istr-8k_20161221.htm

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 21, 2016Registration No. 333-_________

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. [ ]

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering: [ ]

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. [ ]

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):


Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered	Amount to be Registered⁽¹⁾	Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit⁽²⁾	Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price⁽³⁾	Amount of Registration Fee
Debt Securities
Common Stock, $1.00 par value
Preferred Stock, No par value
Warrants
Depositary Shares
Units
Total:	$50,000,000		$50,000,000	$5,795

(1)

There are being registered hereunder such indeterminate principal amount of Debt Securities, such indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock, such indeterminate number of shares of Preferred Stock, such indeterminate number of Warrants to purchase Common Stock, Debt Securities, Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares, such indeterminate number of Depositary Shares and such indeterminate number of Units of the Registrant as shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $50.0 million. If any Debt Securities are issued at an original issue discount, then the securities registered shall include such additional Debt Securities as may be necessary such that the aggregate initial public offering price of all securities issued pursuant to this Registration Statement will equal $50.0 million. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder. The proposed maximum initial offering price per unit will be determined, from time to time, by the Registrant in connection with the issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered hereunder. There are also being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock as shall be issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any securities that provide for that issuance. In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, the securities being registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock as may be issuable with respect to the shares being registered hereunder as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

The Company hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Company shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), shall determine.

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and has not yet been declared effective. The securities may not be sold until the registration statement has been declared effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

We may offer and sell from time to time, in one or more series, our unsecured debt securities, which may consist of notes, debentures, or other evidences of indebtedness; shares of our common stock; shares of our preferred stock; warrants to purchase other securities; depositary shares; or units consisting of a combination of two or more of these securities. The debt securities and preferred stock may be convertible into or exchangeable for other securities of ours. This prospectus provides you with a general description of these securities. Each time we offer any securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement and, if necessary, a pricing supplement, that will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities being offered. These supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. To understand the terms of the securities offered, you should carefully read this prospectus with the applicable supplements, which together provide the specific terms of the securities we are offering.

Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “ISTR.”

Investment in any securities offered by this prospectus involves risk. See “Risk Factors” on page 4 of this prospectus and the risk factors disclosed in our periodic reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus accompanying this prospectus.

These securities are not deposits or obligations of a bank or savings association and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

This prospectus may be used to offer and sell securities only if accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement for those securities.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

We may provide information to you about the securities we are offering in three separate documents that progressively provide more detail:

If the terms of your securities vary among the pricing supplement, the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information in the following order of priority:

We include cross-references in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement to captions in these materials where you can find further related discussions. The following Table of Contents and the Table of Contents included in the accompanying prospectus supplement provide the pages on which these captions are located.

Unless indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we have not taken any action that would permit us to publicly sell these securities in any jurisdiction outside the United States. If you are an investor outside the United States, you should inform yourself about, and comply with, any restrictions as to the offering of the securities and the distribution of this prospectus.



	Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS	1
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION	1
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE	1
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS	3
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION.	4
RISK FACTORS	4
USE OF PROCEEDS	4
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES	4
REGULATION AND SUPERVISION	5
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES	6
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK	13
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK	16
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES	19
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS	21
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS	22
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION	23
LEGAL OPINIONS	26
EXPERTS	26

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may from time to time offer and sell the debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, warrants, depositary shares or units consisting of a combination of these securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings, up to $50.0 million. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities covered by it. Each time we offer any of these securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the offer. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this prospectus to “Investar,” “we,” “us,” “our,” “Company” or similar references mean Investar Holding Corporation. References in this prospectus to “Investar Bank” and “Bank” mean Investar Bank, the wholly-owned banking subsidiary of Investar Holding Corporation. The Bank is a Louisiana-chartered commercial bank and a non-member bank of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“Federal Reserve”). The main office of the Bank is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

We file reports, proxy statements and other documents with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. You should call 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information on the public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available to you on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC. The registration statement contains more information than this prospectus regarding us, including certain exhibits and schedules. You can obtain a copy of the registration statement from the SEC at the address listed above or from the SEC’s Internet site.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document that we file separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, except for any information that is superseded by information that is included directly in this document or in a more recent incorporated document.

This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below that we have previously filed with the SEC.


SEC Filings	Period or Date Filed (as applicable)
Annual Report on Form 10-K	Year ended December 31, 2015

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q	Quarters ended March 31, 2016, June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2016

Current Reports on Form 8-K (in each case other than those portions furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K)	Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 19, 2016, May 17, 2016, May 19, 2016, June 30, 2016 and October 20, 2016

The information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K from our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A	Filed with the SEC on April 18, 2016

This prospectus also incorporates by reference the description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A, filed on June 26, 2014, including any amendment or report filed to update such description.

In addition, we also incorporate by reference all future documents that we file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), after the date of our initial registration statement relating to the securities until the completion of the distribution of the securities covered by this prospectus. These documents include periodic reports, such as Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K (other than Current Reports furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K), as well as proxy statements.

The information incorporated by reference contains information about us and our financial condition and results of operation and is an important part of this prospectus.

You can obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this document through us, or from the SEC through the SEC’s Internet world wide web site at www.sec.gov. Documents incorporated by reference are available from us without charge, excluding any exhibits to these documents, unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference as an exhibit in this prospectus. You can obtain documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by requesting them in writing or by telephone from us at the following address:

In addition, we maintain a corporate web site, www.investarbank.com. On our web site, we make available our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such materials with, or furnish it to, the SEC. This reference to our web site is for the convenience of investors as required by the SEC and shall not be deemed to incorporate any information on the web site into this prospectus.

We have not authorized anyone to give any information or make any representation about us that is different from, or in addition to, those contained in this prospectus or in any of the materials that we have incorporated into this prospectus. If anyone does give you information of this sort, you should not rely on it. If you are in a jurisdiction where offers to sell, or solicitations of offers to purchase, the securities offered by this document are unlawful, or if you are a person to whom it is unlawful to direct these types of activities, then the offer presented

in this document does not extend to you. The information contained in this document speaks only as of the date of this document unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies.

This prospectus, as well as other written communications made from time to time by us and oral communications made from time to time by our authorized officers, may contain statements relating to our future results (including certain projections and business trends) that are considered “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “PSLRA”). Such forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of such words as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “planned,” “estimated,” “intend” and “potential.” Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, possible or assumed estimates with respect to our financial condition, expected or anticipated revenue, and results of our operations and business, including earnings growth determined using generally accepted accounting principles; origination volume in our mortgage, commercial and consumer lending businesses; competitive products and pricing; demand for loans and deposits; asset quality, loan delinquency rates and levels of non-performing assets; impairment charges with respect to investment securities; current and future capital management programs; non-interest income levels; market share; our ability to control costs and expenses; and other business operations and strategies. For these statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the PSLRA.

