CUSIP No. 059690107 | Page 1 of 24 Pages |
Under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 4)
BANCORP RHODE ISLAND, INC.
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, par value
$0.01 per share
(Title of Class of Securities)
059690107
(CUSIP Number)
Mr. John W. Palmer
PL Capital, LLC
20 East Jefferson Avenue
Suite 22
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 848-1340
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
March 1, 2007
(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check the following box [ ].
CUSIP No. 059690107 | Page 2 of 24 Pages |
1 |
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Financial Edge Fund, L.P. | |||||
2 |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) [X] (b) [ ] | ||||
3 |
SEC USE ONLY | |||||
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS WC, OO | |||||
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) |
[ ] | ||||
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware | |||||
| ||||||
NUMBER OF SHARES |
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER 0 |
||||
BENEFICIALLY OWNED |
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER 128,952 |
||||
BY EACH REPORTING |
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 |
||||
PERSON WITH: |
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 128,952 |
||||
| ||||||
11 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 128,952 | |||||
12 |
CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES |
[X] |
||||
13 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 2.7% | |||||
14 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON PN |
CUSIP No. 059690107 | Page 3 of 24 Pages |
1 |
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Financial Edge Strategic Fund, L.P. | |||||
2 |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) [X] (b) [ ] | ||||
3 |
SEC USE ONLY | |||||
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS WC, OO | |||||
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) |
[ ] | ||||
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware | |||||
| ||||||
NUMBER OF SHARES |
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER 0 |
||||
BENEFICIALLY OWNED |
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER 64,092 |
||||
BY EACH REPORTING |
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 |
||||
PERSON WITH: |
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 64,092 |
||||
| ||||||
11 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 64,092 | |||||
12 |
CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES |
[X] |
||||
13 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 1.3% | |||||
14 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON PN |
CUSIP No. 059690107 | Page 4 of 24 Pages |
1 |
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Goodbody/PL Capital, L.P. | |||||
2 |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) [X] (b) [ ] | ||||
3 |
SEC USE ONLY | |||||
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS WC, OO | |||||
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) |
[ ] | ||||
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware | |||||
| ||||||
NUMBER OF SHARES |
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER 0 |
||||
BENEFICIALLY OWNED |
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER 63,676 |
||||
BY EACH REPORTING |
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 |
||||
PERSON WITH: |
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 63,676 |
||||
| ||||||
11 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 63,676 | |||||
12 |
CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES |
[X] |
||||
13 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 1.3% | |||||
14 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON PN |
CUSIP No. 059690107 | Page 5 of 24 Pages |
1 |
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) PL Capital, LLC | |||||
2 |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) [X] (b) [ ] | ||||
3 |
SEC USE ONLY | |||||
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS | |||||
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) |
[ ] | ||||
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware | |||||
| ||||||
NUMBER OF SHARES |
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER 0 |
||||
BENEFICIALLY OWNED |
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER 310,044 |
||||
BY EACH REPORTING |
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 |
||||
PERSON WITH: |
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 310,044 |
||||
| ||||||
11 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 310,044 | |||||
12 |
CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES |
[X] |
||||
13 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 6.5% | |||||
14 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON PN |
CUSIP No. 059690107 | Page 6 of 24 Pages |
1 |
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Goodbody/PL Capital, LLC | |||||
2 |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) [X] (b) [ ] | ||||
3 |
SEC USE ONLY | |||||
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS | |||||
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) |
[ ] | ||||
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware | |||||
| ||||||
NUMBER OF SHARES |
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER 0 |
||||
BENEFICIALLY OWNED |
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER 63,676 |
||||
BY EACH REPORTING |
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 |
||||
PERSON WITH: |
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 63,676 |
||||
| ||||||
11 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 63,676 | |||||
12 |
CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES |
[X] |
||||
13 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 1.3% | |||||
14 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON PN |
CUSIP No. 059690107 | Page 7 of 24 Pages |
1 |
