Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, which are our controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our periodic reports with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the required time periods. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed is communicated to our management to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on the evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that, as of the evaluation date, due to the material weakness in the Company's internal control over financial reporting described below, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2023.
However, after giving full consideration to the material weakness described below, and based on a number of other factors, including the measures implemented prior to December 31, 2023 to remediate the material weakness in internal control over financial reporting and the performance of procedures by management designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed is communicated to our management to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, management has concluded that the consolidated financial statements included in this Report present fairly, in all material respects, the Company’s financial position, the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the periods presented in conformity with GAAP and that disclosures to be made about material information required to be included in our periodic reports with the SEC were made timely and properly included in the Report.
Management’s Report On Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP.
Internal control over financial reporting cannot provide absolute assurance of achieving financial reporting objectives because of its inherent limitations. Internal control over financial reporting is a process that involves human diligence and compliance and is subject to lapses in judgment and breakdowns resulting from human failures. Internal control over financial reporting can also be circumvented by collusion or improper management override. Because of such limitations, there is a risk that material misstatements may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by internal control over financial reporting. However, these inherent limitations are known features of the financial reporting process. Therefore, it is possible to design into the process safeguards to reduce, though not eliminate, this risk.
Management is also responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements and other financial information contained in this report. The accompanying consolidated financial statements were prepared in conformity with GAAP and include, as necessary, best estimates and judgments by management.
Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013) (the "Framework"). Based on management’s evaluation under the Framework, management of the Company has concluded the Company's internal controls over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, was not effective as of December 31, 2023 because of the material weakness in internal control over financial reporting described below. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
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Management identified a material weakness related to information technology general controls in the area of user access management within an application supporting the Company’s accounting and reporting processes which resulted in certain segregation of duties conflicts. As such, certain of the Company’s manual business process controls dependent upon the information derived from this application were also ineffective.
Plan for Remediation of Material Weakness
The Company and its Board of Directors are committed to maintaining a strong internal control environment. During the fourth quarter of 2023, management identified a control deficiency that constituted a material weakness as of December 31, 2023. Management evaluated the material weakness described above and the following measures were implemented during the fourth quarter and in place prior to December 31, 2023:
• Privileged administrative access to the application was removed for finance department personnel.
• Additional control design enhancements were implemented for user access provisioning, modification, and removals from the application to ensure all access changes to the application are subject to formal documentation and approval.
In addition to the actions taken during the fourth quarter of 2023, management is continuing to implement a remediation plan to enhance the design of information technology general controls. Specifically, management will take the following additional measures to further ensure its controls and procedures are operating effectively:
• Ongoing monitoring of enhanced user provisioning controls.
• Evaluation of resources of finance department, and enhancement of resources and procedures as necessary to ensure proper segregation of duties within applications that support financial reporting processes.
While management has taken steps towards implementing remediation plans, several of which occurred prior to December 31, 2023, the material weakness will not be considered fully remediated until the controls have operated effectively, as evidenced through testing, for a sufficient amount of time.
BDO USA, P.C., an independent, registered public accounting firm, has audited the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023, and audited the Company’s effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, as stated in its reports, which are included in Item 8 hereof.
Changes in Internal Controls
Except as set forth above, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended December 31, 2023 that materially affected, or that are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting
Item 9B. Other Information
Trading Arrangements of Section 16 Reporting Persons.
During the quarter ended December 31, 2023, no person who is required to file reports pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with respect to holdings of, and transactions in, the Company’s common shares (i.e. directors and certain officers of the Company) maintained, adopted , modified or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1(c) arrangement”, as those terms are defined in Section 229.408 of the regulations of the SEC.
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
Not applicable.
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PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Incorporated herein by reference is the information under the captions “Directors, Nominees and Executive Officers,” “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance,” “Corporate Governance Policies and Practices,” and “Board Committees, Attendance and Compensation” from the Company’s definitive proxy statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Incorporated herein by reference is the information under the captions “Executive Compensation,” “Board Committees, Attendance and Compensation,” and "Pay Versus Performance" from the Company’s definitive proxy statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A.
Awards Made To Named Executive Officers
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Company did not award an option or other right to purchase or acquire its common shares during any period beginning four business days before the filing of a periodic report on Form 10-Q or the filing or furnishing of a report on Form 8-K that disclosed material nonpublic information and ending one business day after the filing or furnishing of such a report to any the Company’s “named executive officers” (as such persons are specified in the Company’s Proxy Statements for its 2022 or 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders).
