Sec Form 13D Filing - HOLDING FRANK B JR filing for FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES INC (FCNCA) - 2022-01-14

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13D

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Amendment No. 5

FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES, INC.

(Name of Issuer)

CLASS A COMMON STOCK, $1.00 PAR VALUE

(Title of Class of Securities)

31946M-10-3

(CUSIP Number)

William R. Lathan, Jr.

Ward and Smith, P.A.

1001 College Court

New Bern, North Carolina 28562

(252) 672-5400

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

January 3, 2022

(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 §§ 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box ☐.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

SCHEDULE 13D

SEC 1746(12-91)

SCHEDULE 13D

SCHEDULE 13D

SCHEDULE 13D

SCHEDULE 13D

SCHEDULE 13D

This Amendment No. 5 amends and restates the Reporting Persons’ joint Schedule 13D to (1) reflect a reduction in the percentages of the Issuer’s Class A Common Stock beneficially owned by each of the Reporting Persons resulting from consummation, effective January 3, 2022, of the merger of CIT Group Inc. (“CIT”) into the Issuer and the conversion of the outstanding shares of CIT’s common stock into newly issued shares of the Issuer’s Class A Common Stock, and (2) report the termination of the previously disclosed Voting Agreement which was executed and delivered by certain of the Reporting Persons in connection with the merger. This Amendment also updates the numbers of shares of the Issuer’s Class A Common Stock that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by each of the Reporting Persons to reflect changes in their beneficial ownership since the filing of the previous amendment. As a result of the increase in the Issuer’s outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with the merger, the percentage of outstanding shares beneficially owned by each of the Reporting Persons now is less than 5%.

Item 1. Security and Issuer.

This Statement relates to the Class A Common Stock, $1 par value per share (“Class A Common Stock”), of First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (the “Issuer”). The Issuer’s principal executive offices are located at 4300 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27609.

Item 2. Identity and Background.

This statement is filed jointly by Frank B. Holding, Jr., Hope H. Bryant, Olivia B. Holding, Claire H. Bristow, and Carson H. Brice, and their mother, Ella Ann L. Holding. The Reporting Persons are members of the same family, but each of them disclaims membership in a group. Their addresses are as follows:

During the last five years, none of the Reporting Persons have been convicted in any criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors), nor have any of them been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction as a result of which they were or are 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.

Each of the Reporting Persons is a citizen of the United States of America.

8 of 18

Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

The shares of the Issuer’s Class A Common Stock held individually by Frank B. Holding, Jr., Hope H. Bryant, Olivia B. Holding, Claire H. Bristow and Carson H. Brice, respectively, were acquired in part through gifts from their parents, Frank B. Holding and Ella Ann L. Holding, in part with their personal funds, in part in exchange for their shares of First Citizens Bancorporation, Inc. (“Bancorp”) upon its merger into the Issuer effective October 1, 2014 (the “Bancorp Merger”), and in part, directly or indirectly, from or through the estate of their father, Frank B. Holding. Shares held by their children and grandchildren were acquired in part through gifts from them and Frank B. Holding and Ella Ann L. Holding and in part in connection with the Bancorp Merger. Shares held by Ella Ann L. Holding were acquired in part at the time of the Issuer’s formation in 1986 in exchange for shares of its predecessor, in part with personal funds, in part as a beneficiary of her husband, Frank B. Holding’s, estate, and in part in connection with the Bancorp Merger. Shares held by the various entities listed in the tables below were acquired by those entities in part with their separate funds or, in the case of the two charitable foundations, contributions by Lewis R. Holding and Frank B. and Ella Ann L. Holding, and in part in connection with the Bancorp Merger. In connection with the Bancorp Merger, each of the Reporting Persons, their children and the various entities, as shareholders of Bancorp, received shares of the Issuer’s Class A Common Stock in exchange for shares of common stock of Bancorp they held at the time of the Bancorp Merger.

Item 4. Purpose of the Transaction.

Frank B. Holding, Jr., Hope H. Bryant, and Claire H. Bristow’s spouse, Peter M. Bristow, serve as executive officers and directors of the Issuer and, therefore, participate with the Issuer’s management and Board of Directors in the making of policy and the consideration of and taking of action on significant corporate events involving the Issuer. Olivia B. Holding, Carson H. Brice, Claire H. Bristow and Ella Ann L. Holding are the siblings and mother, respectively, of Frank B. Holding, Jr., and Hope H. Bryant, and do not participate in the management or policy-making functions of the Issuer. Shares of the Issuer’s Class A Common Stock beneficially owned by each of them and by each of the other individuals and entities named in the tables below are held as described below for investment purposes.

