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Item 1.01 | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement |
On August 20, 2025, SmartFinancial, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a Subordinated Note Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with certain institutional accredited investors and qualified institutional buyers (the “Purchasers”), pursuant to which the Company sold and issued $100.0 million in aggregate principal amount of its 7.25% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2035 (the “Notes”). The Notes were issued by the Company to the Purchasers at a price equal to 100% of their face amount. The Company intends to use the net proceeds it received from the sale of the Notes for general corporate purposes, including the redemption of up to $40.0 million of its outstanding 5.625% Fixed-to-Floating Subordinated Notes due 2028. The Purchase Agreement contains certain customary representations, warranties and covenants made by the Company, on the one hand, and the Purchasers, severally and not jointly, on the other hand.
The Notes have a stated maturity of September 1, 2035, are redeemable (i) in whole or in part, on or after September 1, 2030, and (ii) in full, at any time upon the occurrence of certain events. The Notes will bear interest at a fixed rate of 7.25% per year, from and including August 20, 2025 to, but excluding September 1, 2030 or earlier redemption date. From and including September 1, 2030 to, but excluding the maturity date or early redemption date, the interest rate will reset quarterly at a variable rate equal to the then current three-month term secured overnight financing rate (“SOFR”), plus 385 basis points. As provided in the Notes, the interest rate on the Notes during the applicable floating rate period may be determined based on a rate other than three-month term SOFR.
The Notes were offered and sold by the Company in a private placement transaction in reliance on exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506(b) of Regulation D thereunder. On August 20, 2025, in connection with the sale and issuance of the Notes, the Company entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with the Purchasers. Under the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company has agreed to take certain actions to provide for the exchange of the Notes for subordinated notes that are registered under the Securities Act and have substantially the same terms as the Notes (the “Exchange Offer”). Under certain circumstances, if the Company fails to meet its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, it would be required to pay additional interest to the holders of the Notes.
The Notes were issued under an Indenture, dated August 20, 2025 (the “Indenture”), by and between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The Notes are not subject to any sinking fund and are not convertible into or exchangeable, other than pursuant to the Exchange Offer, for any other securities or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The Notes are not subject to redemption at the option of the holder. Prior to September 1, 2030, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole, but not in part, only under certain limited circumstances set forth in the Indenture. On or after September 1, 2030, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at its option, on any interest payment date. Any redemption by the Company would be at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed, together with any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes being redeemed to but excluding the date of redemption.
Principal and interest on the Notes are subject to acceleration only in limited circumstances in the case of certain bankruptcy and insolvency-related events with respect to the Company. The Notes are unsecured, subordinated obligations of the Company, are not obligations of, and are not guaranteed by, any subsidiary of the Company, and rank junior in right of payment to the Company’s current and future senior indebtedness. The Notes are intended to qualify as Tier 2 capital of the Company for regulatory capital purposes.
The form of the Purchase Agreement, form of the Registration Rights Agreement, Indenture and form of the Notes are attached as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2, 4.1 and 4.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K (the “Report”) and are incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes are summaries and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of such documents.