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) PL Capital Advisors, LLC | |||||
2 |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) [X] (b) [ ] | ||||
3 |
SEC USE ONLY | |||||
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS | |||||
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) |
[ ] | ||||
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware | |||||
| ||||||
NUMBER OF SHARES |
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER 0 |
||||
BENEFICIALLY OWNED |
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER 380,720 |
||||
BY EACH REPORTING |
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 |
||||
PERSON WITH: |
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 380,720 |
||||
| ||||||
11 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 380,720 | |||||
12 |
CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES |
[X] |
||||
13 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 8.0% | |||||
14 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON PN |
CUSIP No. 059690107 | Page 8 of 24 Pages |
1 |
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) John W. Palmer | |||||
2 |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) [X] (b) [ ] | ||||
3 |
SEC USE ONLY | |||||
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS AF, PF | |||||
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) |
[ ] | ||||
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION USA | |||||
| ||||||
NUMBER OF SHARES |
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER 1,000 |
||||
BENEFICIALLY OWNED |
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER 380,720 |
||||
BY EACH REPORTING |
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,000 |
||||
PERSON WITH: |
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 380,720 |
||||
| ||||||
11 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 381,720 | |||||
12 |
CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES |
[X] |
||||
13 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 8.0% | |||||
14 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IN |
CUSIP No. 059690107 | Page 9 of 24 Pages |
1 |
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Richard J. Lashley | |||||
2 |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) [X] (b) [ ] | ||||
3 |
SEC USE ONLY | |||||
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS AF, PF | |||||
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) |
[ ] | ||||
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION USA | |||||
| ||||||
NUMBER OF SHARES |
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER 500 |
||||
BENEFICIALLY OWNED |
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER 380,720 |
||||
BY EACH REPORTING |
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 500 |
||||
PERSON WITH: |
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 380,720 |
||||
| ||||||
11 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 381,220 | |||||
12 |
CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES |
[X] |
||||
13 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 8.0% | |||||
14 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IN |
CUSIP No. 059690107 | Page 10 of 24 Pages |
1 |
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) PL Capital Offshore, Ltd. | |||||
2 |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) [X] (b) [ ] | ||||
3 |
SEC USE ONLY | |||||
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS WC, OO | |||||
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) |
[ ] | ||||
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Cayman Islands | |||||
| ||||||
NUMBER OF SHARES |
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER 0 |
||||
BENEFICIALLY OWNED |
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER 7,000 |
||||
BY EACH REPORTING |
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 |
||||
PERSON WITH: |
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 7,000 |
||||
| ||||||
11 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 7,000 | |||||
12 |
CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES |
[X] |
||||
13 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 0.1% | |||||
14 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON CO |
CUSIP No. 059690107 | Page 11 of 24 Pages |
1 |
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) PL Capital Focused Fund, L.P. | |||||
2 |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) [X] (b) [ ] | ||||
3 |
SEC USE ONLY | |||||
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS WC, OO | |||||
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) |
[ ] | ||||
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware | |||||
| ||||||
NUMBER OF SHARES |
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER 0 |
||||
BENEFICIALLY OWNED |
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER 117,000 |
||||
BY EACH REPORTING |
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 |
||||
PERSON WITH: |
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 117,000 |
||||
| ||||||
11 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 117,000 | |||||
12 |
CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES |
[X] |
||||
13 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 2.4% | |||||
14 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON PN |
CUSIP No. 059690107 | Page 12 of 24 Pages |
Item 1. | Security and Issuer |
This Schedule 13D/A relates to the common stock, par value $0.01 per share (Common Stock), of Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc. (the Company or Bancorp RI). The address of the principal executive offices of the Company is One Turks Head Place, Providence, Rhode Island 02903-2219.
Item 2. | Identity and Background |
This Schedule 13D/A is being filed jointly by the parties identified below. All of the filers of this Schedule 13D/A are collectively the PL Capital Group. The joint filing agreement of the members of the PL Capital Group was attached to the initial Schedule 13D as Exhibit 1.
