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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 23, 2010

Registration No. 333-              

 

 

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-1

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 


 

HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

California

 

6022

 

77-0469558

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial
Code Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

 

150 Almaden Boulevard
San Jose, California  95113
(408) 947-6900

(Address, including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive
Offices)

 


 

LAWRENCE D. McGOVERN

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Heritage Commerce Corp

150 Almaden Boulevard
San Jose, California  95113
(408) 497-6900

(Name, Address, including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

 


 

Copy to:

 

MARK A. BONENFANT, ESQ.

Buchalter Nemer
1000 Wilshire Boulevard
Fifteenth Floor
Los Angeles, California  90094
(213) 891-0700
(213) 630-5664 – Facsimile


 

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

 


 

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, check the following box.  x

 

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.  o

 

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.  o

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) 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.  o

 

                    Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer ¨

 

Accelerated filer

¨

Non-accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

Smaller reporting company

x

 


 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title of each class of
securities to be registered (1)

 

Amount to be
Registered
(2)

 

Proposed
maximum
offering price
per Share
(3)

 

Proposed
maximum
aggregate
offering price
(2)

 

Amount of
registration
fee
(1)(4)

 

Series B Mandatorily Convertible Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, no par value (and underlying shares of Common Stock)

 

53,996

 

$981.34

 

$52,988,434

 

$3,778

 

Series C Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, no par value (and underlying shares of Common Stock)

 

21,004

 

$981.34

 

$20,612,065

 

$1,469

 

Underlying Shares of Common Stock, no par value (5)

 

22,222,223

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

$73,600,499

 

$5,248

 

(1)            This registration statement relates to the following securities to be offered for resale by the selling securityholders: (a) shares of Series B Mandatorily Convertible Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, no par value (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), Series C Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, no par value (the “Series C Preferred Stock”), (c) the shares of Common Stock, no par value (the “Common Stock”), underlying the Series B Preferred Stock and the Series C Preferred Stock; and (d) any additional shares of Common Stock or Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock that become issuable in connection with anti-dilution adjustments as set forth in the terms of the Certificates of Determination of the Series B Preferred Stock of the Series C Preferred Stock.

 

(2)            Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee. Pursuant to Rule 416, there are also registered such indeterminate number of additional shares of Series B Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock and Common Stock that may become issuable due to anti-dilution adjustments for changes resulting from stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations or similar transactions and certain other events specified in the terms of the Series B Preferred Stock and the Series C Preferred Stock, as applicable.

 

(3)            Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee and based on the average of the high and low sales price of Common Stock of $3.68 on July 19, 2010 on the NASDAQ Global Select Market pursuant to Rule 457(c) .

 

(4)            Pursuant to Rule 457 (i), a single registration fee is payable with respect to the Series B Preferred Stock, the Series C Preferred Stock and the underlying shares of Common Stock.

 

(5)            Represents 20,000,000 shares of Common Stock issued to be upon conversion of the 53,996 outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock and the 21,004 outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock, plus an additional 2,222,223 shares that will be issuable if certain shareholder approvals are not obtained within six months of the date of issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock and the Series C Preferred Stock.

 


 

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 the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


 


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SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JULY 23, 2010

 

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell 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 it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

PROSPECTUS

 

GRAPHIC

 

HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP

 


 

53,996 Shares of Series B Mandatorily Convertible Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock

 

21,004 Shares of Series C Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock

 

14,399,000 Shares of Common Stock Underlying the Series B Preferred Stock

 

5,601,000 Shares of Common Stock Underlying the Series C Preferred Stock

 

This prospectus relates to the securities listed below that may be offered for sale from time to time by the persons named in this prospectus (and their transferees) identified under the heading “selling securityholders” on page 14 of this prospectus who currently own such securities or may acquire such securities upon the conversion of securities currently held.  We refer to these persons as the “selling securityholders.”

 

An investment in the securities involves risks. You should carefully consider all of the information set forth in this prospectus, including the risk factors beginning on page 4 of this prospectus, as well as the risk factors and other information contained in any documents we incorporate by reference into this prospectus before investing in any of the securities.

 

This prospectus covers the following securities:

 

·                                           Some or all of the 53,996 shares of our Series B Mandatorily Convertible Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (“Series B Preferred Stock”);

 

·                                           Some or all of the 21,004 shares of our Series C Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock (“Series C Preferred Stock”);

 

·                                           The shares of our Common Stock, no par value (“Common Stock”), issuable upon the mandatory conversion into Common Stock of our Series B Preferred Stock; and

 

·                                           The shares of our Common Stock issuable upon the mandatory conversion into Common Stock of our Series C Preferred Stock.

 

Pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement, dated June 18, 2010, entered into by Heritage Commerce Corp and each of the selling securityholders (or an affiliate of the selling securityholders), we issued shares of Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock to the selling securityholders in a private placement transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  We refer to this transaction as the “June 2010 Private Placement.”  In order to enable the Series B Preferred Stock and the Series C Preferred Stock to convert into our Common Stock in accordance with their respective terms, we will seek approval from our shareholders of proposals concerning the issuance of our Common Stock in connection with the conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock into our Common Stock for purposes of NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635 and California law.  We refer to these shareholder approvals together as the “Shareholder Approvals.”

 

When used in this prospectus, the term “Securities” refers to the shares of Series B Preferred Stock, shares of Series C Preferred Stock and the shares of Common Stock. We agreed in the Securities Purchase Agreement to file this resale registration statement covering these Securities.

 



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The selling securityholders who may sell or otherwise dispose of the Securities were the initial investors (or the permitted affiliate transferees of such investors) in the June 2010 Private Placement described above. The selling securityholders may offer the Securities from time to time directly or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents and in one or more public or private transactions and at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices, at prices related to prevailing market prices, at various prices determined at the time of sale or otherwise or at negotiated prices. If the Securities are sold through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, the selling securityholders (or the purchasers of the Securities as negotiated with the selling securityholders) will be responsible for underwriting discounts or commissions or agent commissions, if any. The registration of the Securities does not necessarily mean that any of the Securities will be sold by the selling securityholders. The timing and amount of any sale is within the selling securityholder’s sole discretion, subject to certain restrictions. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of Securities by the selling securityholders.

 

Shares of our Common Stock are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “HTBK.” The Series B Preferred Stock and the Series C Preferred Stock are not currently listed on any established securities exchange or quotation system, and we do not intend to seek such listings. In the event we were to seek such listings, there is no guarantee that any established securities exchange or quotation system would accept the Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock for listing.

 

None of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these Securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

These Securities are not savings accounts, deposits or other obligations of any bank and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Deposit Insurance Fund or any other government agency or fund.

 

This date of this prospectus is                     , 2010.

 


 


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Page

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

ii

 

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

ii

 

 

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

iii

 

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

iv

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

1

 

 

RISK FACTORS

5

 

 

PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK

12

 

 

DIVIDEND POLICY

13

 

 

SUMMARY OF THE UNDERLYING TRANSACTIONS

14

 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

14

 

 

SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS

15

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

18

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

31

 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

33

 

 

EXPERTS

33

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or inconsistent information.  If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it.  We are not making an offer to sell these Securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of such applicable document. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

 

Unless we state otherwise or the context indicates otherwise, references to “Heritage,” “we,” “us,” “our” and “the Company” in this prospectus refer to Heritage Commerce Corp and its subsidiaries.  References to “Heritage Bank of Commerce” or “HBC” mean our wholly-owned banking subsidiary.

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus including the documents incorporated by reference in it, contains various statements that may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Securities Exchange Act”), and are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements about our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and may be forward-looking. These forward-looking statements often can be, but are not always, identified by the use of words such as “assume,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “anticipate,” “may,” “might,” “should,” “could,” “goal,” “potential” and similar expressions. We base these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events, our assumptions regarding these events and our knowledge of facts at the time the statements are made. These statements include statements relating to our projected growth, anticipated future financial performance, and management’s long-term performance goals, as well as statements relating to the anticipated effects on results of operations and financial condition.

 

These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that may be outside our control and our actual results could differ materially from our projected results. In addition, our past results of operations do not necessarily indicate our future results. Please see our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and the other information contained in this prospectus for a further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties applicable to our business. The forward-looking statements could be affected by many factors, including but not limited to:

 

·                                           Our ability to attract new deposits and loans;

 

·                                           Local, regional, and national economic conditions and events and the impact they may have on us and our customers;

 

·                                           Risks associated with concentrations in real estate related loans;

 

·                                           Increasing levels of classified assets, including nonperforming assets, which could adversely affect our earnings and liquidity;

 

·                                           Market interest rate volatility;

 

·                                           Stability of funding sources and continued availability of borrowings;

 

·                                           Changes in legal or regulatory requirements or the results of regulatory examinations that could restrict growth and constrain our activities, including our written agreement entered into by the Company and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and the California Department of Financial Institutions;

 

·                                           Changes in accounting standards and interpretations;

 

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·                                           Significant decline in the market value of the Company that could result in an impairment of goodwill;

 

·                                           Our ability to raise capital or incur debt on reasonable terms;

 

·                                           Regulatory limits on Heritage Bank of Commerce’s ability to pay dividends to the Company;

 

·                                           Effectiveness of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and other legislative and regulatory efforts to help stabilize the U.S. financial markets;

 

·                                           Future legislative or administrative changes to the U.S. Treasury Capital Purchase Program enacted under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008;

 

·                                           The impact of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and related rules and regulations on our business operations and competitiveness, including the impact of executive compensation restrictions, which may affect our ability to retain and recruit executives in competition with other firms who do not operate under those restrictions;

 

·                                           The impact of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act signed by President Obama on July 21, 2010; and

 

·                                           Our success in managing the risks involved in the foregoing items.

 

We are not able to predict all the factors that may affect future results. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement, which speaks only as of the date of this prospectus or the date of the document incorporated by reference. Except as required by applicable laws or regulations, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information contained in the documents we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you in this prospectus by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus.

 

We incorporate by reference the documents listed below (other than filings or portions of filings that, under applicable SEC rules, are “furnished” rather than “filed”):

 

·                                           Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, as filed on March 17, 2010, including portions incorporated by reference therein to our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 20, 2010;

 

·                                           Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2010 (as filed on May 11, 2010);

 

·                                           Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on May 3, 2010 (solely with respect to Item 8.01), May 28, 2010, June 22, 2010, June 30, 2010 and July 15, 2010; and

 

·                                           The description of our Common Stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated March 5, 1998, which registers our Common Stock under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, together with any amendments or reports filed with the SEC for the purpose of updating the description.

 

You may obtain a copy of these filings at no cost by writing to us at Heritage Commerce Corp, 150 Almaden Boulevard, San Jose, California 95113, Attention: Corporate Secretary or by telephone request to our Corporate Secretary at (408) 947-6900.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We file annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  Our SEC filings are available to the public on the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on our website www.heritagecommercecorp.com (as soon as practicable after we electronically file such materials with, or furnish them to, the SEC).  Except for those SEC filings incorporated by reference in this prospectus, none of the information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website is a prospectus or constitutes part of, or is otherwise incorporated into, this prospectus.

 

You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at its public reference facilities at 100 F Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can also obtain copies of the documents upon the payment of a duplicating fee to the SEC. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference facilities.

 

This prospectus omits some information contained in the registration statement in accordance with SEC rules and regulations. You should review the information and exhibits included in the registration statement for further information about us and the securities we are offering. Statements in this prospectus concerning any document we filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or that we otherwise filed with the SEC are not intended to be comprehensive and are qualified by reference to these filings. You should review the complete document to evaluate these statements.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and may not contain all the information that you need to consider in making your investment decision. You should carefully read this entire prospectus, as well as the information to which we refer you and the information incorporated by reference herein, before deciding whether to invest in our Securities.  You should pay special attention to the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus to determine whether an investment in the Securities is appropriate for you.

 

About Heritage Commerce Corp

 

Heritage Commerce Corp, a California corporation organized in 1997, is a bank holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. We provide a wide range of banking services through Heritage Bank of Commerce, our wholly-owned subsidiary and our principal asset. Heritage Bank of Commerce is a California state-chartered bank headquartered in San Jose, California and has been conducting business since 1994.

 

Heritage Bank of Commerce is a multi-community independent bank that offers a full range of commercial banking services to small and medium-sized businesses and their owners, managers and employees.  We operate through 10 full service branch offices located entirely in the southern and eastern regions of the general San Francisco Bay Area of California in the counties of Santa Clara, Alameda, and Contra Costa.  Our market includes the headquarters of a number of technology-based companies in the region commonly known as “Silicon Valley.”

 

Our lending activities are diversified and include commercial, real estate, construction and land development, consumer and SBA guaranteed loans. We generally lend in markets where we have a physical presence through our branch offices and SBA loan production offices.  We attract deposits throughout our market area with a customer-oriented product mix, competitive pricing, and convenient locations.  We offer a wide range of deposit products for business banking and retail markets.  We offer a multitude of other products and services to complement our lending and deposit services.

 

As a bank holding company, we are subject to the supervision of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”). We are required to file with the Federal Reserve reports and other information regarding our business operations and the business operations of our subsidiaries. As a California chartered bank, Heritage Bank of Commerce is subject to primary supervision, periodic examination, and regulation by the California Department of Financial Institutions (“DFI”), and by the Federal Reserve, as its primary federal regulator.

 

Our principal executive office is located at 150 Almaden Boulevard, San Jose, California 95113, telephone number: (408) 947-6900.

 

Recent Developments

 

On July 23, 2010, we announced our financial results for the quarter and the six months ended June 30, 2010.  For the six months ended June 30, 2010, we had a net loss allocable to common shareholders of $59.8 million, or ($5.06) per diluted common share.  For the six months ended June 30, 2009, we had a net loss allocable to common shareholders of $10.5 million, or ($0.89) per diluted common share.

 

At June 30, 2010, based on management’s analysis, with the assistance of an independent valuation firm, and continued deteriorating economic conditions and the length of time and amount by which the Company’s book value exceeded the market value per share for its Common Stock, the Company determined it was appropriate to write off the entire $43.2 million of goodwill related to its acquisition of Diablo Valley Bank in June 2007.  This goodwill impairment charge had no effect on the cash balances, liquidity, or tangible equity capital of the Company or Heritage Bank of Commerce.  Goodwill is excluded when calculating regulatory capital and, therefore, the Company’s and Heritage Bank of Commerce’s regulatory capital ratios were not significantly affected by the charge.

 

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Other financial developments for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2010 include the following:

 

·                                           Net interest margin increased to 3.88% in the second quarter of 2010 from 3.55% in the second quarter of 2009, and 3.81% for the first quarter of 2010.

 

·                                           The provision for loan losses was $18.6 million in the second quarter of 2010 compared to a provision for loan losses of $10.7 million in the second quarter of 2009, and $5.1 million in the first quarter of 2010.

 

·                                           The Company recorded a $3.7 million partial valuation allowance on deferred tax assets in the second quarter of 2010.

 

·                                           Heritage Bank of Commerce exceeded regulatory well-capitalized levels with a leverage ratio of 11.68%, a tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 14.49%, and a total risk-based capital ratio of 15.75% at June 30, 2010.

 

·                                           On a consolidated basis, the Company exceeded regulatory well-capitalized levels with a leverage ratio of 8.65%, a tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 10.73%, and a total risk-based capital ratio of 18.66% at June 30, 2010.

 

·                                           The Company had tangible common equity to tangible assets of 5.68% at June 30, 2010.

 

·                                           Total assets were $1.30 billion at June 30, 2010, a decrease of 9% from a year ago and a decrease of 2% over the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

 

·                                           Loans, excluding loans held-for-sale, decreased 19% to $937.8 million at June 30, 2010 from $1.16 billion at June 30, 2009, and decreased 7% from $1.01 billion at March 31, 2010.

 

·                                           Land and construction loans decreased $120.6 million to $110.2 million or 12% of the total loan portfolio at June 30, 2010, compared to $230.8 million or 20% of total loans at June 30, 2009, and decreased $43.6 million from $153.8 million or 15% of the total loan portfolio at March 31, 2010.

 

·                                           Nonperforming assets were $60.1 million or 4.1% of total assets at June 30, 2010, of which $9.8 million was related to classified loans transferred to loans held-for-sale.  Nonperforming assets were $61.7 million or 4.30% of total assets at June 30, 2009, and $69.0 million or 5.17% of total assets at March 31, 2010.

 

·                                           The allowance for loan losses was $26.8 million or 2.85% of total loans at June 30, 2010, compared to $31.4 million or 2.70% of total loans at June 30, 2009, and $26.5 million, or 2.64% of total loans at March 31, 2010.

 

·                                           Net charge-offs were $18.4 million in the second quarter of 2010.  Net charge-offs were $3.2 million in the second quarter of 2009, and $7.3 million in the first quarter of 2010.

 

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The Offering

 

Maximum number of shares of Common Stock offered by the selling securityholders (in each case subject to anti-dilution adjustments)

 

14,399,000 shares of Common Stock underlying the 53,996 outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock (15,998,889 if the Shareholder Approvals are not received within six months of issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock) 5,601,000 shares of Common Stock underlying the 21,004 outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock (6,223,333 if the Shareholder Approvals are not received within six months of the issuance of the Series C Preferred Stock).

 

 

 

Maximum number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock offered by the selling securityholders (subject to anti-dilution adjustments)

 

53,996 shares of Series B Preferred Stock issued by us to the selling securityholders on June 21, 2010, as discussed in “Summary of the Underlying Transactions” and “Selling Securityholders.”

 

 

 

Maximum number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock offered by the selling securityholders (subject to anti-dilution adjustments)

 

21,004 shares of Series C Preferred Stock issued by us to two of the selling securityholders on June 21, 2010.

 

 

 

 

Shares outstanding as of June 30, 2010

 

 

11,820,509 shares of Common Stock

53,996 shares of Series B Preferred Stock

21,004 shares of Series C Preferred Stock

 

 

 

 

 

As discussed above and in “Description of the Capital Stock — Series B Preferred Stock,” each share of Series B Preferred Stock will automatically convert into 266.67 shares of our Common Stock (subject to anti-dilution adjustments and adjustment if the Shareholder Approvals are not received within six months of the issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock).  Each share of Series C Preferred Stock will be eligible to convert into 266.67 shares of our Common Stock (subject to anti-dilution adjustments and adjustment if the Shareholder Approvals are not received within six months of the issuance of the Series C Preferred Stock) upon receipt of the Shareholder Approvals, and will automatically convert into our Common Stock on the date of a transfer of the Series C Preferred Stock to a transferee unaffiliated with the holder in a widely dispersed offering.

 

 

 

Convertibility of Series B Preferred Stock into our Common Stock

 

Shares of Series B Preferred Stock will automatically convert on the first business day after the date on which we receive the Shareholder Approvals.

 

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Convertibility of Series C Preferred Stock into our Common Stock

 

 

Shares of Series C Preferred Stock will be eligible for conversion on the date on which we receive the Shareholder Approvals, and will automatically convert into our Common Stock on the date of the transfer of the Series C Preferred Stock to a transferee unaffiliated with the holder in a widely dispersed offering.  The term “widely dispersed offering” means a (i) widespread public distribution, including pursuant to a registration statement filed with and declared effective by the SEC or Rule 144 under the Securities Act, (ii) a transfer in which no transferee (or group of associated transferees) after giving effect to the transfer, would own more than 2% of any class of voting securities of the Company or (iii) a transfer to a transferee that controls or is acquiring control of more than 50% of the voting securities.

 

 

 

Use of Proceeds

 

 

All Securities sold pursuant to this prospectus will be sold by the selling securityholders. We will not receive any of the proceeds from such sales.

 

 

 

Risk Factors

 

 

An investment in our Securities is subject to risks. Please refer to the information contained under the caption “Risk Factors” and other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before investing in our Securities.

 

 

 

NASDAQ Global Select Market Symbol

 

“HTBK” Common Stock.

 

 

 

 

 

Neither the Series B Preferred Stock nor Series C Preferred Stock are listed, and the Company does not intend to list the Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock on any market.

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

Our business, financial condition and results of operations are subject to various risks, including those discussed below, and those set forth in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference, which may affect the value of the Securities. The risks discussed in this prospectus  and incorporated herein by reference are those that we believe are the most significant risks, although additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem less significant may also adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, perhaps materially. Before making a decision to invest in the Securities, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below and the risks incorporated by reference in this prospectus, together with all of the other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

Risks Relating to our Securities

 

Our participation in the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program may pose certain risks to holders of our securities.

 

The Company sold to the U.S. Treasury 40,000 shares of Series A Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, no par value (“Series A Preferred Stock”), and a warrant to purchase 462,963 (which number of shares is not subject to increase as a result of our issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock and the Series C Preferred Stock) shares of the Company’s Common Stock. Although the Company believes that its participation in the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program (“Capital Purchase Program”) was in the best interests of its shareholders in that it enhanced our capital, it may pose certain risks to the holders of our Securities such as the following:

 

·                                           The warrant, if exercised, may be significantly dilutive to current common stockholders.

 

·                                           The warrant is immediately exercisable, thus the U.S. Treasury may at any time become a significant holder of the Company’s Common Stock and possess significant voting power.

 

·                                           Although the Series A Preferred Stock issued to the U.S. Treasury is non-voting, the terms of the Capital Purchase Program stipulate that the U.S. Treasury may vote its senior equity in matters deemed by the U.S. Treasury to have an impact on its holdings.

 

·                                           Under the terms of the Capital Purchase Program, the Company must seek the approval of the U.S. Treasury for any increases in dividends paid to holders of our Common Stock as well as any repurchases of our Common Stock.

 

·                                           The U.S. Treasury may at any time change the terms of our participation in the Capital Purchase Program.

 

·                                           If the Company misses a total of six (6) quarterly dividend payments on the Series A Preferred Stock, the U.S. Treasury will have the right to appoint two directors to our board of directors.

 

·                                           We are unable to pay any dividends on our Common Stock unless we are current with our dividend payments on the Series A Preferred Stock; and in November 2009 we suspended the payment of dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

·                                           Executive compensation rules for Capital Purchase Program participants may restrict our ability to hire or retain qualified senior executives officers and other key employees.

 

Our securities are not an insured deposit.