We caution you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated in any forward-looking statement. Such factors include, but are not limited to:

Additionally, the timing and occurrence or non-occurrence of events may be subject to circumstances beyond our control. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date of this prospectus. Except as may be required by applicable law or regulation, we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

Investar Holding Corporation, headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, provides full banking services, excluding trust services, through its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Investar Bank, a state chartered bank. The Company's primary market is South Louisiana and it currently operates 10 full service banking offices located throughout its market. At September 30, 2016, Investar had 155 full-time equivalent employees.

As of September 30, 2016, Investar had consolidated assets of $1.2 billion, consolidated deposits of $907.1 million and consolidated stockholders’ equity of $113.6 million. Shares of our common stock are traded on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the trading symbol “ISTR.”

Our principal executive offices are located at 7244 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808 and our telephone number is (225) 227-2222. We maintain an Internet website at www.investarbank.com. Neither this website nor the information on this website is included or incorporated into, or is a part of, this prospectus.

Additional information about us and our subsidiaries is included in documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 1.

An investment in our securities involves significant risks. Our business, operating results and cash flows can be impacted by a number of factors, any one of which could cause our actual results to vary materially from recent results or from our anticipated future results. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties and the risk factors set forth in the documents and reports filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as well as any risks described in any applicable prospectus supplement, before you make an investment decision regarding the securities. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business operations.

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for general corporate purposes unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a specific issue of securities. Our general corporate purposes will likely include support for organic growth, and may also include financing possible acquisitions of branches or other financial institutions or financial service companies or diversification into other banking-related businesses.

The precise amounts and the timing of our use of the net proceeds will depend upon market conditions, our subsidiary’s funding requirements, the availability of other funds and other factors. Until we use the net proceeds from the sale of any of our securities for general corporate purposes, we will use the net proceeds for temporary investments.

The following table sets forth our historical ratio of earnings to fixed charges and our ratio of combined fixed charges to earnings. You should read this table in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes to the consolidated financial statements that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

A statement setting forth details of the computation of the ratios below is included as Exhibit 12.1 to the registration statement.


	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016	Years Ended December 31,
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016	2015	2014	2013	2012	2011
Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges
Excluding deposits	10.55	17.75	17.27	17.86	19.45	12.20
Including deposits	2.43	2.80	2.40	2.25	2.31	1.58

Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges
Excluding deposits	10.55	17.75	17.27	17.86	19.45	12.20
Including deposits	2.43	2.80	2.40	2.25	2.31	1.58

We have computed the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges set forth above by dividing pre-tax income before fixed charges by fixed charges dividends. Fixed charges represent interest expensed and capitalized.

Our banking subsidiary, Investar Bank, is a Louisiana-chartered commercial bank and its deposit accounts are insured by the DIF of the FDIC. The Bank is a non-member bank and is a member of Federal Home Loan Bank systems. The Bank is subject to supervision, examination and regulation by the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (“OFI”) and the FDIC. Asset growth, deposits, reserves, investments, loans, consumer law compliance, issuance of securities, payment of dividends, establishment of banking offices, mergers and consolidations, changes in control, electronic funds transfer, management practices and other aspects of operations are subject to regulation by the appropriate federal and state supervisory authorities.

Investar Bank must file reports with the OFI and the FDIC concerning its activities and financial condition, in addition to obtaining regulatory approvals before entering into certain transactions such as mergers with, or acquisitions of, other depository institutions. Furthermore, Investar Bank is periodically examined by the OFI and the FDIC to assess compliance with various regulatory requirements, including safety and soundness considerations. This regulation and supervision establishes a comprehensive framework of activities in which Investar Bank can engage, and is intended primarily for the protection of the DIF and depositors rather than for the protection of security holders. The regulatory structure also gives the regulatory authorities extensive discretion in connection with their supervisory and enforcement activities and examination policies, including policies with respect to the classification of assets and the establishment of loan loss allowances for regulatory purposes.

As a financial holding company, we are subject to comprehensive regulation, examination and supervision by the Federal Reserve under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”), and the regulations of the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve also has extensive enforcement authority over bank holding companies, including, among other things, the ability to assess civil money penalties, to issue cease and desist or removal orders, and to require that a holding company divest subsidiaries (including its bank subsidiaries). In general, enforcement actions may be initiated for violations of law and regulations and unsafe or unsound practices.

Because we are a holding company, our rights and the rights of our creditors, including the holders of the debt securities and the preferred stock and common stock we are offering under this prospectus, to participate in the assets of any of our subsidiaries upon the subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors, except to the extent that we may ourselves be a creditor with recognized claims against the subsidiary.

The Federal Reserve has the power to prohibit dividends by bank holding companies if their actions constitute unsafe or unsound practices. The Federal Reserve has issued a policy statement on the payment of cash dividends by bank holding companies, which expresses the Federal Reserve’s view that a bank holding company should pay cash dividends only to the extent that the company’s net income for the past year is sufficient to cover

both the cash dividends and a rate of earnings retention that is consistent with the company’s capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition. The Federal Reserve also indicated that it would be inappropriate for a bank holding company experiencing serious financial problems to borrow funds to pay dividends. Under the prompt corrective action regulations adopted by the Federal Reserve, the Federal Reserve may prohibit a bank holding company from paying any dividends if the holding company’s bank subsidiary is classified as “undercapitalized.”

Further, a Louisiana-chartered commercial bank may not pay dividends unless the bank has unimpaired surplus equal to 50% of its outstanding capital stock, both before and after giving effect to the dividend payment. Subject to satisfying such requirement, Investar Bank may pay dividends to us without the approval of the OFI so long as the amount of the dividend does not exceed its net profits earned during the current year combined with its retained earnings for the immediately preceding year; the OFI must approve any proposed dividend in excess of this threshold.

Under federal law, Investar Bank may not pay any dividend to us if the Bank is undercapitalized or the payment of the dividend would cause it to become undercapitalized or if the Bank has failed to pay its deposit insurance assessment. The FDIC may further restrict the payment of dividends by requiring the Bank to maintain a higher level of capital than would otherwise be required to be adequately capitalized for regulatory purposes. The FDIC has indicated that paying dividends that deplete a depository institution’s capital base to an inadequate level would be an unsafe banking practice, and the FDIC can order a bank to cease any such practice. Finally, it is FDIC policy that insured depository institutions generally should pay dividends only out of current operating earnings.

For a discussion of the material elements of the regulatory framework applicable to bank holding companies and their subsidiaries, and specific information relevant to us, you should refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and any other subsequent reports filed by us with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. A change in the statutes, regulations or regulatory policies applicable to us or our subsidiaries may have a material effect on our business.

Changes to the laws and regulations can affect the operating environment of bank holding companies and their subsidiaries in substantial and unpredictable ways. We cannot accurately predict whether those changes in laws and regulations will occur, and, if changes do occur, the ultimate effect they would have upon our or our subsidiaries’ financial condition or results of operations.

