UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 (Amendment No. 1)

Business First Bancshares, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

12326C105

(CUSIP Number)

December 31, 2018

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

☐ Rule 13d-1(b)

☒ Rule 13d-1(c)

☐ Rule 13d-1(d)

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

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

CUSIP No. 12326C105 13G

1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
	I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
	EJF Capital LLC
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
	(a)☐
	(b)☒
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Delaware
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH		5	SOLE VOTING POWER
			0
		6	SHARED VOTING POWER
			644,000
		7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0
		8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
			644,000
9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	644,000
10	CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	☐
11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
	4.9% (1)
12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	IA

(1) Based on 13,213,280 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share per share (“Common Stock”) outstanding as of December 31, 2018, as reflected in the Form 8-K filed by the Issuer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on January 29, 2019.

CUSIP No. 12326C105 13G

1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
	I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
	Emanuel J. Friedman
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
	(a)☐
	(b)☒
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	United States
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH		5	SOLE VOTING POWER
			0
		6	SHARED VOTING POWER
			644,000
		7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0
		8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
			644,000
9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	644,000
10	CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	☐
11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
	4.9% (1)
12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	IN

(1) Based on 13,213,280 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of December 31, 2018, as reflected in the Form 8-K filed by the Issuer with the SEC on January 29, 2019.

CUSIP No. 12326C105 13G

1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
	I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
	EJF Sidecar Fund, Series LLC – Small Financial Equities Series
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
	(a)☐
	(b)☒
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Delaware
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH		5	SOLE VOTING POWER
			0
		6	SHARED VOTING POWER
			644,000
		7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0
		8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
			644,000
9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	644,000
10	CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	☐
11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
	4.9% (1)
12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	OO

(1) Based on 13,213,280 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of December 31, 2018, as reflected in the Form 8-K filed by the Issuer with the SEC on January 29, 2019.

CUSIP No. 12326C105 13G

1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
	I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
	EJF Financial Services Fund, LP
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
	(a)☐
	(b)☒
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Delaware
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH		5	SOLE VOTING POWER
			0
		6	SHARED VOTING POWER
			0
		7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0
		8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0
9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	0
10	CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	☐
11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
	0%
12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	PN

CUSIP No. 12326C105 13G

1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
	I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
	EJF Financial Services GP, LLC
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
	(a)☐
	(b)☒
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Delaware
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH		5	SOLE VOTING POWER
			0
		6	SHARED VOTING POWER
			0
		7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0
		8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0
9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	0
10	CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	☐
11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
	0%
12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	OO

Item 1(a). Name of Issuer:

Business First Bancshares, Inc.

Item 1(b). Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices:

500 Laurel Street, Suite 101Baton Rouge, Louisiana  70801

Item 2(a). Name of Person Filing:

This Amendment No. 1 to the Schedule 13G is being filed on behalf of the following persons (the “Reporting Persons”)*:

(i)	EJF Capital LLC;
(ii)	Emanuel J. Friedman;
(iii)	EJF Sidecar Fund, Series LLC – Small Financial Equities Series (“EJF Sidecar Series SFE”);
(iv)	EJF Financial Services Fund, LP (the “Financial Services Fund”); and
(v)	EJF Financial Services GP, LLC.

*Attached as Exhibit A is a copy of an agreement among the Reporting Persons that this Amendment No. 1 to the Schedule 13G is being filed on behalf of each of them.

Item 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:

The address of the principal business office of each Reporting Person is:

2107 Wilson Boulevard

Suite 410

Arlington, VA 22201

Item 2(c). Citizenship:

See Item 4 of the attached cover pages.

Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities:

Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share per share (“Common Stock”)

Item 2(e). CUSIP Number:

12326C105

Item 3. If This Statement Is Filed Pursuant to Sections 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), Check Whether the Person Filing Is a(n):

Not Applicable.

Item 4. Ownership.

(a)	Amount beneficially owned:
	See Item 9 of the attached cover pages.
(b)	Percent of class:
	See Item 11 of the attached cover pages.
(c)	Number of shares as to which such person has:
	(i)	Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
		See Item 5 of the attached cover pages.
	(ii)	Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
		See Item 6 of the attached cover pages.
	(iii)	Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition:
		See Item 7 of the attached cover pages.
	(iv)	Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition:
		See Item 8 of the attached cover pages.