 

Our securities are not bank deposits and, therefore, are not insured against loss by the FDIC, any other deposit insurance fund or by any other public or private entity. Investment in our securities is inherently risky for the reasons described in this section and elsewhere in this prospectus and is subject to the same market forces that affect the price of securities in any company. As a result, if you acquire our securities, you may lose some or all of your investment.

 

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Federal and state law may limit the ability of another party to acquire us, which could cause the price of our securities to decline.

 

Federal law prohibits a person or group of persons “acting in concert” from acquiring “control” of a bank holding company unless the Federal Reserve has been given 60 days prior written notice of such proposed acquisition and within that time period the Federal Reserve has not issued a notice disapproving the proposed acquisition or extending for up to another 30 days the period during which such a disapproval may be issued. An acquisition may be made prior to the expiration of the disapproval period if the Federal Reserve issues written notice of its intent not to disapprove the action. Under a rebuttable presumption established by the Federal Reserve, the acquisition of 10% or more of a class of voting stock of a bank or bank holding company with a class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act would, under the circumstances set forth in the presumption, constitute the acquisition of control. In addition, any “company” would be required to obtain the approval of the Federal Reserve under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, before acquiring 25% (5% in the case of an acquiror that is, or is deemed to be, a bank holding company) or more of any class of voting stock, or such lesser number of shares as may constitute control.

 

Under the California Financial Code, no person shall, directly or indirectly, acquire control of a California state bank or its holding company unless the DFI has approved such acquisition of control. A person would be deemed to have acquired control of Heritage Bank of Commerce if such person, directly or indirectly, has the power (i) to vote 25% or more of the voting power of Heritage Bank of Commerce or (ii) to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of Heritage Bank of Commerce. For purposes of this law, a person who directly or indirectly owns or controls 10% or more of our outstanding Common Stock would be presumed to control Heritage Bank of Commerce.

 

These provisions of federal and state law may prevent a merger or acquisition that would be attractive to shareholders and could limit the price investors would be willing to pay in the future for our securities.

 

We may raise additional capital, which could have a dilutive effect on the existing holders of our securities and adversely affect the market price of our securities.

 

We are not restricted from issuing additional shares of Common Stock or securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or represent the right to receive shares of Common Stock.  We frequently evaluate opportunities to access the capital markets taking into account our regulatory capital ratios, financial condition and other relevant considerations and, subject to market conditions, we may take further capital actions. Such actions could include, among other things, the issuance of additional shares of Common Stock or other securities in public or private transactions in order to further increase our capital levels above the requirements for a “well capitalized” institution established by the federal bank regulatory agencies as well as other regulatory targets.  These issuances could dilute ownership interests of investors and could dilute the per share book value of our Common Stock.

 

Holders of our subordinated debt have rights that are senior to those of our common and preferred shareholders.

 

We have supported our continued growth through four issuances of trust preferred securities from four separate special purpose trusts and related issuance of subordinated debt to these trusts. At March 31, 2010, we had outstanding subordinated debt totaling $23.7 million.  Payments of the principal and interest on the subordinated debt are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by us. Further, the accompanying subordinated debt we issued to the special purpose trusts are senior to our outstanding shares of Common Stock and preferred stock. As a result, we must make payments on the subordinated debt before any dividends can be paid on our preferred stock or Common Stock and, in the event of our bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation, the holders of the subordinated debt must be satisfied before any distributions can be made on our preferred stock or Common Stock. We have the right to defer interest payments on our subordinated debt (and the related trust preferred securities) for up to five years, during which time no cash dividends may be paid on our preferred stock or Common Stock. In November 2009, we exercised our right to defer the payment of interest on the subordinated debt and related trust preferred securities.

 

We are subject to a written agreement with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and DFI that prohibits the payment of dividends without prior approval.

 

On February 17, 2010, we entered into a Written Agreement (the “Written Agreement”) with the Federal Reserve, our primary federal banking regulator, and the DFI.  The Written Agreement restricts the payment of dividends on Common Stock and preferred stock, and any payments on our trust preferred securities and related subordinated debt, any reductions in capital or the purchase or redemption of stock without the prior consent of the

 

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Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and the Director of the Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation of the Federal Reserve. We do not know when the Company will receive regulatory approval to pay dividends in the future.

 

Risks Relating to our Common Stock

 

If Shareholder Approvals for the conversion of the Series  B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock are not received before December 21, 2010, t he consequences could adversely affect the Company, which may negatively impact your investment in our Common Stock.

 

If the Shareholder Approvals are not obtained prior to December 21, 2010, on and after December 21, 2010 and until the shareholders approve the conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock and the Series C Preferred Stock, the following consequences will result that could affect our stock price:

 

·                                           The initial conversion price of the Series B Preferred Stock of $3.75 per share will be decreased by 10% if we fail to obtain the Shareholder Approvals before December 21, 2010 (six months after issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock).

 

·                                           The initial conversion price of the Series C Preferred Stock of $3.75 per share will be decreased by 10% if we fail to obtain the Shareholder Approvals before December 21, 2010 (six months after issuance of the Series C Preferred Stock).

 

·                                           The shares of Series B Preferred Stock will remain outstanding and, for so long as such shares remain outstanding, we will be required to pay dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock, at a rate of 20% per annum, or $10.8 million per year.  Dividends will not be payable on the Series B Preferred Stock if the Shareholder Approvals are obtained before December 21, 2010.

 

·                                           We will be required to pay dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock, at a rate of 20% per annum, or $4.2 million per year.  Dividends will not be payable on the Series C Preferred Stock at the rate of 20% per annum if we obtain the Shareholder Approvals before December 21, 2010.  After we obtain the Shareholder Approvals, the Series C Preferred Stock will remain outstanding, but will receive dividends on an as-converted basis if and only to the extent payable on our common stock.

 

The price of our Common Stock may fluctuate significantly, and this may make it difficult for you to resell shares of Common Stock owned by you at times or at prices you find attractive.

 

The stock market and, in particular, the market for financial institution stocks, have experienced significant volatility. In some cases, the markets have produced downward pressure on stock prices for certain issuers without regard to those issuers’ underlying financial strength. As a result, the trading volume in our Common Stock may fluctuate more than usual and cause significant price variations to occur. This may make it difficult for you to resell shares of Common Stock owned by you at times or at prices you find attractive.

 

The trading price of the shares of our Common Stock will depend on many factors, which may change from time to time and which may be beyond our control, including, without limitation, our financial condition, performance, creditworthiness and prospects, future sales or offerings of our equity or equity related securities, and other factors identified above under “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” “Risk Factors” and below. These broad market fluctuations have adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock. Among the factors that could affect our stock price are:

 

·                                           actual or anticipated quarterly fluctuations in our operating results and financial condition;

 

·                                           changes in financial estimates or publication of research reports and recommendations by financial analysts or actions taken by rating agencies with respect to our Common Stock or those of other financial institutions;

 

·                                           failure to meet analysts’ revenue or earnings estimates;

 

·                                           speculation in the press or investment community generally or relating to our reputation, our operations, our market area, our competitors or the financial services industry in general;

 

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·                                           strategic actions by us or our competitors, such as acquisitions, restructurings, dispositions or financings;

 

·                                           actions by our current shareholders, including sales of Common Stock by existing shareholders and/or directors and executive officers;

 

·                                           trends in our nonperforming assets;

 

·                                           the costs and effectiveness of our efforts to reduce our classified assets;

 

·                                           fluctuations in the stock price and operating results of our competitors;

 

·                                           future sales of our equity, equity-related or debt securities;

 

·                                           proposed or adopted regulatory changes or developments;

 

·                                           anticipated or pending investigations, proceedings, or litigation that involve or affect us;

 

·                                           trading activities in our Common Stock, including short-selling;

 

·                                           domestic and international economic factors unrelated to our performance; and

 

·                                           general market conditions and, in particular, developments related to market conditions for the financial services industry.

 

Our Common Stock is listed for trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “HTBK”.  The trading volume has historically been significantly less than that of larger financial services companies. Stock price volatility may make it more difficult for you to sell your Common Stock when you want and at prices you find attractive.

 

A public trading market having the desired characteristics of depth, liquidity and orderliness depends on the presence in the marketplace of willing buyers and sellers of our Common Stock at any given time. This presence depends on the individual decisions of investors and general economic and market conditions over which we have no control. Given the relatively low trading volume of our Common Stock, significant sales of our Common Stock in the public market, or the perception that those sales may occur, could cause the trading price of our Common Stock to decline or to be lower than it otherwise might be in the absence of those sales or perceptions.

 

The issuance of additional shares of preferred stock could adversely affect holders of Common Stock, which may negatively impact your investment in our securities.

 

Our board of directors is authorized to cause us to issue additional classes or series of preferred stock without any action on the part of the shareholders, except in certain circumstances. Our board of directors also has the power, without shareholder approval except in certain circumstances, to set the terms of any such classes or series of preferred stock that may be issued, including voting rights, dividend rights and preferences over the Common Stock with respect to dividends or upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our business and other terms. If we issue preferred stock in the future that has a preference over the Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or if we issue preferred stock with voting rights that dilute the voting power of the Common Stock, then the rights of holders of the Common Stock or the market price of the Common Stock could be adversely affected. A decline in the market price of our Common Stock may negatively impact the price for the Series B Preferred Stock and the Series C Preferred Stock.

 

Risks Related to the Series B Preferred Stock

 

The Series B Preferred Stock will convert into Common Stock only in limited circumstances.

 

Unless the Shareholder Approvals are received, the Series B Preferred Stock will not convert into our Common Stock. There can be no assurance that the Shareholder Approvals will be obtained. However, if the conversion is not approved by the shareholders at the first meeting held to consider the matter, we have agreed to solicit the Shareholder Approvals at a second meeting of the shareholders (and at subsequent meetings, if needed).

 

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The investors will continue to hold the Series B Preferred Stock until such time as the Shareholder Approvals can be obtained. Shares of Series B Preferred Stock will automatically convert into our Common Stock on the first business day following the date on which we receive the Shareholder Approvals.

 

You may not receive dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock.

 

The Series B Preferred Stock provides for cumulative dividends to accrue at the rate of 20% per annum. However, if conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock into shares of our Common Stock occurs before December 21, 2010, then no accrued dividends shall be payable on the Series B Preferred Stock. We have suspended payment of dividends on our Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock and are currently prohibited from paying dividends on our Common Stock, the Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock because of the Written Agreement. We may not pay dividends on the shares of Series B Preferred Stock absent the prior written approval of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and the Director of the Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation of the Federal Reserve and only if we are current on the payment of our interest on our outstanding trust preferred and related subordinated debt and the payment of dividends on our Series A Preferred Stock.

 

The Series B Preferred Stock is equity and is subordinate to our existing and future indebtedness.

 

Our Series B Preferred Stock is an equity interest and does not constitute indebtedness. As such, our Series B Preferred Stock will rank junior to all indebtedness, including our subordinated debt issued in connection with our trust preferred securities, and other non-equity claims with respect to assets available to satisfy claims, including in a liquidation.

 

The Series  B Preferred Stock is a new series of securities and an active trading market may not develop for it.

 

The Series B Preferred Stock automatically converts into Common Stock in certain circumstances as described in the section entitled “Description of Capital Stock — Series B Preferred Stock.” There is no public market for the Series B Preferred Stock, and we have no plans to list the Series B Preferred Stock on any securities exchange. There is no guarantee that a secondary trading market will develop or, if such a market does develop, that it would provide sufficient liquidity to allow you to trade and sell shares of Series B Preferred Stock easily. The liquidity of any market for the Series B Preferred Stock will depend on a number of factors, including but not limited to:

 

·               the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock, if any, that investors purchase in this offering;

 

·               the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock that the selling securityholders elect to sell in this offering;

 

·               the number of holders of the Series B Preferred Stock;

 

·               our performance;

 

·               the market for similar securities; and

 

·               the market price of our Common Stock.

 

The market price of the Series B Preferred Stock will be directly affected by the market price of our Common Stock, which may be volatile, and this may make it difficult for your to resell Series B Preferred Stock at times or at prices you find attractive.

 

To the extent that a secondary market for the Series B Preferred Stock develops before receipt of the Shareholder Approvals, we believe that the market price of the Series B Preferred Stock will be significantly affected by the market price of our Common Stock. We cannot predict how our Common Stock will trade in the future as many factors could affect the market price of our Common Stock.

 

The Series B Preferred Stock has limited voting rights.

 

Holders of the Series B Preferred Stock will not have any voting rights, including the right to elect any

 

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directors, other than limited voting rights with respect to issuance of preferred stock ranking senior to the Series B Preferred Stock and matters significantly and adversely affecting the rights and privileges of the Series B Preferred Stock.

 

Holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock will have no rights as holders of our Common Stock until they acquire the Common Stock upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock.

 

Until holders of the Series B Preferred Stock acquire Common Stock upon conversion of or as a dividend on the Series B Preferred Stock, such holders will have no rights with respect to our Common Stock, including voting rights (except as described under “Description of Capital Stock - Series B Preferred Stock - Voting Rights” and as required by applicable California law) and rights to receive any dividends or other distributions on our Common Stock. Upon conversion of, or receipt of Common Stock as a dividend on, the Series B Preferred Stock, holders of the Series B Preferred Stock will be entitled to exercise the rights of a holder of Common Stock only as to matters for which the record date occurs on or after the conversion date.

 

Risks Related to the Series C Preferred Stock

 

The Series C Preferred Stock will convert into Common Stock only in limited circumstances.

 

Shares of Series C Preferred Stock will convert automatically into our Common Stock only following both (i) the receipt of the Shareholder Approvals, and (ii) the subsequent transfer thereafter of the Series C Preferred Stock to a transferee unaffiliated with the holder in a widely dispersed offering. There can be no assurance that the Shareholder Approvals will be obtained. However, if the conversion is not approved by the shareholders at the first meeting held to consider the matter, we have agreed to solicit the Shareholder Approvals at a second meeting of the shareholders (and at subsequent meetings, if needed). After the Shareholder Approvals are obtained, the investors will continue to hold the Series C Preferred Stock until such time as the holder transfers the Series C Preferred Stock to a transferee unaffiliated with the holder in a widely dispersed offering.

 

You may not receive dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock.

 

Prior to the Shareholder Approvals, the Series C Preferred Stock provides for cumulative dividends to accrue at the rate of 20% per annum. However, if the Shareholder Approvals are obtained before December 21, 2010, then no accrued dividends shall be payable on the Series C Preferred Stock.  After receipt of the Shareholder Approvals, dividends will be payable on the Series C Preferred Stock on an as converted basis if and only to the extent dividends are paid on our Common Stock. We have suspended payment of dividends on our Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock and are currently prohibited from paying dividends on our Common Stock and the Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock because of the Written Agreement. We may not pay dividends on the shares of Series C Preferred Stock absent the prior written approval of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and the Director of the Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation of the Federal Reserve and only if we are current on the payment of our interest on our outstanding trust preferred and related subordinated debt and the payment of dividends on our Series A Preferred Stock.

 

The Series C Preferred Stock is equity and is subordinate to our existing and future indebtedness.

 

Our Series C Preferred Stock is an equity interest and does not constitute indebtedness. As such, our Series C Preferred Stock will rank junior to all indebtedness, including our subordinated debt issued in connection with our trust preferred securities, and other non-equity claims with respect to assets available to satisfy claims, including in a liquidation.

 

The Series C Preferred Stock is a new series of securities and an active trading market may not develop for it.

 

The Series C Preferred Stock automatically converts into Common Stock in certain circumstances as described in the section entitled “Description of Capital Stock — Series C Preferred Stock.” There is no public market for the Series C Preferred Stock, and we have no plans to list the Series C Preferred Stock on any securities exchange. There is no guarantee that a secondary trading market will develop or, if such a market does develop, that it would provide sufficient liquidity to allow you to trade and sell shares of Series C Preferred Stock easily. The liquidity of any market for the Series C Preferred Stock will depend on a number of factors, including but not limited to:

 

·               the number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock, if any, that investors purchase in this offering;

 

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·               the number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock that the selling securityholders elect to sell in this offering;

 

·               the number of holders of the Series C Preferred Stock;

 

·               our performance;

 

·               the market for similar securities; and

 

·               the market price of our Common Stock.

 

The market price of the Series C Preferred Stock will be directly affected by the market price of our Common Stock, which may be volatile, and this may make it difficult for you to resell Series C Preferred Stock at times or at prices you find attractive.

 

To the extent that a secondary market for the Series C Preferred Stock develops, we believe that the market price of the Series C Preferred Stock will be significantly affected by the market price of our Common Stock. We cannot predict how our Common Stock will trade in the future as many factors could affect the market price of our Common Stock.

 

The Series C Preferred Stock has limited voting rights.

 

Holders of the Series C Preferred Stock will not have any voting rights, including the right to elect any directors, other than limited voting rights with respect to matters significantly and adversely affecting the rights and privileges of the Series C Preferred Stock.

 

Holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock will have no rights as holders of our Common Stock until they acquire the Common Stock upon conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock.

 

Until holders of the Series C Preferred Stock acquire Common Stock upon conversion of or as a dividend on the Series C Preferred Stock, such holders will have no rights with respect to our Common Stock, including voting rights (except as described under “Description of Capital Stock—Series C Preferred Stock - Voting Rights” and as required by applicable California law) and rights to receive any dividends or other distributions on our Common Stock. Upon conversion of, or receipt of Common Stock as a dividend on, the Series C Preferred Stock, holders of the Series C Preferred Stock will be entitled to exercise the rights of a holder of Common Stock only as to matters for which the record date occurs on or after the conversion date.

 

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PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK

 

Our Common Stock is listed and traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “HTBK.”  The following table sets forth, for the quarters shown, the range of high and low closing sales prices of our Common Stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and the cash dividends declared on the Common Stock. As of June 30, 2010, we had 11,820,509 shares of Common Stock outstanding, held of record by approximately 700 shareholders.

 

 

 

Stock Price

 

Dividend

 

Quarter

 

High

 

Low

 

Per Share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ending December 31, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Third quarter (through July 19, 2010)

 

$

3.72

 

$

3.65

 

 

Second quarter

 

$

5.99

 

$

3.50

 

 

First quarter

 

$

4.48

 

$

3.34

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31, 2009:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fourth quarter

 

$

4.64

 

$

2.50

 

 

Third quarter

 

$

5.75

 

$

2.99

 

 

Second quarter

 

$

8.66

 

$

3.61

 

 

First quarter

 

$

11.75

 

$

3.75

 

$

0.02

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31, 2008:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fourth quarter

 

$

15.83

 

$

9.61

 

$

0.08

 

Third quarter

 

$

16.43

 

$

8.48

 

$

0.08

 

Second quarter

 

$

18.78

 

$

9.90

 

$

0.08

 

First quarter

 

$

18.93

 

$

15.23

 

$

0.08

 

 

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DIVIDEND POLICY

 

Under the Written Agreement we are required to obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and the Director of the Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation of the Federal Reserve to make any interest payments on our outstanding trust preferred securities and related subordinate debt, or to pay any dividends on our Common Stock or preferred stock.

 

The amount of future dividends will depend upon our earnings, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors, and will be determined by our board of directors on a quarterly basis. It is Federal Reserve policy that bank holding companies generally pay dividends on Common Stock only out of income available over the past year, and only if prospective earnings retention is consistent with the organization’s expected future needs and financial condition. It is also Federal Reserve policy that bank holding companies not maintain dividend levels that undermine the holding company’s ability to be a source of strength to its banking subsidiaries. Additionally, in consideration of the current financial and economic environment, the Federal Reserve has indicated that bank holding companies should carefully review their dividend policy and has discouraged payment ratios that are at maximum allowable levels unless both asset quality and capital are very strong. Under the federal Prompt Corrective Action regulations, the Federal Reserve or the FDIC may prohibit a bank holding company from paying any dividends if the holding company’s bank subsidiary is classified as undercapitalized.

 

As a holding company, our ability to pay cash dividends is affected by the ability of our bank subsidiary, Heritage Bank of Commerce, to pay cash dividends. The ability of Heritage Bank of Commerce (and our ability) to pay cash dividends in the future and the amount of any such cash dividends is and could be in the future further influenced by bank regulatory requirements and approvals and capital guidelines. Our ability to pay cash dividends is further subject to restrictions set forth in the California General Corporation Law (the “CGCL”). The CGCL provides that a corporation may make a distribution to its shareholders if the corporation’s retained earnings equal at least the amount of the proposed distribution. The CGCL further provides that, in the event sufficient retained earnings are not available for the proposed distribution, a corporation may nevertheless make a distribution to its shareholders if, after giving effect to the distribution, it meets two conditions, which generally stated are as follows: (i) the corporation’s assets must equal at least 125% of its liabilities and (ii) the corporation’s current assets must equal at least its current liabilities or, if the average of the corporation’s earnings before taxes on income and before interest expense for the two preceding fiscal years was less than the average of the corporation’s interest expense for those fiscal years, then the corporation’s current assets must equal at least 125% of its current liabilities.

 

Funds for payment of any cash dividends by the Company would be obtained from its investments as well as dividends from Heritage Bank of Commerce. As a California banking corporation, the ability of Heritage Bank of Commerce to pay cash dividends is subject to restrictions set forth in the California Financial Code (the “Financial Code”). The Financial Code provides that a bank may not make a cash distribution to its shareholders in excess of the lesser of (i) the bank’s retained earnings or (ii) the bank’s net income for its last three fiscal years, less the amount of any distributions made by the bank or by any majority-owned subsidiary of the bank to the shareholders of the bank during such period. However, a bank may, with the approval of the DFI, make a distribution to its shareholders in an amount not exceeding the greater of (i) its retained earnings, (ii) its net income for its last fiscal year or (iii) its net income for its current fiscal year. In the event that the DFI determines that the shareholders’ equity of a bank is inadequate or that the making of a distribution by the bank would be unsafe or unsound, the Commissioner may order the bank to refrain from making a proposed distribution.