Senior debt securities will be issued under an indenture we call the “senior indenture” and subordinated debt securities will be issued under a separate indenture we call the “subordinated indenture.” Together the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are called the “indentures,” and the senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities are called “debt securities.”

We have not restated these indentures in their entirety in this description. We have filed the forms of the indentures as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We urge you to read the indentures, because they, and not this description, control your rights as holders of the debt securities. The following description of the indentures is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all the provisions in the respective indentures. In the summary below, we have included references to section numbers of the applicable indenture so that you can easily locate these provisions. Capitalized terms used in the summary have the meanings specified in the indentures.

Neither indenture limits the amount of debt securities that we may issue under the indenture from time to time in one or more series. We may in the future issue debt securities under either indenture. At the date of this prospectus, we had not issued any debt securities under either indenture.

We could in the future enter into transactions that could increase the amount of indebtedness outstanding at that time or otherwise adversely affect our capital structure or credit rating.

The debt securities will be our exclusive obligations. Neither indenture requires our subsidiaries to guarantee the debt securities. As a result, the holders of debt securities will generally have a junior position to claims of all creditors and preferred stockholders of our subsidiaries.

A prospectus supplement and any supplemental indenture relating to any series of debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms will include some or all of the following:

We will maintain in each place specified by us for payment of any series of debt securities an office or agency where debt securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where debt securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon us in respect of the debt securities of that series and the related indenture may be served (Section 10.02).

Debt securities may be issued under an indenture as original issue discount securities to be offered and sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount. Material federal income tax, accounting and other considerations applicable to any such original issue discount securities will be described in any related prospectus supplement. “Original issue discount security” means any security that provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof as a result of the occurrence of an event of default and the continuation thereof (Section 1.01).

Payment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the senior debt securities will rank equally in right of payment with all of our other unsecured senior debt.

Payment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and will be subordinate and junior in priority of payment to prior payment in full of all of our senior indebtedness, including senior debt securities and other debt to the extent described in a prospectus supplement. (Section 14.01 of the subordinated indenture)

Each indenture generally allows us to consolidate or merge with a domestic person, association or entity. They also allow us to sell, lease or transfer our property and assets substantially as an entirety to a domestic person, association or entity. If this happens, the remaining or acquiring person, association or entity must assume all of our responsibilities and liabilities under the indentures including the payment of all amounts due on the debt securities and performance of the covenants in the indentures.

However, we will only consolidate or merge with or into any other person, association or entity or sell, lease or transfer our assets substantially as an entirety according to the terms and conditions of the indentures, which include the following requirements:

The remaining or acquiring person, association or entity will be substituted for us in the indentures with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the indentures. Thereafter, the successor may exercise our rights and powers under the indentures, in our name or in its own name. If we sell or transfer all or substantially all of our assets, we will be released from all our liabilities and obligations under any indenture and under the debt securities. If we lease all or substantially all of our assets, we will not be released from our obligations under the indentures. (Sections 8.01 and 8.02)

In the indentures, “Default” with respect to any series of debt securities means any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default.

In the indentures, Event of Default with respect to any series of debt securities means any of the following:

If an Event of Default with respect to a series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all of the outstanding debt securities of a particular series may declare the principal of all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable. When such declaration is made, such amounts will be immediately due and payable. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series may rescind such declaration and its consequences if all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived, other than nonpayment of principal or interest that has become due solely as a result of acceleration. (Section 5.02)

Holders of a series of debt securities may not enforce the indenture or the series of debt securities, except as provided in the indenture or a series of debt securities. (Section 5.07) The trustee may require indemnity satisfactory to it before it enforces the indenture or such series of debt securities. (Section 6.03) Subject to certain limitations, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a particular series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power of the trustee. (Section 5.12) The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any default, except in the payment of principal or interest, if the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors or responsible officers of the trustee considers such withholding of notice to be in the best interests of the holders. (Section 6.02)

An Event of Default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of debt securities issued under an indenture. Further, an Event of Default under the debt securities of any series will not necessarily constitute an event of default under our other indebtedness or vice versa.

Under each indenture, generally we and the trustee may modify our rights and obligations and the rights of the holders with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series affected by the modification, voting as one class. No modification of the principal or interest payment terms, no modification reducing the percentage required for modifications, no change in our obligation to maintain an office or agency for payment of the debt securities and no modification impairing the right to institute suit for the payment on debt securities of any series when due, is effective against any holder without its consent. (Section 9.02)

In addition, we and the trustee may amend the indentures without the consent of any holder of the debt securities to make certain technical changes, such as:

We may choose either to discharge our obligations on the debt securities of any series in a legal defeasance, or to release ourselves from our covenant restrictions on the debt securities of any series in a covenant defeasance. We may do so at any time on the 91^st day after we deposit with the trustee sufficient cash or government securities to pay the principal, interest, any premium and any other sums due from the date of defeasance to the stated maturity date or a redemption date of the debt securities of the series. If we choose the legal defeasance option, the holders of the debt securities of the series will not be entitled to the benefits of the indenture except for registration of transfer and exchange of debt securities, replacement of lost, stolen or mutilated debt securities, conversion or exchange of debt securities, sinking fund payments and receipt of principal and interest on the original stated due dates or specified redemption dates. (Section 13.02)

We may discharge our obligations on the debt securities of any series or release ourselves from covenant restrictions only if we meet certain requirements. Among other things, we must deliver an opinion of our legal counsel that the discharge will not result in holders having to recognize taxable income or loss or subject them to different tax treatment. In the case of legal defeasance, this opinion must be based on either an IRS letter ruling or change in federal tax law. We may not have a default on the debt securities discharged on the date of deposit. The discharge may not violate any of our agreements. The discharge may not result in our becoming an investment company in violation of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

We will designate a trustee under the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture before the issuance of the debt securities.

Under provisions of the indentures and the Trust Indenture Act governing trustee conflicts of interest, any uncured Event of Default with respect to any series of senior or subordinated debt securities will force the trustee to

resign as trustee under either the subordinated indenture or the senior indenture. Any resignation will require the appointment of a successor trustee under the applicable indenture in accordance with its terms and conditions.

The trustee may resign or be removed by us with respect to one or more series of debt securities and a successor trustee may be appointed to act with respect to any such series. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of any series may remove the trustee with respect to the debt securities of such series. (Section 6.10)

Each indenture contains certain limitations on the right of the trustee thereunder, if it becomes our creditor, to obtain payment of claims in some cases, or to realize on property received in respect of any such claim, as security or otherwise. (Section 6.13)

The trustee is required to submit an annual report to the holders of the debt securities regarding, among other things, the trustee’s eligibility to serve, the priority of the trustee’s claims regarding certain advances made by it, and any action taken by the trustee materially affecting the debt securities.

