bfbi20260527_8k.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): May 21, 2026
BUSINESS FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Louisiana | 001-38447 | 20-5340628 |
| (State of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| 500 Laurel Street, Suite 101 Baton Rouge, Louisiana | 70801 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip code) | |
| Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (225) 248-7600 | ||
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
| Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share | BFST | NASDAQ Global Select Market |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
| 5.07 | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders |
On May 21, 2026, Business First Bancshares, Inc. (“Business First”) held its annual meeting of shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”). At the Annual Meeting, the shareholders of Business First: (i) elected sixteen (16) directors; (ii) approved on a non-binding, advisory basis the compensation paid to Business First’s named executive officers; and (iii) ratified the appointment of Forvis Mazars, LLP as Business First’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026. The proposals presented at the Annual Meeting are described in more detail in Business First’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 8, 2026.
Holders of 23,741,697 shares of Business First common stock, or approximately 72.62% of Business First’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock that were entitled to vote, were present in person, virtually, or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting.
Below are the final voting results on the proposals presented to Business First’s shareholders at the Annual Meeting.
Proposal 1: Election of Directors
The shareholders elected the individuals nominated by the Board of Directors of Business First to serve as directors until the 2027 annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified:
| For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Vote | |||||
| George W. Cummings III | 12,073,961 | 6,167,145 | 39,210 | 5,461,381 | ||||
| Ricky D. Day | 17,978,734 | 300,814 | 768 | 5,461,381 | ||||
| John P. Ducrest | 18,009,045 | 269,601 | 1,670 | 5,461,381 | ||||
| Mark P. Folse | 11,841,843 | 6,399,363 | 39,110 | 5,461,381 | ||||
| William G. Hall | 18,035,139 | 243,026 | 2,151 | 5,461,381 | ||||
| J. Vernon Johnson | 18,024,598 | 254,068 | 1,650 | 5,461,381 | ||||
| Rolfe H. McCollister, Jr. | 17,463,579 | 815,368 | 1,369 | 5,461,381 | ||||
| David R. Melville, III | 17,934,816 | 344,151 | 1,349 | 5,461,381 | ||||
| Patrick E. Mockler | 17,928,153 | 350,814 | 1,349 | 5,461,381 | ||||
| David A. Montgomery, Jr. | 17,736,466 | 542,200 | 1,650 | 5,461,381 | ||||
| Arthur J. Price | 18,000,864 | 277,802 | 1,650 | 5,461,381 | ||||
| Aimee Quirk | 18,032,667 | 246,688 | 961 | 5,461,381 | ||||
| Alejandro Sanchez | 17,975,270 | 299,877 | 5,169 | 5,461,381 | ||||
| Zeenat Sidi | 18,024,890 | 254,164 | 1,262 | 5,461,381 | ||||
| Keith A. Tillage | 17,950,257 | 324,502 | 5,557 | 5,461,381 | ||||
| Steven G. White | 17,360,104 | 918,462 | 1,750 | 5,461,381 |
Proposal 2: Non-Binding, Advisory Vote Regarding the Compensation of Business First’s Named Executive Officers
The shareholders approved, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation of Business First’s named executive officers. The table below sets forth the voting results for Proposal 2:
| For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Vote | |||
| 17,895,672 | 230,620 | 154,024 | 5,461,381 |
Proposal 3: Ratification of Forvis Mazars, LLP as Business First’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The shareholders ratified the Audit Committee’s appointment of Forvis Mazars, LLP as Business First’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026. The table below sets forth the voting results for Proposal 3:
| For | Against | Abstain | ||
| 23,609,260 | 123,613 | 8,824 |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: May 27, 2026
| BUSINESS FIRST BANCSHARES, INC. | |||
| By: | /s/ David R. Melville III | ||
| David R. Melville III | |||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | |||