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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): July 3, 2025
 
PATRIOT NATIONAL BANCORP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Connecticut
 
000-29599
 
06-1559137
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
 
(Commission File Number)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
900 Bedford Street
Stamford, Connecticut 06901
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
 
(203) 252-5900
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
 
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
 
 Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
Title of each class
 
Trading Symbol(s)
 
Name of each exchange on which registered
(Voting) Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
 
PNBK
 
NASDAQ Global Market
 
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. ☐
 


 
Item 3.03 Material Modifications to Rights of Security Holders.
 
On July 3, 2025, Patriot National Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) filed an amendment and restatement of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and corrected (the “Amended and Restated Charter”), with the Secretary of State of the State of Connecticut, which was effective the same day.
 
Under the Amended and Restated Charter, the Company is authorized to issue 200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which (i) 170,000,000 shares of Common Stock are designated as voting Common Stock (“Voting Common Stock”) and (ii) 30,000,000 shares are designated as non-voting Common Stock (“Non-Voting Common Stock”) and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, without par value, of which 500,000 shares of Preferred Stock are designated as Series A Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”). In connection with the private placement consummated by the Company on March 20, 2025, the Company issued 90,832 shares of Series A Preferred Stock. As of the close of business on July 3, 2025 (i.e., the date that the Amended and Restated Charter was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Connecticut), such issued and outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock automatically converted into 7,266,560 shares of Non-Voting Common Stock, in the aggregate, without any further action on the part of any holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock.
 
As of July 3, 2025, there were 84,783,830 shares of Voting Common Stock issued and outstanding, and 7,266,560 shares of Non-Voting Common Stock, and, therefore, as of July 3, 2025, 18,410,078 shares of Voting Common Stock represented the maximum number of shares of Voting Common Stock that may be granted pursuant to awards under the Company’s 2025 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan.
 
A summary of the terms of Non-Voting Common Stock is included in (i) the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 27, 2025 (the “Proxy Statement”) and (ii) the description of the Company’s capital stock, attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1.
 
The descriptions of the terms of the Non-Voting Common Stock contained herein and in the Proxy Statement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended and Restated Charter, attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1, and a description of the Company’s capital stock, attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1, each of which is incorporated by reference herein.
 
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
(d) Exhibits.
 
3.1
 
4.1
 
104
 
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
 






 
SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
PATRIOT NATIONAL BANCORP, INC.
 
       
July 8, 2025
By:
/s/ Steven Sugarman
 
   
Steven Sugarman
 
   
President
 
 
 
 
EX-3.1 2 ex_836932.htm EXHIBIT 3.1 ex_836932.htm

Exhibit 3.1

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

PATRIOT NATIONAL BANCORP, INC.

(Pursuant to Sections 33-800 and 33-797 of the Connecticut General Statutes)

 

The undersigned, being a duly authorized officer of Patriot National Bancorp, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Connecticut (the “Corporation”), does hereby certify:

 

FIRST: That this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) was duly adopted and approved by the shareholders of the Corporation in the manner required by Section 33-800 of the Connecticut General Statutes and by the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and corrected, at a duly convened meeting thereof held on June 26, 2025.

 

SECOND: That the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended and corrected, be, and the same hereby is, amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

I. CORPORATE NAME. The name of the corporation is Patriot National Bancorp, Inc. (hereinafter the “Corporation”). The principal office of the Corporation shall be located in the City of Stamford, County of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut.

 

II. CAPITAL STOCK.

 

(a) The amount of the capital stock of the Corporation hereby authorized is 201,000,000 shares, which consist of 200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), of which (i) 170,000,000 shares of Common Stock shall be designated as voting Common Stock (“Voting Common Stock”) and (ii) 30,000,000 shares shall be designated as non-voting Common Stock (“Non-Voting Common Stock” and together with the Voting Common Stock, “Common Stock”), and 1,000,000 shares shall be designated as preferred stock, without par value (“Preferred Stock”).

 

(b) Voting Common Stock. Subject to all of the rights of the Preferred Stock, if any, and except as provided by law or in this Article II (or in any certificate of amendment related to any series of Preferred Stock):

 

(i) the holders of the Voting Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and on all other matters requiring shareholder action;

 

(ii) in all elections of directors, the number of votes each holder of Voting Common Stock may cast will be determined by multiplying the number of shares he, she or it owns by the number of directors to be elected, and those votes may be cumulated and cast for a single candidate or may be distributed among two or more candidates in the manner selected by such holder of Voting Common Stock;

 

(iii) in all matters (other than the election of directors), each holder of a share of Voting Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share held by such holder;

 

(iv) dividends may be declared and paid or set apart for payment upon the Voting Common Stock out of any assets or funds of the Corporation legally available for the payment of dividends, but only when and as declared by the Board of Directors (the “Board”);

 







 

(v) upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the net assets of the Corporation shall be distributed pro rata to the holders of the Voting Common Stock in accordance with their respective rights and interests; and

 

(vi) the Corporation will not be prohibited from repurchasing or otherwise acquiring shares of Voting Common Stock in voluntary transactions with the holders thereof, subject to compliance with any applicable legal or regulatory requirements, including applicable regulatory capital requirements. Any shares of Voting Common Stock repurchased or otherwise acquired may be reissued as additional shares of Voting Common Stock.