On October 15, 2020, the Issuer entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among the Issuer, First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company, a North Carolina chartered commercial bank and direct, wholly owned subsidiary of the Issuer (“FCB”), FC Merger Subsidiary IX, Inc., a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of FCB (“Merger Sub”), and CIT Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (“CIT”) and the parent company of CIT Bank, N.A., a national banking association. Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, effective January 3, 2022, Merger Sub merged with and into CIT, with CIT as the surviving entity (the “First-Step Merger”), with the result that each outstanding share of CIT’s common stock was converted into 0.062 shares of the Issuer’s Class A Common Stock. Following the effective time of the First-Step Merger (the “Effective Time”), CIT merged with and into FCB, with FCB as the surviving entity (together with the First-Step Merger, the “CIT Merger”).

As an inducement for CIT to enter into the Merger Agreement, contemporaneously with the execution of the Merger Agreement, Frank B. Holding, Jr. Hope H. Bryant, Claire H. Bristow, and her spouse, Peter M. Bristow, entered into a Voting Agreement (the “Voting Agreement”) with CIT, pursuant to which each of them agreed, among other things:

9 of 18

The Voting Agreement covered shares totaling approximately 29.43% of the then-current total outstanding voting power of the Issuer’s common stock. Any shares or other voting securities of the Issuer with respect to which one of the signers of the Voting Agreement acquired sole voting power or sole power of disposition (including, without limitation, by purchase, as a result of a stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, combination, reclassification, exchange or change of such shares or upon exercise or conversion of any securities of the Issuer, if any) after the date of the Voting Agreement would automatically become subject to the terms of the Voting Agreement for all purposes thereunder.

Under its terms, the Voting Agreement and all obligations thereunder would terminate upon the earlier to occur of: (i) the Effective Time and (ii) the date of termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms; provided, however, that certain obligations would continue for 6 months following the termination of the Merger Agreement related to a bona fide Acquisition Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement).

Upon consummation of the First Step Merger effective January 3, 2022, the Voting Agreement terminated and is of no further force or effect.

Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

The following tables list shares of the Issuer’s Class A Common Stock as to which each of the Reporting Persons may be considered to have sole or shared voting and/or dispositive power as of the filing date of this Schedule 13D/A, and the percentage of the outstanding shares of the Issuer’s Class A Common Stock (14,959,994 outstanding shares as of January 3, 2022, including shares issued in connection with the CIT Merger) represented by the shares listed for each Reporting Person. In the aggregate, the reporting persons may be considered to beneficially own 2,874,258 shares of Class A Common Stock, or approximately 19.21%% of the outstanding shares of that class. Other entities in which certain of the Reporting Persons are shareholders and serve as directors hold 466,532 shares of Class A Common Stock, or approximately 3.12%% of the outstanding shares of the class. The Reporting Persons disclaim voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by those other entities.

In addition to the shares of Class A Common Stock described in the tables below, the Reporting Persons may be considered to beneficially own, in the aggregate, approximately 63.52% of the outstanding shares of the Issuer’s outstanding Class B Common Stock which is a separate class of common stock, and 0.80% of the Issuer’s outstanding Depositary Shares, and other entities in which certain of the Reporting Persons are shareholders and serve as directors hold approximately 2.70% of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and 2.89% of the outstanding Depositary Shares. The Reporting Persons disclaim voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by those other entities.

10 of 18

Frank B. Holding, Jr. Mr. Holding is, or may be deemed to be, the benefici al owner of an aggregate of 632,688 shares of Class A Common Stock, amounting to 4.23% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock, as described in the table below.

Mr. Holding and his spouse, respectively, receive or have the sole or shared power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the shares beneficially owned by them individually. Mr. Holding, for the benefit of his children and grandchildren, receives or has the power to direct the receipt of dividends and sale proceeds from the shares held by him as custodian. The distribution of dividends and sale proceeds from shares held as a trustee and/or beneficiary of trusts is determined based on the terms of the governing instruments of the trusts. The Foundations receive, or their managements have the power to direct the receipt of, dividends and sale proceeds from the shares they hold.

During the 60 days preceding the filing of this Schedule 13D/A, Mr. Holding received 2,000 shares of Class A Common Stock as a gift, and his grandchildren received an aggregate of 57 shares of Class A Common stock as gifts.

Mr. Holding disclaims voting and dispositive power with respect to certain shares of the Issuer’s Class A Common Stock which are not listed in the table above as follows:

11 of 18

Hope H. Bryant. Mrs. Bryant is, or may be deemed to be, the beneficial owner of an aggregate of 600,876 shares of Class A Common Stock, amounting to 4.02% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock, as described in the table below.

