First Guaranty Bancshares (FGBI) DEF 14ADefinitive proxy

To the Shareholders of First Guaranty Bancshares, Inc.:

to transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. The Board of Directors has fixed March 22, 2021, as the record date for determining shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Only shareholders of record at the close of business on March 22, 2021, are entitled to notice and to vote at the Meeting.

    The following information is furnished in connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") of First Guaranty Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company" or " First Guaranty") to be held on Thursday, May 20, 2021, at 2:00 p.m., local time, in the FGB Center, 206 South Orange Street, Hammond, Louisiana, and any adjournment or postponement thereof. This proxy statement and proxy is first being given or mailed to shareholders on or about April 9, 2021.

    The enclosed proxy is being solicited by the Board of Directors of First Guaranty. The cost of soliciting the proxies will be borne by First Guaranty. The directors, officers and employees of First Guaranty may solicit proxies by telephone or in person. In addition, it is anticipated that banks, brokerage houses, and other institutions, nominees, and fiduciaries will be requested to forward the proxy materials to their principals and to obtain authorizations for the execution of proxies. First Guaranty shall, upon request, reimburse banks, brokerage houses and other institutions, nominees and fiduciaries for their expenses in forwarding proxy materials to their principals.

    The Board of Directors of First Guaranty is not aware of any business to be acted upon at the Meeting other than the matters described in this proxy statement. If, however, other proper matters are brought before the Meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof, the persons appointed as proxy holders will have discretion to vote or abstain from voting thereon according to their best judgment. Should any nominee for director be unable or unwilling to serve, the proxy holders will have discretionary authority to vote for a substitute. The Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any nominee will be unable or unwilling to serve.

    The Board of Directors of First Guaranty has fixed the number of directors of First Guaranty at five. The persons named on the Proxy will vote only for the five named nominees, except to the extent that authority to so vote is withheld as to one or more nominees. The persons elected as directors are to serve until the next Annual Shareholders Meeting or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

    The following persons are the current members of the Board of Directors of First Guaranty and have been nominated by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors for election as directors of First Guaranty. Each nominee's name, age, present positions with First Guaranty, if any, principal occupation for the past five years, directorships in other public companies, the year each first became a director of First Guaranty and information regarding the person's experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that caused the Board to determine that the person should serve as a director are set forth below.

The following person is a current executive officer of First Guaranty who is not also a member of the board.  The executive officer's name, age, present position with First Guaranty, principal occupation for the past five years, directorships in other public companies, and the year he first became an executive officer of First Guaranty is set forth below.

    First Guaranty's Board of Directors currently expects to vote First Guaranty's shares to re-elect the following slate of First Guaranty Bank Board of Directors:

    The following table sets forth certain information regarding the only persons who are known by First Guaranty to own beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding common stock of First Guaranty. Each beneficial owner exercises sole voting and investment power over the shares listed below except as disclosed in the accompanying footnotes. Pursuant to Rule 13d-4 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), each principal shareholder disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares owned by his spouse, a trust or business entity with which he is affiliated, or of which he acts as custodian.

    The following table sets forth certain information concerning the beneficial ownership of First Guaranty's outstanding common stock by each director who is also a nominee for director and executive officer of First Guaranty and by all directors and executive officers of First Guaranty as a group as of March 22, 2021. Each director and executive officer exercises sole voting and investment power over the shares listed below except as disclosed in the accompanying footnotes. Pursuant to Rule 13d-4 under the Exchange Act, each person listed below disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares owned by his or her spouse, a trust or a business entity with which he or she is affiliated, or of which he or she acts as custodian.

    Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires First Guaranty's executive officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of First Guaranty's equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Officers, directors and greater than ten-percent shareholders are required by the SEC regulations to furnish First Guaranty with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

    Based on our review of such ownership reports, Marshall T. Reynolds had one late Form 5 reporting one late transaction. No other executive officer, director or 10% beneficial owner of our shares of common stock failed to file ownership reports for 2020 on a timely basis. First Guaranty relies on  written representations of its directors and executive officers and copies of the reports that have been filed in making required disclosures concerning beneficial ownership reporting.