 

Under the terms of the Capital Purchase Program, for so long as any preferred stock issued under the Capital Purchase Program remains outstanding, we are prohibited from increasing quarterly dividends on our Common Stock in excess of $0.08 per share, and from making certain repurchases of equity securities, including our Common Stock, without the U.S. Treasury’s consent until the third anniversary of the U.S. Treasury investment or until the U.S. Treasury has transferred all of the Series A Preferred Stock it purchased under the Capital Purchase Program to third parties. As long as the Series A Preferred Stock is outstanding, dividend payments and repurchases or redemptions relating to certain equity securities, including our Common Stock, the Series B Preferred Stock and the Series C Preferred Stock, are also prohibited until all accrued and unpaid dividends are paid on such preferred stock, subject to certain limited exceptions.  On November 6, 2009, we suspended dividend payments on our Series A Preferred Stock.  So long as dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock remain suspended, we may not, among other things and with limited exceptions, pay cash dividends on or repurchase our Common Stock or preferred stock.

 

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We have supported our growth through the issuance of trust preferred securities from special purpose trusts and accompanying sales of subordinated debt to these trusts. The subordinated debt that we issued to the trusts is senior to our shares of Common Stock, Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock. As a result, we must make payments on the subordinated debt before any dividends can be paid on our Common Stock, Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock. Under the terms of the subordinated debt, we may defer interest payments for up to five years.  On November 6, 2009, we exercised our right to defer regularly scheduled interest payments on our outstanding $23.7 million of subordinated debt relating to our trust preferred securities.  So long as interest payments remain deferred, we may not pay cash dividends on or repurchase our Common Stock or preferred stock.

 

We may not pay dividends on our Common Stock until all accrued and unpaid dividends have been paid on our Series B Preferred Stock.  Prior to the Shareholder Approvals, we may not pay dividends on our Common Stock until all accrued and unpaid dividends have been paid on our Series C Preferred Stock.

 

At such time as we become current with the dividends payable on the Series A Preferred Stock and interest payments on our trust preferred securities and related subordinated debt, the decision whether to pay dividends will be made by our board of directors in light of conditions then existing, including factors such as our results of operations, financial condition, business conditions, regulatory capital requirements and covenants under any applicable contractual arrangements, including agreements with regulatory authorities.

 

SUMMARY OF THE UNDERLYING TRANSACTIONS

 

We entered into a securities purchase agreement, dated June 18, 2010, with various investors, pursuant to which the investors invested an aggregate of $75 million in cash in us through direct purchases of newly issued shares of Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock.  On June 21, 2010, we issued to the investors the following securities:

 

·                                           an aggregate of 53,996 shares of Series B Preferred Stock, each of which will automatically convert into 266.67 shares of our Common Stock (an aggregate of 14,399,000 shares of our Common Stock) based on the initial conversion price of $3.75, upon receipt of the Shareholder Approvals; and

 

·                                           to two investors, an aggregate of 21,004 shares of Series C Preferred Stock, each of which will automatically convert into 266.67 shares of our Common Stock (an aggregate of 5,601,000 shares of our Common Stock) based on the initial conversion price of $3.75, upon receipt of the Shareholder Approvals and the subsequent transfer of the Series C Preferred Stock to third parties not affiliated with the holder in a widely dispersed offering.

 

Under the terms of the securities purchase agreement and the Certificates of Determination for the Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock, the Company may and intends to (depending on market conditions) commence a rights offering after the Shareholder Approvals and before December 21, 2010 (we refer to this as the “Rights Offering”).  The Company may offer up to 1,800,000 shares of Common Stock to our common shareholders who are record holders of our Common Stock before the Special Meeting held to obtain the Shareholder Approvals.  Investors in the June 2010 Private Placement (and their transferees) will not be able to participate in the Rights Offering by virtue of their ownership of the Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock, but they may participate to the extent they are holders of Common Stock on the record date for the Rights Offering.  Our directors and officers who are holders of Common Stock may also participate in the Rights Offering.  In the Rights Offering each shareholder will be offered the right to purchase their pro rata share of the Common Stock offered at a price of $3.75, the initial conversion price of the Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock.  The Rights Offering must be completed by December 21, 2010.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

All Securities sold pursuant to this prospectus will be offered and sold by the selling securityholders. We will not receive any of the proceeds from such sales.

 

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Table of Contents

 

SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS

 

When we refer to the “selling securityholders” in this prospectus we mean the persons listed in the table below. The selling securityholders may from time to time offer and sell any or all of the securities set forth below pursuant to this prospectus.

 

The selling securityholders initially acquired the securities covered by this prospectus on June 21, 2010, at the closing of the June 2010 Private Placement described above under “Summary of the Underlying Transactions.” The selling securityholders may, at any time and from time to time, offer and sell pursuant to this prospectus any or all of the Securities in any type of transaction as more fully described in “Plan of Distribution.”

 

Except as set forth below under “Board Representation and Board Observer Rights of Certain Selling Securityholders,” and other than with respect to the acquisition of the Securities from us, none of the selling securityholders has, or within the past three years has had, any position, office, or other material relationship with us.

 

As mentioned in “Plan of Distribution,” in offering the Securities covered by this prospectus, the selling securityholders (and any brokers, dealers or agents that participate in the distribution of Securities) may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

 

Securities Covered by this Prospectus Held by Selling Securityholders

 

The following table sets forth a list of the selling securityholders and their ownership of Securities to be offered pursuant to this prospectus. All percentages are based on the 31,820,509 shares of Common Stock that will be outstanding assuming the full conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock (before any adjustment in the conversion ratios).

 

We do not know when or in what amounts the selling securityholders may offer Securities for sale.  It is possible that the selling securityholders will not sell any or all of the Securities offered under this prospectus.  Because the selling securityholders may offer all or some of the Securities pursuant to this prospectus, and because we have been advised that there are currently no agreements, arrangements or understandings with respect to the sale of any such Securities, we cannot estimate the number of Securities that will be held by the selling securityholders after completion of the offering. For purposes of the table below, we have assumed that selling securityholders would sell all of the Securities held by them covered by this prospectus and, therefore, would hold no Securities following the offering and hold zero percentage of the Securities following the offering, other than shares of Common Stock that certain selling securityholders informed us they acquired independently of the June 2010 Private Placement and are not including for resale in this offering. Except as stated in the footnotes, each Selling Securityholder has requested that their full allotment of Securities be registered for resale in this offering.

 

The information set forth below is based on information provided by the selling securityholders.

 

Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock

 

Name of Selling Securityholder

 

Shares of
Series B
Preferred
Stock
owned pre-
offering

 

Shares of
Series C
Preferred
Stock
owned pre-
offering

 

Shares of
Common
Stock
beneficially
owned pre-
offering(1)(2)

 

Maximum
shares of
Series B
Preferred
Stock to be
offered

 

Maximum
shares of
Series C
Preferred
Stock to be
offered

 

Maximum
shares of
Common
Stock to be
offered(2)

 

Shares of
Series B
Preferred
Stock
owned Post
Offering(3)

 

Shares of
Series C
Preferred
Stock
owned Post
Offering(3)

 

Shares of
Common
Stock
owned Post
Offering(3)

 

Percentage of
Outstanding
Common
Stock
owned After
Offering(4)

 

Consector Partners LP

 

1,200

 

 

320,000

 

1,200

 

 

320,000

 

 

 

 

0

%

John Hancock Regional Bank Fund

 

2,671

 

 

712,266

 

2,671

 

 

712,266

 

 

 

 

0

%

John Hancock Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund

 

1,454

 

 

387,733

 

1,454

 

 

387,733

 

 

 

 

0

%

JCSD Partners L.P.

 

1,687.5

 

 

450,000

 

1,687.5

 

 

450,000

 

 

 

 

0

%

Adakin Capital, LLC

 

1,687.5

 

 

450,000

 

1,687.5

 

 

450,000

 

 

 

 

0

%

J.S. Kelly, LLC

 

1,687.5

 

 

450,000

 

1,687.5

 

 

450,000

 

 

 

 

0

%

Priority Insight Partners Master Fund L.P.

 

1,200

 

 

320,000

 

1,200

 

 

320,000

 

 

 

 

0

%

FPA Hawkeye Fund

 

1,767.5

 

 

471,333

 

1,767.5

 

 

471,333

 

 

 

 

0

%

FPA Hawkeye-7 Fund

 

2,170

 

 

578,666

 

2,170

 

 

578,666

 

 

 

 

0

%

MGS Partners, LLC

 

900

 

 

240,000

 

900

 

 

240,000

 

 

 

 

0

%

Basswood Opportunity Partners, LP

 

2,132

 

 

568,533

 

2,132

 

 

568,533

 

 

 

 

0

%

 

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Table of Contents

 

Name of Selling Securityholder

 

Shares of
Series B
Preferred
Stock
owned pre-
offering

 

Shares of
Series C
Preferred
Stock
owned pre-
offering

 

Shares of
Common
Stock
beneficially
owned pre-
offering(1)(2)

 

Maximum
shares of
Series B
Preferred
Stock to be
offered

 

Maximum
shares of
Series C
Preferred
Stock to be
offered

 

Maximum
shares of
Common
Stock to be
offered(2)

 

Shares of
Series B
Preferred
Stock
owned Post
Offering(3)

 

Shares of
Series C
Preferred
Stock
owned Post
Offering(3)

 

Shares of
Common
Stock
owned Post
Offering(3)

 

Percentage of
Outstanding
Common
Stock
owned After
Offering(4)

 

Basswood Opportunity Fund, Inc.

 

718

 

 

191,466

 

718

 

 

191,466

 

 

 

 

0

%

Banc Fund VI L.P.

 

1,084

 

 

418,834

(5)

1,084

 

 

289,066

 

 

 

129,768

 

.40

%

Banc Fund VII L.P.

 

1,457

 

 

473,233

(5)

1,457

 

 

388,533

 

 

 

84,700

 

.27

%

Banc Fund VIII L.P.

 

1,396.5

 

 

372,400

 

1,396.5

 

 

372,400

 

 

 

 

0

%

Castle Creek Capital Partners IV, LP(6)

 

4,815

 

12,960

 

4,740,000

(7)

4,815

 

12,960

 

4,740,000

 

 

 

 

0

%

Gordel Holdings Limited(8)

 

270

 

 

79,320

(10)

270

 

 

72,000

 

 

 

7,320

 

.02

%

OZ Select Master Fund, LTD(8)

 

133

 

 

39,253

(10)

133

 

 

35,466

 

 

 

3,787

 

.01

%

OZ Master Fund, LTD(8)

 

6,947

 

 

2,074,258

(10)

6,947

 

 

1,852,533

 

 

 

221,725

 

.70

%

OZ Global Special Investments Master Fund, LP(9)

 

337

 

 

101,050

(10)

337

 

 

89,866

 

 

 

11,184

 

.04

%

SOAM Capital Partners, L.P. (11)

 

500

 

 

133,333

 

500

 

 

133,333

 

 

 

 

0

%

Malta MLC Offshore, Ltd. (11)

 

177

 

 

47,200

 

177

 

 

47,200

 

 

 

 

0

%

Malta MLC Fund, L.P. (11)

 

677

 

 

180,533

 

677

 

 

180,533

 

 

 

 

0

%

Malta Offshore, Ltd. (11)

 

552

 

 

147,200

 

552

 

 

147,200

 

 

 

 

0

%

Malta Hedge Fund II, L.P. (11)

 

1,507

 

 

401,866

 

1,507

 

 

401,866

 

 

 

 

0

%

Malta Hedge Fund, L.P. (11)

 

265

 

 

70,666

 

265

 

 

70,666

 

 

 

 

0

%

Malta Partners, L.P. (11)

 

72

 

 

19,200

 

72

 

 

19,200

 

 

 

 

0

%

MFP Partners, L.P.

 

4,800

 

 

1,280,000

 

4,800

 

 

1,280,000

 

 

 

 

0

%

Patriot Financial Partners, L.P.(12)

 

8,298.75

 

6,858.75

 

4,042,000

(13)

8,298.75

 

6,858.75

 

4,042,000

 

 

 

 

0

%

Patriot Financial Partners Parallel L.P. (12)

 

1,432.5

 

1,185

 

698,000

(13)

1,432.5

 

1,185

 

698,000

 

 

 

 

0

%

 


(1)            Includes shares of Common Stock owned prior to the June 2010 Private Placement.

(2)            Assumes complete conversion of all Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock.  The share amounts also assume the Company will obtain the Shareholder Approvals before December 21, 2010.  If the Shareholder Approvals are not obtained before December 21, 2010, the share amounts resulting from the conversion will increase by 10%.

(3)            Assumes that each selling securityholder will sell all shares offered by it under this prospectus.

(4)            This number represents the percentage of common stock to be owned by the selling securityholder after completion of the offering based on the number of shares of common stock outstanding on June 30, 2010 (11,820,509 shares), as adjusted to reflect the assumptions that (i) the 53,996 shares of Series B Preferred Stock covered by this prospectus are converted into 14,399,000 shares of Common Stock based on the initial conversion price of $3.75 and (ii) 21,004 shares of Series C Preferred Stock are converted into 5,601,000 shares of Common Stock based on an initial conversion price of $3.75; so that there will be an aggregate of 31,820,509 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

(5)            Includes the 289,066 and 388,533 shares of Common Stock issued to Banc Fund VI L.P. and Banc Fund VII L.P., respectively, upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock assuming the receipt of the Shareholder Approvals, and includes the 129,768 and 84,700 shares of Common Stock otherwise owned by Banc Fund VI L.P. and Banc Fund VII L.P., respectively.

(6)            Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of June 18, 2010, Castle Creek has the right to appoint one member or one observer to the board of directors of each of the Company and Heritage Bank of Commerce. The Company and Heritage Bank of Commerce have provided notice to the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and the DFI, respectively, of their intent to appoint John M. Eggemeyer as a director of the Company and Heritage Bank of Commerce.

(7)            Includes the 1,284,000 shares of Common Stock issued to Castle Creek Capital Partners IV, LP (“Castle Creek”) upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock assuming the receipt of the Shareholder Approvals.  The shares of Series C Preferred Stock owned by Castle Creek can only be converted to 3,456,000 shares of Common Stock, assuming the receipt of the Shareholder Approvals, in the hands of transferees thereof.

(8)            Daniel S. Och, as Chief Executive Officer of Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC, the sole shareholder of Och-Ziff Holding Corporation, the General Partner of OZ Management LP, the Investment Manager to Gordel Holdings Limited, OZ Select Master Fund, Ltd., and OZ Master Fund, Ltd., (the “OZ Funds”) may be deemed to have voting and/or investment control of the securities held by the OZ Funds.  Mr. Och disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares, except to the extent of their direct pecuniary interest therein.

 

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Table of Contents

 

(9)            Daniel S. Och, as Chief Executive Officer of Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC, the sole shareholder of Och-Ziff Holding LLC, the General Partner of OZ Advisors II LP, the General Partner of OZ Global Special Investments Master Fund, LP, may be deemed to have voting and/or investment control of the securities held by OZ Global Special Investments Master Fund, LP.  Mr. Och disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares, except to the extent of their direct pecuniary interest therein.

(10)          Includes the 72,000, 35,466, 1,852,533 and 89,866 shares of Common Stock issued to Gordel Holdings Limited, OZ Select Master Fund, LTD, OZ Master Fund, LTD and OZ Global Special Investments Master Fund, LP, respectively, upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock assuming the receipt of the Shareholder Approvals, and includes the 7,320, 3,787, 221,725 and 11,184 shares of Common Stock otherwise owned by Gordel Holdings Limited, OZ Select Master Fund, LTD, OZ Master Fund, LTD and OZ Global Special Investments Master Fund, LP, respectively.

(11)          Each of these funds is managed by Sandler O’Neill Asset Management, LLC or one of its affiliates.  Terry Maltese is the managing member of Sandler O’Neill Asset Management, LLC and as such has the power to vote and dispose the shares held by each of these funds.  Mr. Maltese disclaims beneficial ownership over the shares held by these funds except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

(12)          Patriot Financial Partners, GP, L.P. (“Patriot GP”) is a general partner of each Patriot Financial Partners, L.P. and Patriot Financial Partners Parallel, L.P. (together, the “Funds”) and Patriot Financial Partners, GP, LLC (“Patriot LLC”) is a general partner of Patriot GP. In addition, each of W. Kirk Wycoff, Ira M. Lubert and James J. Lynch are general partners of the Funds and Patriot GP and members of Patriot LLC. Accordingly, securities owned by the Funds may be regarded as being beneficially owned by Patriot GP, Patriot LLC and each of W. Kirk Wycoff, Ira M. Lubert and James J. Lynch. Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of June 18, 2010, the Funds, together, have the right to appoint one member or one observer to the board of directors of each of the Company and Heritage Bank of Commerce. The Company and Heritage Bank of Commerce have provided notice to the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and the DFI, respectively, of their intent to appoint Mr. Wycoff as a director of the Company and Heritage Bank of Commerce.

(13)          Includes the 2,213,000 shares and 382,000 shares of Common Stock to be issued to Patriot Financial Partners, L.P. and Patriot Financial Partners Parallel L.P. upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock assuming the receipt of Shareholder Approvals.  The shares of Series C Preferred Stock owned by Patriot Financial Partners, L.P. and Patriot Financial Partners Parallel L.P. can only be converted to 1,829,000 shares and 316,000 shares of Common Stock, assuming the receipt of the Shareholder Approvals, in the hands of transferees thereof.

 

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Table of Contents

 

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

Common Stock

 

General

 

We are authorized to issue up to 60,000,000 shares of Common Stock, no par value. As of June 30, 2010, there were 11,820,509 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding held of record by approximately 700 shareholders.  Our Common Stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “HTBK.”  Outstanding shares of our Common Stock are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

Each share of our Common Stock has the same relative rights and is identical in all respects to each other share of our Common Stock. The Common Stock has no preemptive, conversion or redemption rights or sinking fund provisions.

 

Voting Rights

 

On any matter submitted to a vote of the shareholders, holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote, in person or by proxy, for each share of Common Stock held of record in the shareholder’s name on our books as of the record date. In connection with the election of directors, the shares may be voted cumulatively. Cumulative voting allows each shareholder to cast that number of votes equal to the number of shares owned by the shareholder, multiplied by the number of directors to be elected, and the shareholder may cumulate such votes for a single candidate or distribute such votes among as many candidates as the shareholder deems appropriate.

 

Liquidation Rights

 

The holders of our Common Stock and the holders of any class or series of stock entitled to participate with the holders of our Common Stock as to the distribution of assets in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us, whether voluntary or involuntary, will become entitled to participate equally in the distribution of any of our assets remaining after we have paid, or provided for the payment of, all of our debts and liabilities and after we have paid, or set aside for payment, to the holders of any class of stock having preference over the Common Stock in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the full preferential amounts, if any, to which they are entitled.

 

Dividends

 

Holders of our Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends if, as and when declared by our board of directors out of any funds legally available for dividends. We may pay dividends on our Common Stock only if we have paid or provided for all of the deferred interest on our trust preferred securities and dividends on our outstanding preferred stock, for the then current period and, in the case of any cumulative preferred stock, all prior periods.  The Written Agreement restricts the payment of dividends on Common Stock and preferred stock, and any payments on our trust preferred securities and related subordinated debt, without the prior consent of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and the Director of the Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation of the Federal Reserve. We do not know when the Company will receive regulatory approval to pay dividends in the future.

 

As a holding company, our ability to pay dividends is also affected by the ability of our bank subsidiary to pay dividends. The ability of our bank subsidiary, and our ability, to pay dividends in the future is, and could in the future be further, influenced by bank regulatory requirements and capital guidelines and other restrictions.  See “Dividend Policy.”

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent for the Common Stock is Wells Fargo Shareholder Services.

 

Preferred Stock

 

We are authorized to issue 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value per share.  We have designated 40,000 shares of preferred stock as Series A Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, 54,050

 

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Table of Contents

 

shares of preferred stock as Series B Mandatorily Convertible Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, and 21,050 shares of preferred stock as Series C Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock.  Our amended and restated articles of incorporation, subject to limitations prescribed in such articles and subject to limitations prescribed by California law, authorize the board of directors, from time to time by resolution and without further shareholder action, to provide for the issuance of shares of preferred stock, in one or more series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and other rights of the shares and to fix the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof. As a result of its discretion with respect to the creation and issuance of preferred stock without shareholder approval, the board of directors could adversely affect the voting power of the holders of Common Stock and, by issuing shares of preferred stock with certain voting, conversion and/or redemption rights, could discourage any attempt to obtain control of us.

 

Series A Preferred Stock

 

We have designated 40,000 shares as the Series A Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, no par value, with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, of which all are outstanding.  On November 21, 2008, pursuant to the Capital Purchase Program, we issued to the U.S. Treasury 40,000 shares of the Series A Preferred Stock, for a total price of $40 million. The holders of the Series A Preferred Stock have preferential dividend and liquidation rights over holders of our Common Stock. The Series A Preferred Stock pays cumulative dividends at a rate of 5% per year for the first five years and thereafter at a rate of 9% per year. The Series A Preferred Stock is non-voting, except in limited circumstances. Prior to November 21, 2011, unless we have redeemed all of the Series A Preferred Stock or the U.S. Treasury has transferred all of the Series A Preferred Stock to third parties, the consent of the U.S. Treasury will be required for us to, among other things, repurchase or otherwise acquire any of our shares of Common Stock or trust preferred securities, subject to certain limited exceptions. In addition, so long as any shares of our Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding, we may not repurchase or otherwise acquire any of our outstanding Common Stock unless we are current in our dividend payments on our outstanding Series A Preferred Stock. We may not redeem the Series A Preferred Stock without requisite regulatory approval.

 

Voting Rights

 

Except as indicated below or otherwise required by law, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock do not have any voting rights.

 

Election of Two Directors upon Non-Payment of Dividends .  If the dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock have not been paid for an aggregate of six quarterly dividend periods or more (whether or not consecutive), the holders of Series A Preferred Stock, together with the holders of any outstanding parity stock with like voting rights, referred to as voting parity stock, voting as a single class, will be entitled to elect two members to our board of directors, referred to as the preferred stock directors, at the next annual meeting (or at a special meeting called for the purpose of electing the preferred stock directors prior to the next annual meeting) and at each subsequent annual meeting until all accrued and unpaid dividends for all past dividend periods have been paid in full. Our bylaws provide that in the event such voting right is triggered, the authorized number of directors on our board of directors shall be increased by two members. The election of any preferred stock director is subject to the qualification that the election would not cause us to violate the corporate governance requirement of the NASDAQ Global Select Market (or any other exchange on which our securities may be listed) that listed companies must have a majority of independent directors.