Each indenture provides that, in addition to other certificates or opinions that may be specifically required by other provisions of an indenture, every application by us for action by the trustee shall be accompanied by a certificate of our officers and an opinion of counsel, who may be our counsel, stating that, in the opinion of the signers, we have complied with all conditions precedent to the action. (Section 1.02)

The indentures are and the debt securities will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

Our officers, directors, employees and stockholders will not have any liability for our obligations under the indentures or the debt securities. Each holder of debt securities, by accepting a debt security, waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the debt securities.

Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, the debt securities of a series will be issued only in fully registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 or integral multiples thereof. (Section 3.02) You will not have to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange debt securities of a series, but we may require you to pay for taxes or other governmental charges due upon a transfer or exchange. (Section 3.05)

Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, each series of debt securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, or any successor depositary, which we call a “depositary,” and will be represented by one or more global notes registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC. The interests of beneficial owners in the global notes will be represented through financial institutions acting on their behalf as direct or indirect participants in DTC.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a global note will be limited to persons, called participants, who have accounts with DTC or persons who hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in the global notes will be shown on, and the transfer of these ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or its nominee (with respect to interests of participants) and the records of participants (with respect to interests of persons other than participants).

So long as DTC, or its nominee, is the registered owner or holder of a global note, DTC or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities of that series represented by such global note for all purposes of the indenture, the debt securities of that series and applicable law. In addition, no beneficial owner of an interest in a global note will be able to transfer that interest except in accordance with DTC’s applicable procedures, in addition to those under the applicable indenture.

Payments on debt securities represented by global notes will be made to DTC or its nominee, as the registered owner thereof. Neither we, the trustee, any underwriter nor any paying agent will have any responsibility

or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in global notes, for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests or for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the depositary or any participant.

We expect that DTC or its nominee will credit participants’ accounts on the payable date with payments in respect of a global note in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interest in the principal amount of such global note as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee, unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive payment on the payable date. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in such global note held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in “street name.” Such payments will be the responsibility of such participants.

Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected in accordance with DTC rules. The laws of some states require that certain persons take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global note to such persons may be impaired. Because DTC can only act on behalf of participants, who in turn act on behalf of others, such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies, called indirect participants, the ability of a person having a beneficial interest in a global note to pledge that interest to persons or entities that do not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take actions in respect of that interest, may be impaired by the lack of a physical certificate of that interest.

DTC will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of debt securities of a series only at the direction of one or more participants to whose account interests in global notes are credited and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of a series as to which such participant or participants has or have given such direction.

If (1) the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or if the depositary ceases to be eligible under the applicable indenture and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days or (2) an Event of Default with respect to a series of debt securities shall have occurred and be continuing, the respective global notes representing the affected series of debt securities will be exchanged for debt securities in definitive form of like tenor and of an equal aggregate principal amount, in authorized denominations. Such definitive debt securities will be registered in such name or names as the depositary instructs the trustee. Such instructions will most likely be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in global notes.

DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC and facilitates the settlement among participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is owned by a number of its direct participants, including those who may act as underwriters of our debt securities, and by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the NYSE MKT LLC and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as indirect participants that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

Although DTC has agreed to the foregoing procedures to facilitate transfers of interests in global notes among participants of DTC, it is under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures, and such procedures may be discontinued at any time. Neither we, the trustee, any underwriter nor any paying agent will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC or its participants or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

The following discussion summarizes the material terms of our capital stock. This discussion does not purport to be a complete description of these rights and may not contain all of the information regarding our capital stock that is important to you. We are a Louisiana corporation, and thus the Louisiana Business Corporation Law, or LBCL, other applicable Louisiana law and our restated articles of incorporation and by-laws delineate the rights of our shareholders generally. Reference is made to the more detailed provisions of our restated articles of incorporation and by-laws, copies of which are filed with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and applicable law.

Our restated articles of incorporation authorize us to issue a total of 40,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value per share. No shares of preferred stock are currently outstanding. We may issue authorized but unissued shares of our capital stock in the future without shareholder approval, unless otherwise required by applicable law or the rules of any applicable securities exchange.

As of December 19, 2016, 7,099,283 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding and held by approximately 606 shareholders of record. We have reserved an additional 125,932 shares for issuance in connection with stock awards granted under our Equity Incentive Plan, 474,068 have been issued in the form of stock option grants and restricted stock awards as of the date of this prospectus. Each share of our common stock is non-assessable and has the same rights, preferences and privileges as every other share of common stock.

Voting. Each share of common stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote in the election of directors and on all other matters submitted to the vote of our shareholders. Holders of our common stock are not entitled to cumulate their votes in the election of directors.

With respect to any matter other than the election of directors or a matter for which a different approval threshold is established by Louisiana law or our restated articles of incorporation (as described below), a matter submitted to the shareholders will be approved if a majority of the votes cast are in favor of such matter, at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Directors are elected by a plurality vote. Also, our restated articles of incorporation require a vote of two-thirds of the voting power present to approve (1) an amendment to the articles of incorporation, (2) a merger, consolidation or share exchange to which we are a party or the sale, lease or transfer of all or substantially all of our assets (this threshold is also the default provision in the LBCL) or (3) our dissolution.

Dividends. Subject to the legal and regulatory restrictions discussed elsewhere in this prospectus and to the rights of holders of any preferred securities that we may issue, holders of our common stock are entitled to share equally in dividends when, as, and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor.

Liquidation. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to receive, on a pro-rata per share basis, any assets available for distribution to our shareholders after the payment of debts and liabilities and after the distribution to holders of any outstanding shares of our capital stock hereafter issued with prior rights upon liquidation.

Preemptive and other rights. Holders of our common stock do not have preemptive, conversion or redemption rights.

Selected Provisions of the Louisiana Business Corporation Law and our Restated Articles of Incorporation and By-laws

Provisions with anti-takeover effects. Our restated articles of incorporation and by-laws as well as the LBCL contain certain provisions that may make it more difficult to acquire control of us by means of a tender offer, open market purchase, proxy contest or otherwise, even if shareholders may consider the proposed transaction to be in their best interests or will receive a substantial premium for their shares. These provisions, which are summarized below, are designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate with our directors. We believe that, as a general rule, the interests of our shareholders are best served if any change in control results from negotiations with our board rather than from an unsolicited proposal. As mentioned above, both the LBCL and our restated articles of incorporation require any merger, consolidation or share exchange to which we are a party or any sale of all or substantially all of our assets to be approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the voting power present at any meeting called to approve such matter.

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Authority to issue “blank check” preferred stock. As discussed above, our board of directors is authorized to issue, without further approval from our shareholders, a series of “blank check” preferred stock. This authorization may operate to provide anti-takeover protection for us because, if a merger, tender offer or other attempt to gain control of us is proposed and our board does not believe the proposed transaction is in our or our shareholders’ best interests, the board can quickly issue shares of preferred stock with rights, preferences and limitations that could make the proposed takeover attempt more difficult to complete. Such preferred stock may also be used in connection with the issuance of a shareholder rights plan, sometimes called a “poison pill.” The authorization to issue preferred stock may also benefit present management. Since a potential acquiror may be discouraged from attempting a takeover on account of the board’s ability to issue preferred stock, management may be able to retain its position more easily. Our board, however, does not intend to issue any preferred stock except on terms that it deems to be in the best interest of the Company and our shareholders.