    First Guaranty has chosen to separate the principal executive officer and board chair positions in order to provide a higher degree of independence and transparency between the Board and management. This leadership structure of the Board has been in place since the inception of First Guaranty.  The Chairman of the Board provides guidance to the Chief Executive Officer, is active in setting the agenda for Board meetings, and presides over meetings of the full Board. The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for setting the strategic direction for First Guaranty and the day to day leadership and performance of First Guaranty. The Board believes that this leadership structure is most appropriate given the Board's and First Guaranty's conservative risk profile and the Board's role in monitoring First Guaranty's execution of its business plan and the risk elements associated with such execution. Given the independent roles both the Board and management have in monitoring First Guaranty's risk, First Guaranty believes that its current leadership structure is well positioned to identify and mitigate these and other risks as they may arise.

    The Board's role in First Guaranty's risk oversight process includes receiving regular reports from members of senior management on areas of material risk to First Guaranty, including operational, financial, legal and regulatory, strategic and reputational risks. The full Board (or the appropriate committee in the case of risks that are reviewed and discussed at committee meetings) receives these reports from the appropriate "risk owner" within the organization to enable the Board or appropriate committee to understand our risk identification, risk management and risk mitigation strategies. When a committee receives the report, the Chairman of the relevant committee reports on the discussion to the full Board at the next Board meeting. This enables the Board and its committees to coordinate the risk oversight role, particularly with respect to risk interrelationships. 

    The Board of Directors determines the independence of each director in accordance with the NASDAQ Stock Market rules, which include all elements of independence as set forth in the listing requirements for NASDAQ securities. The board of directors has determined that all of our directors are "independent" within the meaning of such standards, with the exception of Mr. Lewis who is the President and Chief Executive Officer. Based on information provided by each director concerning his or her background, employment and affiliations, our board of directors has determined that Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Hood, Mr. Rossi and Mr. Smith do not have relationships that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In making these determinations, our board of directors considered the current and prior relationships that each director has with First Guaranty Bancshares and First Guaranty Bank and all other facts and circumstances our board of directors deemed relevant in determining their independence, including the transactions described in the section titled "Transactions with Related Parties."

    During 2020, there were 13 meetings of First Guaranty's Board of Directors. There were 13 meetings of First Guaranty Bank's Board of Directors, four meetings of First Guaranty's Audit Committee, four meetings of First Guaranty Bank's Audit Committee and 13 meetings of First Guaranty Bank's Executive Committee. All of First Guaranty's directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of First Guaranty's Board of Directors plus meetings of committees on which that particular director served during this period. First Guaranty strongly encourages all members of the Board of Directors to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. At First Guaranty's 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, all of First Guaranty's Board members were present and 18 of 19 First Guaranty Bank Board members were present.

    First Guaranty's Board of Directors has three standing committees: (1) an Audit Committee, (2) a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and (3) a Compensation Committee.

    The members of First Guaranty's Audit Committee are Jack Rossi, Chairman, William K. Hood and Edgar R. Smith III. Jack Rossi, William K. Hood and Edgar R. Smith III are the current independent directors on the Audit Committee within the meaning of NASDAQ Stock Market rules and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act. The Audit Committee met four times in 2020. First Guaranty's Audit Committee Charter is published on www.fgb.net.

    Additional functions of First Guaranty's Audit Committee include serving as a channel of communication between the auditor and regulatory examiners and the Board of Directors, reviewing examinations of First Guaranty, reviewing the results of each external audit of First Guaranty, reviewing First Guaranty's annual and quarterly financial statements, considering the adequacy of First Guaranty's internal financial controls, and attending to other matters relating to the appropriate auditing and accounting principles and practices to be used in the operation of First Guaranty in the preparation of its financial statements. This Committee also supervises the activities of the Internal Audit Department and approves the annual program of work. In taking actions, First Guaranty's Audit Committee considers First Guaranty Bank's Audit Committee recommendations.

    The members of First Guaranty Bank's Audit Committee are William K. Hood, Chairman, Anthony J. Berner, Jr., Gloria M. Dykes, and Edwin L. Hoover, Jr.

    The members of First Guaranty's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are Marshall T. Reynolds, Chairman, William K. Hood and Edgar R. Smith III. All members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are independent directors within the meaning of the NASDAQ Stock Market rules. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met one time in 2020. The purpose of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of First Guaranty shall be to identify qualified individuals to become Board members; determining the size and composition of the Board and its committees; monitoring a process to assess Board effectiveness; developing and implementing First Guaranty's corporate governance principles; and developing and implementing First Guaranty's Code of Conduct and Ethics.