 

Upon the termination of the right of the holders of Series A Preferred Stock and voting parity stock to vote for preferred stock directors, as described above, the preferred stock directors will immediately cease to be qualified as directors, their term of office shall terminate immediately and the number of our authorized directors will be reduced by the number of preferred stock directors that the holders of Series A Preferred Stock and voting parity stock had been entitled to elect. The holders of a majority of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and voting parity stock, voting as a class, may remove any preferred stock director, with or without cause, and the holders of a majority of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and voting parity stock, voting as a class, may fill any vacancy created by the removal of a preferred stock director. If the office of a preferred stock director becomes vacant for any other reason, the remaining preferred stock director may choose a successor to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term.

 

Other Voting Rights .  So long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding, in addition to any other vote or written consent of shareholders required by law or by our articles of incorporation, the vote or written consent of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, voting

 

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Table of Contents

 

separately as a single class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary for effecting or validating:

 

·                                           any amendment or alteration of the certificate of determination for the Series A Preferred Stock or our amended and restated articles of incorporation to authorize or create or increase the authorized amount of, or any issuance of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of, any class or series of capital stock ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and/or distribution of assets on our liquidation, dissolution or winding up;

 

·                                           any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the certificate of determination for the Series A Preferred Stock so as to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series A Preferred Stock; or

 

·                                           any consummation of a binding share exchange or reclassification involving the Series A Preferred Stock or of a merger or consolidation by us with another entity, unless the shares of Series A Preferred Stock remain outstanding following any such transaction or, if we are not the surviving entity, such shares are converted into or exchanged for preference securities and such remaining outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock or preference securities have rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers that are not materially less favorable than the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series A Preferred Stock, taken as a whole.

 

To the extent of the voting rights of the Series A Preferred Stock, each holder of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to one vote for each share of Series A Preferred Stock held.

 

The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, at or prior to the time when the vote or consent would otherwise be required, all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock have been redeemed or called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds have been set aside by us for the benefit of the holders of Series A Preferred Stock to effect the redemption.

 

Liquidation Rights

 

In the event that we voluntarily or involuntarily liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs, holders of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive an amount per share, referred to as the total liquidation amount, equal to the fixed liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends, whether or not declared, to the date of payment. Holders of the Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive the total liquidation amount out of our assets that are available for distribution to shareholders, after payment or provision for payment of our debts and other liabilities but before any distribution of assets is made to holders of our Common Stock or any other shares ranking, as to that distribution, junior to the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

If our assets are not sufficient to pay the total liquidation amount in full to all holders of Series A Preferred Stock and all holders of any shares of outstanding parity stock, the amounts paid to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock and other shares of parity stock will be paid pro rata in accordance with the respective total liquidation amount for those holders. If the total liquidation amount per share of Series A Preferred Stock has been paid in full to all holders of Series A Preferred Stock and other shares of parity stock, the holders of our Common Stock or any other shares ranking, as to such distribution, junior to the Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive all of our remaining assets according to their respective rights and preferences.

 

For purposes of the liquidation rights, neither the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer of all or substantially all of our property and assets, nor the consolidation or merger by us with or into any other corporation or by another corporation with or into us, will constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs.

 

Dividends Payable On Shares of Series A Preferred Stock

 

Holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to receive if, as and when declared by our board of directors or a duly authorized committee of the board, out of assets legally available for payment, cumulative cash dividends at a rate per annum of 5% per share on a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share of Series A Preferred Stock with respect to each dividend period during the five year period following November 21, 2008 and are entitled to receive cumulative cash dividends at a rate per annum of 9% per share on (i) the liquidation preference of $1,000

 

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per share of Series A Preferred Stock and (ii) the amount of accrued and unpaid dividends for any prior dividend period on such shares, if any, thereafter.

 

Dividends are payable quarterly in arrears on each February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15, each a dividend payment date. If any dividend payment date is not a business day, then the next business day will be the applicable dividend payment date, and no additional dividends will accrue as a result of the applicable postponement of the dividend payment date. Dividends payable during any dividend period are computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Dividends payable with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock are payable to holders of record of shares of Series A Preferred Stock on the date that is 15 calendar days immediately preceding the applicable dividend payment date or such other record date as the board of directors or any duly authorized committee of the board determines, so long as such record date is not more than 60 nor less than 10 days prior to the applicable dividend payment date.

 

Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock will be cumulative. If for any reason our board of directors does not declare a dividend on the Series A Preferred Stock for a particular dividend period, or if the board of directors declares less than a full dividend, we will remain obligated to pay the unpaid portion of the dividend for that period and the unpaid dividend will compound on each subsequent dividend date (meaning that dividends for future dividend periods will accrue on any unpaid dividend amounts for prior dividend periods).

 

We are required to provide written notice to the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock prior to the applicable dividend payment date if we determine not to pay any dividend or a full dividend with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock.  In this regard, in November 2009 we notified the U.S. Treasury that we were exercising our right to suspend dividend payments on the Series A Preferred Stock until further notice.  Our ability to pay dividends in the future on the Series A Preferred Stock is limited by the terms of the Written Agreement.

 

Priority of Dividends

 

With respect to the payment of dividends and the amounts to be paid upon liquidation, the Series A Preferred Stock will rank:

 

·                                           Senior to our Common Stock and all other equity securities designated as ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock; and

 

·                                           at least equally with all other equity securities designated as ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock, or parity stock, with respect to the payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

 

So long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock remain outstanding, unless all accrued and unpaid dividends for all prior dividend periods have been paid or are contemporaneously declared and paid in full on the Series A Preferred as well as the Series B Preferred and Series C Preferred, no dividend shall be paid or declared on our Common Stock or other junior stock, other than a dividend payable solely in Common Stock. We and our subsidiaries also may not purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of our Common Stock or other junior stock unless we have paid in full all accrued dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock for all prior dividend periods, other than:

 

·                                           purchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of our Common Stock or other junior stock in connection with the administration of our employee benefit plans in the ordinary course of business pursuant to a publicly announced repurchase plan up to the increase in diluted shares outstanding resulting from the grant, vesting or exercise of equity-based compensation;

 

·                                           any dividends or distributions of rights or junior stock in connection with any shareholder rights plan or repurchases of rights pursuant to any shareholder rights plan;

 

·                                           acquisition of record ownership of junior stock or parity stock for the beneficial ownership of any other person who is not us or our subsidiary, including as trustee or custodian; and

 

·                                           the exchange or conversion of junior stock for or into other junior stock or of parity stock for or into other parity stock or junior stock but only to the extent that such acquisition is required pursuant to binding contractual agreements entered into before November 21, 2008 or any

 

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subsequent agreement for the accelerated exercise, settlement or exchange thereof for Common Stock.

 

On any dividend payment date for which full dividends are not paid, or declared and funds are set aside, on the Series A Preferred Stock and any other parity stock, all dividends paid or declared for payment on that dividend payment date (or, with respect to parity stock with a different dividend payment date, on the applicable dividend date falling within the dividend period and related to the dividend payment date for the Series A Preferred Stock), with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock and any other parity stock shall be declared ratably among the holders of any such shares who have the right to receive dividends, in proportion to the respective amounts of the undeclared and unpaid dividends relating to the dividend period.

 

Subject to the foregoing, such dividends (payable in cash, stock or other property) as may be determined by our board of directors (or a duly authorized committee of the board) may be declared and paid on our Common Stock and any other stock ranking equally with or junior to the Series A Preferred Stock from time to time out of any funds legally available for such payment, and the Series A Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividend.

 

Redemption

 

The Certificate of Determination of Series A Preferred Stock provides that such stock may not be redeemed prior to February 15, 2012, unless we have received aggregate gross proceeds from one or more qualified equity offerings (as described below) equal to $10 million, which equals 25% of the aggregate liquidation amount of the Series A Preferred Stock on the date of issuance. In such a case, we may redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, subject to the approval of the Federal Reserve, in whole or in part, upon notice as described below, up to a maximum amount equal to the aggregate net cash proceeds received by us from such qualified equity offerings. A “qualified equity offering” is a sale and issuance for cash by us, to persons other than us or our subsidiaries after November 21, 2008, of shares of perpetual preferred stock, Common Stock or a combination thereof, that in each case qualify as our Tier 1 capital at the time of issuance under the applicable risk-based capital guidelines of the Federal Reserve. Qualified equity offerings do not include issuances made in connection with acquisitions, issuances of trust preferred securities and issuances of Common Stock and/or perpetual preferred stock made pursuant to agreements or arrangements entered into, or pursuant to financing plans that were publicly announced, on or prior to October 13, 2008. The Certificate of Determination for the Series A Preferred Stock provides that, after February 15, 2012, the Series A Preferred Stock may be redeemed at any time, subject to the approval of the Federal Reserve, in whole or in part, subject to notice as described below.

 

In connection with the adoption of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, subject to the approval of the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve, we may repurchase the Series A Preferred Stock at any time regardless of whether or not we have replaced such funds from any other source.

 

In any redemption or repurchase, the redemption or repurchase price is an amount equal to the per share liquidation amount plus accrued and unpaid dividends to but excluding the date of redemption.

 

The Series A Preferred Stock is not subject to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or similar provisions. Holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock have no right to require the redemption or repurchase of the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

If fewer than all of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, the shares to be redeemed will be selected either pro rata from the holders of record of shares of Series A Preferred Stock in proportion to the number of shares held by those holders or in such other manner as our board of directors or a committee thereof may determine to be fair and equitable.

 

We will mail notice of any redemption of Series A Preferred Stock by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on our books. This mailing will be at least 30 days and not more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption. Any notice mailed or otherwise given as described in this paragraph will be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives the notice, and failure duly to give the notice by mail or otherwise, or any defect in the notice or in the mailing or provision of the notice, to any holder of Series A Preferred Stock designated for redemption will not affect the redemption of any other Series A Preferred Stock. Each notice of redemption will set forth the applicable redemption date, the redemption price, the place where shares of Series A Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, and the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock

 

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to be redeemed (and, if less than all shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by the applicable holder, the number of shares to be redeemed from the holder).

 

Shares of Series A Preferred Stock that are redeemed, repurchased or otherwise acquired by us will revert to authorized but unissued shares of our preferred stock.

 

Treasury Warrant

 

In connection with the U.S. Treasury’s purchase of our Series A Preferred Stock, we issued to the U.S. Treasury, or the “warrantholder,” a warrant exercisable for 462,963 shares of our Common Stock (subject to adjustment as described below) at an initial exercise price of $12.96 per share, referred to as the Warrant. The Warrant may be exercised at any time on or before November 21, 2018 by surrender of the Warrant and a completed notice of exercise attached as an annex to the Warrant together with payment of the exercise price for the shares of Common Stock for which the Warrant is being exercised. The exercise price may be paid either by our withholding of such number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant equal to the value of the aggregate exercise price of the Warrant determined by reference to the market price of our Common Stock on the trading day on which the Warrant is exercised or, if agreed to by us and the warrantholder, by the payment of cash equal to the aggregate exercise price.

 

Rights as a Shareholder

 

The warrantholder shall have no rights or privileges of the holders of our Common Stock, including any voting rights, until (and then only to the extent) the Warrant has been exercised.

 

Transferability

 

The Warrant, and all rights under the Warrant are transferable.

 

Adjustments to the Warrant

 

Adjustments in Connection with Stock Splits, Subdivisions, Reclassifications and Combinations .  The number of shares for which the Warrant may be exercised and the exercise price of the Warrant will be proportionately adjusted in the event we pay stock dividends or make distributions of our Common Stock, subdivide, combine or reclassify outstanding shares of our Common Stock.

 

Anti-dilution Adjustment .  Until the earlier of either November 21, 2011 or the date the initial warrantholder no longer holds the Warrant (and other than in certain permitted transactions described below), if we issue any shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible or exercisable into Common Stock) for less than 90% of the market price of the Common Stock on the last trading day prior to pricing such shares, then the number of shares of Common Stock into which the Warrant is exercisable and the exercise price will be adjusted. Permitted transactions include issuances:

 

·                                           as consideration for or to fund the acquisition of businesses and/or related assets;

 

·                                           in connection with employee benefit plans and compensation related arrangements in the ordinary course and consistent with past practice approved by our board of directors;

 

·                                           in connection with public or broadly marketed offerings and sales of Common Stock or convertible securities for cash conducted by us or our affiliates pursuant to registration under the Securities Act, or Rule 144A thereunder on a basis consistent with capital-raising transactions by comparable financial institutions (but do not include other private transactions); and

 

·                                           in connection with the exercise of preemptive rights (if any) on terms existing as of November 21, 2008.

 

The number of shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrant was not increased as a result of our issuance (or conversion) of the Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock.

 

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Other Distributions .  If we declare any dividends or distributions other than our historical ordinary cash dividends, the exercise price of the Warrant will be adjusted to reflect such distribution.

 

Certain Repurchases .  If we effect a pro rata repurchase of Common Stock, both the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrant and the exercise price will be adjusted.

 

Business Combinations .  In the event of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction by us that requires shareholder approval, the warrantholder’s right to receive shares of our Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrant shall be converted into the right to exercise the Warrant for the consideration that would have been payable to the warrantholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock for which the Warrant may be exercised, as if the Warrant had been exercised prior to such merger, consolidation or similar transaction.

 

Repurchase

 

Following the redemption in whole of the Series A Preferred Stock held by the warrantholder or the transfer by the warrantholder of all of its Series A Preferred Stock to one or more unaffiliated third parties, we may, upon notice to the warrantholder, repurchase any portion of the Warrant at any time at Fair Market Value (as described below).

 

“Fair Market Value” is first determined by our board of directors, acting in good faith in reliance on an opinion of a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm. If the warrantholder disagrees with our board of directors’ determination, it may object within ten days. Following such an objection, an authorized representative of the warrantholder and our Chief Executive Officer will promptly meet to agree upon the Fair Market Value. If, after ten days following the objection of the warrantholder, such parties are unable to agree on the Fair Market Value, the Appraisal Procedure (as described below) may be invoked by either party within thirty days of the warrantholder’s objection.

 

“Appraisal Procedure” means a procedure whereby two independent appraisers, one chosen by the warrantholder and one chosen by us, mutually agree on the determinations then subject to appraisal.  If the two independent appraisers are unable to agree, a third independent appraiser will be chosen by mutual consent of the first two appraisers. In certain cases where the determination of one appraiser differs widely from those of the other two appraisers, the disparate appraisal may be excluded. Whether or not an appraisal is so excluded, the average of the included appraisals is binding upon us and the warrantholder.

 

Series B Preferred Stock

 

We have designated 54,050 shares of preferred stock as the Series B Mandatorily Convertible Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, of which 53,996 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this prospectus, with no par value per share and a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share (subject to adjustment for any split, subdivision, combination, consolidation, recapitalization or similar event).

 

Ranking

 

With respect to dividend rights and rights on liquidation, winding up and dissolution, the Series B Preferred Stock ranks (i) on a parity with each class or series of equity securities of the Company the terms of which do not expressly provide that such class or series will rank senior or junior to the Series B Preferred Stock (including the Series A Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock) and (ii) senior to our Common Stock, and each other class or series of capital stock outstanding or established after issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock the terms of which do not expressly provide that it ranks on a parity with or senior to the Series B Preferred Stock.

 

Dividends

 

Holders of Series B Preferred Stock are entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors, cumulative dividends at the rate of 20% per annum. No dividends will be owed on the Series B Preferred Stock if the Shareholder Approvals are received before December 21, 2010, the six month anniversary of the original issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock.

 

Dividends accrue and are payable semi-annually beginning December 21, 2010, if shareholders have not approved the conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock in arrears when, as and if declared by our board of directors and are computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Dividends on the Series B Preferred

 

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Stock are cumulative. This means to the extent that our board of directors does not declare and pay dividends, in full or otherwise, the unpaid dividend accrues and cumulates from the scheduled payment date, is compounded on each subsequent payment date, and becomes payable semi-annually in arrears.

 

If our board of directors declares and pays a cash dividend in respect of any shares of Common Stock, then our board of directors is required to declare and pay to the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock a cash dividend in an amount per share of Series B Preferred Stock equal to the product of (i) the per share dividend declared and paid in respect of each share of Common Stock and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock into which such share of Series B Preferred Stock is then convertible.

 

Voting Rights

 

Except as set forth below, the holders of Series B Preferred Stock do not have any voting rights. In addition to any other vote or written consent of shareholders required by law or by the Company’s amended and restated articles of incorporation, the vote or written consent of the holders of at least two thirds of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock entitled to vote, voting together as a single class, is required for effecting or validating (i) any amendment of the amended and restated articles of incorporation (including the certificate of determination for the Series B Preferred Stock) to authorize, or create, or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of any class or series of our capital stock ranking senior to the Series B Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company or (ii) any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the amended and restated articles of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws that would alter or change the rights, preferences or privileges of the Series B Preferred Stock so as to affect the holders adversely.

 

So long as any shares of Series B Preferred Stock are outstanding, a holder is entitled to vote, with a number of votes equal to that number of shares of our Common Stock into which such holder’s shares of Series B Preferred Stock would then be convertible, together with the holders of our Common Stock acting as a single class, for effecting or validating any consummation of any Reorganization Event (see description of Reorganization Events below).

 

Rights Upon Liquidation

 

In the event the Company voluntarily or involuntarily liquidates, dissolves or winds up, the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock will be entitled, for each share of the Series B Preferred Stock held, liquidating distributions equal to (i) the liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, plus any accrued but unpaid dividends thereon to and including the date of such liquidation and (ii) participation on a pro rata basis in all liquidating distributions made to the Company’s holders of Common Stock based upon the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock.

 

In the event the assets of the Company available for distribution to shareholders upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the affairs of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, are insufficient to pay in full the amounts payable with respect to all outstanding shares of the Series B Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable on any parity securities, holders of Series B Preferred Stock  and the holders of parity securities will share ratably in any distribution of assets of the Company in proportion to the full respective liquidating distributions to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled.

 

Redemption

 

The Series B Preferred Stock is not redeemable by the Company at any time and the holders have no right to require redemption of any shares of Series B Preferred Stock.

 

Mandatory Conversion

 

The Series B Preferred Stock is mandatorily convertible into shares of our Common Stock on the first business day following the date on which the Shareholder Approvals have been received.

 

The number of shares of our Common Stock into which a share of Series B Preferred Stock will be convertible will be determined by dividing the liquidation value of $1,000 per share by the then applicable conversion price. No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued. Upon conversion, cash will be paid in lieu of fractional shares based on the closing price of the Common Stock determined as of the second trading day

 

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immediately preceding the date of the mandatory conversion. The initial conversion price of the Series B Preferred Stock is $3.75 per share of Common Stock into which it is converted and the initial number of shares of our Common Stock into which one share of Series B Preferred Stock is convertible into is 266.67.  If we do not obtain the Shareholder Approvals by December 21, 2010, the conversion price will be reduced by 10%.

 

Anti-Dilution Provisions

 

The conversion price of the Series B Preferred Stock is also subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments, which will be made (subject to certain exceptions, including an exception for the Rights Offering), in the event that we:

 

·                                           pay dividends or other distributions on our Common Stock in shares of Common Stock;

 

·                                           subdivide, split or combine the shares of our Common Stock;

 

·                                           subject to certain exceptions and limitations, issue to holders of our Common Stock rights or warrants entitling them to purchase our Common Stock at less than the then current market price;

 

·                                           distribute to holders of our Common Stock indebtedness, shares of capital stock, securities, cash or other assets (other than cash dividends and certain other transactions);

 

·                                           make a cash distribution to holders of our Common Stock, other than (i) cash dividends to the extent a corresponding dividend is paid on the corresponding series of preferred stock, (ii) cash distributed in a reorganization event or spin-off, (iii) upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up and (iv) in connection with a tender or exchange offer by us;

 

·                                           complete a tender or exchange offer for our Common Stock where the consideration exceeds the closing price (as defined in the certificate of determination for the Series B Preferred Stock) per share of our Common Stock;

 

·                                           have a shareholder rights plan in effect with respect to the Common Stock on the date of conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock and the rights have separated from the Common Stock prior to such conversion date; and

 

·                                           issue any Common Stock without consideration or for a consideration per share less than the conversion price then in effect for the Series B Preferred Stock.

 

Reorganization Events

 

If we enter into a transaction constituting a consolidation or merger of the Company or similar transaction or any sale or other transfer of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (in each case pursuant to which our Common Stock will be converted into cash, securities or other property) or for certain reclassifications or exchanges of our Common Stock, then each holder of Series B Preferred Stock will have the right to either treat such event as a liquidating event and take a liquidating distribution, or participate in the reorganization event as though the Series B Preferred Stock converted, effective on the date such transaction is consummated (or, if later, the date applicable regulatory approvals are obtained), into the securities, cash and other property receivable in the transaction by the holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such Series B Preferred Stock would then be convertible, assuming receipt of any applicable regulatory approval.

 

Repurchase of Junior Securities

 

For as long as the Series B Preferred Stock remains outstanding and the Shareholder Approvals have not been received, subject to limited exceptions, the Company will be prohibited from paying dividends on any share of our Common Stock or other junior securities and from redeeming, purchasing or acquiring any shares of our Common Stock or other junior securities.

 

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Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our Series B Preferred Stock is Wells Fargo Shareholder Services.

 

Series C Preferred Stock

 

We have designated 21,050 shares of preferred stock as the Series C Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, of which 21,004 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this prospectus, with no par value per share and a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share (subject to adjustment for any split, subdivision, combination, consolidation, recapitalization or similar event).

 

Ranking

 

With respect to dividend rights and rights on liquidation, winding up and dissolution, the Series C Preferred Stock ranks (i) on a parity with each class or series of equity securities of the Company the terms of which do not expressly provide that such class or series will rank senior or junior to the Series C Preferred Stock (including the Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock) and (ii) senior to our Common Stock, and each other class or series of capital stock outstanding or established after issuance of the Series C Preferred Stock, the terms of which do not expressly provide that it ranks on a parity with or senior to the Series C Preferred Stock.