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Advance notice requirements. Our by-laws require a shareholder who desires to nominate a candidate for election to the board of directors or to raise new business at an annual shareholders’ meeting to provide us advance notice not earlier than 120 days and not later than 90 days prior to the first anniversary of the immediately preceding year’s annual meeting. If the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed by more than 90 days from the anniversary date of the previous year’s meeting, to be timely a shareholder must deliver advance notice not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or, if the public announcement of the date of our annual meeting is less than 100 days prior to the annual meeting, the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Any shareholder wishing to nominate a candidate for election as a director or to raise new business at an annual shareholders’ meeting must also provide detailed information about the nominee or business and satisfy certain other conditions. Because of the timing requirements and the detailed information that must be provided under our advance notice by-law, a third party may be discouraged from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or to approve its proposal without regard to whether consideration of the nominees or proposals might be harmful or beneficial to our shareholders and us.

In addition, as noted above, we may issue authorized but unissued shares of our capital stock in the future without shareholder approval, unless otherwise required by applicable law or the rules of any applicable securities exchange. This power may enable our board of directors to sell shares of our common or preferred stock to individuals or groups whom the board perceives as friendly with management, which may make more difficult unsolicited attempts to obtain control of our organization.

Finally, the LBCL includes certain provisions applicable to Louisiana corporations, such as the Company, which may be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect or otherwise discriminate against a holder of our securities on account of such holder owning a substantial amount of our common stock. Such provisions include rights of shareholders to receive from the corporation the fair cash value of their shares of stock following a control transaction from a controlling person or group and requirements relating to certain business combinations.

Under the LBCL’s control share acquisition statutes, any person who acquires “control shares” will be able to vote such shares only if the right to vote is approved by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of both (1) all the votes entitled to be cast by shareholders and (2) all the votes entitled to be cast by shareholders excluding “interested shares.” “Control shares” are shares that would entitle the holder thereof, assuming the shares had full voting rights, to exercise voting power within any of the following ranges: (a) 20% or more but less than one-third of all voting power; (b) one-third or more but less than a majority of all voting power; or (c) a majority or more of all voting power. Any acquisition that would result in the ownership of control shares in a higher range would require an additional vote of shareholders. “Interested shares” include control shares and any shares held by an officer or employee who is also a director of the corporation. If the control shares are provided full voting rights and the acquiring person has acquired control shares representing a majority or more of all voting power, all shareholders have dissenters’ rights entitling them to receive from the corporation the “fair cash value” of their shares, which cannot be less than the highest price paid per share by the acquiring person to acquire the control shares.

The LBCL’s fair price protection statutes govern “business combinations” involving an “interested shareholder.” The LBCL defines a “business combination” generally to include the following:

“Interested shareholder” includes any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock, or any affiliate thereof who had such beneficial ownership during the preceding two years, excluding in each case the corporation, its subsidiaries and their benefit plans.

Under the LBCL, a business combination must be approved by any vote otherwise required by law or the articles of incorporation, and by the affirmative vote of at least each of the following: (1) 80% of the total outstanding voting stock of the corporation, voting together as a single group; and (2) two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock held by persons other than the interested shareholder, voting together as a single group. However, the supermajority vote requirements are not applicable if the business combination meets certain minimum price requirements and other procedural safeguards, or if the transaction is approved by our board prior to the time that the interested shareholder first became an interested shareholder.

Action by Written Consent. Under the LBCL, unless otherwise provided in a corporation’s articles of incorporation, no action required or permitted to be taken at an annual or special meeting of shareholders may be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting unless such written consent is signed by all shareholders. Our restated articles of incorporation do not contain a provision allowing for less than unanimous written consent. As a result, the requirement that actions taken by written consent be unanimous ensures that shareholders cannot effect a business combination or other corporate action without the knowledge and involvement of all of our shareholders.

Indemnification. Our restated articles of incorporation and by-laws provide generally that we will indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by Louisiana law, our directors and officers, as well as other persons who have served as directors, officers, fiduciaries or in other representative capacities, serving at our request in connection with any actual or threatened action, proceeding or investigation, subject to limited exceptions. To the extent that indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons, we have been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, this indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. Finally, our ability to provide indemnification to our directors and officers is limited by federal banking laws and regulations.

Limitation of liability. Our restated articles of incorporation limit the personal liability of our directors in actions brought on our behalf or on behalf of our shareholders for monetary damages as a result of a director’s acts or omissions while acting in a capacity as a director, with certain exceptions. Our restated articles of incorporation do not eliminate or limit our right or the right of our shareholders to seek injunctive or other equitable relief not involving monetary damages.

The BHCA generally would prohibit any company that is not engaged in financial activities and activities that are permissible for a bank holding company or a financial holding company from acquiring control of us. “Control” is generally defined as ownership of 25% or more of the voting stock or other exercise of a controlling influence. In addition, any existing bank holding company would need the prior approval of the Federal Reserve before acquiring 5% or more of our voting stock. The Change in Bank Control Act of 1978, as amended, prohibits a person or group of persons from acquiring control of a bank holding company unless the Federal Reserve has been notified and has not objected to the transaction. Under a rebuttable presumption established by the Federal Reserve, the acquisition of 10% or more of a class of voting stock of a bank holding company with a class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, such as Investar could constitute acquisition of control of the bank holding company. Louisiana law generally requires the prior approval of the Commissioner before a person, group of persons, or company may acquire 25% or more of our voting stock or otherwise exercise a controlling influence over the direction of the management or policy of Investar or Investar Bank.

Our restated articles of incorporation permit us to issue one or more series of preferred stock and authorize our board of directors to fix the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights (including voting rights), qualifications and limitations of any such series of preferred stock, without further shareholder approval. Each share of a series of preferred stock will have the same relative rights as, and be identical in all respects with, all the other shares of the same series. While the terms of preferred stock may vary from series to series, investors should assume that all shares of preferred stock that we may issue will be senior to our common stock in respect of distributions and on liquidation.

Although the creation and authorization of preferred stock does not, in and of itself, have any effect on the rights of the holders of our common stock, the issuance of one or more series of preferred stock may affect the holders of common stock in a number of respects, including the following: by subordinating our common stock to the preferred stock with respect to dividend rights, liquidation preferences and other rights, preferences, and privileges; by diluting the voting power or the earnings per share of our common stock; and by issuing common stock, upon the conversion of the preferred stock, at a price below the fair market value or original issue price of the common stock that is outstanding prior to such issuance.