 

(c) Non-Voting Common Stock. Each share of Non-Voting Common Stock shall have the designations, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications, or terms or conditions of redemption as described in Annex A attached to this Certificate of Incorporation, which Annex A is hereby made a part hereof as if set out in full in this subsection of the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

(d) Preferred Stock. The Board is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by law and the provisions of this Article II, to provide by resolution for the issuance of the shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, and by filing a certificate pursuant to the applicable law of the State of Connecticut, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights of the shares of each such series and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. The authority of the Board with respect to each series shall include, but not be limited to, determination of the following:

 

(i) The number of shares constituting that series and the distinctive designation of the series;

 

(ii) The dividend rate on the shares of that series, whether dividends shall be cumulative and, if so, from which date or dates, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment of dividends on shares of that series;

 

(iii) Whether the shares of that series shall have voting rights, in addition to the voting rights provided by law and, if so, the terms of such voting rights;

 

(iv) Whether the shares of that series shall have conversion or exchange privileges and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange, including provision for adjustment of the conversion or exchange rate in such events as the Board of Directors shall determine;

 

(v) Whether the shares of that series shall be redeemable and, if so, the terms and conditions of such redemption, including the date or dates upon or after which they shall be redeemable, and the amount per share payable in case of redemption, which amount may vary under different conditions and at different redemption dates;

 

(vi) Whether the shares of that series shall have a sinking fund for the redemption or purchase of shares of that series and, if so, the terms and amounts of such sinking fund;

 

(vii) The rights of the shares of that series in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment of shares of that series; and

 

(viii) Any other relative rights, preferences and limitations of that series.

 







 

Dividends on outstanding shares of Preferred Stock shall be paid, or declared and set apart for payment, before any dividends shall be paid, or declared and set apart for payment, on the Common Stock with respect to the same dividend period.

 

If, upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the assets available for distribution to holders of shares of Preferred Stock of all series shall be insufficient to pay such holders the full preferential amount to which they are entitled, then such assets shall be distributed ratably among the shares of all series of Preferred Stock in accordance with the respective preferential amounts (including unpaid cumulative dividends, if any) payable with respect thereto.

 

(e) Series A Preferred Stock. 500,000 shares of Preferred Stock shall be designated as Series A Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), which may from time to time be increased or decreased (but not below the number then outstanding) by the Corporation’s Board. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have the following rights, privileges, and designations:

 

(i) Unless the shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have previously been converted into shares of Common Stock, as of the close of business on the date that this Certificate of Incorporation is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Connecticut, as required by applicable law, each issued and outstanding share of Series A Preferred Stock will automatically convert into 80 shares of Non-Voting Common Stock, without any further action on the part of any holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

(ii) Upon conversion into shares of Non-Voting Common Stock, as set forth in subsection (i) above, any shares of Series A Preferred Stock so converted shall cease to be issued and outstanding and any certificates evidencing such shares of Series A Preferred Stock will be cancelled, in each case, subject to the right of holders of such shares to receive the number of shares of Non-Voting Common Stock into which such shares of Series A Preferred Stock have been converted.

 

(iii) Shares of Series A Preferred Stock duly converted in accordance herewith shall resume the status of authorized and unissued Preferred Stock, undesignated as to series and available for future issuance (provided that any such cancelled shares of Series A Preferred Stock may be reissued only as shares of any series of Preferred Stock other than Series A Preferred Stock).

 

(iv) In the event that a holder of Series A Preferred Stock shall not by written notice designate the name, in which shares of Non-Voting Common Stock to be issued upon conversion of shares of Series A Preferred Stock should be registered, or the manner in which such shares should be delivered, the Corporation shall be entitled to register and deliver such shares, and make such payment, in the name of the holder and in the manner shown on the records of the Corporation.

 

(f) No shareholder of the Corporation shall by reason of his, her or its holding shares of capital stock of the Corporation have any preemptive or preferential rights to purchase or subscribe to any share of any class of stock of the Corporation, now or hereafter to be authorized, or to any obligation convertible into stock of the Corporation, issued or sold, nor any right of subscription to any thereof other than such, if any, as the Board, in its discretion, may from time to time determine and at such price as the Board may fix from time to time.

 







 

(g) If a holder of capital stock is entitled to fractional shares pursuant to preemptive rights, a stock dividend, consolidation, or merger, reverse stock split or otherwise, the Corporation may: (i) issue fractional shares; or (ii) in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares, issue script or warrants entitling the holder to receive a full share upon surrendering enough script or warrants to equal a full share; (iii) if there is an established and active market in the Corporation’s stock, make reasonable arrangements to provide the shareholder with an opportunity to realize a fair price through sale of the fraction, or purchase of the additional fraction required for a full share; (iv) remit the cash equivalent of the fraction to the shareholder; or (v) sell full shares representing all the fractions at public auction or to the highest bidder after having solicited and received sealed bids from at least three licensed stockbrokers and distribute the proceeds pro rata to each shareholder who otherwise would be entitled to the fractional shares. The holder of a fractional share is entitled to exercise the rights for shareholder, including the right to vote, to receive dividends, and to participate in the assets of the Corporation upon liquidation, in proportion to the fractional interest. The holder of script or warrants is not entitled to any of these rights unless the script or warrants explicitly provide for such rights. The script or warrants may be subject to such additional conditions as: (y) that the script or warrants will become void if not exchanged for full shares before a specified date; and (z) that the shares for which the script or warrants are exchangeable may be sold at the option of the Corporation and the proceeds paid to script holders.

 

(h) At any time when there is more than one class of capital stock, unless otherwise duly authorized by the Board, then all shares of voting stock shall be voted together as a class on any matters requiring shareholder approval. If a proposed amendment would affect two or more classes in the same or a substantially similar, way, all the classes or series so affected, must vote together as a single voting group on the proposed amendment. At any time there is more than one class of capital stock, shares of the same class may be issued as a dividend on a pro rata basis and without consideration. Unless otherwise provided by the Board, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to a share dividend shall be the date the Board authorizes the share dividend.

 

III. REGISTERED OFFICE. The registered office for the Corporation is 900 Bedford Street, Stamford, Connecticut 06901.

 

IV. POWERS. The nature of the business to be transacted, and the purposes to be promoted, carried out or engaged in by the Corporation are the following activities:

 

(a) To acquire, invest in, or hold stock in any subsidiary, where such act is permitted under the United States Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, 12 U.S.C. 1841, et. seq., as such statute may be amended from time to time, and to engage in any other enterprise or activity which may be lawfully conducted under said statute; and

 

(b) To engage generally in any other business that may, in accordance with the above-named statute, lawfully be conducted and carried on by a Corporation organized under the Connecticut Business Corporation Act.