 

Dividends

 

Prior to obtaining the Shareholder Approvals, holders of Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors, cumulative dividends at the rate of 20% per annum. No dividends will be owed on the Series C Preferred Stock if the Shareholder Approvals are received before December 21, 2010, the six month anniversary of the original issuance of the Series C Preferred Stock. Prior to obtaining the Shareholder Approvals, dividends accrue and are payable semi-annually in arrears if, when and as declared by our board of directors and are computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock are cumulative. This means to the extent that our board of directors does not declare and pay dividends, in full or otherwise, the unpaid dividend accrues and cumulates from the scheduled payment date, is compounded on each subsequent payment date, and becomes payable semi-annually in arrears.

 

Prior to obtaining the Shareholder Approvals, if our board of directors declares and pays a cash dividend in respect of any shares of Common Stock, then our board of directors is required to declare and pay to the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock a cash dividend in an amount per share of Series C Preferred Stock equal to the product of (i) the per share dividend declared and paid in respect of each share of Common Stock and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock into which such share of Series C Preferred Stock is then convertible.

 

After the receipt of the Shareholder Approvals, dividends will be payable on the Series C Preferred if and only to the extent dividends are paid to holders of Common Stock.

 

Voting Rights

 

Except as set forth below, the holders of Series C Preferred Stock do not have any voting rights. In addition to any other vote or written consent of shareholders required by law or by the Company’s amended and restated articles of incorporation, the vote or written consent of the holders of at least two thirds of the outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock entitled to vote, voting together as a single class, is required for effecting or validating any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the amended and restated articles of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws that would alter or change the rights, preferences or privileges of the Series C Preferred Stock so as to affect the holders adversely.

 

So long as any shares of Series C Preferred Stock are outstanding, a holder is entitled to vote, with a number of votes equal to that number of shares of our Common Stock into which such holder’s shares of Series C Preferred Stock would then be convertible, together with the holders of our Common Stock acting as a single class, for effecting or validating any consummation of any Reorganization Event (see description of Reorganization Events below).

 

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Rights Upon Liquidation

 

Prior to obtaining the Shareholder Approvals, in the event the Company voluntarily or involuntarily liquidates, dissolves or winds up, the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock, shall be entitled to receive, for each share of the Series C Preferred Stock held, liquidating distributions equal to (i) the liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, plus any accrued but unpaid dividends thereon to and including the date of such liquidation and (ii) participation on a pro rata basis in all liquidating distributions made to the Company’s holders of Common Stock based upon the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock.  After the Shareholder Approvals are obtained, in the event the Company voluntarily or involuntarily liquidates, dissolves or winds up, the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock will be entitled, for each share of the Series C Preferred Stock held, to the liquidation preference per share of $1,000, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends and any authorized and declared but unpaid dividends.

 

In the event the assets of the Company available for distribution to shareholders upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the affairs of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, are insufficient to pay in full the amounts payable with respect to all outstanding shares of the Series C Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable on any parity securities, holders of Series C Preferred Stock and the holders of parity securities will share ratably in any distribution of assets of the Company in proportion to the full respective liquidating distributions to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled.

 

Redemption

 

The Series C Preferred Stock is not redeemable by the Company at any time and the holders have no right to require redemption of any shares of Series C Preferred Stock.

 

Conversion

 

The Series C Preferred Stock will be eligible for conversion following receipt of the Shareholder Approvals, and will automatically convert into Common Stock on the date of the transfer of the Series C Preferred Stock to a transferee not affiliated with the holder in a widely dispersed offering subsequent to receipt of the Shareholder Approvals. The term “widely dispersed offering” means a (i) widespread public distribution, including pursuant to a registration statement filed with and declared effective by the SEC or Rule 144 under the Securities Act, (ii) a transfer in which no transferee (or group of associated transferees) after giving effect to the transfer, would own more than 2% of any class of voting securities of the Company or (iii) a transfer to a transferee that controls or is acquiring control of more than 50% of the voting securities.

 

The number of shares of our Common Stock into which a share of Series C Preferred Stock will be convertible will be determined by dividing the liquidation value of $1,000 per share, by the then applicable conversion price. No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued. Upon conversion, cash will be paid in lieu of fractional shares based on the closing price of the Common Stock determined as of the second trading day immediately preceding the date of the mandatory conversion. The initial conversion price of the Series C Preferred Stock is $3.75 per share of Common Stock into which it is converted and the initial number of shares of our Common Stock into which one share of Series C Preferred Stock is convertible into is 266.67. If we do not obtain the Shareholder Approvals before December 21, 2010, the conversion price will be reduced by 10%.

 

Anti-Dilution Provisions

 

Prior to obtaining the Shareholder Approvals, the conversion price of the Series C Preferred Stock is also subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments, which will be made (subject to certain exceptions, including an exception for the Rights Offering) in the event that we:

 

·                                           pay dividends or other distributions on our Common Stock in shares of Common Stock;

 

·                                           subdivide, split or combine the shares of our Common Stock;

 

·                                           subject to certain exceptions and limitations, issue to holders of our Common Stock rights or warrants entitling them to purchase our Common Stock at less than the then-current market price;

 

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·                                           distribute to holders of our Common Stock indebtedness, shares of capital stock, securities, cash or other assets (other than cash dividends and certain other transactions);

 

·                                           make a cash distribution to holders of our Common Stock, other than (i) cash dividends to the extent a corresponding dividend is paid on the corresponding series of preferred stock, (ii) cash distributed in a reorganization event or spin-off, (iii) upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up and (iv) in connection with a tender or exchange offer by us;

 

·                                           complete a tender or exchange offer for our Common Stock where the consideration exceeds the closing price (as defined in the certificate of determination for the Series C Preferred Stock) per share of our Common Stock;

 

·                                           have a shareholder rights plan in effect with respect to the Common Stock on the date of conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock and the rights have separated from the Common Stock prior to such conversion date; and

 

·                                           issue any Common Stock without consideration or for a consideration per share less than the conversion price then in effect for the Series C Preferred Stock.

 

After obtaining the Shareholder Approvals, the conversion price of the Series C Preferred will be subject to adjustment as follows:  (i) if the Company subdivides its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares, then the Company shall similarly subdivide its outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock or (ii) if the Company combines its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock, then the Company shall similarly combine its outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock.

 

Reorganization Events

 

If we enter into a transaction constituting a consolidation or merger of the Company or similar transaction or any sale or other transfer of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (in each case pursuant to which our Common Stock will be converted into cash, securities or other property) or for certain reclassifications or exchanges of our Common Stock, then each holder of Series C Preferred Stock will have the right to either treat such event as a liquidating event and take a liquidating distribution, or participate in the reorganization event as though the Series C Preferred Stock converted, effective on the date such transaction is consummated (or, if later, the date applicable regulatory approvals are obtained), into the securities, cash and other property receivable in the transaction by the holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such Series C Preferred Stock would then be convertible, assuming receipt of any applicable regulatory approval.

 

Repurchase of Junior Securities

 

For as long as the Series C Preferred Stock remains outstanding and the Shareholder Approvals have not been received, subject to limited exceptions, the Company will be prohibited from paying dividends on any share of our Common Stock or other junior securities and from redeeming, purchasing or acquiring any shares of our Common Stock or other junior securities.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our Series C Preferred Stock is Wells Fargo Shareholder Services.

 

Anti-Takeover Effects of Certain Provisions of Our Charter Documents and Law

 

The following is a summary of certain provisions of law, our amended and restated articles of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, that may have the effect of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change of control, change in management or an unsolicited acquisition proposal that a shareholder might consider favorable, including proposals that might result in the payment of a premium over the market price for the shares held by our shareholders. This summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the laws and documents referenced.

 

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Charter Documents

 

Our authorized shares of Common Stock or preferred stock may be used by the board of directors consistent with its fiduciary duty to deter future attempts to gain control of us. The board of directors also has sole authority to determine the terms of any one or more series of preferred stock, including voting rights, conversion rates and liquidation preferences. As a result of the ability to fix voting rights for a series of preferred stock, the board of directors has the power, to the extent consistent with its fiduciary duty, to issue a series of preferred stock to persons friendly to management in order to attempt to block a post-tender offer merger or other transaction by which a third party seeks control, and thereby assist management to retain its position. Our bylaws impose certain notice and information requirements in connection with the nomination by shareholders of candidates for election to the board of directors or the proposal by shareholders of business to be acted upon at any annual or special meeting of shareholders.

 

California and Federal Banking Law

 

The following discussion is a summary of certain provisions of California and federal law and regulations which may be deemed to have “anti-takeover” effects. The description of these provisions is necessarily general and reference should be made to the actual law and regulations.

 

Federal law prohibits a person or group of persons “acting in concert” from acquiring “control” of a bank holding company unless the Federal Reserve has been given 60 days prior written notice of such proposed acquisition and within that time period the Federal Reserve has not issued a notice disapproving the proposed acquisition or extending for up to another 30 days the period during which such a disapproval may be issued. An acquisition may be made prior to the expiration of the disapproval period if the Federal Reserve issues written notice of its intent not to disapprove the action. Under a rebuttable presumption established by the Federal Reserve, the acquisition of 10% or more of a class of voting stock of a bank or bank holding company with a class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act would, under the circumstances set forth in the presumption, constitute the acquisition of control. In addition, any “company” would be required to obtain the approval of the Federal Reserve under the Bank Holding Company Act before acquiring 25% (5% in the case of an acquiror that is, or is deemed to be, a bank holding company) or more of any class of voting stock, or such lesser number of shares as may constitute control.

 

Under the California Financial Code, no person shall, directly or indirectly, acquire control of a California state bank or its holding company unless the Department of Financial Institutions has approved such acquisition of control. A person would be deemed to have acquired control of Heritage Commerce Corp if such person, directly or indirectly, has the power (i) to vote 25% or more of the voting power of Heritage Commerce Corp or (ii) to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of Heritage Commerce Corp. For purposes of this law, a person who directly or indirectly owns or controls 10% or more of our outstanding Common Stock would be presumed to control Heritage Commerce Corp.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We are registering the Securities issued to the selling securityholders to permit the resale of these Securities by the holders of the Securities from time to time after the date of this prospectus.  We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale by the selling securityholders of the Securities.  We will bear all fees and expenses incident to our obligation to register the Securities.

 

The selling securityholders may sell all or a portion of the Securities beneficially owned by them and offered hereby from time to time directly or through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers or agents.  If the Securities are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, the selling securityholders will be responsible for underwriting discounts or commissions or agent’s commissions.  The Securities may be sold on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, in the over-the-counter market or in transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter market and in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of the sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices.  These sales may be effected in transactions, which may involve crosses or block transactions.  The selling securityholders may use any one or more of the following methods when selling Securities:

 

·                                           ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

 

·                                           block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

·                                           purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

 

·                                           an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

 

·                                           privately negotiated transactions;

 

·                                           settlement of short sales entered into after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part;

 

·                                           broker-dealers may agree with the selling securityholders to sell a specified number of such securities at a stipulated price per share;

 

·                                           through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether such options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise;

 

·                                           a combination of any such methods of sale; and

 

·                                           any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

The selling securityholders also may resell all or a portion of the Securities in open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as permitted by that rule, or Section 4(1) under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus, provided that they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of those provisions.

 

Broker-dealers engaged by the selling securityholders may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate in sales.  If the selling securityholders effect such transactions by selling Securities to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, such underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling securityholders or commissions from purchasers of the Securities for whom they may act as agent or to whom they may sell as principal. Such commissions will be in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction will not be in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with NASD Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown in compliance with NASD IM-2440.

 

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In connection with sales of the Securities or otherwise, the selling securityholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the Common Stock in the course of hedging in positions they assume.  The selling securityholders may also sell Securities short and if such short sale shall take place after the date that the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part is declared effective by the SEC, the selling securityholders may deliver Securities covered by this prospectus to close out short positions and to return borrowed shares in connection with such short sales.  The selling securityholders may also loan or pledge Common Stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such shares, to the extent permitted by applicable law.  The selling securityholders may also enter into options or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the selling securityholders have been advised that they may not use shares registered on this registration statement to cover short sales of our Common Stock made prior to the date the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, has been declared effective by the SEC.

 

The selling securityholders may, from time to time, pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the Securities owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the Securities from time to time pursuant to this prospectus or any amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act, amending, if necessary, the list of selling securityholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling securityholders under this prospectus.  The selling securityholders also may transfer and donate the Securities in other circumstances in which case the transferees, donees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.

 

The selling securityholders and any broker-dealer or agents participating in the distribution of the Securities may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act in connection with such sales.  In such event, any commissions paid, or any discounts or concessions allowed to, any such broker-dealer or agent and any profit on the resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act.  Selling securityholders who are “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act will be subject to the applicable prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act and may be subject to certain statutory liabilities of, including but not limited to, Sections 11, 12 and 17 of the Securities Act and Rule 10b-5 under the Securities Exchange Act.

 

Each selling securityholder has informed us that it is not a registered broker-dealer and does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Securities.  Upon being notified in writing by a selling securityholder that any material arrangement has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale of Securities through a block trade, special offering, exchange distribution or secondary distribution or a purchase by a broker or dealer, we will file a supplement to this prospectus, if required, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, disclosing (i) the name of each such selling securityholder and of the participating broker-dealer(s), (ii) the number of shares involved, (iii) the price at which such Securities were sold, (iv) the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to such broker-dealer(s), where applicable, (v) that such broker-dealer(s) did not conduct any investigation to verify the information set out or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and (vi) other facts material to the transaction.  In no event shall any broker-dealer receive fees, commissions and markups, which, in the aggregate, would exceed eight percent.

 

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

 

There can be no assurance that any selling securityholder will sell any or all of the Securities registered pursuant to the shelf registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

Each selling securityholder and any other person participating in such distribution will be subject to applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, to the extent applicable, Regulation M of the Securities Exchange Act, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the Securities by the selling securityholder and any other participating person.  To the extent applicable, Regulation M may also restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the Securities to engage in market-making activities with respect to the Common Stock.  All of the foregoing may affect

 

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the marketability of the Securities and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the Securities.

 

We will pay all expenses of the registration of the Securities pursuant to a registration rights agreement, including, without limitation, SEC filing fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or “blue sky” laws; provided, however, that each selling securityholder will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any, and any related legal expenses incurred by it. We will indemnify the selling securityholders against certain liabilities, including some liabilities under the Securities Act, in accordance with the registration rights agreement, or the selling securityholders will be entitled to contribution. We may be indemnified by the selling securityholders against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, that may arise from any written information furnished to us by the selling securityholders specifically for use in this prospectus, in accordance with the related registration rights agreements, or we may be entitled to contribution.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of the shares of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Buchalter Nemer, a Professional Corporation, Los Angeles, California.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Heritage Commerce Corp appearing in Heritage Commerce Corp’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and the effectiveness of Heritage Commerce Corp’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009 have been audited by Crowe Horwath LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in its report thereon, incorporated by reference herein, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 13.  Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

 

The following are the expenses to be incurred by the registrant in connection with the registration of the securities being registered under this registration statement.  All amounts set forth below, except the SEC registration fee, are estimated.

 

SEC registration fee

 

$

5,248

 

Accounting fees and expenses

 

$

10,000

 

Legal fees and expenses

 

$

30,000

 

Printing fees and expenses

 

$

5,000

 

Total expenses

 

$

50,248

 

 

Item 14.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

The California General Corporation Law (the “CGCL”) provides a detailed statutory framework covering the limitation of liability of directors in certain instances and indemnification of any officer or other agent of a corporation who is made or threatened to be made a party to any legal proceeding by reason of his or her services on behalf of such corporation.

 

With respect to limitation of liability, the CGCL permits a California corporation to adopt a provision in its articles of incorporation reducing or eliminating the liability of a director to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of the fiduciary duty of care, provided that such liability does not arise from certain proscribed conduct (including intentional misconduct and breach of duty of loyalty). The CGCL in this regard relates only to actions brought by shareholders on behalf of the corporation (i.e., “derivative actions”) and does not apply to claims brought by outside parties.

 

With respect to indemnification, the CGCL provides that to the extent any officer, director or other agent of a corporation is successful “on the merits” in defense of any legal proceeding to which such person is a party or is threatened to be made a party by reason of his or her service on behalf of such corporation or in defense of any claim, issue, or matter therein, such agent shall be indemnified against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the agent in connection therewith, but does not require indemnification in any other circumstance. The CGCL also provides that a corporation may indemnify any agent of the corporation, including officers and directors, against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in a third party proceeding against such person by reason of his or her services on behalf of the corporation, provided the person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of such corporation. The CGCL further provides that in derivative suits a corporation may indemnify such a person against expenses incurred in such a proceeding, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the corporation and its shareholders. Indemnification is not available in derivative actions (i) for amounts paid or expenses incurred in connection with a matter that is settled or otherwise disposed of without court approval or (ii) with respect to matters for which the agent shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless the court shall determine that such person is entitled to indemnification.

 

The CGCL permits the advancing of expenses incurred in defending any proceeding against a corporate agent by reason of his or her service on behalf of the corporation upon the giving of a promise to repay any such sums in the event it is later determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified. Finally, the CGCL provides that the indemnification provided by the statute is not exclusive of other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled, by bylaw, agreement or otherwise, to the extent additional rights are authorized in a corporation’s articles of incorporation. The law further permits a corporation to procure insurance on behalf of its directors, officers and agents against any liability incurred by any such individual, even if a corporation would not otherwise have the power under applicable law to indemnify the director, officer or agent for such expenses.

 

The amended and restated articles of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws of Heritage Commerce Corp implement the applicable statutory framework by limiting the personal liability of directors for

 

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monetary damages for a breach of a director’s fiduciary duty of care and making indemnification mandatory in those situations where it is merely permissible under the CGCL.

 

The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers.  The form of the agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.40 of this Registration Statement.

 

Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

On November 21, 2008, we entered into a purchase agreement with the United States Department of the Treasury, pursuant to which we agreed to issue and sell (i) 40,000 shares of our Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, no par value per share and (ii) a warrant to purchase up to 462,963 shares of our Common Stock, no par value per share, at an initial exercise price of $12.96 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $40 million in cash. These securities were sold in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in reliance on Section 4(2) thereof.

 

We entered into a securities purchase agreement, dated June 18, 2010, with various investors, pursuant to which the investors invested an aggregate of $75 million in cash in us through direct purchases of newly issued Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock.  On June 21, 2010, we issued to the investors the following securities:

 

·                                           an aggregate of 53,996 shares of Series B Preferred Stock, each of which will automatically convert into 266.67 shares of our Common Stock (an aggregate of 14,399,000 shares of our Common Stock) based on the initial conversion price of $3.75, one business day following shareholder approval of the issuance of common stock upon the conversion; and

 

·                                           to two investors, an aggregate of 21,004 shares of Series C Preferred Stock, each of which will automatically convert into 266.67 shares of our Common Stock (an aggregate of 5,601,000 shares of our Common Stock) based on the initial conversion price of $3.75, following receipt of the shareholder approval of the issuance of the common stock upon the conversion, and the subsequent transfer of the Series C Preferred Stock to third parties not affiliated with the holder in a widely dispersed offering.

 

These securities were sold in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in reliance on Section 4(2) and Rule 506 of Regulation D thereof.  The securities were offered and sold with the assistance of Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P. (“Sandler O’Neill”) as placement agent.  The Company compensated Sandler O’Neill $4,125,000 as a placement fee.

