UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 22, 2018

 

FIRST DEFIANCE FINANCIAL CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Ohio   0-26850   34-1803915
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation) 		  (Commission File No.)   (IRS Employer I.D. No.)

 

  601 Clinton Street, Defiance, Ohio 43512  
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (419) 782-5015

 

  Not Applicable  
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions ( see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company ¨

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

 

 

     

 

 

Section 5 – Corporate Governance and Management

 

Item 5.03 . Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

On June 22, 2018, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of First Defiance Financial Corp. (the “Company”) approved an amendment (the “Amendment”) to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation (the “Articles”) pursuant to Section 1701.70 B(8) of the Ohio Revised Code to increase the number of shares of common stock of the Company, par value $.01 per share (“Common Stock”), that the Company is authorized to issue from 25,000,000 shares to 50,000,000 shares. The Amendment was adopted by the Board in order to effect a stock split in the form of a share distribution of one share of Common Stock on each of the outstanding shares and treasury shares of Common Stock.

 

The Board determined that the stock split will be issued to shareholders of record as of the close of business on July 2, 2018 (the “Record Date”) and on all treasury shares of the Company recorded on the books of the Company at the close of business on the Record Date.

 

A Certificate of Amendment to the Company’s Articles was filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on June 22, 2018, to effect the Amendment. The text of the Amendment is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1. A copy of the press release announcing the stock split is attached as Exhibit 99.1.

 

Section 9 – Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)       Exhibits.

 

 

Exhibit
Number 		  Description
     
3.1   Certificate of Amendment, dated as of June 22, 2018.
99.1   Press Release, dated June 22, 2018.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

  FIRST DEFIANCE FINANCIAL CORP.
       
       
       
  By:   /s/ Kevin T. Thompson
      Kevin T. Thompson
      Chief Financial Officer

 

Date: June 22, 2018

 

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Exhibit 3.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1  

 

 

 

 

For Immediate Release

 

FIRST DEFIANCE FINANCIAL CORP. ANNOUNCES TWO-FOR-ONE STOCK SPLIT

 

DEFIANCE, OHIO (June 22, 2018) – First Defiance Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: FDEF) announced today that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock split in the form of a share distribution of one share of common stock on each of the outstanding shares and treasury shares of common stock. The stock split is payable on July 12, 2018, to shareholders of record on July 2, 2018. The stock split does not change the proportionate interest a stockholder maintains in First Defiance. As a result, the number of outstanding shares of common stock will increase to approximately
20.4 million shares of common stock.

 

In connection with the stock split, the Board of Directors approved an amendment to First Defiance’s Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of shares of common stock that First Defiance is authorized to issue from 25,000,000 shares to 50,000,000 shares. A Certificate of Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of Ohio on June 22, 2018.

 

Donald P. Hileman, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “First Defiance’s strong financial performance record has delivered a five-year total return to shareholders in excess of 200%. We believe this split will enhance the liquidity of our stock by making more shares available in the market within a price range more attractive to investors.”

 

First Defiance Financial Corp.

First Defiance Financial Corp., headquartered in Defiance, Ohio, is the holding company for First Federal Bank of the Midwest and First Insurance Group. First Federal Bank operates 43 full-service branches and numerous ATM locations in northwest and central Ohio, southeast Michigan and northeast Indiana and a loan production office in Ann Arbor, Michigan. First Insurance Group is a full-service insurance agency with nine offices throughout northwest Ohio.

 

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.fdef.com.

 

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