or such other duties and powers as are properly assigned thereto by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Secretary shall have the power to sign all stock certificates.

Section 6 .      Treasurer .

The Treasurer shall be the Comptroller of the Corporation and shall have the responsibility for maintaining the financial records of the Corporation. He or she shall make such disbursements of the funds of the Corporation as are authorized and shall render from time to time an account of all such transactions and of the financial condition of the Corporation. The Treasurer shall also perform such other duties as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President may from time to time prescribe. Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall have the power to sign all stock certificates.

Section 7 .      Assistant Secretaries and Other Officers .

The Board of Directors may appoint one or more assistant secretaries and such other officers who shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as are provided in these Bylaws or as may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President.

Section 8 .      Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations .

Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any officer of the Corporation authorized by the Chief Executive Officer or the President shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of stockholders of or with respect to any action of stockholders of any other corporation in which this Corporation may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which this Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other corporation.

ARTICLE V ‑ STOCK

Section 1 .      Certificates of Stock .

Each stockholder shall be entitled to a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or any Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, certifying the number of shares owned by him or her. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be by facsimile.

Section 2 .      Transfers of Stock .


2017 OceanFirst Financial Corp ByLaws
9




Transfers of stock shall be made only upon the transfer books of the Corporation kept at an office of the Corporation or by transfer agents designated to transfer shares of the stock of the Corporation. Except where a certificate is issued in accordance with Section 4 of Article V of these Bylaws, an outstanding certificate for the number of shares involved shall be surrendered for cancellation before a new certificate is issued therefor.

Section 3 .      Record Date .

In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of any meeting of stockholders, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the time for such other action as hereinbefore described; provided, however, that if no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the next day preceding the day on which the meeting is held, and, for determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment or rights or to exercise any rights of change, conversion or exchange of stock or for any other purpose, the record date shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts a resolution relating thereto.

A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

Section 4 .      Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates .

In the event of the loss, theft or destruction of any certificate of stock, another may be issued in its place pursuant to such regulations as the Board of Directors may establish concerning proof of such loss, theft or destruction and concerning the giving of a satisfactory bond or bonds of indemnity.

Section 5 .      Regulations .

The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of certificates of stock shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board of Directors may establish.

ARTICLE VI ‑ NOTICES

Section 1 .      Notices .

Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or required by law, all notices required to be given to any stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given by hand delivery to the recipient thereof, by depositing such notice in the mails, postage paid, or by sending such notice by prepaid telegram or mailgram or other courier. Any such notice shall be addressed to such stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent at his or her last known address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation. The time when such notice is received, if hand delivered, or dispatched, if delivered through the mails or by telegram or mailgram or other courier, shall be the time of the giving of the notice.


2017 OceanFirst Financial Corp ByLaws
10




Section 2 .      Waivers .

A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver.

ARTICLE VII ‑ MISCELLANEOUS

Section 1 .      Facsimile Signatures .

In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile signatures of any officer or officers of the Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof.

Section 2 .      Corporate Seal .

The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary. If and when so directed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Treasurer or by an Assistant Secretary or an assistant to the Treasurer.

Section 3 .      Reliance Upon Books, Reports and Records .

Each Director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, and each officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors so designated, or by any other person as to matters which such director or committee member reasonably believes are within such other person's professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

Section 4 .      Fiscal Year .

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as fixed by the Board of Directors.

Section 5 .      Time Periods .

In applying any provision of these Bylaws which requires that an act be done or not be done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.

ARTICLE VIII ‑ AMENDMENTS

The Board of Directors may amend, alter or repeal these Bylaws at any meeting of the Board, provided notice of the proposed change was given not less than two days prior to the meeting. The stockholders shall also have power to amend, alter or repeal these Bylaws at any meeting of stockholders provided notice of the proposed change was given in the notice of the meeting; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any other provisions of the Bylaws or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the voting stock

2017 OceanFirst Financial Corp ByLaws
11




required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, any Preferred Stock designation or these Bylaws, the affirmative votes of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of all the then‑outstanding shares of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend or repeal any provisions of these Bylaws.

ARTICLE IX - FORUM FOR ADJUDICATION OF CERTAIN DISPUTES

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum (an “Alternative Forum Consent”), the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, stockholder, employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director, officer, stockholder, employee or agent of the Corporation arising out of or relating to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director, officer, stockholder, employee or agent of the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the State of Delaware; provided , however , that, in the event that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks subject matter jurisdiction over any such action or proceeding, the sole and exclusive forum for such action or proceeding shall be another court of the State of Delaware, or if no court of the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware, in each such case, unless the Court of Chancery (or such other state or federal court located within the State of Delaware, as applicable) has dismissed a prior action by the same plaintiff asserting the same claims because such court lacked personal jurisdiction over an indispensable party named as a defendant therein. Failure to enforce the foregoing provisions would cause the Corporation irreparable harm and the Corporation shall be entitled to equitable relief, including injunctive relief and specific performance, to enforce the foregoing provision, including, without limitation, an anti-suit injunction to enforce Article IX and to preclude suit in any other forum. Any person or entity holding, purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to consent to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, another court of the State of Delaware, or if no court of the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) in any proceeding brought to enjoin, or otherwise enforce this Article IX with respect to, any action by that person or entity that is inconsistent with the exclusive jurisdiction provided for in this Article IX (an “Inconsistent Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such person or entity in any such proceeding by service upon such person’s or entity’s counsel in such Inconsistent Action as agent for such person or entity.

The above Bylaws are effective as of November 21, 1995, the date of incorporation of Ocean Financial Corp., as amended June 16, 1999, May 17, 2000, January 22, 2003, April 19, 2015, June 29, 2017, and December 20, 2017.



2017 OceanFirst Financial Corp ByLaws
12