 

Item 16.  List of Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

 

 

 

2.1

 

Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated February 8, 2007, by and between Heritage Commerce Corp, Heritage Bank of Commerce and Diablo Valley Bank (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 16, 2007)

3.1

 

Restated Articles of Incorporation of Heritage Commerce Corp (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 16, 2009)

3.2

 

Certificate of Amendment of Articles of Incorporation of Heritage Commerce Corp, as filed with the California Secretary of State on June 1, 2010 (filed herewith)

3.3

 

Bylaws, as amended, of Heritage Commerce Corp (filed herewith)

4.1

 

Indenture, dated as of March 23, 2000, between Heritage Commerce Corp, as Issuer, and the Bank of New York, as Trustee (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed April 6, 2001)

4.2

 

Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, Heritage Capital Trust I, dated as of March 23, 2000 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed April 6, 2001)

 

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Exhibit
Number

 

Description

 

 

 

4.3

 

Indenture, dated as of September 7, 2000, between Heritage Commerce Corp, as Issuer, and State Street Bank and Trust Company of Connecticut, National Association, as Trustee (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed April 6, 2001)

4.4

 

Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust by and among State Street Bank and Trust Company of Connecticut, National Association, as Institutional Trustee, and Heritage Commerce Corp, as Sponsor (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed April 6, 2001)

4.5

 

Indenture, dated as of July 31, 2001, between Heritage Commerce Corp, as Issuer, and State Street Bank and Trust Company of Connecticut, National Association, as Trustee (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 29, 2002)

4.6

 

Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust by and among State Street Bank and Trust Company of Connecticut, National Association as Institutional Trustee, and Heritage Commerce Corp, as Sponsor, dated as of July 31, 2001 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-K filed March 29, 2002)

4.7

 

Indenture, dated as of September 26, 2002, between Heritage Commerce Corp, as Issuer, and State Street Bank and Trust Company of Connecticut, National Association, as Trustee (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 29, 2003)

4.8

 

Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust by and among State Street Bank and Trust Company of Connecticut, National Association, as Institutional Trustee and Heritage Commerce Corp, as Sponsor, dated as of September 26, 2002 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 29, 2003)

4.9

 

Warrant to Purchase Common Stock dated November 21, 2008 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 26, 2008)

4.10

 

Certificate of Determination for Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed November 26, 2008)

4.11

 

Certificate of Determination of Series B Mandatorily Convertible Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, as filed with the California Secretary of State on June 17, 2010 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed June 22, 2010)

4.12

 

Certificate of Determination of Series C Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, as filed with the California Secretary of State on June 17, 2010 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed June 22, 2010)

*5.1

 

Opinion of Buchalter Nemer, a professional corporation, as to the legality of the securities being registered

10.1

 

Real Property Leases for Registrant’s Principal Office (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 5, 1998)

10.2

 

Third Amendment to Lease for Registrant’s Principal Office (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 17, 2005)

10.3

 

Fourth Amendment to Lease for Registrant’s Principle Office (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 17, 2005)

10.4

 

Fourth Amendment to Sublease for Registrant’s Principle Office (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 22, 2005)

**10.5

 

Heritage Commerce Corp Management Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 3, 2005)

**10.6

 

1994 Stock Option Plan and Form of Agreement (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed July 17, 1998)

**10.7

 

Amended and Restated 2004 Equity Plan (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 2, 2009)

 

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Exhibit
Number

 

Description

 

 

 

**10.8

 

Modification to Employment Agreement of James Mayer dated December 11, 2008 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 17, 2008)

**10.9

 

Restricted Stock Agreement with Walter Kaczmarek dated March 17, 2005 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 22, 2005)

**10.10

 

2004 Stock Option Agreement with Walter Kaczmarek dated March 17, 2005 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 22, 2005)

**10.11

 

Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 31, 2005)

**10.12

 

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Walter Kaczmarek, dated October 17, 2007 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 22, 2007)

**10.13

 

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Lawrence McGovern, dated October 17, 2007 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 22, 2007)

**10.14

 

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Raymond Parker, dated October 17, 2007 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 22, 2007)

**10.15

 

Employment Agreement with Michael R. Ong, dated August 12, 2008 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 13, 2008)

**10.16

 

Employment Agreement with Dan Kawamoto, dated June 11, 2009 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 16, 2009)

**10.17

 

Employment Agreement with Margaret Incandela, dated February 1, 2010 (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 17, 2010)

**10.18

 

Consulting Agreement dated of February 8, 2007 between Heritage Bank of Commerce and John J. Hounslow (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 22, 2007)

10.19

 

Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation and Confidentiality Agreement dated as of February 8, 2007 by and among Heritage Commerce Corp, Heritage Bank of Commerce and John J. Hounslow (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 22, 2007)

**10.20

 

Letter Agreement between John J. Hounslow and Heritage Commerce Corp dated June 20, 2007 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 22, 2007)

10.21

 

Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation and Confidentiality Agreement dated as of February 8, 2007 by and among James Mayer, Heritage Commerce Corp and Heritage Bank of Commerce (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 22, 2007)

**10.22

 

2005 Amended and Restated Heritage Commerce Corp Supplemental Retirement Plan (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed September 30, 2008)

**10.23

 

Form of Endorsement Method Split Dollar Plan Agreement for Executive Officers (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 17, 2008)

**10.24

 

Form of Endorsement Method Split Dollar Plan Agreement for Directors (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 17, 2008)

**10.25

 

Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement, dated December 29, 2008 between the Company and Walter T. Kaczmarek (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

 

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Exhibit
Number

 

Description

 

 

 

**10.26

 

Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement, dated December 29, 2008 between the Company and Lawrence D. McGovern (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

**10.27

 

Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement, dated December 29, 2008 between the Company and Raymond Parker (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

**10.28

 

Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement, dated December 29, 2008 between the Company and Michael Ong (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

**10.29

 

Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement, dated December 29, 2008 between the Company and James Mayer (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

**10.30

 

First Amended and Restated Deferred Agreement dated December 29, 2008 between James Blair and the Company (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

**10.31

 

First Amended and Restated Director Compensation Benefits Agreement dated December 29, 2008 between Jack Conner and the Company (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

**10.32

 

First Amended and Restated Director Compensation Benefits Agreement dated December 29, 2008 between Frank Bisceglia and the Company (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

**10.33

 

First Amended and Restated Director Compensation Benefits Agreement dated December 29, 2008 between James Blair and the Company (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

**10.34

 

First Amended and Restated Director Compensation Benefits Agreement dated December 29, 2008 between Robert Moles and the Company (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

**10.35

 

First Amended and Restated Director Compensation Benefits Agreement dated December 29, 2008 between Humphrey Polanen and the Company (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

**10.36

 

First Amended and Restated Director Compensation Benefits Agreement dated December 29, 2008 between Charles Toeniskoetter and the Company (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

**10.37

 

First Amended and Restated Director Compensation Benefits Agreement dated December 29, 2008 between Ranson Webster and the Company (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

**10.38

 

First Amended and Restated Director Compensation Benefits Agreement dated December 29, 2008 between William Del Biaggio, Jr. and the Company (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

10.39

 

Letter Agreement dated November 21, 2008 between the Company and United States Treasury for Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A and Warrant for Common Stock (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 26, 2008)

10.40

 

Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Registrant and its directors and executive officers (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 23, 2009)

10.41

 

Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and each of the Purchasers, dated as of June 18, 2010 (incorporated herein from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed June 22, 2010)

10.42

 

Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and each of the Purchasers, dated as of June 18, 2010 (incorporated herein from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed June 22, 2010)

 

II-5



Table of Contents

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

 

 

 

12.1

 

Calculation of consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges and consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed May 11, 2010)

21.1

 

Subsidiaries of Registrant (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 16, 2007)

23.1

 

Consent of Crowe Horwath LLP (filed herewith)

*23.2

 

Consent of Buchalter Nemer (included as part of Exhibit 5.1)

24.1

 

Power of attorney for directors and officers of Registrant (included in the signature page to this registration statement)

 


*    To be filed by amendment

**  Management Compensation Plan/Agreement

 

Item 17.  Undertakings.

 

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)                                      If the registrant is relying on Rule 430B:  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 Commission 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; and

 

(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 (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or 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.

 

(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 will 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 purposes of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 

(i)                                    If the registrant is relying on Rule 430B:

 

(a)                                  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

 

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(b)                                 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; or

 

(ii)                                 If the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. 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 first use, 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 date of first use.

 

(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 an 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 an undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

(6)                                   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 liabilities (other than the payment by each 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 the 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

 

II-7



Table of Contents

 

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 the issue.

 

II-8


 


Table of Contents

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of San Jose, State of California, on July 22, 2010.

 

 

HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ WALTER T. KACZMAREK

 

 

WALTER T. KACZMAREK

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Walter T. Kaczmarek and Lawrence D. McGovern, and each and any of them, such person’s true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in such person’s name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign this registration statement on Form S-1 and any and all amendments thereto (including post effective amendments), and to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, including any related registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing required and necessary to be done in and about the foregoing, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or either of them or their or its substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on July 22, 2010.

 

Signature

 

Title

 

 

 

/s/ FRANK G. BISCEGLIA

 

Director

FRANK G. BISCEGLIA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ JACK W. CONNER

 

Director and Chairman of the Board

JACK W. CONNER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ CELESTE V. FORD

 

Director

CELESTE V. FORD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ WALTER T. KACZMAREK

 

Director and Chief Executive Officer

WALTER T. KACZMAREK

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ MARK E. LEFANOWICZ

 

Director

MARK E. LEFANOWICZ

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ LAWRENCE D. MCGOVERN

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

LAWRENCE D. MCGOVERN

 

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

II-9



Table of Contents

 

Signature

 

Title

 

 

 

/s/ ROBERT T. MOLES

 

Director

ROBERT T. MOLES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ HUMPHREY P. POLANEN

 

Director

HUMPHREY P. POLANEN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ CHARLES J. TOENISKOETTER

 

Director

CHARLES J. TOENISKOETTER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ RANSON W. WEBSTER

 

Director

RANSON W. WEBSTER

 

 

 

II-10


 


Table of Contents

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

 

 

 

2.1

 

Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated February 8, 2007, by and between Heritage Commerce Corp, Heritage Bank of Commerce and Diablo Valley Bank (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 16, 2007)

3.1

 

Restated Articles of Incorporation of Heritage Commerce Corp (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 16, 2009)

3.2

 

Certificate of Amendment of Articles of Incorporation of Heritage Commerce Corp, as filed with the California Secretary of State on June 1, 2010 (filed herewith)

3.3

 

Bylaws, as amended, of Heritage Commerce Corp (filed herewith)

4.1

 

Indenture, dated as of March 23, 2000, between Heritage Commerce Corp, as Issuer, and the Bank of New York, as Trustee (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed April 6, 2001)

4.2

 

Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, Heritage Capital Trust I, dated as of March 23, 2000 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed April 6, 2001)

4.3

 

Indenture, dated as of September 7, 2000, between Heritage Commerce Corp, as Issuer, and State Street Bank and Trust Company of Connecticut, National Association, as Trustee (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed April 6, 2001)

4.4

 

Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust by and among State Street Bank and Trust Company of Connecticut, National Association, as Institutional Trustee, and Heritage Commerce Corp, as Sponsor (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed April 6, 2001)

4.5

 

Indenture, dated as of July 31, 2001, between Heritage Commerce Corp, as Issuer, and State Street Bank and Trust Company of Connecticut, National Association, as Trustee (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 29, 2002)

4.6

 

Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust by and among State Street Bank and Trust Company of Connecticut, National Association as Institutional Trustee, and Heritage Commerce Corp, as Sponsor, dated as of July 31, 2001 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-K filed March 29, 2002)

4.7

 

Indenture, dated as of September 26, 2002, between Heritage Commerce Corp, as Issuer, and State Street Bank and Trust Company of Connecticut, National Association, as Trustee (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 29, 2003)

4.8

 

Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust by and among State Street Bank and Trust Company of Connecticut, National Association, as Institutional Trustee and Heritage Commerce Corp, as Sponsor, dated as of September 26, 2002 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 29, 2003)

4.9

 

Warrant to Purchase Common Stock dated November 21, 2008 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 26, 2008)

4.10

 

Certificate of Determination for Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed November 26, 2008)

4.11

 

Certificate of Determination of Series B Mandatorily Convertible Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, as filed with the California Secretary of State on June 17, 2010 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed June 22, 2010)

4.12

 

Certificate of Determination of Series C Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, as filed with the California Secretary of State on June 17, 2010 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed June 22, 2010)

*5.1

 

Opinion of Buchalter Nemer, a professional corporation, as to the legality of the securities being registered

 

II-11



Table of Contents

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

 

 

 

10.1

 

Real Property Leases for Registrant’s Principal Office (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 5, 1998)

10.2

 

Third Amendment to Lease for Registrant’s Principal Office (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 17, 2005)

10.3

 

Fourth Amendment to Lease for Registrant’s Principle Office (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 17, 2005)

10.4

 

Fourth Amendment to Sublease for Registrant’s Principle Office (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 22, 2005)

**10.5

 

Heritage Commerce Corp Management Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 3, 2005)

**10.6

 

1994 Stock Option Plan and Form of Agreement (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed July 17, 1998)

**10.7

 

Amended and Restated 2004 Equity Plan (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 2, 2009)

**10.8

 

Modification to Employment Agreement of James Mayer dated December 11, 2008 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 17, 2008)

**10.9

 

Restricted Stock Agreement with Walter Kaczmarek dated March 17, 2005 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 22, 2005)

**10.10

 

2004 Stock Option Agreement with Walter Kaczmarek dated March 17, 2005 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 22, 2005)

**10.11

 

Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 31, 2005)

**10.12

 

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Walter Kaczmarek, dated October 17, 2007 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 22, 2007)

**10.13

 

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Lawrence McGovern, dated October 17, 2007 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 22, 2007)

**10.14

 

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Raymond Parker, dated October 17, 2007 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 22, 2007)

**10.15

 

Employment Agreement with Michael R. Ong, dated August 12, 2008 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 13, 2008)

**10.16

 

Employment Agreement with Dan Kawamoto, dated June 11, 2009 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 16, 2009)

**10.17

 

Employment Agreement with Margaret Incandela, dated February 1, 2010 (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 17, 2010)

**10.18

 

Consulting Agreement dated of February 8, 2007 between Heritage Bank of Commerce and John J. Hounslow (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 22, 2007)

10.19

 

Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation and Confidentiality Agreement dated as of February 8, 2007 by and among Heritage Commerce Corp, Heritage Bank of Commerce and John J. Hounslow (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 22, 2007)

**10.20

 

Letter Agreement between John J. Hounslow and Heritage Commerce Corp dated June 20, 2007 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 22, 2007)

 

II-12



Table of Contents

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

 

 

 

10.21

 

Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation and Confidentiality Agreement dated as of February 8, 2007 by and among James Mayer, Heritage Commerce Corp and Heritage Bank of Commerce (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 22, 2007)

**10.22

 

2005 Amended and Restated Heritage Commerce Corp Supplemental Retirement Plan (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed September 30, 2008)

**10.23

 

Form of Endorsement Method Split Dollar Plan Agreement for Executive Officers (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 17, 2008)

**10.24

 

Form of Endorsement Method Split Dollar Plan Agreement for Directors (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 17, 2008)

**10.25

 

Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement, dated December 29, 2008 between the Company and Walter T. Kaczmarek (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

**10.26

 

Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement, dated December 29, 2008 between the Company and Lawrence D. McGovern (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

**10.27

 

Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement, dated December 29, 2008 between the Company and Raymond Parker (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

**10.28

 

Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement, dated December 29, 2008 between the Company and Michael Ong (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

**10.29

 

Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement, dated December 29, 2008 between the Company and James Mayer (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

**10.30

 

First Amended and Restated Deferred Agreement dated December 29, 2008 between James Blair and the Company (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

**10.31

 

First Amended and Restated Director Compensation Benefits Agreement dated December 29, 2008 between Jack Conner and the Company (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

**10.32

 

First Amended and Restated Director Compensation Benefits Agreement dated December 29, 2008 between Frank Bisceglia and the Company (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

**10.33

 

First Amended and Restated Director Compensation Benefits Agreement dated December 29, 2008 between James Blair and the Company (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

**10.34

 

First Amended and Restated Director Compensation Benefits Agreement dated December 29, 2008 between Robert Moles and the Company (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

**10.35

 

First Amended and Restated Director Compensation Benefits Agreement dated December 29, 2008 between Humphrey Polanen and the Company (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

**10.36

 

First Amended and Restated Director Compensation Benefits Agreement dated December 29, 2008 between Charles Toeniskoetter and the Company (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

**10.37

 

First Amended and Restated Director Compensation Benefits Agreement dated December 29, 2008 between Ranson Webster and the Company (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

 

II-13



Table of Contents

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

 

 

 

**10.38

 

First Amended and Restated Director Compensation Benefits Agreement dated December 29, 2008 between William Del Biaggio, Jr. and the Company (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009)

10.39

 

Letter Agreement dated November 21, 2008 between the Company and United States Treasury for Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A and Warrant for Common Stock (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 26, 2008)

10.40

 

Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Registrant and its directors and executive officers (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 23, 2009)

10.41

 

Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and each of the Purchasers, dated as of June 18, 2010 (incorporated herein from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed June 22, 2010)

10.42

 

Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and each of the Purchasers, dated as of June 18, 2010 (incorporated herein from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed June 22, 2010)

12.1

 

Calculation of consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges and consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed May 11, 2010)

21.1

 

Subsidiaries of Registrant (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 16, 2007)

23.1

 

Consent of Crowe Horwath LLP (filed herewith)

*23.2

 

Consent of Buchalter Nemer (included as part of Exhibit 5.1)

24.1

 

Power of attorney for directors and officers of Registrant (included in the signature page to this registration statement)

 


*

To be filed by amendment

**

Management Compensation Plan/Agreement

 

II-14


Exhibit 3.2

 

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

OF

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP

 

Lawrence D. McGovern and Debbie Reuter certify that:

 

1.              They are the duly elected and acting Executive Vice President and Secretary, respectively, of Heritage Commerce Corp, a California corporation.

 

2.              ARTICLE III of the Restated Articles of Incorporation of this corporation is amended by amending paragraph a. to read as follows:

 

“a.  The total number of shares of stock that the corporation shall have authority to issue is 70,000,000 shares, which shall be divided into two classes as follows:  (a) 60,000,000 shares of Common Stock, and (b) 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock (hereinafter “Preferred Shares”) of which 40,000 Preferred Shares shall be designated as “Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A”.

 

3.              The foregoing amendment of Restated Articles of Incorporation has been duly approved by the board of directors.

 

4.              The foregoing amendment of Restated Articles of Incorporation has been duly approved by the required vote of shareholders in accordance with Section 902, Corporations Code.  The total number of outstanding shares entitled to vote with respect to the amendment was 11,820,509 common shares.  The number of shares voting in favor of the amendment equaled or exceeded the vote required.  The percentage vote required was more than 50%.

 

We further declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the matters set forth in this certificate are true and correct of our own knowledge.

 

Dated:  May 27, 2010

 

/s/ Lawrence D. McGovern

 

 

Lawrence D. McGovern

 

 

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Debbie Reuter

 

 

Debbie Reuter

 

 

Secretary

 


Exhibit 3.3

 

BY-LAWS

 

OF

 

HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP

 

(a California corporation)

 

 

As last amended on May 27, 2010

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

Section 1.

 

OFFICES

1

1.1

 

Principal Office

1

1.2

 

Other Offices

1

Section 2.

 

DIRECTORS

1

2.1

 

Exercise of Corporate Powers

1

2.2

 

Number

1

2.3

 

Qualification of Directors

1

2.4

 

Compensation

1

2.5

 

Election and Term of Office

2

2.6

 

Annual Review of Board Policy Statement and Director Nominations

2

2.7

 

Election of Officers of the Board

2

2.8

 

Vacancies

2

2.9

 

Nominations for Election of Directors

3

2.10

 

Removal

4

Section 3.

 

OFFICERS

5

3.1

 

Election and Qualifications

5

3.2

 

Term of Office and Compensation

5

3.3

 

Removal and Vacancies

5

Section 4.

 

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

5

4.1

 

Powers and Duties

5

Section 5.

 

PRESIDENT

6

5.1

 

Powers and Duties

6

5.2

 

President pro tem

6

Section 6.

 

VICE PRESIDENT

6

6.1

 

Powers and Duties

6

Section 7.

 

SECRETARY

6

7.1

 

Powers and Duties

6

Section 8.

 

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

7

8.1

 

Powers and Duties

7

Section 9.

 

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

8

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

9.1

 

Appointment and Procedure

8

9.2

 

Powers

8

9.3

 

Executive Committee

9

Section 10.

 

MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS

9

10.1

 

Place of Meetings

9

10.2

 

Time of Annual Meetings

9

10.3

 

Special Meetings

9

10.4

 

Notice of Meetings

9

10.5

 

Delivery of Notice

10

10.6

 

Adjourned Meetings

10

10.7

 

Consent to Shareholders’ Meeting

10

10.8

 

Quorum

11

10.9

 

Voting Rights

11

10.10

 

Determination of Holders of Record

11

10.11

 

Elections for Directors

12

10.12

 

Proxies

13

10.13

 

Inspectors of Election

13

Section 11.

 

MEETINGS OF DIRECTORS

14

11.1

 

Place of Meetings

14

11.2

 

Regular Meetings

14

11.3

 

Special Meetings

14

11.4

 

Notice of Meetings

14

11.5

 

Quorum

14

11.6

 

Adjourned Meetings

14

11.7

 

Waiver of Notice and Consent

14

11.8

 

Action Without a Meeting

15

11.9

 

Conference Telephone Meetings

15

11.10

 

Meetings of Committees

15

Section 12.

 

SUNDRY PROVISIONS

15

12.1

 

Instruments in Writing

15

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

12.2

 

Fiscal Year

15

12.3

 

Shares Held by the Corporation

15

12.4

 

Certificates of Stock

15

12.5

 

Lost Certificates

15

12.6

 

Certification and Inspection of By-Laws

16

12.7

 

Notices

16

12.8

 

Reports to Shareholders

16

12.9

 

Indemnification of Directors, Officers and Employees

16

Section 13.

 

CONSTRUCTION OF BY-LAWS WITH REFERENCE TO PROVISIONS OF LAW

17

13.1

 

Definitions

17

13.2

 

By-Law Provisions Additional and Supplemental to Provisions of Law

17

13.3

 

By-Law Provisions Contrary to or Inconsistent with Provisions of Law

17

Section 14.

 

ADOPTION, AMENDMENT OR REPEAL OF BY-LAWS

18

14.1

 

By Shareholders

18

14.2

 

By the Board of Directors

18

 

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BY-LAWS

OF

HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP

(a California corporation)

 

As last amended on May 27, 2010

 

Section 1.               OFFICES

 

1.1           Principal Office .  The principal office for the transaction of the business of the corporation shall be located at 150 Almaden Boulevard, City of San Jose, County of Santa Clara, State of California.  The Board of Directors is hereby granted full power and authority to change said principal office to another location within or without the State of California.

 

1.2           Other Offices .  One or more branch or other subordinate offices may at any time be fixed and located by the Board of Directors at such place or places within or without the State of California as it deems appropriate.

 

Section 2.               DIRECTORS

 

2.1           Exercise of Corporate Powers .  Except as otherwise provided by the Articles of Incorporation of the corporation or by the laws of the State of California now or hereafter in force, the business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed and all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.  The Board may delegate the management of the day-to-day operation of the business of the corporation as permitted by law, provided that the business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed and all corporate powers shall be exercised under the ultimate direction of the Board.

 

2.2           Number .  The number of the corporation’s directors shall be not less than eleven nor more than twenty-one, the exact number within such minimum and maximum limits to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the full Board or by resolution of a majority of the shareholders at any meeting thereof.

 

2.3           Qualification of Directors .  No person shall be a member of the board of directors who is a director, executive officer, branch manager or trustee for any unaffiliated commercial bank, savings bank, trust company, savings and loan association, building and loan association, industrial bank or credit union that is engaged in business in (i) any city, town or village in which the corporation or any affiliate or subsidiary thereof has offices, or (ii) any city, town or village adjacent to a city, town or village in which the corporation or any affiliate or subsidiary thereof has offices.  The Board of Directors of the corporation, or a committee thereof, shall determine whether any person who seeks to become a director complies with the provisions of this Section 2.3.  The directors of the corporation need not be shareholders of the corporation.