| Financial Edge Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (Financial Edge Fund); |
| Financial Edge-Strategic Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (Financial Edge Strategic); |
| PL Capital/Focused Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (Focused Fund); |
| PL Capital Offshore, Ltd., a Cayman Islands company (PL Capital Offshore); |
| PL Capital, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (PL Capital) and General Partner of Financial Edge Fund, Financial Edge Strategic and Focused Fund; |
| PL Capital Advisors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (PL Capital Advisors), and the investment advisor to PL Capital Offshore, Financial Edge Fund, Financial Edge Strategic, Goodbody/PL Capital, L.P. and Focused Fund; |
| Goodbody/PL Capital, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (Goodbody/PL LP); |
| Goodbody/PL Capital, LLC (Goodbody/PL LLC), a Delaware limited liability company and General Partner of Goodbody/PL LP; and |
| John W. Palmer and Richard J. Lashley, as Managing Members of PL Capital, PL Capital Advisors and Goodbody/PL LLC, members of the Board of Directors of PL Capital Offshore, and as individuals. |
(a)-(c) This Schedule 13D/A is filed by Mr. John W. Palmer and Mr. Richard J. Lashley, with respect to the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by them, as follows:
CUSIP No. 059690107 | Page 13 of 24 Pages |
(1) | shares of Common Stock held in the name of Financial Edge Fund, Financial Edge Strategic, Focused Fund and PL Capital Offshore, in Mr. Palmers and Mr. Lashleys capacity as Managing Members of (A) PL Capital: the General Partner of Financial Edge Fund, Financial Edge Strategic and Focused Fund, and (B) PL Capital Advisors: the investment advisor for Financial Edge Fund, Financial Edge Strategic, Focused Fund and PL Capital Offshore; Messrs. Lashley and Palmer are also members of PL Capital Offshores Board of Directors; |
(2) | shares of Common Stock held in the name of Goodbody/PL LP, in Mr. Palmers and Mr. Lashleys capacity as Managing Members of (A) Goodbody/PL LLC: the General Partner of Goodbody/PL LP, and (B) PL Capital Advisors: the investment advisor for Goodbody/PL LP; and |
(3) | shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Palmer and Mr. Lashley, as individuals. |
The business address of Financial Edge Fund, Financial Edge Strategic, Focused Fund, PL Capital, PL Capital Advisors, Goodbody/PL LP, Goodbody/PL LLC, Mr. Palmer and Mr. Lashley is: c/o PL Capital, 20 East Jefferson Avenue, Suite 22, Naperville, Illinois 60540. Each of Financial Edge Fund, Financial Edge Strategic, Focused Fund, PL Capital, Goodbody/PL LP, PL Capital Advisors and Goodbody/PL LLC are engaged in various interests, including investments.
The business address of PL Capital Offshore is One Capital Place, P.O. Box 847GT, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. PL Capital Offshore is an investment company.
The principal employment of Messrs. Palmer and Lashley is investment management with each of PL Capital, PL Capital Advisors and Goodbody/PL LLC.
(d) During the past five years, no member of the PL Capital Group has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).
(e) During the past five years, no member of the PL Capital Group has been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and, as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, Federal or State securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.
(f) All of the individuals who are members of the PL Capital Group are citizens of the United States.
Item 3. | Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration |
In aggregate, the PL Capital Group owns 382,220 shares of Common Stock of the Company acquired at an aggregate cost of $13,719,310.
The amount of funds expended by Financial Edge Fund to acquire the 128,952 shares of Common Stock it holds in its name is $4,638,404. Such funds were provided from Financial Edge Funds available capital and from time to time by margin provided by Bear Stearns Securities Corp. (Bear Stearns) on such firms usual terms and conditions.
CUSIP No. 059690107 | Page 14 of 24 Pages |
The amount of funds expended by Financial Edge Strategic to acquire the 64,092 shares of Common Stock it holds in its name is $2,301,078. Such funds were provided from Financial Edge Strategics available capital and from time to time by margin provided by Bear Stearns on such firms usual terms and conditions.
The amount of funds expended by Focused Fund to acquire the 117,000 shares of Common Stock it holds in its name is $4,192,004. Such funds were provided from Focused Funds available capital and from time to time by margin provided by Bear Stearns on such firms usual terms and conditions.
The amount of funds expended by PL Capital Offshore to acquire the 7,000 shares of Common Stock it holds in its name was $248,690. Such funds were provided from PL Capital Offshores available capital and margin provided by Bear Stearns on such firms usual terms and conditions.
The amount of funds expended by Goodbody/PL LP to acquire the 63,676 shares of Common Stock it holds in its name is $2,286,092 Such funds were provided from Goodbody/PL LPs available capital and from time to time by margin provided by Bear Stearns on such firms usual terms and conditions.
The amount of funds expended by Mr. Palmer to acquire the 1,000 shares of Common Stock he holds in his name was $35,408. Such funds were provided from Mr. Palmers personal funds.
The amount of funds expended by Mr. Lashley to acquire the 500 shares of Common Stock he holds in his name was $17,634. Such funds were provided from Mr. Lashleys personal funds.