 

V. DIRECTOR LIABILITY. The personal liability to the Corporation or its shareholders of a person who is or was a director of the Corporation for monetary damages for breach of duty as a director shall be limited to an amount that is not greater than the amount of the compensation received by the director for serving the Corporation during the year of the violation if such breach did not (a) involve a knowing and culpable violation of law by the director; (b) enable the director or an associate, as defined in Section 33-840 or any similar successor provision of the Connecticut General Statutes, to receive an improper personal economic gain; (c) show a lack of good faith and a conscious disregard for the duty of the director to the Corporation under circumstances in which the director was aware that his conduct or omission created an unjustifiable risk of serious injury to the Corporation; (d) constitute a sustained and unexcused pattern of inattention that amounted to an abdication of the director’s duty to the Corporation; or create liability under Sections 33-757 or 36a-58 of the Connecticut General Statutes, as they may be amended or replaced from time to time. This Section V shall not limit or preclude the liability of a person who is or was a director for any act or omission occurring prior to the effective date hereof. Any lawful repeal or amendment of this Section V or the adoption of any provision inconsistent herewith by the Board and the shareholders of the Corporation shall not, with respect to a person who is or was a director, adversely affect any limitation of liability, right or protection existing at or prior to the effective date of such repeal, modification or adoption of a provision inconsistent herewith.

 







 

VI. INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT. The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted or required by Sections 33-770 through 33-778, inclusive, of the Connecticut General Statutes, as the same may be amended and supplemented, and 12 CFR Part 359, as applicable (together with Sections 33-770 through 33-778, inclusive, of the Connecticut General Statutes, the “Sections”), indemnify and provide advancement to any and all directors, officers, and such other persons determined by the Board, whom it shall have power to indemnify under said Sections from and against any and all of the expenses, liabilities or other matters referred to in or covered by said Sections, and the indemnification provided for herein shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under any law, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and 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 such a person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent the Corporation is a bank holding company, in no event shall such indemnification and advancement exceed that permitted under applicable laws and regulations applicable to bank holding companies and relating to conduct that occurs while the Corporation is a bank holding company.

 

VII. DIRECTORS; BYLAWS. All the powers of the Corporation, insofar as the same may be lawfully vested by this Certificate of Incorporation in the Board, are hereby conferred upon the Board. In furtherance and not in limitation of that power, the Board shall have the power to make, adopt, alter, amend and repeal from time to time Bylaws of the Corporation (“Bylaws”), subject to the right of the shareholders entitled to vote with respect thereto to adopt, alter, amend and repeal Bylaws made by the Board.

 

The business, property and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by and under the direction of the Board. The number of directors shall be not less than five (5) and not more than twenty-five (25) as fixed from time to time by the Board pursuant to the Corporation’s Bylaws.

 

The terms, classifications, qualifications, and election of the Board, and the method of filling vacancies thereon, shall be as provided herein and in the Bylaws.

 



 

ANNEX A

 

Shares of the Non-Voting Common Stock shall have the powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions as set forth below:

 

1.  Definitions.

 

(a) “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(b) “Control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

(c) “Maximum Voting Securities” mean, in connection with any one or more conversions of Non-Voting Common Stock by any Holder, without prior receipt of Regulatory Approvals to enable the holder of Non-Voting Common Stock to acquire a higher percentage of the Voting Common Stock (or any other class of Voting Securities issued by the Corporation) than such holder or any of the holder’s Affiliates owned of record or beneficially immediately prior to the conversion, not more than 9.99% of the Voting Common Stock (or of any other class of Voting Securities issued by the Corporation), excluding for the purpose of this calculation any reduction in ownership resulting from transfers by such holder of Voting Securities of the Corporation (which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include Non-Voting Common Stock), provided that any right to convert shall not be available if it would result in such holder being deemed to control, including pursuant to the terms of 12 C.F.R. § 225.9(a)(1) and/or 12 C.F.R. § 225.9 (a)(5), Voting Securities that would result in such holder being deemed to control the Corporation or the Bank for purposes of the BHC Act or the CIBC Act or any implementing regulations thereunder, and provided further that the right to convert Non-Voting Common Stock into Voting Common Stock shall not be available to a transferee of shares of Non-Voting Common Stock with respect to a transfer other than a Permissible Transfer.

 

(d) “Permissible Transfer” means a transfer by the holder of Non-Voting Common Stock (i) to the Corporation; (ii) in a widely distributed public offering of the Voting Common Stock or Non-Voting Common Stock; (iii) that is part of an offering that is not a widely distributed public offering of the Voting Common Stock or Non-Voting Common Stock but is one in which no one transferee (or group of associated transferees) acquires the right to receive two percent (2%) or more of any class of the Voting Securities of the Corporation then outstanding (including pursuant to a related series of transfers); (iv) that is part of a transfer of the Voting Common Stock or Non-Voting Common Stock to an underwriter for the purpose of conducting a widely distributed public offering; or (v) to a transferee that controls more than fifty percent (50%) of the Voting Securities of the Corporation without giving effect to such transfer.

 

(e) “Person” means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, limited liability company or trust.

 

(f) “Principal Trading Market” means whichever of the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE Amex, the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the NASDAQ Global Market, the NASDAQ Capital Market, or the OTC Pink, on which the Voting Common Stock is primarily listed or quoted for trading on the date in question.

 







 

(g) “Regulatory Approvals” with respect to any holder, means the collective reference, to the extent applicable and required to permit such holder to convert such holder’s shares of Non-Voting Common Stock into Voting Common Stock and to own such Voting Common Stock without such holder being in violation of applicable law or rules of the Principal Trading Market, the receipt of approvals and authorizations of, filings and registrations with, notifications to, or expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period under, the federal Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHC Act”), the federal Change in Bank Control Act (the “CIBC Act”) or any similar state laws, Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 or the competition or merger control laws of other jurisdictions, in each case to the extent necessary to permit such holder to convert such shares of Non-Voting Common Stock and own shares of Voting Common Stock pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation.