 

2.4           Compensation .  Directors shall receive such compensation for their services as directors and such reimbursement for their expenses of attendance at meetings as may be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board.  Nothing herein contained shall be

 

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construed to preclude any director from serving the corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

 

2.5           Election and Term of Office .  At each annual meeting of shareholders, directors shall be elected to hold office until their respective successors have been elected and qualified, provided that, if for any reason, said annual meeting or an adjournment thereof is not held or the directors are not elected thereat, then the directors may be elected at any special meeting of the shareholders called and held for that purpose.  The term of office of the directors shall begin immediately after their election and shall continue until the expiration of the term for which elected and until their respective successors have been elected and qualified.

 

2.6           Annual Review of Board Policy Statement and Director Nominations .  The Board Directors shall adopt and maintain a Board Policy Statement which shall establish standards and provide guidance to the Board with respect to legal issues, attendance at Board and Board committee meetings, and related issues of director participation in Board and corporate activities.  The Board of Directors shall, at a meeting of the Board during the fourth quarter of each year, consider the following:  the Board Policy Statement and the performance of the Board and of individual Board members in light of the requirements of the Board Policy Statement the structure, function and membership of Board committees; strategies for increasing the effectiveness of the Board; the Board’s nominations for the Board of Directors at the following year’s annual meeting of the corporation’s shareholders; and nominees for positions as officers of the Board.

 

2.7           Election of Officers of the Board .  The Board of Directors shall, at its regularly scheduled meeting in December of each year, consider the organization of the Board, the Board’s nominations for the Board of Directors at the following year’s annual meeting of the corporation’s shareholders, the election of officers of the Board, and any other business that results from the Board’s annual review of the Board Policy Statement.  Officers of the Board shall be elected for one-year terms.  The unexpired term of any Board officer who ceases to be a member of the Board of Directors during his or her term as a Board officer may, at the discretion of the remaining Board members, be filled through the election another Board member to fill the unexpired term.

 

2.8           Vacancies .  A vacancy or vacancies in the Board of Directors shall exist when any authorized position of director is not then filled by a duly elected director, whether caused by death, resignation, removal, change in the authorized number of directors (by the Board or the shareholders) or otherwise.  The Board of Directors may declare vacant the office of a director who has been declared of unsound mind by an order of court or convicted of a felony.  Except for a vacancy created by the removal of a director, vacancies on the Board may be filled by approval of the board or, if the number of directors then in office is less than a quorum, by (1) the unanimous written consent of the directors then in office, (2) the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office at a meeting held pursuant to notice or waivers of notice, or (3) a sole remaining director.  A vacancy created by the removal of a director may be filled only by the approval of the shareholders.  The shareholders may elect a director at any time to fill any vacancy not filled by the directors.  Any director may resign effective upon giving written notice to the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Secretary or the Board of Directors of the corporation, unless the notice specifies a later time for the effectiveness of such

 

2



 

resignation.  If the resignation is effective at a future time, a successor may be elected to take office when the resignation becomes effective.

 

2.9           Nomination, Classification, Election and Term of Office .

 

(a)            Nomination for election of directors may be made by the Board of Directors or by any holder of any outstanding class of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors.  Notice of intention to make any nominations shall be made in writing and shall be delivered or mailed to the President of the Corporation not less than 21 days nor more than 60 days prior to any meeting of shareholders called for the election of directors; provided, however, that if less than 21 days’ notice is given to shareholders, such notice of intention to nominate shall be mailed or delivered to the President of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which the notice of such meeting is sent by third class mail (if permitted by law), no notice of intention to make nominations shall be required.  Such notification shall contain the following information to the extent known to the notifying shareholder:

 

(1)            the name and address of each proposed nominee;

 

(2)            the principal occupation of each proposed nominee;

 

(3)            the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation owned by each proposed nominee;

 

(4)            the name and residence address of the notifying shareholder, and

 

(5)            the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation owned by the notifying shareholder.

 

(6)            the number of shares of capital stock of any bank, bank holding company, savings and loan association or other depository institution owned beneficially by the nominee or by the notifying shareholder and the identities and locations of any such institutions.

 

(7)            whether the proposed nominee has ever been convicted of or pleaded nolo contendere to any criminal offense involving dishonesty or breach of trust, filed a petition in bankruptcy or been adjudged bankrupt.

 

(8)            a statement regarding the nominee’s compliance with Section 2.3 of these Bylaws.

 

Nominations not made in accordance herewith may, in the discretion of the Chairman of the meeting, be disregarded and upon the Chairman’s instructions, the inspectors of election can disregard all votes cast for each such nominee.  A copy of this paragraph shall be set forth in a notice to shareholders of any meeting at which directors are to be elected.

 

3



 

(b)            In the event that the authorized number of directors shall be fixed at nine (9) or more, the Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III.  Each class shall consist of one-third of the directors or as close an approximation as possible.  The initial term of office of the directors of Class I shall expire at the annual meeting to be held during fiscal year 2002, the initial term of office of the directors of Class II shall expire at the annual meeting to be held during fiscal 2003 and the initial term of office of the directors of Class III shall expire at the annual meeting to be held during fiscal year 2004.  At each annual meeting, commencing with the annual meeting to be held during fiscal year 2002, each of the successors to the directors of the class whose term shall have expired at such annual meeting shall be elected for a term running until the third annual meeting next succeeding his or her election and until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

 

In the event that the authorized number of directors shall be fixed with at least six but less than nine, the Board of Directors shall be divided into two classes, designated Class I and Class II.  Each class shall consist of one-half of directors or as close an approximation as possible.  At each annual meeting, each of the successors to the directors of the class whose term shall have expired at such annual meeting shall be elected for a term running until the second annual meeting next succeeding his or her election and until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

 

Notwithstanding the rule that the classes shall be as nearly equal in number of directors as possible, in the event of any change in the authorized number of directors, each director then continuing to serve as such shall nevertheless continue as a director of the class of which he or she is a member until the expiration of his or her current term, or his or her prior death, resignation or removal.

 

At each annual election, the directors chosen to succeed those whose terms then expire shall be of the same class as the directors they succeed, unless, by reason of any intervening changes in the authorized number of directors, the Board of Directors shall designate one or more directorships whose term then expires as directorships of another class in order more nearly to achieve equality of number of directors among the classes.

 

This section may only be amended or repealed by approval of the Board of Directors and the outstanding shares (as defined in Section 152 of the California General Corporation Law) voting as a single class, notwithstanding Section 903 of the California General Corporation Law.

 

2.10         Removal .

 

(a)            Any or all of the directors may be removed without cause if such removal is approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote at an election of directors, subject to the following:

 

(1)            A director may not be removed if the votes cast against removal of the director, or not consenting in writing to the removal, would be sufficient to elect the director if voted cumulatively (without regard to whether shares may otherwise be voted cumulatively) at an election at which the same

 

4



 

total number of votes were cast (or, if the action is taken by written consent, all shares entitled to vote were voted) and either the number of directors elected at the most recent annual meeting of shareholders, or if greater, the number of directors for whom removal is being sought, were then being elected.

 

(2)            When by the provisions of the Articles the holders of the shares of any class or series, voting as a class or series, are entitled to elect one or more directors, any director so elected may be removed only by the applicable vote of the holders of the shares of that class or series.

 

(b)            Any reduction of the authorized number of directors or amendment reducing the number of classes of directors does not remove any director prior to the expiration of the director’s term of office.

 

Section 3.               OFFICERS

 

3.1           Election and Qualifications .  The officers of this corporation shall consist of a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary and a Chief Financial Officer who shall be chosen by the Board of Directors and such other officers, including a Chairman of the Board, as the Board of Directors shall deem expedient, all of whom shall be chosen in such manner and hold their offices for such terms as the Board of Directors may prescribe.  Any two or more of such offices may be held by the same person.  Any Vice President, Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Secretary, respectively, may exercise any of the powers of the President, the Chief Financial Officer, or the Secretary, respectively, as directed by the Board of Directors and shall perform such other duties as are imposed upon such officer by the By-Laws or the Board of Directors.

 

3.2           Term of Office and Compensation .  The term of office and salary of each of said officers and the manner and time of the payment of such salaries shall be fixed and determined by the Board of Directors and may be altered by said Board from time to time at its pleasure, subject to the rights, if any, of said officers under any contract of employment.

 

3.3           Removal and Vacancies .  Any officer of the corporation may be removed at the pleasure of the Board of Directors at any meeting or by vote of shareholders entitled to exercise the majority of voting power of the corporation at any meeting or at the pleasure of any officer who may be granted such power by a resolution of the Board of Directors.  Any officer may resign at any time upon written notice to the corporation without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the corporation under any contract to which the officer is a party.  If any vacancy occurs in any office of the corporation, the Board of Directors may elect a successor to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term and until a successor is duly chosen and qualified.

 

Section 4.               CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

 

4.1           Powers and Duties .  The Chairman of the Board of Directors, if there be one, shall have the power to preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors, and to call meetings of the shareholders and of the Board of Directors to be held within the limitations prescribed by law or by these By-Laws, at such times and at such places as the Chairman of the Board shall deem

 

5



 

proper.  The Chairman of the Board shall have such other powers and shall be subject to such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

 

Section 5.               PRESIDENT

 

5.1           Powers and Duties .  The powers and duties of the President are:

 

(a)            To act as the chief executive officer of the corporation and, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, to have general supervision, direction and control of the business and affairs of the corporation.

 

(b)            To preside at all meetings of the shareholders and, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, or if there be none, at all meetings of the Board of Directors.

 

(c)            To call meetings of the shareholders and also of the Board of Directors to be held, subject to the limitations prescribed by law or by these By-Laws, at such times and at such places as the President shall deem proper.

 

(d)            To affix the signature of the corporation to all deeds, conveyances, mortgages, leases, obligations, bonds, certificates and other papers and instruments in writing which have been authorized by the Board of Directors or which, in the judgment of the President, should be executed on behalf of the corporation, to sign certificates for shares of stock of the corporation and, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, to have general charge of the property of the corporation and to supervise and control all officers, agents and employees of the corporation.

 

5.2           President pro tem .  If neither the Chairman of the Board, the President, nor any Vice President is present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, a President pro tem may be chosen to preside and act at such meeting.  If neither the President nor any Vice President is present at any meeting of the shareholders, a President pro tern may be chosen to preside at such meeting.

 

Section 6.               VICE PRESIDENT

 

6.1           Powers and Duties .  In case of the absence, disability or death of the President, the Vice President, or one of the Vice Presidents, shall exercise all the powers and perform all the duties of the President If there is more than one Vice President, the order in which the Vice Presidents shall succeed to the powers and duties of the President shall be as fixed by the Board of Directors.  The Vice President or Vice Presidents shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be granted or prescribed by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 7.               SECRETARY

 

7.1           Powers and Duties .  The powers and duties of the Secretary are:

 

(a)            To keep a book of minutes at the principal office of the corporation, or such other place as the Board of Directors may order, of all meetings of its directors and shareholders with the time and place of holding, whether regular or special, and, if special, how

 

6



 

authorized, the notice thereof given, the names of those present at directors meetings, the number of shares present or represented at shareholders’ meetings and the proceedings thereof.

 

(b)            To keep the seal of the corporation and to affix the same to all instruments which may require it.

 

(c)            To keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the corporation, or at the office of the transfer agent or agents, a share register, or duplicate share registers, showing the names of the shareholders and their addresses, the number and classes of shares held by each, the number and date of certificates issued for shares, and the number and date of cancellation of every certificate surrendered for cancellation.

 

(d)            To keep a supply of certificates for shares of the corporation, to fill in all certificates issued, and to make a proper record of each such issuance; provided, that so long as the corporation shall have one or more duly appointed and acting transfer agents of the shares, or any class or series of shares, of the corporation, such duties with respect to such shares shall be performed by such transfer agent or transfer agents.

 

(e)            To transfer upon the share books of the corporation any and all shares of the corporation; provided, that so long as the corporation shall have one or more duly appointed and acting transfer agents of the shares, or any class or series of shares, of the corporation, such duties with respect to such shares shall be performed by such transfer agent or transfer agents, and the method of transfer of each certificate shall be subject to the reasonable regulations of the transfer agent to which the certificate is presented for transfer, and also, if the corporation then has one or more duly appointed and acting registrars, to the reasonable regulations of the registrar to which the new certificate is presented for registration; and provided, further, that no certificate for shares of stock shall be issued or delivered or, if issued or delivered, shall have any validity whatsoever until and unless it has been signed or authenticated in the manner provided in 12.4 hereof.

 

(f)             To make service and publication of all notices that may be necessary or proper, and without command or direction from anyone.  In case of the absence, disability, refusal or neglect of the Secretary to make service or publication of any notices, then such notices may be served and/or published by the President or a Vice President, or by any person thereunto authorized by either of them or by the Board of Directors or by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the corporation.

 

(g)            Generally to do and perform all such duties as pertain to the office of Secretary and as may be required by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 8.               CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

 

8.1           Powers and Duties .  The powers and duties of the Chief Financial Officer are:

 

(a)            To supervise and control the keeping and maintaining of adequate and correct accounts of the corporation’s properties and business transactions, including accounts of its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital, retained earnings and shares The books of account shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by any director.

 

7



 

(b)            To have the custody of all funds, securities, evidence of indebtedness and other valuable documents of the corporation and, at the Chief Financial Officer’s discretion, to cause any or all thereof to be deposited for the account of the corporation with such depositary as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

(c)            To receive or cause to be received, and to give or cause to be given, receipts and acquittances for moneys paid in for the account of the corporation.

 

(d)            To disburse, or cause to be disbursed, all funds of the corporation as may be directed by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements.

 

(e)            To render to the President and to the Board of Directors, whenever they may require, accounts of all transactions and of the financial condition of the corporation.

 

(f)             Generally to do and perform all such duties as pertain to the office of Chief Financial Officer and as may be required by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 9.               COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

 

9.1           Appointment and Procedure .  The Board of Directors may, by resolution adopted by a majority of the authorized number of directors, designate one or more committees, each consisting of two or more directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board.  The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent member at any meeting of the committee.  The appointment of members or alternate members of a committee requires the vote of a majority of the authorized number of directors.

 

9.2           Powers .  Any committee appointed by the Board of Directors, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board or in these By-Laws, shall have all the authority of the Board except with respect to:

 

(a)            the approval of any action which requires the approval or vote of the shareholders;

 

(b)            the filling of vacancies on the Board or on any committee;

 

(c)            the fixing of compensation of the directors for serving on the Board or on any committee;

 

(d)            the amendment or repeal of By-Laws or the adoption of new By-Laws;

 

(e)            the amendment or repeal of any resolution of the Board which by its express terms is not so amendable or repealable;

 

(f)             a distribution to the shareholders of the corporation, except at a rate, in a periodic amount or within a price range set forth in the articles or determined by the Board; and

 

(g)            the appointment of other committees of the Board or the members thereof.

 

8



 

9.3           Executive Committee .  In the event that the Board of Directors appoints an Executive Committee, such Executive Committee, in all cases in which specific direction to the contrary shall not have been given by the Board of Directors, shall have and may exercise, during the intervals between the meetings of the Board of Directors, all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation (except as provided in 9.2 hereof) in such manner as the Executive Committee may deem in the best interests of the corporation.

 

Section 10.             MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS

 

10.1         Place of Meetings .  Meetings (whether regular, special or adjourned) of the shareholders of the corporation shall be held at the principal office for the transaction of business as specified in accordance with Section 1.1 hereof, or any place within or without the State which may be designated by written consent of all the shareholders entitled to vote thereat, or which may be designated by the Board of Directors.

 

10.2         Time of Annual Meetings .  The annual meeting of the shareholders shall be held on the third Thursday in May of each year, if not a legal holiday, and if a legal holiday, then on the next succeeding business day not a legal holiday, or such other time or date as may be set by the Board of Directors.

 

10.3         Special Meetings .  Special meetings of the shareholders may be called by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the President or the holders of shares entitled to cast not less than 10 percent of the vote at the meeting.

 

10.4         Notice of Meetings .

 

(a)            Whenever shareholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a written notice of the meeting shall be given not less than 10 (or, if sent by third class mail, 30) nor more than 60 days before the day of the meeting to each shareholder entitled to vote thereat.  Such notice shall state the place, date and hour of the meeting and (1) in the case of a special meeting, the general nature of the business to be transacted, and that no other business may be transacted, or (2) in the case of the annual meeting, those matters which the Board, at the time of the mailing of the notice, intends to present for action by the shareholders but subject to the provisions of subdivision (b) any proper matter may be presented at the meeting for such action.  The notice of any meeting at which directors are to be elected shall include the names of nominees intended at the time of the notice to be presented by the Board for election.

 

(b)            Any shareholder approval at a meeting, other than unanimous approval by those entitled to vote, on any of the matters listed below, shall be valid only if the general nature of the proposal so approved was stated in the notice of meeting or in any written waiver of notice:

 

(1)            a proposal to approve a contract or other transaction between the corporation and one or more of its directors, or between the corporation and any corporation, firm or association in which one or more directors has a material financial interest;

 

9



 

(2)            proposal to amend the Articles of Incorporation;

 

(3)            a proposal regarding a reorganization, merger or consolidation involving the corporation;

 

(4)            a proposal to wind up and dissolve the corporation;

 

(5)            a proposal to adopt a plan of distribution of the shares, obligations or securities of any other corporation, domestic or foreign, or assets other than money which is not in accordance with the liquidation rights of any preferred shares as specified in the Articles of Incorporation.

 

10.5         Delivery of Notice .  Notice of a shareholders’ meeting or any report shall be given either personally or by first class mail or in the case of a corporation with outstanding shares held of record by 500 or more persons (determined as provided in Section 605 of the California General Corporation Law) on the record date for the shareholders’ meeting, notice may be sent third class mail, or other means of written communication, addressed to the shareholder at the address of such shareholder appearing on the books of the corporation or given by the shareholder to the corporation for the purpose of notice; or if no such address appears or is given, at the place where the principal executive office of the corporation is located or by publication at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the principal executive office is located.  The notice or report shall be deemed to have been given at the time when delivered personally or deposited in the mail or sent by other means of written communication.  An affidavit of mailing of any notice or report in accordance with the provisions of this section, executed by the Secretary, Assistant Secretary or any transfer agent, shall be prima facie evidence of the giving of the notice or report.

 

If any notice or report addressed to the shareholder at the address of such shareholder appearing on the books of the corporation is returned to the corporation by United States Postal Service marked to indicate that the United States Postal Service is unable to deliver the notice or report to the shareholder at such address, all future notices or reports shall be deemed to have been duly given without further mailing if the same shall be available for the shareholder upon written demand of the shareholder at the principal executive office of the corporation for a period of one year from the date of the giving of the notice or report to all other shareholders.

 

10.6         Adjourned Meetings .  When a shareholders’ meeting is adjourned to another time or place, unless the By-Laws otherwise require and except as provided in this section, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken.  At the adjourned meeting the corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.  If the adjournment is for more than 45 days or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

10.7         Consent to Shareholders’ Meeting .  The transactions of any meeting of shareholders, however called and noticed, and wherever held, are as valid as though had at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum is present either in person or by

 

10



 

proxy, and if, either before or after the meeting, each of the persons entitled to vote, not present in person or by proxy signs a written waiver of notice or a consent to the holding of the meeting or an approval of the minutes thereof.  All such waivers, consents and approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting.  Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of and presence at such meeting, except when the person objects, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened and except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to object to the consideration of matters required by the California General Corporation Law to be included in the notice but not so included in the notice if such objection is expressly made at the meeting.  Neither the business to be transacted at nor the purpose of any regular or special meeting of shareholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice, consent to the holding of the meeting or approval of the minutes thereof, unless otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws, except as provided in 10.4(b).

 

10.8         Quorum .

 

(a)            The presence in person or by proxy of the persons entitled to vote the majority of the voting shares at any meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.  Except as provided in subdivision (b), the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares represented and voting at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present (which shares voting affirmatively also constitute at least a majority of the required quorum) shall be the act of the shareholders, unless the vote of a greater number or voting by classes is required by law or the Articles of Incorporation or these By-Laws.

 

(b)            The shareholders present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment notwithstanding the withdrawal of the number of enough shareholders to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than adjournment) is approved by at least a majority of the shares required to constitute a quorum.

 

(c)            In the absence of a quorum, any meeting of shareholders may be adjourned from time to time by the vote of a majority of the shares represented either in person or by proxy, but no other business may be transacted, except as provided in subdivision (b).

 

10.9         Voting Rights .  Except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation or in any statute each outstanding share, regardless of class, shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of shareholders.  Any holder of shares entitled to vote on any matter may vote part of the shares in favor of the proposal and refrain from voting the remaining shares or vote them against the proposal, other than elections to office, but, if the shareholder fails to specify the number of shares such shareholder is voting affirmatively, it will be conclusively presumed that the shareholder’s approving vote is with respect to all shares such shareholder is entitled to vote.

 

10.10       Determination of Holders of Record .

 

(a)            In order that the corporation may determine the shareholders entitled to notice of any meeting or to vote or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other

 

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distribution or allotment of any rights or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of such meeting nor more than 60 days prior to any other action.

 

(b)            In the absence of any record date set by the Board of Directors pursuant to subdivision (a) above, then:

 

(1)            The record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders shall be at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which notice is given or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.

 

(2)            The record date for determining shareholders entitled to give consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board has been taken, shall be the day on which the first written consent is given.

 

(3)            The record date for determining shareholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto, or the 60th day prior to the date of such other action, whichever is later.

 

(c)            A determination of shareholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting unless the Board fixes a new record date for the adjourned meeting, but the Board shall fix a new record date if the meeting is adjourned for more than 45 days from the date set for the original meeting.

 

(d)            Shareholders at the close of business on the record date are entitled to notice and to vote or to receive the dividend, distribution or allotment of rights or to exercise the rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any shares on the books of the corporation after the record date, except as otherwise provided in the Articles or by agreement or applicable law.

 

10.11       Elections for Directors .

 

(a)            In any election of directors, the candidates receiving the highest number of affirmative votes of the shares entitled to be voted for them up to the number of directors to be elected by such shares are elected; votes against the director and votes withheld shall have no legal effect

 

(b)            Elections for directors need not be by ballot unless a shareholder demands election by ballot at the meeting and before the voting begins.