Any purchases of Common Stock made by members of the PL Capital Group using funds borrowed from Bear Stearns, if any, were made in margin transactions on that firms usual terms and conditions. All or part of the shares of Common Stock owned by members of the PL Capital Group may from time to time be pledged with one or more banking institutions or brokerage firms as collateral for loans made by such entities to members of the PL Capital Group. Such loans, if any, generally bear interest at a rate based upon the federal funds rate plus a margin. Such indebtedness, if any, may be refinanced with other banks or broker-dealers. As of the date of this filing, no member of the PL Capital Group has margin or other loans outstanding secured by Common Stock.
Item 4. | Purpose of Transaction |
This is the PL Capital Groups fourth amendment to its initial Schedule 13D filing. The PL Capital Group owns 8.0% of Bancorp RI.
CUSIP No. 059690107 | Page 15 of 24 Pages |
On July 25, 2006, PL Capital representatives Richard Lashley and John Palmer spoke with Ms. Merrill W. Sherman, President and CEO of Bancorp RI and Ms. Linda Simmons, Treasurer and CFO of Bancorp RI. The purpose of the call was to discuss the recently released second quarter operating results as well as managements plans for the future. In PL Capitals view, Bancorp RIs management was not forthcoming with answers to its questions or responsive to its concerns. Management cited Regulation FD as a reason.
Among other things, Messrs. Palmer and Lashley noted that Bancorp RI had not acquired any stock under the five percent stock repurchase authorization announced on April 18, 2006. Management would not provide any details as to why no stock was repurchased or the analytics used, if any, to evaluate stock repurchases. Messrs. Palmer and Lashley inquired about the prospects for achieving positive operating leverage, noting that year over year revenues (second quarter 2006 versus second quarter 2005) were down approximately 1% while operating expenses were up approximately 7%. Management did not provide any details on this issue other than to cite increased growth in commercial loans and deposits. Messrs. Lashley and Palmer told management that PL Capital is concerned that its modeling projects that Bancorp RIs efficiency ratio will remain above 70% in 2007 and 2008, versus PL Capitals expectation for well run commercial banks of 55% to 60%. Management did not confirm or refute PL Capitals projections. Management claimed that 55-60% was unrealistic and they did not share that level as a goal.
Messrs. Palmer and Lashley told management that it was PL Capitals belief that the value of Bancorp RI, if it were to be sold, far exceeded Bancorp RIs value as an independent entity, and that this valuation gap was not going to be closed by continuing to operate as an independent entity, given its current and prospective track record. PL Capital asked management to provide any evidence that this assumption was incorrect. Management did not provide any specific evidence to rebut this assumption, or that the board and management have analytically evaluated different strategic alternatives.
Messrs. Palmer and Lashley informed management that PL Capital generally seeks to become actively involved in the companies in which it invests, if needed, and that this call was managements chance to convince PL Capital why such active involvement was not necessary in this instance. In PL Capitals view, management failed to provide PL Capital with any reason not to become more actively involved in Bancorp RI.
On December 7, 2006, Messrs. Palmer and Lashley met with Ms. Sherman and Ms. Simmons. They discussed Bancorp RIs recent results and prospects and the challenges in the current banking industry environment. Messrs. Palmer and Lashley asked Ms. Sherman if she would arrange a meeting between them and Mr. Malcolm G. Chace, the Chairman of the Bancorp RI Board of Directors, and/or the entire Board of Directors of Bancorp RI. Subsequent to the meeting, Ms. Sherman invited Messrs. Palmer and Lashley to meet with Mr. Chace and the Board Governance and Nominating Committee of the Bancorp RI Board of Directors on January 18, 2007.
On January 18, 2007, Messrs. Palmer and Lashley met with Mr. Chace and the Board Governance and Nominating Committee and explained their backgrounds and discussed the outlook for banks in general and Bancorp RI specifically. They also discussed Messrs. Palmers and Lashleys qualifications to serve on the Bancorp RI Board of Directors. No agreements on board representation were reached at that time. On January 24, 2007, Mr. Chace verbally informed PL Capital principal Richard Lashley that the Nominating Committee had rejected Messrs. Lashleys and Palmers request for board representation.