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters
Incorporated herein by reference is the information under the captions “Principal Holders of First Bancorp Voting Securities” and “Directors, Nominees and Executive Officers” from the Company’s definitive proxy statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A.
Additional Information Regarding the Registrant’s Equity Compensation Plans
At December 31, 2023, the Company had one equity-based compensation plan, under which new grants of equity-based awards are possible.
The following table presents information as of December 31, 2023 regarding shares of the Company’s stock that may be issued pursuant to the Company’s equity-based compensation plan. At December 31, 2023, the Company had no options, warrants or rights outstanding under any compensation plans.
As of December 31, 2023
(a) (b) (c)
Plan category Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options,
warrants and rights Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights Number of securities available for
future issuance under equity
compensation plans (excluding
securities reflected in column (a))
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (1) 305,585 $ 20.95 205,498
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders — — —
Total 305,585 $ 20.95 205,498
_________________
(1) Consists of the Company’s 2014 Equity Plan, which is currently in effect.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Incorporated herein by reference is the information under the caption “Certain Transactions” and “Corporate Governance Policies and Practices” from the Company’s definitive proxy statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A.
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Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Incorporated herein by reference is the information under the caption “Audit Committee Report” from the Company’s definitive proxy statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A.
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PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) 1. Financial Statements - See Item 8 and the Cross Reference Index on page 3 for information concerning the Company’s consolidated financial statements and report of independent auditors.
2. Financial Statement Schedules - not applicable
3. Exhibits
The following exhibits are filed with this report or, as noted, are incorporated by reference. Except as noted below the exhibits identified have SEC File No. 000-15572. Management contracts, compensatory plans and arrangements are marked with an asterisk (*).
2.a Merger Agreement between First Bancorp and Select Bancorp, Inc. dated June 1, 2021 was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 1, 2021, and is incorporated herein by reference .
2.b Merger Agreement between First Bancorp and GrandSouth Bancorporation dated June 21, 2022 was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 21, 2022, and is incorporated herein by reference .
3.a Articles of Incorporation of the Company and amendments thereto were filed as Exhibits 3.a.i through 3.a.v to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2002 , and are incorporated herein by reference. Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation were filed as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 13, 2009 , and are incorporated herein by reference. Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation were filed as Exhibit 3.1.b to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3D filed on June 29, 2010 (Commission File No. 333-167856) , and are incorporated herein by reference. Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation were filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 6, 2011 , and are incorporated herein by reference. Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation were filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 26, 2012 , and are incorporated herein by reference. Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation were filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 14, 2022 , and are incorporated herein by reference.
3.b Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company were filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 9, 2018, and are incorporated herein by reference.
4.a Form of Common Stock Certificate was filed as Exhibit 4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1999, and is incorporated herein by reference.
4.b Description of the Company's securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
10.a Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Company and its Directors and Officers was filed as Exhibit 10.a to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.
10.b First Bancorp Senior Management Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan effective January 1, 2009 was filed as Exhibit 10.b to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, and is incorporated herein by reference. (*)
10.c First Bancorp 2007 Equity Plan was filed as Appendix B to the Registrant's Form Def 14A filed on March 27, 2007, and is incorporated herein by reference. (*)
10.d First Bancorp 2014 Equity Plan was filed as Appendix B to the Registrant’s Form Def 14A filed on April 4, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference. (*)
10.e First Bancorp Long Term Care Insurance Plan was filed as Exhibit 10(o) to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004, and is incorporated by reference. (*)
10.f Advances and Security Agreement with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta dated February 15, 2005 was attached as Exhibit 99(a) to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 22, 2005, and is incorporated herein by reference.