 

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10.12       Proxies .

 

(a)            Every person entitled to vote shares may authorize another person or persons to act by proxy with respect to such shares.  Any proxy purporting to be executed in accordance with the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of California shall be presumptively valid.

 

(b)            No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 11 months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy.  Every proxy continues in full force and effect until revoked by the person executing it prior to the vote pursuant thereto, except as otherwise provided in this section.  Such revocation may be effected by a writing delivered to the corporation stating that the proxy is revoked or by a subsequent proxy executed by the person executing the prior proxy and presented to the meeting, or as to any meeting by attendance at such meeting and voting in person by the person executing the proxy.  The dates contained on the forms of proxy presumptively determine the order of execution; regardless of the postmark dates on the envelopes in which they are mailed.

 

(c)            A proxy is not revoked by the death or incapacity of the maker unless, before the vote is counted, written notice of such death or incapacity is received by the corporation.

 

10.13       Inspectors of Election .

 

(a)            In advance of any meeting of shareholders the Board may appoint inspectors of election to act at the meeting and any adjournment thereof.  If inspectors of election are not so appointed, or if any persons so appointed fail to appear or refuse to act, the chairman of any meeting of shareholders may, and on the request of any shareholder or a shareholder’s proxy shall, appoint inspectors of election (or persons to replace those who so fail or refuse) at the meeting.  The number of inspectors shall be either one or three.  If appointed at a meeting on the request of one or more shareholders or proxies the majority of shares represented in person or by proxy shall determine whether one or three inspectors are to be appointed.

 

(b)            The inspectors of election shall determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum and the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies, receive votes, ballots or consents, hear and determine all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote, Count and tabulate all votes or consents, determine when the polls shall close, determine the result and do such acts as may be proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all shareholders.

 

(c)            The inspectors of election shall perform their duties impartially, in good faith, to the best of their ability and as expeditiously as is practical.  If there are three inspectors of election, the decision, act or certificate of a majority is effective in all respects as the decision, act or certificate of all.  Any report or certificate made by the inspectors of election is prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

 

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Section 11.             MEETINGS OF DIRECTORS

 

11.1         Place of Meetings .  Unless otherwise specified in the notice thereof, meetings (whether regular, special or adjourned) of the Board of Directors of this corporation shall be held at the principal office of the corporation for the transaction of business, as specified in accordance with Section 1 hereof, which is hereby designated as an office for such purpose in accordance with the laws of the State of California, or at any other place within or without the State which has been designated from time to time by resolution of the Board or by written consent of all members of the Board.

 

11.2         Regular Meetings .  Regular meetings of the Board of Directors, of which no notice need be given except as required by the laws of the State of California, shall be held after the adjournment of each annual meeting of the shareholders (which meeting shall be designated the Regular Annual Meeting) and at such other times as may be designated from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

11.3         Special Meetings .  Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board or the President or by any Vice President or the Secretary or by any two or more of the directors,

 

11.4         Notice of Meetings .  Except in the case of regular meetings, notice of which has been dispensed with, the meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held upon four (4) days’ notice by mail or forty-eight (48) hours’ notice delivered personally or by telephone telegraph or other electronic or wireless means.  If the address of a director is not shown on the records and is not readily ascertainable, notice shall be addressed to the director at the city or place in which the meetings of the directors are regularly held.  Except as set forth in 11.6, notice of the time and place of holding an adjourned meeting need not be given to absent directors if the time and place be fixed at the meeting adjourned.

 

11.5         Quorum .  A majority of the authorized number of directors constitutes a quorum of the Board for the transaction of business.  Every act or decision done or made by a majority of the directors present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present shall be regarded as the act of the Board of Directors except as otherwise provided by law.  A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for such meeting.

 

11.6         Adjourned Meetings .  A majority of the directors present whether or not a quorum is present, may adjourn any meeting to another time and place.  If the meeting is adjourned for more than 24 hours, notice of any adjournment to another time or place shall be given prior to the time of the adjourned meeting to the directors who were not present at the time of the adjournment.

 

11.7         Waiver of Notice and Consent .  Notice of a meeting need not be given to any director who signs a waiver of notice or a consent to holding the meeting or an approval of the minutes thereof, whether before or after the meeting, or who attends the meeting without protesting, prior thereto or at its commencement, the lack of notice to such director, All such

 

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waivers, consents and approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting.

 

11.8         Action Without a Meeting .  Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board shall individually or collectively consent in writing to such action.  Such written consent or consents shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board.  Such action by written consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of such directors.

 

11.9         Conference Telephone Meetings .  Members of the Board may participate in a meeting through use of conference telephone or similar communications equipment, so long as all members participating in such meeting can hear one another.  Participation in a meeting pursuant to this section constitutes presence in person at such meeting

 

11.10       Meetings of Committees .  The provisions of this Article apply also to committees of the Board and incorporators and action by such committees and incorporators.

 

Section 12.             SUNDRY PROVISIONS

 

12.1         Instruments in Writing .  All checks, drafts, demands for money and notes of the corporation, and all written contracts of the corporation, shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents, as the Board of Directors may from time to time by resolution designate.  No officer, agent, or employee of the corporation shall have power to bind the corporation by contract or otherwise unless authorized to do so by these By-Laws or by the Board of Directors.

 

12.2         Fiscal Year.  The fiscal year of this corporation shall commence on January 1st and end on December 31 of each year.

 

12.3         Shares Held by the Corporation .  Shares in other corporations standing in the name of this corporation may be voted or represented and all rights incident thereto may be exercised on behalf of this corporation by the President or by any other officer of this corporation authorized so to do by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

12.4         Certificates of Stock .  There shall be issued to each holder of fully paid shares of the capital stock of the corporation a certificate or certificates for such shares.  Every holder of shares in the corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate signed in the name of the corporation by the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board or the President or a Vice President and by the Chief Financial Officer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, certifying the number of shares and the class or series of shares owned by the shareholder.  Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be facsimile.  In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if such person were an officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

 

12.5         Lost Certificates .  The corporation may issue a new share certificate or a new certificate for any other security in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to

 

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have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or the owner’s legal representative to give the corporation a bond (or other adequate security) sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it (including any expense or liability) on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.  The Board of Directors may adopt such other provisions and restrictions with reference to lost certificates, not inconsistent with applicable law, as it shall in its discretion deem appropriate.

 

12.6         Certification and Inspection of By-Laws .  The corporation shall keep at its principal executive office in this state, or if its principal executive office is not in this state at its principal business office in this state, the original or a copy of these By-Laws as amended to date, which shall be open to inspection by the shareholders at all reasonable times during office hours.  If the principal executive office of the corporation is outside this state and the corporation has no principal business office in this state, it shall upon the written request of any shareholder furnish to such shareholder a copy of the By-Laws as amended to date.

 

12.7         Notices .  Any reference in these By-Laws to the time a notice is given or sent means, unless otherwise expressly provided, the time a written notice by mail is deposited in the United States mails, postage prepaid; or the time any other written notice is personally delivered to the recipient or is delivered to a common carrier for transmission, or actually transmitted by the person giving the notice by electronic means, to the recipient; or the time any oral notice is communicated, in person or by telephone or wireless, to the recipient or to a person at the office of the recipient who the person giving the notice has reason to believe will promptly communicate it to the recipient.

 

12.8         Reports to Shareholders .  Except as may otherwise be required by law, the rendition of an annual report to the shareholders is waived so long as there are less than 100 holders of record of the shares of the corporation (determined as provided in Section 605 of the California General Corporation Law).  At such time or times, if any, that the corporation has 100 or more holders of record of its shares, the Board of Directors shall cause an annual report to be sent to the shareholders not later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year or within such shorter time period as may be required by applicable law, and such annual report shall contain such information and be accompanied by such other documents as may be required by applicable law.

 

12.9         Indemnification of Directors, Officers and Employees .

 

(a)            The corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any proceeding, by reason of the fact that such person is or was an agent of the corporation, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 317 of the California General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time.  The term “proceeding” and “agent” in the foregoing sentence shall have the meanings given to them in Section 317 of the California General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time.

 

(b)            The indemnification provided by this section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action

 

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in an official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, to the extent such additional rights to indemnification are authorized in the articles of the corporation.  The rights to indemnity hereunder shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee, or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of the person.  Nothing contained in this section shall affect any right to indemnification to which persons other than such directors and officers may be entitled by contract or otherwise.

 

(c)            This section does not apply to any proceeding against any trustee, investment manager or other fiduciary of an employee benefit plan in such person’s capacity as such, even though such person may also be an agent as defined in subdivision (a) of the corporation.  The corporation shall, and it hereby agrees to, indemnify such trustee, investment manager or other fiduciary to the extent permitted by subdivision (f) of Section 207 of the California General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time.

 

(d)            Nothing in this section shall restrict the power of the corporation to indemnify its agents under any provision of the California General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time, or under any other provision of law from time to time applicable to the corporation, nor shall anything in this section authorize the corporation to indemnify its agents in situations prohibited by the California General Corporation Law or other applicable law.

 

Section 13.                                    CONSTRUCTION OF BY-LAWS WITH REFERENCE TO PROVISIONS OF LAW

 

13.1         Definitions .  Unless defined otherwise in these By-Laws or unless the context otherwise requires, terms used herein shall have the same meaning, if any, ascribed thereto in the California General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time.

 

13.2         By-Law Provisions Additional and Supplemental to Provisions of Law .  All restrictions, limitations, requirements and other provisions of these By-Laws shall be construed, insofar as possible, as supplemental and additional to all provisions of law applicable to the subject matter thereof and shall be fully complied with in addition to the said provisions of law unless such compliance shall be illegal.

 

13.3         By-Law Provisions Contrary to or Inconsistent with Provisions of Law .  Any article, section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause or phrase of these By-Laws which upon being construed in the manner provided in 13.2 hereof, shall be contrary to or inconsistent with any applicable provision of law, shall not apply so long as said provisions of law shall remain in effect, but such result shall not affect the validity or applicability of any other portions of these By-Laws, it being hereby declared that these By-Laws would have been adopted and each article, section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more articles, sections, subsections, subdivisions, sentence clauses or phrases is or are illegal.

 

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Section 14.             ADOPTION, AMENDMENT OR REPEAL OF BY-LAWS

 

14.1         By Shareholders .  By-Laws may be adopted, amended or repealed by the approval of the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the corporation entitled to vote.

 

14.2         By the Board of Directors .  Subject to the right of shareholders to adopt, amend or repeal By-Laws, By-Laws other than a By-Law or amendment thereof changing the authorized number of directors may be adopted, amended or repealed by the Board of Directors.  A By-Law adopted by the shareholders may restrict or eliminate the power of the Board of Directors to adopt, amend or repeal any or all By-Laws.

 

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CERTIFICATE OF SECRETARY

 

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS:

 

That the undersigned does hereby certify that the undersigned is the Secretary of Heritage Commerce Corp, a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of California; that the above and foregoing By-Laws of said corporation were duly and regularly adopted as such by the Board of Directors of said corporation; and that the above and foregoing By-Laws are now in full force and effect.

 

Dated: September 27, 2001

 

 

 

 

/s/ Rebecca A. Levey

 

Secretary

 

Rebecca A. Levey

 

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CERTIFICATE OF SECRETARY

 

I, REBECCA LEVEY, Secretary of HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP., a California corporation, do hereby certify that the following is a true and correct copy of resolutions adopted by the Shareholders of the corporation at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders duly held on May 26, 2005; that the originals thereof are contained in Minute Book of the corporation; and that such resolutions are in full force and effect and have not been altered, amended, modified or revoked:

 

Section 2.9 is hereby amended by deleting subparagraph (b).  Section 2.9 shall read in its entirety as follows:

 

2.9           Nomination, Election and Term of Office.

 

(a)            Nomination for election of directors may be made by the Board of Directors or by any holder of any outstanding class of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors.  Notice of intention to make any nominations shall be made in writing and shall be delivered or mailed to the President of the Corporation not less than 21 days nor more than 60 days prior to any meeting of shareholders called for the election of directors; provided, however, that if less than 21 days’ notice is given to shareholders, such notice of intention to nominate shall be mailed or delivered to the President of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which the notice of such meeting is sent by third class mail (if permitted by law), no notice of intention to make nominations shall be required.  Such notification shall contain the following information to the extent known to the notifying shareholder:

 

(1)            the name and address of each proposed nominee;

 

(2)            the principal occupation of each proposed nominee;

 

(3)            the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation owned by each proposed nominee;

 

(4)            the name and residence address of the notifying shareholder;

 

(5)            the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation owned by the notifying shareholder;

 

(6)            the number of shares of capital stock of any bank, bank holding company, savings and loan association or other depository institution owned beneficially by the nominee or by the notifying shareholder and the identities and locations of any such institutions;

 

(7)            whether the proposed nominee has ever been convicted of or pleaded nolo contendere to any criminal offense involving dishonesty or breach of trust, filed a petition in bankruptcy or been adjudged bankrupt; and

 

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(8)            a statement regarding the nominee’s compliance with Section 2.3 of these Bylaws.

 

Nominations not made in accordance herewith may, in the discretion of the Chairman of the meeting, be disregarded and upon the Chairman’s instructions, the inspectors of election can disregard all votes cast for each nominee.  A copy of this paragraph shall be set forth in a notice to shareholders of any meeting at which directors are to be elected.

 

(b)            Directors shall be elected at each annual meeting of the shareholders to hold office until the next annual meeting.  Each director, including a director elected to fill a vacancy, shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which elected and until a successor has been elected and qualified.

 

Section 2.10 is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:

 

2.10         Removal.

 

(a)            Any or all of the directors may be removed without cause if such removal is approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote at an election of directors, subject to the following:

 

(1)            No director may be removed (unless the entire board is removed) when the votes cast against removal, or not consenting in writing to the removal, would be sufficient to elect the director if voted cumulatively at an election at which the same total number of votes were cast (or, if the action is taken by written consent, all shares entitled to vote were voted) and the entire number of directors authorized at the time of the director’s most recent election were then being elected.

 

(2)            When by the provisions of the Articles the holders of the shares of any class or series, voting as a class or series, are entitled to elect one or more directors, any director so elected may be removed only by the applicable vote of the holders of the shares of that class or series.

 

(b)            Any reduction of the authorized number of directors or amendment reducing the number of classes of directors does not remove any director prior to the expiration of the director’s term of office.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereby set my hand this 26 th day of May, 2005.

 

 

 

/s/ Rebecca Levey

 

Rebecca Levey, Secretary

 

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HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP
CERTIFICATE OF SECRETARY

 

I, Rebecca Levey, Secretary of Heritage Commerce Corp, a California corporation, do hereby certify that the Heritage Commerce Corp Board of Directors adopted resolutions amending the Heritage Commerce Corp Bylaws to permit Heritage Commerce Corp to implement a book-entry Direct Registration System, which allows shares of stock to be owned, reported, and transferred electronically without the need for physical stock certificates.  Previously the Heritage Commerce Corp Bylaws required certificates to be issued upon transfer of shares and to replace lost certificates.  Under California law, a shareholder may still receive a paper certificate upon request.  The amendments to the Bylaws become effective November 15, 2007.  The test of the amendment to Heritage Commerce Corp’s Bylaw is attached hereto.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereby set my hand this 15 th  day of November, 2007.

 

 

 

/s/ Rebecca Levey

 

Rebecca Levey, Corporate Secretary

 

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Amendment to Heritage Commerce Corp Bylaws

 

Effective November 15, 2007, Section 12.4 of the Bylaws of Heritage Commerce Corp was amended to read as follows:

 

12.4         Certificates; Direct Registration System.   Shares of the corporation’s stock may be certificated or uncertificated, as provided under the California General Corporation Law.  Any certificates that are issued shall be signed in the name of the corporation by the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board, the President, or a Vice President and by the Chief Financial Officer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Corporate Secretary, or an Assistance Secretary, certifying the number of shares and the class or series of shares owned by the shareholder.  Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile.  In case any officer, transfer agent, or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent, or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if such person were an officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issue. Shares of the corporation’s capital stock may also be evidenced by registration in the holder’s name in uncertificated, book-entry form on the books of the corporation in accordance with a direct registration system approved by the Securities and Exchanges Commission and by any securities exchange on which the stock of the corporation may from time to time be traded.

 

Transfers of shares of stock of the corporation shall be made by the transfer agent and registrar on the books of the corporation after receipt of a request with proper evidence of succession, assignment, or authority to transfer by the record holder of such stock, or by an attorney lawfully constituted in writing, and in the case of stock represented by a certificate, upon surrender of the certificate.  Subject to the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall have power and authority to make such rules and regulations as it shall deem necessary or appropriate concerning the issue, transfer, and registration of shares of stock of the corporation, and to appoint and remove transfer agents and registrars of transfers.

 

Effective November 15, 2007, Section 12.5 of the Bylaws of Heritage Commerce Corp was amended to read as follows:

 

12.5         Lost Certificates.   Any person claiming a certificate of stock to be lost, stolen, mislaid, or destroyed shall make an affidavit or affirmation of that fact and verify the same in such manner as the Board of Directors may require, and shall, if the Board of Directors so requires, give the corporation, its transfer agent, registrars, and/or other agents a bond of indemnity in form approved by counsel, and in amount and with such sureties as may be satisfactory to the corporate secretary of the corporation, before a new certificates (or uncertificated shares in lieu of a new certificate) may be issued of the same tenor and for the same number of shares as the one alleged to have been lost, stolen, mislaid, or destroyed.

 

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CERTIFICATE OF SECRETARY

 

I, Rebecca Levey, Secretary of Heritage Commerce Corp, a California corporation, do hereby certify that the following is a true and correct copy of resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the corporation at its meeting held on December 16, 2008; that the originals thereof are contained in Minute Book of the corporation; and that such resolutions are in full force and effect and have not been altered, attended, modified or revoked;

 

Effective December 16, 2008, Section 2.2 of the Bylaws of Heritage Commerce Corp to read in its entry as follows:

 

2.2            Number .  The number of the corporation’s directors shall be not less than eleven nor more than twenty-one, the exact number within such minimum and maximum limits to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the full Board or by resolution of a majority of the shareholders at any meeting thereof.  Notwithstanding anything in these bylaws to the contrary, for so long as the corporation’s Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A (the “Designated Preferred Stock”) is outstanding: (i) whenever, at an time or times, dividends payable on the shares of Designated Preferred Stock have not been paid for an aggregate of six quarterly Dividend Periods (as defined in the Certificate of Determination for the Designated Preferred Stock) or more, whether or not consecutive, the authorized number of directors shall automatically be increased by two (but shall in no event be increased to a number of directors that is greater than the maximum number of directors set forth in Section 2.2 of these bylaws); and (ii) this sentence may not be modified, amended or repealed by the corporation’s board or directors (or any committee thereof) or without the affirmative vote and approval of (x) the stockholders and (y) the holders of at least a majority of the shares of Designated Preferred Stock outstanding at the time of such vote and approval.

 

Dated: December 19, 2008

 

 

 

 

/s/ Rebecca Levey

 

Rebecca Levey, Corporate Secretary

 

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HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP

 

CERTIFICATE OF SECRETARY

 

The undersigned, Janet Walworth, hereby certifies that she is the Corporate Secretary of Heritage Commerce Corp, a California corporation (the “Corporation”), and further certifies, on behalf of the Corporation (and not in her individual capacity), that attached hereto as Exhibit A is true and correct copy of the resolutions which were duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation at a meeting held on December 17, 2009.  The resolutions have not been modified or rescinded as of the date hereof, and are in full force and effect on the date hereof.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereby set my hand this 17th day of December, 2009.

 

 

 

/s/ Janet Walworth

 

Janet Walworth, Secretary

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

AMENDMENT TO SECTION 12.9 OF THE HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP BYLAWS

 

Section 12.9 of the Heritage Commerce Corp Bylaws is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:

 

(a)            The corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any proceeding, by reason of the fact that such person is or was an agent of the corporation, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 317 of the California General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time. The term “agent” in the foregoing sentence means any person who is or was a director, officer, or employee of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, or employee of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.  The term “proceeding”  in the foregoing sentence shall have the meaning given to the term in Section 317 of the California General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time.

 

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CERTIFICATE OF SECRETARY

 

I, Debbie Reuter, Secretary of HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP, a California corporation (the “Corporation”), do hereby certify that the following is a true and correct copy of resolutions adopted by the Shareholders of the Corporation on May 27, 2010, that the originals thereof are contained in the Minute Book of the Corporation; and that such resolutions are in full force and effect and have not been altered, amended, modified or revoked:

 

RESOLVED, that Section 2.2 of the Bylaws of the Corporation be amended to read as follows:

 

“Section 2.2.  Number .  The number of the corporation’s directors shall be not less than nine nor more than fifteen, the exact number within such minimum and maximum limits to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the full Board or by resolution of a majority of the shareholders at any meeting thereof.  Notwithstanding anything in these bylaws to the contrary, for so long as the corporation’s Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A (the “Designated Preferred Stock”) is outstanding: (i) whenever, at an time or times, dividends payable on the shares of Designated Preferred Stock have not been paid for an aggregate of six quarterly Dividend Periods (as defined in the Certificate of Determination for the Designated Preferred Stock) or more, whether or not consecutive, the authorized number of directors  shall automatically be increased by two (but shall in no event be increased to a number of directors that is greater than the maximum number of directors set forth in Section 2.2 of these bylaws); and (ii) this sentence may not be modified, amended or repealed by the corporation’s board or directors (or any committee thereof) or without the affirmative vote and approval of (x) the stockholders and (y) the holders of at least a majority of the shares of Designated Preferred Stock outstanding at the time of such vote and approval.”

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereby set my hand this 27th day of May, 2010.

 

 

 

/s/ Debbie Reuter

 

Debbie Reuter, Secretary

 


Exhibit 23.1

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Heritage Commerce Corp of our report dated March 16, 2010 with respect to the consolidated financial statements and effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Heritage Commerce Corp, which report appears in the 2009 Form 10-K of Heritage Commerce Corp, and the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.

 

/s/ Crowe Horwath LLP

 

 

 

Costa Mesa, California

 

July 22, 2010