CUSIP No. 059690107 | Page 16 of 24 Pages |
Subsequent to Mr. Chaces call, on January 24, 2007, Mr. Lashley notified Bancorp RI of his intention to nominate himself and Mr. Palmer as candidates for election to Bancorp RIs Board of Directors at the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, in opposition to the candidates proposed by Bancorp RI management. In connection with such notice and in full compliance with the requirements of Section 3.03 of Article III of Bancorp RIs By-Laws, Mr. Lashley provided Bancorp RI with certain information about himself and Mr. Palmer, including, but not limited to, certain personal information (i.e., name, age, business address and residence address), and information regarding their principal occupation and place of employment, their individual share ownership of Common Stock and the absence of conflicts of interest with the Company. A copy of the nomination letter was attached to Amendment No. 2 to the Schedule 13D as Exhibit 2.
On January 24, 2007 Bancorp RI issued a press release entitled, Board of Directors of Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc. Declines Shareholder Request to Join Board. In the press release, Mr. Chace is quoted as saying, Our Board of Directors is always interested in the views of its shareholders.
On January 25, 2007, PL Capital issued a press release titled, Bancorp Rhode Island Refuses to Allow Largest Outside Shareholder to Ask Questions on Q4 Conference Call. A copy of this press release was attached to Amendment No. 3 to the Schedule 13D as Exhibit 3.
In a letter dated January 31, 2007, from Mr. Lashley to Bancorp RI, a copy of which was attached to Amendment No. 3 to the Schedule 13D as Exhibit 4, Mr. Lashley, on behalf of the PL Capital Group, demanded a list of the shareholders of Bancorp RI and additional related shareholder information.
In a letter dated February 2, 2007, from Bancorp RI to Mr. Lashley, a copy of which was attached to Amendment No. 3 to the Schedule 13D as Exhibit 5, Bancorp RI agreed to provide Mr. Lashley with the list of the shareholders of Bancorp RI and the Cede & Co. breakdown of brokerage and financial institutions. On February 5, 2007, Bancorp RI provided these materials.
On March 1, 2007, the PL Capital Group filed a Preliminary Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A (the Proxy Statement) with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the PL Capital Groups solicitation of proxies to be used at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Bancorp RI. As described more fully in the Proxy Statement, the PL Capital Group will vote the proxies to elect two directors to Bancorp RIs Board of Directors, in opposition to the directors nominated by the Board of Directors of Bancorp RI.
Members of the PL Capital Group may make further purchases of shares of Common Stock, although the PL Capital Group has no present intention of ever increasing PL Capital Groups aggregate holdings above 9.999% of the Companys outstanding Common Stock. Members of the PL Capital Group may dispose of any or all the shares of Common Stock held by them.
CUSIP No. 059690107 | Page 17 of 24 Pages |
To the extent the actions described herein may be deemed to constitute a control purpose with respect to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the regulations thereunder, the PL Capital Group has such a purpose. Except as noted in this Schedule 13D/A, no member of the PL Capital Group has any plans or proposals, which relate to, or would result in, any of the matters referred to in paragraphs (b) through (j), inclusive of Item (4) of Schedule 13D/A. Such individuals may, at any time and from time to time, review or reconsider their positions and formulate plans or proposals with respect thereto.
Item 5. | Interest in Securities of the Company |
The percentages used in this Schedule 13D/A are calculated based upon the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, 4,780,521, reported as the number of outstanding shares as of November 1, 2006, in the Companys Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 8, 2006.
The PL Capital Group made no transactions in the Common Stock within the past 60 days.