The preferred stock has the terms described below unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of the preferred stock. You should read the prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of the preferred stock being offered for specific terms, including:

The preferred stock will, when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, each series of the preferred stock will rank equally as to dividends and liquidation rights in all respects with each other series of preferred stock. The rights of holders of shares of each series of preferred stock will be subordinate to those of our general creditors.

As described in this prospectus under “Description of Depositary Shares,” we may, at our option, with respect to any series of the preferred stock, elect to offer fractional interests in shares of preferred stock, and provide for the issuance of depositary receipts representing depositary shares, each of which will represent a fractional interest in a share of the series of the preferred stock. The fractional interest will be specified in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of the preferred stock.

Any series of the preferred stock will, with respect to the priority of the payment of dividends and the priority of payments upon liquidation, winding up, and dissolution, rank:

Holders of the preferred stock of each series will be entitled to receive, when, as, and if declared by our board of directors, cash dividends at such rates and on such dates, if any, described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Different series of preferred stock may be entitled to dividends at different rates or based on different methods of calculation. The dividend rate may be fixed or variable or both. Dividends will be payable to the holders of record as they appear on our stock books on record dates fixed by our board of directors, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Dividends on any series of the preferred stock may be cumulative or noncumulative, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If our board of directors does not declare a dividend payable on a dividend payment date on any series of noncumulative preferred stock, then the holders of that noncumulative preferred stock will have no right to receive a dividend for that dividend payment date, and we will have no obligation to pay the dividend accrued for that period, whether or not dividends on that series are declared payable on any future dividend payment dates. Dividends on any series of cumulative preferred stock will accrue from the date we initially issue shares of such series or such other date specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

No full dividends may be declared or paid or funds set apart for the payment of any dividends on any parity securities unless dividends have been paid or set apart for payment on the preferred stock. If full dividends are not paid, the preferred stock will share dividends pro rata with the parity securities. No dividends may be declared or paid or funds set apart for the payment of dividends on any junior securities unless full cumulative dividends for all dividend periods terminating on or before the date of the declaration or payment will have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment set apart for payment on the preferred stock.

If we dissolve, liquidate, or wind up our affairs, either voluntarily or involuntarily, the holders of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive, before any payment or distribution of assets is made to holders of junior securities, liquidating distributions in the amount described in the prospectus supplement relating to that series of the preferred stock, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and, if the series of the preferred stock is cumulative, for all dividend periods prior to that point in time. If the amounts payable with respect to the preferred stock of any series and any other parity securities are not paid in full, the holders of the preferred stock of that series and of the parity securities will share proportionately in the distribution of our assets in proportion to the full liquidation preferences to which they are entitled. After the holders of preferred stock and the parity securities are paid in full, they will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets.

Because we are a bank holding company, our rights, the rights of our creditors and of our stockholders, including the holders of the preferred stock offered by this prospectus, to participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon the subsidiary’s liquidation or recapitalization may be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors except to the extent that we may ourselves be a creditor with recognized claims against the subsidiary.

We may provide that a series of the preferred stock may be redeemable, in whole or in part, at our option, with prior Federal Reserve approval, if required. In addition, a series of preferred stock may be subject to mandatory redemption pursuant to a sinking fund or otherwise. The redemption provisions that may apply to a series of preferred stock, including the redemption dates and the redemption prices for that series, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

In the event of partial redemptions of preferred stock, whether by mandatory or optional redemption, our board of directors will determine the method for selecting the shares to be redeemed, which may be by lot or pro rata or by any other method determined to be equitable.

On or after a redemption date, unless we default in the payment of the redemption price, dividends will cease to accrue on shares of preferred stock called for redemption. In addition, all rights of holders of the shares will terminate except for the right to receive the redemption price.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement for any series of preferred stock, if any dividends on any other series of preferred stock ranking equally as to payment of dividends and liquidation rights with such series of preferred stock are in arrears, no shares of any such series of preferred stock may be redeemed, whether by mandatory or optional redemption, unless all shares of preferred stock are redeemed, and we will not purchase any shares of such series of preferred stock. This requirement, however, will not prevent us from acquiring such shares pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all such shares outstanding.

Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the preferred stock will have no voting rights except as otherwise required by law or in our articles of incorporation.

Under regulations adopted by the Federal Reserve, if the holders of any series of the preferred stock are or become entitled to vote for the election of directors, such series may then be deemed a “class of voting stock” and a holder of 10% or more of such class of securities under certain circumstances may then be subject to regulation as a bank holding company or be deemed in control in accordance with federal law.

We may provide that the holders of shares of preferred stock of any series may be required at any time or at maturity to exchange those shares for our debt securities. The applicable prospectus supplement will specify the terms of any such exchange.

We may, at our option, elect to offer fractional shares of preferred stock, which we call depositary shares, rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we do, we will issue to the public receipts, called depositary receipts, for depositary shares, each of which will represent a fraction, to be described in the prospectus supplement, of a share of a particular series of preferred stock.

The shares of any series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited with a depositary named in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fractional interest in a share of preferred stock represented by the depositary share, to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by such depositary share. Those rights include dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights.

The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received in respect of the preferred stock to the record holders of depositary shares in proportion to the numbers of depositary shares owned by those holders.

If there is a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary shares, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution. If this occurs, the depositary may, with our approval, sell the property and distribute the net proceeds from the sale to the holders.

Unless the related depositary shares have been previously called for redemption, upon surrender of the depositary receipts at the office of the depositary, the holder of the depositary shares will be entitled to delivery, at the office of the depositary to or upon his or her order, of the number of whole shares of the preferred stock and any money or other property represented by the depositary shares. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of

whole shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to the holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares. In no event will the depositary deliver fractional shares of preferred stock upon surrender of depositary receipts.

Whenever we redeem shares of preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date the number of depositary shares representing shares of the preferred stock so redeemed, so long as we have paid in full to the depositary the redemption price of the preferred stock to be redeemed plus an amount equal to any accumulated and unpaid dividends on the preferred stock to the date fixed for redemption. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the redemption price and any other amounts per share payable on the preferred stock multiplied by the fraction of a share of preferred stock represented by one depositary share. If less than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata or by any other equitable method as may be determined by the depositary.

After the date fixed for redemption, depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of depositary shares will cease, except the right to receive the moneys payable upon redemption and any money or other property to which the holders of the depositary shares were entitled upon redemption upon surrender to the depositary of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares.

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in the notice of meeting to the record holders of the depositary receipts relating to that preferred stock. The record date for the depositary receipts relating to the preferred stock will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock. Each record holder of the depositary shares on the record date will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the number of shares of preferred stock represented by that holder’s depositary shares. The depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the number of shares of preferred stock represented by the depositary shares in accordance with those instructions, and we will agree to take all action that may be deemed necessary by the depositary to enable the depositary to do so. The depositary will not vote any shares of preferred stock except to the extent it receives specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares representing that number of shares of preferred stock.