    The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has the authority to:

    The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter may be accessed on www.fgb.net. It is expected that the Nominating Committee will use the same process to evaluate potential candidates recommended by shareholders as it uses to evaluate any other potential candidate. Shareholders wishing to propose a nominee to the committee should send written notice to Mr. Marshall T. Reynolds at the following address:  P. O. Box 2009, Hammond, LA 70404. The notice should include:

    In evaluating director nominees, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers the following factors:

    The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee's goal is to assemble a Board of Directors that brings to First Guaranty a variety of perspectives and skills derived from high quality business and professional experience. In doing so, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also considers candidates with appropriate non-business backgrounds.

    The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may also consider such other factors as it may deem are in the best interest of First Guaranty and its shareholders. The Committee also believes it appropriate for certain key members of First Guaranty's management as well as members of First Guaranty Bank's Board of Directors to provide suggestions to the Committee.

    The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will identify nominees by first evaluating the current members of the Board of Directors willing to serve an additional term. Current members of the Board who are willing to continue to serve as a member will be considered for re-nomination. If any member of the Board does not wish to continue to serve on the Board or if the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee or the Board decides not to re-nominate a member for re-election, the Committee may identify a new nominee. Current Board members are polled for suggestions as to individuals meeting the criteria of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Research may also be performed to identify qualified individuals. Although First Guaranty reserves the right to do so, First Guaranty has not engaged third parties to identify, evaluate, or assist in identifying potential nominees.

    While the Board of Directors does not maintain a written policy on diversity which specifies the qualities or factors the Board must consider when assessing Board members individually or in connection with assessing the overall composition of the Board, the Board does take into account:

    First Guaranty's By-Laws contain provisions that address the process by which a shareholder may nominate an individual to stand for election to the Board of Directors at First Guaranty's Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Those provisions are discussed in more detail in this proxy statement below under the heading "2022 Annual Meeting."

    First Guaranty has established a formal process by which shareholders may communicate with the Board of Directors. Every effort has been made to ensure that the views of shareholders are heard by the Board or individual directors and that appropriate responses are provided to shareholders in a timely manner.

    You can contact our Directors by mail in care of the Secretary to the Board of Directors, First Guaranty Bancshares, Inc., P. O. Box 2009, Hammond, LA 70404. Mail addressed to the "Board of Directors" will be forwarded or delivered to the Chairman of the Board.

    The members of First Guaranty's Compensation Committee are Marshall T. Reynolds, Chairman and William K. Hood. All members of the Compensation Committee are independent directors within the meaning of the NASDAQ Stock Market rules. The Compensation Committee met three times in 2020.  The Compensation Committee Charter may be accessed on www.fgb.net. The purpose of the Compensation Committee of First Guaranty is to review and approve the compensation and benefits provided to First Guaranty's directors and executive management. In addition, the Compensation Committee approves the compensation arrangements for senior management and directors and the adoption of compensation plans in which officers and directors are eligible to participate and oversees any such plans that are adopted by First Guaranty.

    During 2020, First Guaranty's Compensation Committee reviewed and set the salaries and bonuses of the senior officers of First Guaranty. The Chief Executive Officer made recommendations to the Committee for salary and bonuses with the exception of himself. In making salary and bonus decisions, the Compensation Committee considers past and current performance of those senior officers, First Guaranty's performance and current market conditions.

    The Compensation Committee has the authority to delegate to the Chairman of the Compensation Committee the authority to review and set the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, other senior officers or other employees.

    Neither First Guaranty nor the Compensation Committee hired an outside consulting firm to determine or recommend the amount or forms of any compensation in 2020.

    In performance of its obligations and in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission rules, the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed First Guaranty's audited consolidated financial statements with management and its independent registered public accounting firm, Castaing, Hussey & Lolan, LLC, and has discussed with them the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the Audit Committee received from the independent registered public accounting firm written disclosures and the letter regarding the auditors' communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and discussed with the auditors their independence.

    The Audit Committee received reports throughout the year on First Guaranty's internal controls for compliance with the applicable requirements for Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder. The Board of Directors has determined that at least one member of the Audit Committee, Jack Rossi, is an audit committee financial expert as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K, promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Audit Committee will continue to receive updates from the internal auditors and management on the process of First Guaranty's internal controls.

    Based on the above-mentioned review and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that First Guaranty's audited consolidated financial statements be included in First Guaranty's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    This report shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.

    The following table sets forth the total compensation paid by First Guaranty during the last two fiscal years to First Guaranty's Principal Executive Officer and the other most highly compensated executive officer whose total compensation exceeded $100,000 during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. We refer to these individuals as "named executive officers."

    In 2020, our named executive officers received a combination of base salary, annual cash bonuses and stock bonuses, in addition to other benefits. The performance of the named executive officers in managing First Guaranty and First Guaranty Bank, when considered in light of general economic, specific company, industry and competitive conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic, is the basis for determining their overall compensation.