(A) | Financial Edge Fund |
(a)-(b) | See cover page. |
(c) | Financial Edge Fund made no transactions in the Common Stock within the past 60 days. |
(d) | Because Messrs. Palmer and Lashley are the Managing Members of PL Capital, the general partner of Financial Edge Fund, they have the power to direct the affairs of Financial Edge Fund, including the voting and disposition of shares of Common Stock held in the name of Financial Edge Fund. Mr. Palmer and Mr. Lashley are also the Managing Members of PL Capital Advisors, the investment advisor of Financial Edge Fund. Therefore, Mr. Palmer and Mr. Lashley are deemed to share voting and disposition power with Financial Edge Fund with regard to those shares of Common Stock. |
(B) | Financial Edge Strategic |
(a)-(b) | See cover page. |
(c) | Financial Edge Strategic made no transactions in the Common Stock within the past 60 days. |
(d) | Because Messrs. Palmer and Lashley are the Managing Members of PL Capital, the general partner of Financial Edge Strategic, they have the power to direct the affairs of Financial Edge Strategic, including the voting and disposition of shares of Common Stock held in the name of Financial Edge Strategic. Mr. Palmer and Mr. Lashley are also the Managing Members of PL Capital Advisors, the investment advisor of Financial Edge Strategic. Therefore, Mr. Palmer and Mr. Lashley are deemed to share voting and disposition power with Financial Edge Strategic with regard to those shares of Common Stock. |
CUSIP No. 059690107 | Page 18 of 24 Pages |
(C) | Focused Fund |
(a)-(b) | See cover page. |
(c) | Focused Fund made no transactions in the Common Stock within the past 60 days. |
(d) | Because Messrs. Palmer and Lashley are the Managing Members of PL Capital, the general partner of Focused Fund, they have the power to direct the affairs of Focused Fund, including the voting and disposition of shares of Common Stock held in the name of Focused Fund. Mr. Palmer and Mr. Lashley are also the Managing Members of PL Capital Advisors, the investment advisor of Focused Fund. Therefore, Mr. Palmer and Mr. Lashley are deemed to share voting and disposition power with Focused Fund with regard to those shares of Common Stock. |
(D) | PL Capital Offshore |
(a)-(b) | See cover page. |
(c) | PL Capital Offshore made no transactions in the Common Stock within the past 60 days. |
(d) | PL Capital Advisors is the investment advisor for PL Capital Offshore. Because Messrs. Palmer and Lashley are the Managing Members of PL Capital Advisors, and members of the Board of Directors of PL Capital Offshore, they have the power to direct the affairs of PL Capital Offshore. Therefore, PL Capital Offshore may be deemed to share with Messrs. Palmer and Lashley voting and disposition power with regard to the shares of Common Stock held by PL Capital Offshore. |
(E) | Goodbody/PL LP |
(a)-(b) | See cover page. |
(c) | Goodbody/PL LP made no transactions in the Common Stock within the past 60 days. |
(d) | Goodbody/PL LLC is the general partner of Goodbody/PL LP. Because Messrs. Palmer and Lashley are the Managing Members of Goodbody/PL LLC, they have the power to direct the affairs of Goodbody/PL LP. Mr. Palmer and Mr. Lashley are also the Managing Members of PL Capital Advisors, the investment advisor of Goodbody/PL LP. Therefore, Goodbody/PL LLC may be deemed to share with Messrs. Palmer and Lashley voting and disposition power with regard to the shares of Common Stock held by Goodbody/PL LP. |
CUSIP No. 059690107 | Page 19 of 24 Pages |
(F) | PL Capital |
(a)-(b) | See cover page. |
(c) | PL Capital has made no purchases or sales of Common Stock directly. |
(d) | PL Capital is the general partner of Financial Edge Fund, Financial Edge Strategic and Focused Fund. Because Messrs. Palmer and Lashley are the Managing Members of PL Capital, they have the power to direct the affairs of PL Capital. Therefore, PL Capital may be deemed to share with Mr. Palmer and Mr. Lashley voting and disposition power with regard to the shares of Common Stock held by Financial Edge Fund, Financial Edge Strategic and Focused Fund. |
(G) | PL Capital Advisors |
(a)-(b) | See cover page. |
(c) | PL Capital Advisors has made no purchases or sales of Common Stock directly. |
(d) | PL Capital Advisors is the investment advisor to Financial Edge Fund, Financial Edge Strategic, Focused Fund, PL Capital Offshore and Goodbody/PL LP. Because they are the Managing Members of PL Capital Advisors, Mr. Palmer and Mr. Lashley have the power to direct the affairs of PL Capital Advisors. In addition, Mr. Palmer and Mr. Lashley are members of PL Capital Offshores Board of Directors. Therefore, PL Capital Advisors may be deemed to share with Mr. Palmer and Mr. Lashley voting and disposition power with regard to the shares of Common Stock held by Financial Edge Fund, Financial Edge Strategic, Focused Fund, PL Capital Offshore and Goodbody/PL LP. |
(H) | Goodbody/PL LLC |
(a)-(b) | See cover page. |
(c) | Goodbody/PL LLC has made no purchases or sales of Common Stock directly. |
(d) | Goodbody/PL LLC is the general partner of Goodbody/PL LP. Because Messrs. Palmer and Lashley are the Managing Members of Goodbody/PL LLC, they have the power to direct the affairs of Goodbody/PL LLC. Therefore, Goodbody/PL LLC may be deemed to share with Messrs. Palmer and Lashley voting and disposition power with regard to the shares of Common Stock held by Goodbody/PL LP. |
CUSIP No. 059690107 | Page 20 of 24 Pages |
(I) | Mr. John Palmer |
(a)-(b) | See cover page. |
(c) | Mr. Palmer made no transactions in the Common Stock within the past 60 days. |
(J) | Mr. Richard Lashley |
(a)-(b) | See cover page. |
(c) | Mr. Lashley made no transactions in the Common Stock within the past 60 days. |
Item 6. | Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Company. |
With respect to Financial Edge Fund, Financial Edge Strategic, and Focused Fund, PL Capital is entitled to an allocation of a portion of profits, if any. With respect to Financial Edge Fund, Financial Edge Strategic, Focused Fund, PL Capital Offshore and Goodbody/PL LP, PL Capital Advisors is entitled to a management fee based upon a percentage of total capital. With respect to Goodbody/PL LP, Goodbody/PL LLC is entitled to an allocation of a portion of profits, if any. With respect to PL Capital Offshore, PL Capital Advisors is entitled to a portion of profits, if any.