10.g Form of Stock Option and Performance Unit Award Agreement was filed as Exhibit 10 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 23, 2008, and is incorporated herein by reference. (*)
10.h Description of Director Compensation pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iii)(A) of Regulation S-K was filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, as is incorporated herein by reference. (*)
10.i First Bancorp Employees’ Pension Plan, including amendments, was filed as Exhibit 10.v to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, and is incorporated herein by reference. ( *)
10.j Employment Agreement between the Company and Richard H. Moore dated August 28, 2012 was filed as Exhibit 10.a to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference . Amendments to this agreement were filed in the Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on March 9, 2017 and February 9, 2018 and are incorporated herein by reference. (*)
10.k Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and among the Company and the Bank and Michael G. Mayer effective February 1, 2022 was filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 28, 2022 and is incorporated by reference. (*)
10.l Amendment to the First Bancorp Senior Management Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan dated March 11, 2014 was filed as Exhibit 10.aa to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference. (*)
10.m The Executive Nonqualified Excess Plan Document was filed as Exhibit 10.q to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, and is incorporated herein by reference. (*)
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10.n The Executive Nonqualified Excess Plan Adoption Agreement dated January 30, 2017 was filed as Exhibit 10.r to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, and is incorporated herein by reference. (*)
10.o The Executive Nonqualified Excess Plan Adoption Agreement dated February 26, 2018 was filed as Exhibit 10.s to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, and is incorporated herein by reference. (*)
10.p The Company’s Annual Incentive Plan for certain employees and executive officers was filed as Exhibit 10.q to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and is incorporated herein by reference. (*)
10.q Employment Agreement by and among the Company and the Bank and G. Adams Currie Jr. dated December 23, 2021 was filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K on December 23, 2021 and is incorporated by reference. (*)
10.r Employment Agreement by and among the Company and the Bank and Elizabeth B. Bostian dated December 23, 2021 as filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K on December 23, 2021 and is incorporated by reference. (*)
10.s Form of First Amendment to Employment and Change of Control Agreement entered into effective November 6, 2023 with each of its named executive officers was filed as Exhibit 10.a to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, and is incorporated herein by reference. (*)
21 List of Subsidiaries of Registrant
23 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, BDO USA, P.C.
31.1 Chief Executive Officer Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2 Chief Financial Officer Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1 Chief Executive Officer Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2 Chief Financial Officer Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
97 Excess Incentive Compensation Recovery Policy dated October 23, 2023
101 The following financial information from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, formatted in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
__________________
(b) Exhibits - see (a)(3) above.
(c) No financial statement schedules are filed herewith.
Copies of exhibits are available upon written request to: First Bancorp, Elizabeth B. Bostian, Chief Financial Officer, 300 SW Broad Street, Southern Pines, North Carolina, 28387.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
Not applicable.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, FIRST BANCORP has duly caused this Annual Report on Form 10-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Southern Pines, and State of North Carolina, on February 28, 2024.
First Bancorp
By: /s/ Richard H. Moore
Richard H. Moore
Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed on behalf of the Company by the following persons and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
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Executive Officers
/s/ Richard H. Moore
/s/ Elizabeth B. Bostian /s/ Blaise B. Buczkowski
Richard H. Moore
Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board Elizabeth B. Bostian
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Blaise B. Buczkowski
Executive Vice President & Chief Accounting Officer
February 28, 2024 February 28, 2024 February 28, 2024
Board of Directors
/s/ James C. Crawford, III
/s/ Richard H. Moore
James C. Crawford, III
Lead Independent Director
Director Richard H. Moore
Chairman of the Board
Director
February 28, 2024 February 28, 2024
/s/ Mary Clara Capel
/s/ Carlie C. McLamb, Jr.
Mary Clara Capel
Director
Carlie C. McLamb, Jr.
Director
February 28, 2024 February 28, 2024
/s/ Suzanne DeFerie
/s/ Dexter V. Perry
Suzanne DeFerie
Director
Dexter V. Perry
Director
February 28, 2024 February 28, 2024
/s/ Abby J. Donnelly
/s/ J. Randolph Potter
Abby J. Donnelly
Director
J. Randolph Potter
Director
February 28, 2024 February 28, 2023
/s/ Mason Y. Garrett /s/ O. Temple Sloan, III
Mason Y. Garrett
Director O. Temple Sloan, III
Director
February 28, 2023 February 28, 2024
/s/ John B. Gould /s/ Frederick L. Taylor II
John B. Gould
Director Frederick L. Taylor II
Director
February 28, 2024 February 28, 2024
/s/ Michael G. Mayer /s/ Virginia C. Thomasson
Michael G. Mayer
Director Virginia C. Thomasson
Director
February 28, 2024 February 28, 2024
/s/ John W. McCauley /s/ Dennis A. Wicker
John W. McCauley
Director Dennis A. Wicker
Director
February 28, 2024 February 28, 2024
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