 

(h) “Voting Security” has the meaning set forth in 12 C.F.R. Section 225.2(q) or any successor provision.

 

2. Dividends. The Non-Voting Common Stock will rank pari passu with the Voting Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends or distributions, whether payable in cash, securities, options or other property, and with respect to issuance, grant or sale of any rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property (collectively, the “Dividends”). Accordingly, the holders of record of Non-Voting Common Stock will be entitled to receive as, when, and if declared by the Board, Dividends in the same per share amount as paid on the Voting Common Stock, and no Dividends will be payable on the Voting Common Stock or any other class or series of capital stock ranking with respect to Dividends pari passu with the Voting Common Stock unless a Dividend identical to that paid on the Voting Common Stock is payable at the same time on the Non-Voting Common Stock in an amount per share of Non-Voting Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the per share Dividend declared and paid in respect of each share of the Voting Common Stock and (ii) the number of shares of the Voting Common Stock into which such share of Non-Voting Common Stock is then convertible (without regard to any limitations on conversion of the Non-Voting Common Stock); provided however, that if a stock Dividend is declared on Voting Common Stock payable solely in Voting Common Stock, the holders of Non-Voting Common Stock will be entitled to a stock Dividend payable solely in shares of Non-Voting Common Stock. Dividends that are payable on Non-Voting Common Stock will be payable to the holders of record of Non-Voting Common Stock as they appear on the stock register of the Corporation on the applicable record date, as determined by the Board, which record date will be the same as the record date for the equivalent Dividend of the Voting Common Stock. In the event that the Board does not declare or pay any Dividends with respect to shares of the Voting Common Stock, then the holders of Non-Voting Common Stock will have no right to receive any Dividends.

 

3. Liquidation.

 

(a) Rank. The Non-Voting Common Stock will, with respect to rights upon liquidation, winding up and dissolution, rank (i) subordinate and junior in right of payment to all other securities of the Corporation that, by their respective terms, are senior to the Non-Voting Common Stock or the Voting Common Stock, and (ii) pari passu with the Voting Common Stock.

 

(b) Liquidation Distributions. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Non-Voting Common Stock will be entitled to receive, for each share of Non-Voting Common Stock, out of the assets of the Corporation or proceeds thereof (whether capital or surplus) available for distribution to stockholders of the Corporation, subject to the rights of any Persons to whom the Non-Voting Common Stock is subordinate, a distribution (“Liquidation Distribution”) equal to (i) any authorized and declared, but unpaid, Dividends with respect to such share of Non-Voting Common Stock at the time of such liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and (ii) the amount the holder of such share of Non-Voting Common Stock would receive in respect of such share if such share had been converted into shares of the Voting Common Stock at the then applicable conversion rate at the time of such liquidation, dissolution or winding up (assuming the conversion of all shares of Non-Voting Common Stock at such time, without regard to any limitations on conversion of the Non-Voting Common Stock). All Liquidation Distributions to the holders of the Non-Voting Common Stock and Voting Common Stock set forth in clause (ii) above will be made pro rata to the holders thereof.

 







 

(c) Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation. For purposes of this Section 3, the merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any other corporation or other entity, including a merger or consolidation in which the holders of Non-Voting Common Stock receive cash, securities or other property for their shares, or the sale, lease or exchange (for cash, securities or property) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, will not constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

 

4. Conversion.

 

(a) General.

 

(i) A holder of Non-Voting Common Stock shall be permitted to convert, or upon the written request of the Corporation shall convert, shares of Non-Voting Common Stock into shares of the Voting Common Stock at any time or from time to time, provided that upon such conversion the holder, together with all Affiliates of the holder, will not own or control in the aggregate more than the Maximum Voting Securities. In any such conversion, each share of Non-Voting Common Stock will convert initially into one (1) share of the Voting Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5 below.

 

(ii) Each share of Non-Voting Common Stock will automatically convert into one (1) share of the Voting Common Stock, without any further action on the part of any holder, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5 below, on the date a holder of Non-Voting Common Stock transfers any shares of Non-Voting Common Stock to a non-affiliate of the holder in a Permissible Transfer.

 

(iii) To effect any permitted conversion under Section 4(a)(i) or Section 4(a)(ii), the holder shall surrender the certificate or certificates, if any, evidencing such shares of Non-Voting Common Stock, duly endorsed, at the registered office of the Corporation, and provide written instructions to the Corporation as to the number of whole shares for which such conversion shall be effected, together with any appropriate documentation that may be reasonably required by the Corporation. Upon the surrender of such certificate(s), the Corporation will issue and deliver to such holder (in the case of a conversion under Section 5(a)(i)) or such holder’s transferee (in the case of a conversion under Section 5(a)(ii)) a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of the Voting Common Stock into which the Non-Voting Common Stock has been converted and, in the event that such conversion is with respect to some, but not all, of the holder’s shares of Non-Voting Common Stock, the Corporation shall deliver to such holder a certificate or certificate(s) representing the number of shares of Non-Voting Common Stock that were not converted to Common Stock.

 

(iv) All shares of the Voting Common Stock delivered upon conversion of the Non-Voting Common Stock shall be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests, charges and other encumbrances.

 

(b) Reservation of Shares Issuable Upon Conversion. The Corporation will at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Voting Common Stock solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Non-Voting Common Stock such number of shares of the Voting Common Stock as will from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding Non-Voting Common Stock; and if at any time the number of shares of authorized but unissued Voting Common Stock will not be sufficient to effect the conversion of all then outstanding Non-Voting Common Stock, the Corporation will take such action as may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued Voting Common Stock to such number of shares as will be sufficient for such purpose.

 







 

(c) No Impairment. The Corporation will not, by amendment of its Certificate of Incorporation or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed hereunder by the Corporation, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all the provisions of this Section 5 and in the taking of all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the conversion rights of the holders of the Non-Voting Common Stock against impairment.

