0001090009-12-000019.txt : 20120724 0001090009-12-000019.hdr.sgml : 20120724 20120621075453 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001090009-12-000019 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: CORRESP PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 FILED AS OF DATE: 20120621 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001090009 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021] IRS NUMBER: 582459561 STATE OF INCORPORATION: SC FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: CORRESP BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 100 VERDAE BOULEVARD STREET 2: SUITE 100 CITY: GREENVILLE STATE: SC ZIP: 29607 BUSINESS PHONE: 8646799000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 100 VERDAE BOULEVARD STREET 2: SUITE 100 CITY: GREENVILLE STATE: SC ZIP: 29607 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: GREENVILLE FIRST BANCSHARES INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19990707 CORRESP 1 filename1.htm SFST Acceleration

 

 

 

 

 

 

Southern First

P.O. Box 17465 - Greenville, SC 29606

(864)679-9000

 

June 21, 2012

Michael F. Johnson

Staff Attorney

Securities and Exchange Commission

Division of Corporation Finance

100 F. Street NE

Washington, D.C. 20549

            Re:       Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (the “Registrant”)
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-181198)

 

Dear Mr. Johnson:

Pursuant to Rule 461 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the Registrant hereby requests that the effective date for the above-referenced Registration Statement be accelerated so that it will be declared effective under the Securities Act at 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on Monday, June 25, 2012.

In connection with this request, the Registrant hereby acknowledges that:

1.         should the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) or the staff of the Commission (the “Staff”), acting pursuant to delegated authority, declare the Registration Statement effective, it does not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the Registration Statement;

2.         the action of the Commission or the Staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, in declaring the Registration Statement effective, does not relieve the Registrant from its full responsibility for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the Registration Statement; and

3.         the Registrant may not assert Staff comments and the declaration of effectiveness as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States.

[Remainder of the Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

 


 

 

 

 

                                                Very truly yours,

                                                Southern First Bancshares, Inc.



                                                By:    /s/Michael D. Dowling               

                                          Name:  Michael D. Dowling

                                          Title:    Chief Financial Officer

 

2

 

 

 CORRESP 2 filename2.htm Underwritiers Acceleration

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 21, 2012

 

 

Michael F. Johnson

Staff Attorney

United States Securities and Exchange Commission

450 Fifth Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C.  20549

 

Re:      Southern First Bancshares, Inc.

Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-181198)

 

Dear Mr. Johnson:

 

            In connection with the above-referenced Registration Statement, and pursuant to Rule 461 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), we hereby join in the request of Southern First Bancshares, Inc. that the effective date of the Registration Statement be accelerated so that it will be declared effective at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on June 25, 2012.

 

            Pursuant to Rule 460 under the Act, please be advised the undersigned intends to effect the following approximate distribution of copies of the Preliminary Prospectus to be dated June 25, 2012 (the “Preliminary Prospectus”):

 

 

No. of Copies

Institutions

850

Others

100

Total

950

 

           

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

8303845

 

 

 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED

SANDLER O’NEILL & PARTNERS, L.P.

 

By:  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED

By:/s/ William D. Hobbs                                            

Authorized Signatory

By:  SANDLER O’NEILL & PARTNERS, L.P.

By:  Sandler O’Neill & Partners Corp.,
         the sole general partner


By: /s/ Christopher S. Hooper                                    

      Name: Christopher S. Hooper

      Title: An Officer of the Corporation

 

For themselves and as Representatives of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A to the Underwriting Agreement

8303845