Mrs. Bryant and her spouse, respectively, receive or have the sole or shared power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the shares beneficially owned by them individually. The distribution of dividends and sale proceeds from shares held as a trustee and/or beneficiary of trusts is determined based on the terms of the governing instruments of those trusts. Each of the entities and foundations listed above receives, or its management has the power to direct the receipt of, dividends and sale proceeds from the shares it holds.

12 of 18

During the 60 days preceding the filing of this Schedule 13D/A, Mrs. Bryant received 2,000 shares of Class A Common Stock as a gift.

Mrs. Bryant disclaims voting and dispositive power with respect to certain shares of the Issuer’s Class A Common Stock which are not listed in the table above as follows:

Olivia B. Holding. Ms. Holding is, or may be deemed to be, the beneficial owner of an aggregate of 715,302 shares of Class A Common Stock, amounting to 4.78% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock, as described in the table below.

13 of 18

Ms. Holding receives or has the sole or shared power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the shares beneficially owned by her individually. The distribution of dividends and sale proceeds from shares held as a trustee or co-trustee and/or beneficiary of trusts is determined based on the terms of the governing instruments of those trusts. Each of the entities listed above receives, or its respective officers and directors or manager have the power to direct the receipt of, dividends and sale proceeds from the shares it holds.

During the 60 days preceding the filing of this Schedule 13D/A, Ms. Holding received 2,000 shares of Class A Common Stock as a gift, made a gift of 15 shar es of Class A Common and transfered 3,951 shares of Class A Common Stock to her Revocable Trust. In addition, one of the trusts for which Ms. Holding is a trustee received a gift of 650 shares of Class A Common Stock.

Ms. Holding disclaims voting and dispositive power with respect to certain shares of the Issuer’s Class A Common Stock which are not listed in the table above as follows:

Claire H. Bristow. Mrs. Bristow is, or may be deemed to be, the beneficial owner of an aggregate of 528,840 shares of Class A Common Stock, amounting to 3.54% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock, as described in the table below.

14 of 18

Mrs. Bristow and her daughter, respectively, receive or have the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the shares beneficially owned by them individually. The distribution of dividends and sale proceeds from shares held as a trustee and/or beneficiary of trusts is determined based on the terms of the governing instruments of the trusts. The distribution of dividends and sale proceeds from shares held by the limited liability companies is determined based on the terms of the governing instruments of those entities.

During the 60 days preceding the filing of this Schedule 13D/A, Mrs. Bristow received 2,000 shares of Class A Common Stock as a gift

Mrs. Bristow disclaims voting and dispositive power with respect to certain shares of the Issuer’s Class A Common Stock which are not listed in the table above as follows:

Carson H. Brice. Mrs. Brice is, or may be deemed to be, the beneficial owner of an aggregate of 508,112 shares of Class A Common Stock, amounting to 3.40% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock, as described in the table below.

Mrs. Brice and her spouse, respectively, receive or have the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the shares beneficially owned by them individually. Mrs. Brice receives or has the power to direct the receipt of dividends and sale proceeds, for the benefit of her children, from the shares held by her as custodian. The distribution of dividends and sale proceeds from shares held as a trustee and/or beneficiary of trusts is determined based on the terms of the governing instruments of the trusts.

15 of 18

During the 60 days preceding the filing of this Schedule 13D/A, Mrs. Brice received 2,000 shares of Class A Common Stock as a gift and transferred 46,028 shares of Class A Common Stock to her Revocable Trust. In addition, she gifted 650 shares of Class A Common Stock to a trust for her child.

Mrs. Brice disclaims voting and dispositive power with respect to certain shares of the Issuer’s Class A Common Stock which are not listed in the table above as follows:

Ella Ann L. Holding. Mrs. Holding is, or may be deemed to be, the beneficial owner of an aggregate of 14,401 shares of Class A Common Stock, amounting to 0.10% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock, as described in the table below.

The distribution of dividends and sale proceeds from shares held by Mrs. Holding’s revocable trust is determined based on the terms of the governing instruments of the trust.

During the 60 days preceding the filing of this Schedule 13D/A, Mrs. Holding gifted 10,000 shares of Class A Common Stock.

Mrs. Holding disclaims voting and dispositive power with respect to certain shares of the Issuer’s Class A Common Stock which are not listed in the table above as follows:

16 of 18

Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer.

The information set forth in Item 4 of this Amendment No. 5 is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 6.

Item 7. Material to be Filed as Exhibits.

[SIGNATURES APPEAR ON FOLLOWING PAGE.]

17 of 18

SIGNATURES

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.

January 12, 2022

[Schedule 13D/A Signature Page - Class A]

18 of 18