We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay charges of the depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary receipts will pay other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and such other charges as are expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be for their accounts.

The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so, and we may remove the depositary at any time. Any resignation or removal of the depositary will take effect upon our appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. The successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.

The depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts all notices, reports and other communications, including proxy solicitation materials received from us, which are delivered to the depositary and that we are required to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock.

Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if either of us is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond our control in performing our obligations. Our obligations and those of the depositary will be limited to performance in good faith of our and their duties thereunder. We and the depositary will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the depositary may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, on information provided by persons presenting preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.

We may issue warrants to purchase debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock. We may offer warrants separately or together with one or more additional warrants, debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock, or any combination of those securities in the form of units, as described in the appropriate prospectus supplement. If we issue warrants as part of a unit, the accompanying prospectus supplement will specify whether those warrants may be separated from the other securities in the unit before the warrants’ expiration date. Below is a description of certain general terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer. Further terms of the warrants will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The applicable prospectus supplement will contain, where applicable, the following terms of and other information relating to the warrants:

SLBB Warrants. In connection with its acquisition of South Louisiana Business Bank (“SLBB”), Investar Bank assumed outstanding warrants to purchase SLBB common stock (which were issued in connection with SLBB’s organization). The terms of these warrants were adjusted to reflect the terms of the merger agreement between Investar Bank and SLBB. There are 124,275 warrants outstanding that are exercisable at a price of $13.33 per share and expire on July 1, 2018.

We may issue units comprised of two or more of the other securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.

The preceding description and any description of units in the applicable prospectus supplement does not purport to be complete and is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of unit agreement, which will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of such units, and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements relating to such units.

We may offer and sell these securities in any one or more of the following ways:

The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions:

Each time we sell securities a prospectus supplement will describe the method of distribution of the securities and any applicable restrictions.

The prospectus supplement with respect to the securities of a particular series will describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including the following:

We may agree to enter into an agreement to indemnify the agents and the several underwriters against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act or to contribute to payments the agents or the underwriters may be required to make.

If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters or other persons acting as our agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase debt securities from us pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on the date stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each contract will be for an amount not less than, and the aggregate amount of securities sold pursuant to those contracts will be equal to, the respective amounts stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Institutions with whom the contracts, when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and other institutions, but will in all cases be subject to our approval. Delayed delivery contracts will not be subject to any conditions except that:

In all cases, these purchasers must be approved by us. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of any purchaser under any of these contracts will not be subject to any conditions except that (a) the purchase of the securities must not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction to which that purchaser is subject and (b) if the securities are also being sold to underwriters, we must have sold to these underwriters the securities not subject to delayed delivery. Underwriters and other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of these contracts.

If underwriters or dealers are used in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters or dealers for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, or at prices related to such prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices. The securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more of such firms. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of underwriters or dealers to purchase the securities offered will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters or dealers will be obligated to purchase all the offered securities if any are purchased. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid by underwriters or dealers to other dealers may be changed from time to time.

The securities may be sold directly by us or through agents designated by us from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to such agent will be set forth in, the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

To the extent that we make sales to or through one or more underwriters or agents in at-the-market offerings, we will do so pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement between us and the underwriters or agents. If we engage in at-the-market sales pursuant to a distribution agreement, we will issue and sell shares of our common stock to or through one or more underwriters or agents, which may act on an agency basis or on a principal basis. During the term of any such agreement, we may sell shares on a daily basis in exchange transactions or otherwise as we agree with the underwriters or agents. The distribution agreement will provide that any shares of our common stock sold will be sold at prices related to the then prevailing market prices for our common stock. Therefore, exact figures regarding proceeds that will be raised or commissions to be paid cannot be determined at this time and will be described in a prospectus supplement. Pursuant to the terms of the distribution agreement, we also may agree to sell, and the relevant underwriters or agents may agree to solicit offers to purchase, blocks of our common stock or other securities. The terms of each such distribution agreement will be set forth in more detail in a prospectus supplement to this prospectus. If any underwriter or agent acts as principal, or broker-dealer acts as underwriter, it may engage in certain transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of our securities. We will describe any such activities in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the transaction.

Offers to purchase the securities offered by this prospectus may be solicited, and sales of the securities may be made, by us directly to institutional investors or others, who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resales of the securities. The terms of any offer made in this manner will be included in the prospectus supplement relating to the offer.

Subject to any restrictions relating to debt securities in bearer form, any securities initially sold outside the United States may be resold in the United States through underwriters, dealers or otherwise.

Each series of securities other than common stock will be a new issue of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom offered securities are sold by us for public offering and sale may make a market in such securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time.

The anticipated date of delivery of the securities offered by this prospectus will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the offering. The securities offered by this prospectus may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange or a foreign securities exchange. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity or activity of any trading in the offered securities.

If more than 10% of the net proceeds of any offering of securities made under this prospectus will be received by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) members participating in the offering or affiliates or associated persons of such FINRA members, the offering will be conducted in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110.

We may enter into derivative or other hedging transactions with financial institutions. These financial institutions may in turn engage in sales of our common stock to hedge their position, deliver this prospectus in connection with some or all of those sales and use the shares covered by this prospectus to close out any short position created in connection with those sales. We may also sell shares of our common stock short using this prospectus and deliver our common stock covered by this prospectus to close out such short positions, or loan or pledge our common stock to financial institutions that in turn may sell the shares of our common stock using this prospectus. We may pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of our common stock covered by this prospectus to support a derivative or hedging position or other obligations and, if we default in the performance of our obligations, the pledges or secured parties may offer and sell our common stock from time to time pursuant to this prospectus.

We also may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, we may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.

Certain of the underwriters and their associates and affiliates may be customers of, have borrowing relationships with, engage in other transactions with, and/or perform services, including investment banking services, for, us or one or more of our affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

The validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, Washington, D.C.

The consolidated financial statements of Investar Holding Corporation as December 31, 2015 and 2014, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2015 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 have been incorporated herein, in reliance upon the reports of Postlethwaite & Netterville, APAC an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

The following table sets forth the various expenses to be incurred in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being registered. All amounts shown are estimates except the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee.

*These fees depend on the securities offered and the number of issuances and cannot be estimated at this time.

Under Section 83 of the Louisiana Business Corporation Law (the “LBCL”), a Louisiana corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (including an action by or in the right of the corporation), by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another business, foreign or nonprofit corporation, partnership, joint venture or other enterprise. Indemnified expenses include attorney fees, judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and other expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. In the case of actions by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnity is permitted under Section 83 of the LBCL if the relevant person is determined, in a final non-appealable judgment, to be liable for willful or intentional misconduct in the performance of his duty to the corporation, unless a court determines otherwise.