    The Compensation Committee determined the total compensation for each named officer for 2020. Compensation is paid based on the named executive officers' individual and departmental performance, as well as our overall performance. In assessing our performance for compensation purposes, numerous factors were considered, including earnings during the past year relative to budget plans, asset growth, business plans for our future direction, and our safety and soundness. Compensation paid by other financial institutions in our geographic market area, with similar asset size, is also considered by the compensation committee. An assessment of each individual executive's performance is based on the executive's responsibilities and a determination of the named executive officer's contribution to our performance and the accomplishment of our strategic goals.

    Base salary is paid in order to provide each named executive officer with sufficient, regularly-paid income that is commensurate with his knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to execute his job duties and responsibilities. The base salaries for Messrs. Lewis and Dosch for 2020 were based on the above factors, including our current financial performance as measured by earnings, asset growth, and overall financial soundness. Additional considerations were their leadership in setting high standards for financial performance, motivating management and continued involvement in community affairs. In addition, in 2020, the Compensation Committee approved a base salary of $390,000 for Mr. Lewis due to prevailing market conditions and his significant contributions to the overall performance of First Guaranty. In 2020, the Compensation Committee approved a base salary of $164,100 for Mr. Dosch due to his individual performance and increased responsibilities during 2020.   

    Bonuses are discretionary and are generally awarded to the named executive officers based on the extent to which we achieve annual performance objectives established by the Compensation Committee. Bonuses are determined by the Compensation Committee following a year-end assessment of our financial performance. The performance criteria used by the Compensation Committee to determine the bonuses are not established until the end of the year and are not necessarily communicated to the officers. Company performance objectives may include net income, return on average assets ("ROAA") and return on average equity ("ROAE") goals. ROAA measures management's overall effectiveness at managing and investing First Guaranty's assets. ROAE measures the net after-tax return provided to First Guaranty's shareholders. Based on the foregoing, Messrs. Lewis and Dosch earned a cash bonus of $25,000 and $10,000, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2020.

    In addition, Messrs. Lewis and Dosch received a holiday bonus of $7,488 and $3,151, respectively, which represents one week of base pay. This holiday bonus was payable to all employees of First Guaranty Bank.

    First Guaranty paid quarterly bonuses in the form of Company common stock to employees, including named executive officers, as a part of a broad-based employee bonus program. These bonus payments do not have a vesting requirement or any other restrictions and are expensed as awarded based on the fair value of the stock. These bonus payments are typically issued based on employee performance, and are discretionary and in 2020 were not governed under a stock plan. During the year ended December 31, 2020, Messrs. Lewis and Dosch received 4,919 and 2,588 shares in the form of stock bonuses.

    Participants may elect to defer a percentage of their compensation each year instead of receiving that amount in cash, to the 401(k) Plan, provided that the amount deferred does not exceed $19,500 for 2020. In addition, for participants who are age 50 or older by the end of any taxable year, the participant may elect to defer additional amounts (called "catch-up contributions") to the 401(k) Plan. The "catch-up contributions" may be made regardless of any other limitations on the amount that a participant may defer to the 401(k) Plan. The maximum "catch-up contribution" that a participant could make in 2020 was $6,500. For these purposes, "compensation" includes total compensation (including salary reduction contributions made under the 401(k) Plan), but does not include compensation in excess of $285,000 for 2020. In addition, First Guaranty Bank makes a discretionary matching contribution to the 401(k) Plan that is determined by First Guaranty Bank. The discretionary contribution is allocated among the participants' accounts on the basis of each participant's annual elective deferral contributions to the 401(k) Plan.

    A participant is always 100% vested in his or her salary deferral contributions. However for First Guaranty Bank's contribution, a participant will vest at a rate of 25% per year, beginning after the completion of two years of service, such that the participant will become 100% vested upon the completion of five years of service. The vested portion of a participant's account under the 401(k) Plan, together with investment earnings thereon, is normally distributed following retirement, death, disability or other termination of employment, in the form of a single lump-sum payment. Our common stock is not offered as an investment option under the 401(k) Plan.

    First Guaranty evaluates the tax and accounting treatment of each of our compensation programs at the time of adoption and annually to ensure that we understand the financial impact of each program on First Guaranty. Our analysis includes a review of recently adopted and pending changes in tax and accounting requirements.

First Guaranty encourages directors and executive officers to purchase stock. First Guaranty has not adopted formal stock ownership requirements for its directors or executive officers.