Other than the foregoing agreements and the Joint Filing Agreement filed as Exhibit 1 to the initial Schedule 13D, there are no contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships among the persons named in Item 2 hereof and between such persons and any person with respect to any securities of the Company.
CUSIP No. 059690107 | Page 21 of 24 Pages |
Item 7. | Material to be Filed as Exhibits |
Exhibit No. | Description |
1 |
Joint Filing Agreement.* |
2 |
Nomination Letter from Richard J. Lashley to the Company, dated January 24, 2007.* |
3 |
Press Release issued by PL Capital, dated January 25, 2007.* |
4 |
Letter from Richard J. Lashley to the Company, dated January 31, 2007.* |
5 |
Letter from the Company to Richard J. Lashley, dated February 2, 2007.* |
*Filed previously. |
CUSIP No. 059690107 | Page 22 of 24 Pages |
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Date: March 8, 2007
FINANCIAL EDGE FUND, L.P. | ||
By: PL CAPITAL, LLC | ||
General Partner | ||
By: /s/ John Palmer | /s/ Richard Lashley | |
John Palmer | Richard Lashley | |
Managing Member | Managing Member | |
FINANCIAL EDGE-STRATEGIC FUND, L.P. | ||
By: PL CAPITAL, LLC | ||
General Partner | ||
By: /s/ John Palmer | /s/ Richard Lashley | |
John Palmer | Richard Lashley | |
Managing Member | Managing Member | |
PL CAPITAL/FOCUSED FUND, L.P. | ||
By: PL CAPITAL, LLC | ||
General Partner | ||
By: /s/ John Palmer | /s/ Richard Lashley | |
John Palmer | Richard Lashley | |
Managing Member | Managing Member | |
CUSIP No. 059690107 | Page 23 of 24 Pages |
PL CAPITAL OFFSHORE, LTD. | ||
By: PL CAPITAL ADVISORS, LLC | ||
Investment Advisor | ||
By: /s/ John Palmer | /s/ Richard Lashley | |
John Palmer | Richard Lashley | |
Managing Member | Managing Member | |
By: /s/ John Palmer | /s/ Richard Lashley | |
John Palmer | Richard Lashley | |
Director | Director | |
GOODBODY/PL CAPITAL, L.P. | ||
By: GOODBODY/PL CAPITAL, LLC | ||
General Partner | ||
By: /s/ John Palmer | /s/ Richard Lashley | |
John Palmer | Richard Lashley | |
Managing Member | Managing Member | |
CUSIP No. 059690107 | Page 24 of 24 Pages |
GOODBODY/PL CAPITAL, LLC | ||
By: /s/ John Palmer | /s/ Richard Lashley | |
John Palmer | Richard Lashley | |
Managing Member | Managing Member | |
PL CAPITAL ADVISORS, LLC | ||
By: /s/ John Palmer | /s/ Richard Lashley | |
John Palmer | Richard Lashley | |
Managing Member | Managing Member | |
PL CAPITAL, LLC | ||
By: /s/ John Palmer | /s/ Richard Lashley | |
John Palmer | Richard Lashley | |
Managing Member | Managing Member | |
By: | /s/ John Palmer |
John Palmer | |
By: | /s/ Richard Lashley |
Richard Lashley | |