8-A12B 1 form8a12b-79092_sussex.htm FORM 8-A Form 8-A


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549


FORM 8-A

FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OR 12(G) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


SUSSEX BANCORP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


New Jersey
22-3475473
(State or other jurisdiction
(IRS Employer
of incorporation)
Identification No.)


200 Munsonhurst Road
  
Franklin, New Jersey
07416
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)



Title of each class
  
Name of each exchange on which
to be so registered
  
each class is to be registered
     
Common Stock, no par value
  
The NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC

 
If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(c), check the following box. S
 
If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(d), check the following box. o

Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates: _____________ (if applicable)

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None
(Title of class)





Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.

The securities to be registered consist of the common stock, no par value (the "Common Stock"), of Sussex Bancorp (the "Registrant"). The Common Stock is currently registered under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). This form 8-A is being filed in connection with the listing of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Global Market on or about October 4, 2006 and the Registrant’s related voluntary withdrawal of the listing of the Common Stock on the American Stock Exchange. The following is a description of the Common Stock:

Capital Structure

The Registrant's certificate of incorporation provides for an authorized capitalization consisting of 5,000,000 shares of common stock, without par value. The Registrant has 3,147,425 shares of common stock outstanding, leaving 1,852,575 shares of authorized common stock available to be issued when and if the Board of Directors of the Registrant determines it is advisable to do so. Under New Jersey law, the Board of Directors is generally empowered to issue authorized common stock without shareholder approval.

Dividend Rights

The holders of the Registrant's common stock are entitled to dividends, when, as, and if declared by the Registrant's Board of Directors, subject to the restrictions imposed by New Jersey law. The only statutory limitation applicable to the Registrant is that dividends may not be paid if the Registrant is insolvent. Under the New Jersey Banking Act of 1948, dividends may be paid only if, after the payment of the dividend, the capital stock of the Sussex Bank, the Registrant’s wholly owned subsidiary (the “Bank”), will be unimpaired and either the Bank will have a surplus of not less than 50% of its capital stock or the payment of the dividend will not reduce the Bank's surplus.

Voting Rights

Each share of the Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share. Cumulative voting is not permitted. Under New Jersey corporate law, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast is required to approve any merger, consolidation or disposition of substantially all of the Registrant's assets.

Preemptive Rights

Under New Jersey law, shareholders may have preemptive rights if these rights are provided in the certificate of incorporation. The Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant does not provide for preemptive rights.


Appraisal Rights

Under New Jersey law, dissenting shareholders of the Registrant will have appraisal rights (subject to the broad exception set forth in the next sentence) upon certain mergers or consolidations. Appraisal rights are not available in any such transaction if shares of the corporation are listed for trading on a national securities exchange or held of record by more than 1,000 holders. In addition, appraisal rights are not available to shareholders of an acquired corporation if, as a result of the transaction, shares of the acquired corporation are exchanged for any of the following: (1) cash; (ii) any securities listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by more than 1,000 holders; or (iii) any combination of the above. New Jersey law also provides that a corporation may grant appraisal rights in other types of transactions or regardless of the consideration received by providing for such rights in its Certificate of Incorporation. The Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation does not provide appraisal rights beyond those called for under New Jersey law.

Directors

Under New Jersey law and the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation, the Registrant is to have a minimum of three directors and maximum of 25, with the number of directors at any given time to be fixed by the Board of Directors.

Indemnification

The Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant provides that the Registrant will indemnify any person who was or is a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, whether civil or criminal, administrative or investigative by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Registrant, or is or was serving as a director or officer of any other entity at the request of the Registrant against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement incurred by such person in connection with such action, provided that the director or officer acted in good faith in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Registrant and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. In addition, in the event that such action is in the name of the Registrant, a director or officer may not be indemnified if he is found liable to the Registrant unless a court determines that, despite the finding or liability, the officer or director is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

Limitation of Liability

The Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant contains provisions which may limit the liability of any director or officer of the Registrant to the Registrant or its shareholders for damages for an alleged breach of any duty owed to the Registrant or its shareholders. This limitation will not relieve an officer or director from liability based on any act or omission (i) which was in breach of such person's duty or loyalty to the Registrant or its shareholders; (ii) which was not in good faith or involved a knowing violation of law; or (iii) which resulted in


receipt by such officer or director of an improper personal benefit. These provisions are explicitly permitted by New Jersey law.

Shareholders Protection Act

A provision of New Jersey law, the New Jersey Shareholders Protection Act (the "Shareholders Act") prohibits certain transactions involving an "interested stockholder" and a company. An "interested stockholder" is generally defined as one who is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of ten percent or more of the voting power of the outstanding stock of the corporation. The Shareholders Act prohibits certain business combinations between an interested stockholder and a New Jersey corporation subject to the Shareholders Act for a period of five years after the date the interested stockholder acquired his stock, unless the transaction was approved by the corporation's board of directors prior to the time the interested stockholder acquired their shares. After the five year period expires, the prohibition on business combinations with an interested stockholder continues unless certain conditions are met. The conditions include (i) that the business combination is approved by the Board of Directors of the target corporation; (ii) that the business combination is approved by a vote of two-thirds of the voting stock not owed by the interested shareholder; and (iii) that the shareholders of the corporation receive a price in accordance with a fair price formula set forth in the statute. The Shareholders Act as applicable to the Registrant could inhibit unsolicited offers to acquire the Registrant.

Restrictions on Acquisitions of the Registrant

The Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant permits the Board of Directors, consistent with their fiduciary duty and as already permitted by statute, to consider, in connection with any proposed acquisition of the corporation, any fact which the Board of Directors deems relevant, including the communities which the Registrant serves. This provision, along with the provisions of the Shareholders Act described above could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the Registrant.


Item 2.
Exhibits
  
     
Exhibit No.
  
Name of Document
     
1
  
Specimen Stock Certificate1 

________________________
1 Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to Registration Statement No. 333-119565 on Form SB-2.
 



SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Sussex Bancorp has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

 
SUSSEX BANCORP
 
 (Registrant)
     
Dated: October 2, 2006
By:
/s/ Candace A. Leatham
 
CANDACE A. LEATHAM
 
Executive Vice President and
 
Chief Financial Officer




EXHIBIT INDEX TO
STATEMENT ON FORM 8-A OF
SUSSEX BANCORP


Exhibit No.
Name of Document
   
1
Specimen Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to Registration Statement No. 333-119565 on Form SB-2).