 

(d) Compliance with Law. Prior to the delivery of any securities that the Corporation shall be obligated to deliver upon conversion of the Non-Voting Common Stock, the Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts to comply with any federal and state laws and regulations thereunder requiring the registration of such securities with, or any approval of or consent to the delivery thereof by, any governmental authority.

 

(e) Listing. The Corporation hereby covenants and agrees that the Corporation will, as permitted by the rules of any national securities exchange, on which the Voting Common Stock is listed, list and keep listed, so long as the Voting Common Stock shall be so listed on such exchange, all shares of the Voting Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Non-Voting Common Stock; provided, however, that if the rules of such exchange require the Corporation to defer the listing of such shares of Voting Common Stock until the first conversion of Non-Voting Common Stock into Voting Common Stock in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Corporation covenants to list such shares of Voting Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Non-Voting Common Stock in accordance with the requirements of such exchange at such time.

 

5. Adjustments.

 

(a) Combinations or Divisions of the Voting Common Stock. In the event that the Corporation at any time or from time to time will effect a division of the Voting Common Stock into a greater number of shares (by stock split, reclassification or otherwise other than by payment of a Dividend in Voting Common Stock or in any right to acquire the Voting Common Stock), or in the event the outstanding Voting Common Stock will be combined or consolidated, by reclassification, reverse stock split or otherwise, into a lesser number of shares of the Voting Common Stock, then the dividend, liquidation, and conversion rights of each share of Non-Voting Common Stock in effect immediately prior to such event will, concurrently with the effectiveness of such event, be proportionately decreased or increased, as appropriate.

 

(b) Reclassification, Exchange or Substitution. If the Voting Common Stock is changed into the same or a different number of shares of any other class or classes of stock, whether by capital reorganization, reclassification or otherwise (other than a division or combination of shares provided for in Section 5(a) above), (1) the conversion ratio then in effect will, concurrently with the effectiveness of such transaction, be adjusted so that each share of the Non-Voting Common Stock will be convertible into, in lieu of the number of shares of the Voting Common Stock which the holders of the Non-Voting Common Stock would otherwise have been entitled to receive, a number of shares of such other class or classes of stock equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of such other class or classes of stock that a holder of a share of the Voting Common Stock would be entitled to receive in such transaction and (ii) the number of shares of the Voting Common Stock into which such share of Non-Voting Common Stock is then convertible (without regard to any limitations on conversion of the Non-Voting Common Stock) immediately before that transaction and (2) the Dividend and Liquidation Distribution rights then in effect will, concurrently with the effectiveness of such transaction, be adjusted so that each share of Non-Voting Common Stock will be entitled to a Dividend and Liquidation Distribution right, in lieu of with respect to the number of shares of the Voting Common Stock which the holders of the Non-Voting Common Stock would otherwise have been entitled to receive, with respect to a number of shares of such other class or classes of stock equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of such other class or classes of stock that a holder of a share of the Voting Common Stock would be entitled to receive in such transaction and (ii) the number of shares of the Voting Common Stock into which such share of Non-Voting Common Stock is then convertible (without regard to any limitations on conversion of the Non-Voting Common Stock) immediately before that transaction.

 







 

(c) Certificates as to Adjustments. Upon the occurrence of each adjustment or readjustment pursuant to this Section 5, the Corporation at its expense will promptly compute such adjustment or readjustment in accordance with the terms hereof and prepare and furnish to each holder of Non-Voting Common Stock a certificate executed by the Corporation’s President (or other appropriate officer) setting forth such adjustment or readjustment and showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment or readjustment is based. The Corporation will, upon the written request at any time of any holder of Non-Voting Common Stock, furnish or cause to be furnished to such holder a like certificate setting forth (i) such adjustments and readjustments, and (ii) the number of shares of the Voting Common Stock and the amount, if any, of other property which at the time would be received upon the conversion of the Non-Voting Common Stock.

 

6. Reorganization, Mergers, Consolidations or Sales of Assets. If at any time or from time to time there will be a capital reorganization of the Voting Common Stock (other than a subdivision, combination, reclassification or exchange of shares otherwise provided for in Section 5) or a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into another corporation, or the sale of all or substantially all the Corporation’s properties and assets to any other Person, then, as a part of such reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale, provision will be made so that the holders of the Non-Voting Common Stock will thereafter be entitled to receive upon conversion of the Non-Voting Common Stock, the number of shares of stock or other securities or property of the Corporation, or of the successor company resulting from such merger or consolidation or sale, to which a holder of that number of shares of the Voting Common Stock deliverable upon conversion of the Non-Voting Common Stock would have been entitled to receive on such capital reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale (without regard to any limitations on conversion of the Non-Voting Common Stock).

 

7. Redemption. Except to the extent a liquidation under Section 3 may be deemed to be a redemption, the Non-Voting Common Stock will not be redeemable at the option of the Corporation or any holder of Non-Voting Common Stock at any time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation will not be prohibited from repurchasing or otherwise acquiring shares of Non-Voting Common Stock in voluntary transactions with the holders thereof, subject to compliance with any applicable legal or regulatory requirements, including applicable regulatory capital requirements. Any shares of Non-Voting Common Stock repurchased or otherwise acquired may be reissued as additional shares of Non-Voting Common Stock.

 

8. Voting Rights. The holders of Non-Voting Common Stock will not have any voting rights, except as may otherwise from time to time be required by law.

 

9. Protective Provisions. So long as any shares of Non-Voting Common Stock are issued and outstanding, the Corporation will not (including by means of merger, consolidation or otherwise), without obtaining the approval (by vote or written consent) of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Non-Voting Common Stock, (i) alter or change the rights, preferences, privileges or restrictions provided for the benefit of the holders of the Non-Voting Common Stock so as to affect them adversely, (ii) increase or decrease the authorized number of shares of Non-Voting Common Stock or (iii) enter into any agreement, merger or business consolidation, or engage in any other transaction, or take any action that would have the effect of adversely changing any preference or any relative or other right provided for the benefit of the holders of the Non-Voting Common Stock. In the event that the Corporation offers to repurchase shares of the Voting Common Stock, the Corporation shall offer to repurchase shares of Non-Voting Common Stock pro rata based upon the number of shares of the Voting Common Stock such holders would be entitled to receive if such shares were converted into shares of the Voting Common Stock immediately prior to such repurchase.

