Business First B SEC Filings

Business First Bancshares, Inc. filed an S-4/A amendment relating to a proposed business combination with Progressive. The excerpt shows customary merger-document structure including consideration and exchange procedures, representations and warranties of each party, mutual covenants, closing and termination provisions, and conditions precedent. The filing references several filing dates including March 7, 2025, May 2, 2025, and a Quarterly Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2025 filed on August 5, 2025. Contact information for corporate secretaries and telephone numbers are listed for Baton Rouge and Monroe offices.

Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) filed an S-4 registration related to a proposed business combination with Progressive (and Progressive Bank) and includes procedural and disclosure schedules for the merger. The filing lists contact information for BFST's CEO and corporate secretary in Baton Rouge and an assistant secretary in Monroe. The agreement requires each party to continue control of its operations prior to the merger's effective time and preserves directors' ability to change recommendations if a superior proposal arises consistent with fiduciary duties.

The agreement permits termination if environmental inspections of Progressive properties reveal adverse findings that are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on Progressive or Progressive Bank, provided such termination occurs on or before October 5, 2025. The filing cites related disclosure and amendment dates including filings dated March 7, 2025, May 2, 2025, and BFST's Quarterly Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2025 filed on August 5, 2025.

Insider sale reported: Saundra Strong, Executive Vice President & General Counsel of Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST), sold 2,363 shares of the company's common stock at a weighted average price of $25.38, executed on 08/22/2025. After the sale she beneficially owns 5,997 shares directly. The filing also reports ownership of 7,908 restricted stock units that convert to common stock on future vesting dates: 3,856 RSUs granted 12/12/2024 vesting through 2027, and 4,052 RSUs granted 03/01/2025 vesting through 2028. Additionally, 2,732 shares of unvested restricted stock (granted 02/01/2024) remain subject to forfeiture and vest on 03/31/2026.

Form 144 filed for Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) reports a proposed sale of 2,363 shares of common stock through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, with an aggregate market value of $59,964.91. The filing lists 29,602,970 shares outstanding and an approximate sale date of 08/22/2025 on NASDAQ. The shares were acquired as restricted stock on 03/31/2025 (2,331 shares) and 03/31/2024 (32 shares). No securities were reported sold in the past three months. Several issuer and filer contact fields in the form are blank.

Patrick E. Mockler, a director of Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST), reported transactions dated 08/18/2025. The filing shows a disposition of 32,142.5 shares of the issuer's common stock and an acquisition of 30,888.472 shares reported at $0, reflected as indirectly owned through the Rita Gardner Mockler Estate account, of which Mockler is executor and for which he disclaims beneficial ownership except to the extent of any pecuniary interest. The report also discloses 1,016 time-based restricted stock units granted on June 26, 2025 under the 2024 Equity Incentive Plan; those RSUs are unvested, will fully vest on June 26, 2026, are economically equivalent to one share each, and are subject to forfeiture under certain conditions. The form is signed by an attorney-in-fact on behalf of Mockler.

Form 4 filing summary

This Form 4 for Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) was filed by reporting person James J. Buquet III, identified as a Director. The filing records a common stock transaction dated 08/04/2025 with transaction code S and a listed price of $23.08. The filing also shows an indirect beneficial ownership entry of 3,689 shares via Mary Mercer Buquet Trust No. 2. The form is signed by attorney-in-fact Heather Roemer on 08/05/2025. Certain numeric fields in Table I appear ambiguous in context.