EJF Sidecar Series SFE is the record owner of the number of shares of Common Stock shown on Item 9 of its respective cover page.

The Financial Services Fund was the record owner of the number of shares of Common Stock previously reported by it on a Schedule 13G filed on June 14, 2018, but no longer owns such shares of Common Stock.

EJF Financial Services GP, LLC is the general partner of the Financial Services Fund and an investment manager of certain affiliates thereof and may be deemed to have had shared beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock of which the Financial Services Fund was the record owner. 

EJF Capital LLC is the managing member of EJF Sidecar Series SFE (and the investment manager of an affiliate thereof) and the sole member of EJF Financial Services GP, LLC, and may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock of which EJF Sidecar Series SFE is the record owner and to have had shared beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock of which EJF Financial Services GP, LLC may have had shared beneficial ownership.

Emanuel J. Friedman is the controlling member of EJF Capital LLC and may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock over which EJF Capital LLC may share beneficial ownership.

Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof each Reporting Person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following [X].

Item 6. Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

Not Applicable.
 

Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company.

Not Applicable.

Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

Not Applicable.

Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group.

Not Applicable.

Item 10. Certification.

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated:  February 12, 2019

EJF CAPITAL LLC
By:	/s/ Neal J. Wilson
	Name:	Neal J. Wilson
	Title:	Chief Operating Officer

EMANUEL J. FRIEDMAN
By:	/s/ Emanuel J. Friedman
	Name:	Emanuel J. Friedman

EJF SIDECAR FUND, SERIES LLC – SMALL FINANCIAL EQUITIES SERIES
By: Its:	EJF CAPITAL LLC Managing Member
By:	/s/ Neal J. Wilson
	Name:	Neal J. Wilson
	Title:	Chief Operating Officer

EJF FINANCIAL SERVICES FUND, LP
By: Its:	EJF FINANCIAL SERVICES GP, LLC General Partner
By:	EJF CAPITAL LLC
Its:	Sole Member
By:	/s/ Neal J. Wilson
	Name:	Neal J. Wilson
	Title:	Chief Operating Officer

EJF FINANCIAL SERVICES GP, LLC
By: Its:	EJF CAPITAL LLC Sole Member
By:	/s/ Neal J. Wilson
	Name:	Neal J. Wilson
	Title:	Chief Operating Officer

EXHIBIT A

The undersigned, EJF Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Emanuel J. Friedman, EJF Sidecar Fund, Series LLC – Small Financial Equities Series, a Delaware separate series limited liability company, EJF Financial Services Fund, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and EJF Financial Services GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, hereby agree and acknowledge that the information required by this Amendment No. 1 to the Schedule 13G, to which this Agreement is attached as an exhibit, is filed on behalf of each of them.  The undersigned further agree that any further amendments or supplements thereto shall also be filed on behalf of each of them.

Dated:  February 12, 2019

EJF CAPITAL LLC
By:	/s/ Neal J. Wilson
	Name:	Neal J. Wilson
	Title:	Chief Operating Officer

EMANUEL J. FRIEDMAN
By:	/s/ Emanuel J. Friedman
	Name:	Emanuel J. Friedman

EJF SIDECAR FUND, SERIES LLC – SMALL FINANCIAL EQUITIES SERIES
By: Its:	EJF CAPITAL LLC Managing Member
By:	/s/ Neal J. Wilson
	Name:	Neal J. Wilson
	Title:	Chief Operating Officer

EJF FINANCIAL SERVICES FUND, LP
By: Its:	EJF FINANCIAL SERVICES GP, LLC General Partner
By:	EJF CAPITAL LLC
Its:	Sole Member
By:	/s/ Neal J. Wilson
	Name:	Neal J. Wilson
	Title:	Chief Operating Officer

EJF FINANCIAL SERVICES GP, LLC
By: Its:	EJF CAPITAL LLC Sole Member
By:	/s/ Neal J. Wilson
	Name:	Neal J. Wilson
	Title:	Chief Operating Officer