 







 

10. Notices. All notices required or permitted to be given by the Corporation with respect to the Non-Voting Common Stock shall be in writing, and if delivered by first class United States mail, postage prepaid, to the holders of the Non-Voting Common Stock at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the books of the Corporation, shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder actually receives such notice; provided, however, that failure to duly give such notice by mail, or any defect in such notice, to the holders of any stock designated for repurchase, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the repurchase of any other shares of Non-Voting Common Stock, or of any other matter required to be presented for the approval of the holders of the Non-Voting Common Stock.

 

11. Record Holders. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation will be entitled to recognize the record holder of any share of Non-Voting Common Stock as the true and lawful owner thereof for all purposes and will not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other Person, whether or not it will have express or other notice thereof.

 

12. Term. The Non-Voting Common Stock shall have perpetual term unless converted in accordance with Section 4.

 

13. Replacement Certificates. In the event that any certificate evidencing shares of Non-Voting Common Stock will have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by the Corporation, the posting by such Person of a bond in such amount as the Corporation may determine is necessary as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such certificate, the Corporation or the exchange agent, as applicable, will deliver in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate a replacement certificate.

 

14. Other Rights. The shares of Non-Voting Common Stock have no preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications, or rights, other than as set forth herein or as provided by applicable law.

 

The undersigned hereby declares, under the penalties of false statement, that the statements made in the foregoing Certificate of Incorporation are true.

 

Dated at Stamford, Connecticut, this 1st day of July, 2025.

 

PATRIOT NATIONAL BANCORP, INC.

 

By: /s/ Michael Carrazza

Name: Michael Carrazza

Title: Chairman

 

 
EX-4.1 3 ex_836933.htm EXHIBIT 4.1 ex_836933.htm
 

Exhibit 4.1

 

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

The following description summarizes certain important terms of our capital stock. This summary does not purport to be complete and is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, or “Certificate of Incorporation,” Amended and Restated Bylaws, or “Bylaws,” as well as Purchase Agreements (as defined below), copies of which are included as exhibits to our filings with the SEC and incorporated by reference herein, and to the applicable provisions of the Connecticut Business Corporation Act, as amended, or the “CBCA,” and Bank Holding Company Act, as amended, or the “BHC Act.” We encourage you to carefully read our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and the applicable provisions of the CBCA and BHC Act for a more complete understanding of our capital stock. Unless the context otherwise requires, “we,” “us,” “our,” “Patriot” and the “Company” refer to Patriot National Bancorp, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

General

 

We are authorized to issue 200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, or “Common Stock”, of which (i) 170,000,000 shares of Common Stock are designated as voting Common Stock, or “Voting Common Stock,” and (ii) 30,000,000 shares are designated as non-voting Common Stock, or “Non-Voting Common Stock,” and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, without par value, or “Preferred Stock,” of which 500,000 shares of Preferred Stock are designated as Series A Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock, or the “Series A Preferred Stock.” Shares of our Voting Common Stock are listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “PNBK.”

 

Common Stock

 

Dividends. Subject to preferences that may apply to shares of Preferred Stock outstanding at the time, the holders of our Common Stock are entitled to receive Dividends (as defined below) out of assets legally available at the times and in the amounts as our board of directors may from time to time determine. The ability of our board of directors to declare and pay Dividends on our Common Stock is subject to the laws of the State of Connecticut, applicable federal and state banking laws and regulations, and the terms of any senior securities (including Preferred Stock) that we may then have outstanding. The Non-Voting Common Stock ranks pari passu with the Voting Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends or distributions, whether payable in cash, securities, options or other property, and with respect to issuance, grant or sale of any rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property (collectively, the “Dividends”). Accordingly, the holders of record of Non-Voting Common Stock will be entitled to receive as, when, and if declared by the board of directors, Dividends in the same per share amount as paid on the Voting Common Stock.

 

No Dividends will be payable on the Voting Common Stock or any other class or series of capital stock ranking with respect to Dividends pari passu with the Voting Common Stock unless a Dividend identical to that paid on the Voting Common Stock is payable at the same time on the Non-Voting Common Stock in an amount per share of Non-Voting Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the per share Dividend declared and paid in respect of each share of the Voting Common Stock and (ii) the number of shares of the Voting Common Stock into which such share of Non-Voting Common Stock is then convertible (without regard to any limitations on conversion of the Non-Voting Common Stock); provided however, that if a stock Dividend is declared on Voting Common Stock payable solely in Voting Common Stock, the holders of Non-Voting Common Stock will be entitled to a stock Dividend payable solely in shares of Non-Voting Common Stock.

 

In the event that the board of directors does not declare or pay any Dividends with respect to shares of the Voting Common Stock, then the holders of Non-Voting Common Stock will have no right to receive any Dividends.

 

Preemptive Rights. Except as set forth below, holders of shares of our Common Stock do not have preemptive rights to purchase additional shares of our Common Stock.