If a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action referred to in the previous paragraph or any claim therein, the corporation must indemnify him against expenses actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such matter. Section 83 permits a corporation to pay expenses incurred by the indemnified party in defending an action, suit or proceeding in advance of the final disposition if approved by the board of directors and accompanied by an undertaking by the indemnified party to repay such amounts if it is later determined that he is not entitled to indemnification. Section 83 also authorizes Louisiana corporations to buy liability insurance on behalf of any current or former director, officer, agent or employee. The indemnification and expense advancement provisions contained in Section 83 are not exclusive of any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, shareholder or director authorization or otherwise.

The by-laws of Investar Holding Corporation (“Investar”) contain indemnification provisions that require the company to indemnify any director, officer, employee or agent made party to any proceeding if such person

met the requisite standard of conduct, which is the same as that under the LBCL. Under the by-laws, the determination whether a director or officer met the required standard of conduct is made by Investar’s board of directors or a committee thereof, special legal counsel or by its shareholders. The advancement of expenses is also mandatory under Investar’s by-laws, provided that the director or officer makes deliveries analogous to those required under the LBCL and such advancement is authorized as provided under the LBCL.

Investar’s ability to provide indemnification to its directors and officers is limited by federal banking laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, 12 U.S.C. 1828(k).


Exhibit Number		Description
1.1		Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
3.1		Restated Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference herein to the Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-196014)).
3.2		By-laws (incorporated by reference herein to the Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-196014)).
4.1		No long-term debt instrument issued by the Registrant exceeds 10% of consolidated assets or is registered. In accordance with paragraph 4(iii) of Item 601(b) of Regulation S-K, the Registrant will furnish the Securities and Exchange Commission copies of long-term debt instruments and related agreements upon request.
4.2		Form of Indenture for Senior Debt Securities (including form of Note for Senior Debt Securities).
4.3		Form of Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities (including form of Note for Subordinated Debt Securities).
4.4		Form of Deposit Agreement (including Form of Depositary Share Certificate) with respect to Depositary Shares.*
4.5		Form of Common Stock Certificate.*
4.6		Form of Preferred Stock Certificate.*
4.7		Form of Articles Supplementary for series of Preferred Stock.*
4.8		Form of Warrant Agreement (including Form of Warrant Certificate) with respect to Warrants to Purchase Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Common Stock or Units.*
4.9		Form of Unit Agreement.*
5.1		Opinion of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP as to the legality of the securities being offered.
12.1		Calculation of Consolidated Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
23.1		Consent of Postlethwaite & Netterville, APAC
23.2		Consent of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 filed herewith).
24.1		Power of Attorney (included in the signature pages of this Registration Statement).
25.1		Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of the Senior Indenture Trustee (to be filed prior to any issuance of Senior Debt Securities).**
25.2		Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of the Subordinated Indenture Trustee (to be filed prior to any issuance of Subordinated Debt Securities).**

*To be subsequently filed by an amendment to the Registration Statement or by a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

**To be subsequently filed, when appropriate, pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 under electronic form type 305B2.

(1)To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2)That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3)To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4)That, for purposes of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(ii)

Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining any liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: The registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of

securities of the registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

The registrant hereby undertakes that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, on December 21, 2016.

We, the undersigned officers and directors of Investar Holding Corporation hereby severally constitute and appoint John J. D’Angelo and Christopher L. Hufft, and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys with full power to any of them, and to each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed herewith and any and all pre-effective and post-effective amendments to said Registration Statement and generally to do all such things in our name and behalf in our capacities as officers and directors to enable Investar Holding Corporation to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed by our said attorneys, or any of them, to said Registration Statement and any and all amendments thereto.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacity and on the dates indicated.


December 21, 2016	By:/s/John J. D’Angelo John J. D’Angelo President and Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
December 21, 2016	By:/s/Christopher L. Hufft Christopher L. Hufft Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
December 21, 2016	By:/s/Rachel P. Cherco Rachel P. Cherco Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)
December 21, 2016	By:/s/James M. Baker James M. Baker Director


December 21, 2016	By:/s/Thomas C. Besselman, Sr. Thomas C. Besselman, Sr. Director

December 21, 2016	By:/s/James H. Boyce, III James H. Boyce, III Director
December 21, 2016	By/s/Robert M. Boyce, Sr. Robert M. Boyce, Sr. Director

December 21, 2016	By:/s/William H. Hidalgo, Sr. William H. Hidalgo, Sr. Director


December 21, 2016	By:/s/Gordon H. Joffrion, III Gordon H. Joffrion, III Director
December 21, 2016	By:/s/David J. Lukinovich David J. Lukinovich Director
December 21, 2016	By:/s/Suzanne O. Middleton Suzanne O. Middleton Director
December 21, 2016	By:/s/Andrew C. Nelson, M.D. Andrew C. Nelson, M.D. Director
December 21, 2016	By:/s/Carl R. Schneider, Jr. Carl R. Schneider, Jr. Director
December 21, 2016	By:/s/Frank L. Walker Frank L. Walker Director


Exhibit Number		Description
1.1		Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
3.1		Restated Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference herein to the Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-196014)).
3.2		By-laws (incorporated by reference herein to the Form S-1(Registration No. 333-196014)).
4.1		No long-term debt instrument issued by the Registrant exceeds 10% of consolidated assets or is registered. In accordance with paragraph 4(iii) of Item 601(b) of Regulation S-K, the Registrant will furnish the Securities and Exchange Commission copies of long-term debt instruments and related agreements upon request.
4.2		Form of Indenture for Senior Debt Securities (including form of Note for Senior Debt Securities).
4.3		Form of Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities (including form of Note for Subordinated Debt Securities).
4.4		Form of Deposit Agreement (including Form of Depositary Share Certificate) with respect to Depositary Shares.*
4.5		Form of Common Stock Certificate.*
4.6		Form of Preferred Stock Certificate.*
4.7		Form of Articles Supplementary for series of Preferred Stock.*
4.8		Form of Warrant Agreement (including Form of Warrant Certificate) with respect to Warrants to Purchase Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Common Stock or Units.*
4.9		Form of Unit Agreement.*
5.1		Opinion of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP as to the legality of the securities being offered.
12.1		Calculation of Consolidated Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
23.1		Consent of Postlethwaite & Netterville, APAC.
23.2		Consent of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 filed herewith).
24.1		Power of Attorney (included in the signature pages of this Registration Statement).
25.1		Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of the Senior Indenture Trustee (to be filed prior to any issuance of Senior Debt Securities).**
25.2		Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of the Subordinated Indenture Trustee (to be filed prior to any issuance of Subordinated Debt Securities).**


Filing Fee — Securities and Exchange Commission	$5,795
Printing expenses	*
Legal fees and expenses	*
Accounting fees and expenses	*
Miscellaneous expenses	*
Total Expenses	$ *


Louisiana (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		27-1560715 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

7244 Perkins Road Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808 (225) 227-2222 (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)


	INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION
	By:	/s/John J. D’Angelo
		John J. D’Angelo
		President and Chief Executive Officer