    We pay fees to our non-employee directors for their participation in board and committee meetings held throughout the year. Directors who are also employees do not receive additional compensation for their service as directors. For the year ended December 31, 2020, our non-employee directors were paid $700 for each board meeting attended (including First Guaranty Bank board meetings). In addition, non-employee directors were paid $300 for each committee meeting, excluding director loan committee meetings attended (including First Guaranty Bank committee meetings). Non-employee directors were paid $500 for each director loan committee meeting attended.

    The Sarbanes-Oxley Act generally prohibits companies from making loans to executive officers and directors, but it contains a specific exemption from such prohibition for loans made by First Guaranty Bank to our executive officers and directors in compliance with federal banking regulations.

    First Guaranty is engaged, and expects to engage in the future, in banking transactions in the ordinary course of business with directors, officers, principal shareholders and their associates and/or immediate family members, on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral on loans, as those prevailing at the same time for comparable transactions with persons not related to First Guaranty and that do not involve more than the normal risk of collectibility or present other unfavorable features. The non-interested members of the Board reviews and approves related party transactions.

    At December 31, 2020, the aggregate funded amount of extensions of credit to directors, executive officers, principal shareholders and their associates, as a group was $79.4 million or approximately 44.5% of total equity. Unfunded commitments totaled $40.8 million.

    The firm of Castaing, Hussey & Lolan, LLC served as First Guaranty's independent registered public accounting firm in 2020 and 2019. Representatives of Castaing, Hussey & Lolan, LLC are expected to be present at the Meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

    The Audit Committee of First Guaranty has approved the engagement of Castaing, Hussey & Lolan, LLC to be First Guaranty's independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2021, subject to the ratification of the engagement by our shareholders. At the Meeting, shareholders will consider and vote on the ratification of the Audit Committee's engagement of Castaing, Hussey & Lolan, LLC for the year ending December 31, 2021.

    Shareholder ratification of the selection of Castaing, Hussey & Lolan, LLC as our independent registered public accounting firm is not required by our Bylaws or other applicable legal requirements. However, the Audit Committee is submitting the selection of Castaing, Hussey & Lolan, LLC to the shareholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. In the event shareholders fail to ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee may reconsider this appointment. Even if the engagement of Castaing, Hussey & Lolan, LLC is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such change would be in the best interests of First Guaranty and its shareholders.

    Castaing, Hussey & Lolan, LLC provided audit services to First Guaranty consisting of the annual audit of First Guaranty's 2020 and 2019 consolidated financial statements contained in First Guaranty's Annual Reports on Form 10-K and review of the financial statements contained in First Guaranty's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for 2020 and 2019. Castaing, Hussey & Lolan, LLC did not provide any services related to the financial information systems design/implementation or internal audit outsourcing to First Guaranty during 2020 or 2019.

    The deadline for submission of shareholder proposals to be considered for inclusion in the proxy materials relating to the 2022 Annual Meeting is December 10, 2021.

    Shareholder proposals to be presented at the 2022 Meeting, but not included in the proxy materials for that Meeting, must be submitted not less than 30 or more than 90 days before the date of the Meeting (or within 10 days of the date of notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the Meeting, if such notice or disclosure is given or made less than 40 days before the date of the Meeting). Under First Guaranty's By-Laws, a shareholder must furnish certain specified information in writing about the matters proposed to be brought before the Meeting and about the shareholder submitting the proposal and must be addressed to the Secretary of First Guaranty Bank at P. O. Box 2009, Hammond, Louisiana, 70404.

    As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Board of Directors does not know of any matters to be presented at the Meeting other than those mentioned above. However, if any other matters are properly brought before the Meeting, or any adjournment of postponement thereof, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote the shares represented by them in accordance with their best judgment pursuant to discretionary authority granted in the proxy.

    First Guaranty has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all employees as well as all members of the Board of Directors. First Guaranty also has adopted a Code of Ethics related to financial reporting that applies to senior financial officers. Both Codes of Ethics are available at www.fgb.net.

    Upon written request by any shareholder who makes a good faith representation that he or she is a shareholder of First Guaranty as of March 22, 2021 and entitled to vote at the Meeting, First Guaranty will provide a copy of the 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including statements, schedules, and exhibits thereto. These documents, including proxy materials may also be accessed on our website at www.fgb.net or the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov. Such requests should be addressed to Eric J. Dosch, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary, First Guaranty Bancshares, Inc. P.O. Box 2009, Hammond, Louisiana 70404-2009.