 

1

 

Pursuant to the terms of the securities purchase agreements, or the “Purchase Agreements,” dated as of March 20, 2025, that we entered into with certain investors (the “Private Placement”), if during five years after the date of the Purchase Agreements, Patriot or any of its subsidiaries proposes to offer or sell, or the “Offering,” any securities (any such security, a “New Security”) (other than (i) any Voting Common Stock, Non-Voting Common Stock or other securities issuable upon the exercise or conversion of any securities of Patriot issued or agreed or contemplated to be issued as of the date of the Purchase Agreements; (ii) equity grants awarded, or securities issued, pursuant to Patriot’s 2020 Restricted Stock Award Plan, as amended, and the 2025 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan or as an inducement award to a new employee, as applicable; or (iii) issuances of capital stock as full or partial consideration for a merger, acquisition, joint venture, strategic alliance, license agreement or other similar non-financing transaction), then Patriot will use its reasonable best efforts to offer to each investor listed in Schedule II to the Purchase Agreements, who has executed a customary non-disclosure agreement for the limited purpose of this provision thereunder, the right to participate in the Offering on the same terms as such securities are proposed to be offered to others less the amount paid to any investment banker, broker, broker-dealer, finder, or placement agent. To the extent the Offering of the New Security is over-subscribed, each such investor will have a preferential right to subscribe for the amount of New Securities required to enable it to maintain its proportionate Common Stock equivalent interest in Patriot (or its subsidiaries) immediately prior to any such issuance of the New Securities; provided, however, that no such investor will have the right to purchase the New Securities to the extent (i) such purchase would result in such investor, together with any other person whose Patriot securities would be aggregated with such investor’s Patriot securities for purposes of any bank regulation or law, collectively being deemed to own, control or have the power to vote securities which (assuming, for this purpose only, full conversion and/or exercise of such securities by such investor) would represent more than 9.99% (or following the applicable bank regulatory approvals, 24.9% with respect to applicable Co-Lead Investor(s)) (as such term is defined in the Purchase Agreements) of the voting securities or more than 33.3% of Patriot’s total equity outstanding, or (ii) such right would result in such investor being deemed to control, under applicable banking rules and regulations, voting securities that would result in such Selling Securityholder being deemed to control Patriot or the Bank for purposes of the BHC Act or the Change in Bank Control Act or any implementing regulations thereunder. A majority of the directors of the board of directors may waive these preemptive provisions (in whole or in part) or reduce such investor’s allocation in an Offering if the board of directors determines that Patriot must issue equity or debt securities on an expedited basis, that there are strategic reasons to conduct an Offering or include an investor in the Offering who is not an investor listed on Schedule II to the Purchase Agreements, or the compliance with the preemptive provisions (in whole or in part) would negatively impact the timing, terms, size, or value of the Offering or otherwise harm Patriot.

 

In addition, until December 31, 2026, in the event that any Offering of Common Stock or other equity-based securities (other than such offerings described in (i) through (iii) in a preceding paragraph) (a “Subsequent Financing”) is on terms that are more favorable than the terms and conditions, including, without limitation, the purchase price, applicable to the securities purchased in the Private Placement, then Patriot will promptly notify the investors listed on the signature pages to the Purchase Agreements in writing (the “MFN Notice”) and offer such investors the right of first refusal to fund the entirety of the Subsequent Financing on the terms and conditions provided in the MFN Notice, subject to the ownership restrictions set forth in the preceding paragraph. The MFN Notice will include (i) the material terms and conditions of the Subsequent Financing; (ii) copies of any draft definitive agreements, term sheets, or related documentation for the Subsequent Financing; and (iii) the anticipated closing date of the Subsequent Financing.

 

Redemption and Sinking Fund Rights. Our Common Stock is not subject to redemption and does not have any sinking fund provisions. In the event that the Company offers to repurchase shares of the Voting Common Stock, the Company shall offer to repurchase shares of Non-Voting Common Stock pro rata based upon the number of shares of the Voting Common Stock such holders would be entitled to receive if such shares were converted into shares of the Voting Common Stock immediately prior to such repurchase.

 

Voting Rights. Holders of Voting Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share on matters on which our shareholders vote. Holders of Voting Common Stock have cumulative voting rights in all elections of directors. Except as required by law, our Certificate of Incorporation or our Bylaws, matters will generally be decided by a majority of the votes cast at a meeting. A plurality vote standard applies to the election of directors. The holders of Non-Voting Common Stock will not have any voting rights, except as may otherwise from time to time be required by law. So long as any shares of Non-Voting Common Stock are issued and outstanding, the Company will not (including by means of merger, consolidation or otherwise), without obtaining the approval (by vote or written consent) of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Non-Voting Common Stock, (i) alter or change the rights, preferences, privileges or restrictions provided for the benefit of the holders of the Non-Voting Common Stock so as to affect them adversely, (ii) increase or decrease the authorized number of shares of Non-Voting Common Stock or (iii) enter into any agreement, merger or business consolidation, or engage in any other transaction, or take any action that would have the effect of adversely changing any preference or any relative or other right provided for the benefit of the holders of the Non-Voting Common Stock.

 

2

 

Conversion of Non-Voting Common Stock into Voting Common Stock. A holder of Non-Voting Common Stock shall be permitted to convert, or upon the written request of the Company shall convert, shares of Non-Voting Common Stock into shares of the Voting Common Stock at any time or from time to time, provided that upon such conversion the holder, together with all affiliates of the holder, will not own or control in the aggregate more than the Maximum Voting Securities (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation). In any such conversion, each share of Non-Voting Common Stock will convert initially into one (1) share of the Voting Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. Each share of Non-Voting Common Stock will automatically convert into one (1) share of the Voting Common Stock, without any further action on the part of any holder, subject to adjustment as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, on the date a holder of Non-Voting Common Stock transfers any shares of Non-Voting Common Stock to a non-affiliate of the holder in a Permissible Transfer (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation).

 

Liquidation Rights. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our Common Stock will be entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payments to creditors and after satisfaction of the liquidation preference, if any, of the holders of any Preferred Stock that may at the time be outstanding. The Non-Voting Common Stock will, with respect to rights upon liquidation, winding up and dissolution, rank (i) subordinate and junior in right of payment to all other securities of the Company that, by their respective terms, are senior to the Non-Voting Common Stock or the Voting Common Stock, and (ii) pari passu with the Voting Common Stock.

 

In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Non-Voting Common Stock will be entitled to receive, for each share of Non-Voting Common Stock, out of the assets of the Company or proceeds thereof (whether capital or surplus) available for distribution to stockholders of the Company, subject to the rights of any persons to whom the Non-Voting Common Stock is subordinate, a distribution (“Liquidation Distribution”) equal to (i) any authorized and declared, but unpaid, Dividends with respect to such share of Non-Voting Common Stock at the time of such liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and (ii) the amount the holder of such share of Non-Voting Common Stock would receive in respect of such share if such share had been converted into shares of the Voting Common Stock at the then applicable conversion rate at the time of such liquidation, dissolution or winding up (assuming the conversion of all shares of Non-Voting Common Stock at such time, without regard to any limitations on conversion of the Non-Voting Common Stock). All Liquidation Distributions to the holders of the Non-Voting Common Stock and Voting Common Stock set forth in clause (ii) above will be made pro rata to the holders thereof.

 

Anti-Takeover Effects of Applicable Law and Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. Certain provisions of the CBCA, federal banking laws and regulations, our Certificate of Incorporation and our Bylaws contain provisions that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of us. These provisions, which are summarized below, are designed to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors and are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of our board of directors. The description of these provisions is necessarily general and reference should be made to the actual law and regulations and to our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.

 

Federal Banking Law. The ability of a third party to acquire us is limited under applicable U.S. banking laws and regulations. The BHC Act requires any bank holding company (as defined therein) to obtain the approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve prior to acquiring, directly or indirectly, more than 5% of our outstanding Common Stock (which is our only class of voting securities). Any “company” (as defined in the BHC Act) other than a bank holding company would be required to obtain Federal Reserve approval before acquiring “control” of us. “Control” for purpose of the BHC Act generally means (i) the ownership or control of 25% or more of a class of voting securities, (ii) the ability to elect a majority of the directors or (iii) the ability otherwise to exercise a controlling influence over management and policies. Such definition of “control” is subject to certain presumptions and other requirements as set forth in the Federal Reserve’s Regulation Y. Any company that is deemed to hold a “controlling” ownership interest in our outstanding Common Stock for purposes of the BHC Act, would be subject to regulation and supervision as a bank holding company under the BHC Act. In addition, under the Change in Bank Control Act and the Federal Reserve’s regulations thereunder, any person, either individually or acting through or in concert with one or more persons, is required to provide notice to the Federal Reserve prior to acquiring, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of our outstanding Common Stock.

 

3

 

Business Combinations under Connecticut Law. We are subject to the provisions of Section 33-844 of the CBCA which prohibits a Connecticut corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested shareholder” for a period of five years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested shareholder, unless the business combination or the purchase of stock by which such person becomes an interested shareholder is approved by our board of directors, and by a majority of our non-employee directors, of which there shall be at least two, prior to the date on which the person becomes an interested shareholder. A “business combination” generally includes mergers, asset sales, some types of stock issuances and other transactions with, or resulting in a disproportionate financial benefit to, the interested shareholder. Subject to exceptions, an “interested shareholder” is a person who owns 10% or more of the voting power of Patriot’s then outstanding voting stock, or is an affiliate or associate of Patriot and owned 10% or more of the voting power of Patriot’s then outstanding voting stock within the five-year period.

 

We are also subject to Section 33-841 and Section 33-842 of the CBCA. These provisions generally require business combinations with an interested shareholder to be approved by the board of directors and then by the affirmative vote of at least:

 

 

o

the holders of 80% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of our voting stock; and

 

 

o

the holders of 2/3 of the voting power of the outstanding shares of our voting stock, excluding the voting stock held by the interested shareholder;

 

unless the consideration to be received by the shareholders meets certain price and other requirements set forth in Section 33-842 of the CBCA or unless the board of directors of the corporation has by resolution determined to exempt business combinations with that interested shareholder prior to the time that such shareholder became an interested shareholder.

 

We are also subject to Section 33-756(g) of the CBCA, generally permitting directors acting with respect to mergers, sales of assets and other specified transactions to consider, in determining what they reasonably believe to be in the best interests of the corporation, specified interests, including those of the corporation’s employees, customers, creditors and suppliers, and community and societal considerations, including any community in which any office or other facility of the corporation is located. Section 33-756(g) of the CBCA also allows a director to consider, in the discretion of such director, any other factors the director reasonably considers appropriate in determining what the director reasonably believes to be in the best interest of the corporation.

 

Blank Check Preferred Stock. Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that our board of directors may from time-to-time issue one or more series of Preferred Stock without shareholder approval. Our board of directors is authorized to adopt resolutions to, among other things, issue shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series and to fix the designations, powers, preferences, and relative participating, optional or other special rights of the shares of each such series and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. As a result, our board of directors could, without shareholder approval, authorize the issuance of Preferred Stock with voting, dividend, redemption, liquidation, sinking fund, conversion and other rights that could proportionately reduce, minimize or otherwise adversely affect the voting power and other rights of holders of Common Stock or that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control.

 

Board of Directors.  Our Bylaws impose notice and information requirements in connection with the nomination by shareholders of candidates for election as director, and under our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, our board of directors may enlarge the size of the board (not to exceed 25) and fill the vacancies.

 

Transfer Agent. The transfer agent for our Voting Common Stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

 

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Series A Preferred Stock

 

In connection with the Private Placement, we issued 90,832 shares of Series A Preferred Stock. As of the close of business on July 3, 2025 (i.e., the date that the Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Connecticut), each issued and outstanding share of Series A Preferred Stock automatically converted into 80 shares of Non-Voting Common Stock, without any further action on the part of any holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, and ceased to be issued and outstanding and any certificates evidencing such shares of Series A Preferred Stock were cancelled, in each case, subject to the right of holders of such shares to receive the number of shares of Non-Voting Common Stock into which such shares of Series A Preferred Stock have been converted. Shares of Series A Preferred Stock duly converted in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation resume the status of authorized and unissued Preferred Stock, undesignated as to series and available for future issuance (provided that any such cancelled shares of Series A Preferred Stock may be reissued only as shares of any series of Preferred Stock other than Series A Preferred Stock).

 

 

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