Sec Form 13D Filing - NORCROSS GEORGE E III filing for REPUBLIC FIRST BANCORP INC (FRBK) - 2023-07-14

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Schedule 13D/A

(Rule 13d-101)

Information to be Included in Statements Filed Pursuant to § 240.13d-1(a) and Amendments Thereto Filed Pursuant to § 240.13d-2(a)

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. 35)*

Republic First Bancorp, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

760416107

(CUSIP Number)

George E. Norcross, III

218 Royal Palm Way, Suite 200

Palm Beach, Florida 33480

(561) 500-4600

With a Copy to:

H. Rodgin Cohen

Mitchell S. Eitel

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

125 Broad Street

New York, NY 10004

212-558-4000

(Name, address and telephone number of person authorized to receive notices and communications)

July 12, 2023

(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box  ☐.

Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See § 240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

The information required on 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).

This Amendment No. 35 (“Amendment No. 35”) amends the statement on Schedule 13D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on January 31, 2022, as amended prior to the date of this Amendment No. 35 (the “Original Schedule 13D”) as specifically set forth herein (as so amended, the “Schedule 13D”). Except as provided herein, each Item of the Original Schedule 1 3D remains unchanged.

Item 2 of the Original Schedule 13D is hereby amended as follows:

(a) This Statement is being filed jointly on behalf of and by each of the following persons (each, a “Reporting Person” and, collectively, the “Reporting Persons”): (i) George E. Norcross, III; (ii) Philip A. Norcross; (iii) Gregory B. Braca; (iv) Alessandra T. Norcross; and (v) Alexander S. Norcross. The filing of this Statement shall not be deemed an admission that any Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of the securities reported herein for purposes of Section 13 of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise.

On July 12, 2023, the Avery Conner Capital Trust made a distribution in kind for no additional consideration of 4,724,662 shares of Common Stock to Alessandra T. Norcross and Alexander S. Norcross (the “Distribution”). The Avery Conner Capital Trust, Susan D. Hudson, in her capacity as a Trustee of the Avery Conner Capital Trust, Geoffrey B. Hudson, in his capacity as a Trustee of the Avery Conner Capital Trust and Rose M. Guida, in her capacity as a Trustee of the Avery Conner Capital Trust, are no longer Reporting Persons for purposes of the Schedule 13D as a result of the Distribution, and Philip A. Norcross is no longer deemed to have beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock formerly held by the Avery Conner Capital Trust.

(b) (i) The business address of George E. Norcross, III is 218 Royal Palm Way, Suite 200, Palm Beach, Florida 33480.

(ii) The business address of Philip A. Norcross is 218 Royal Palm Way, Suite 200, Palm Beach, Florida 33480.

(iii) The business address of Gregory B. Braca is 218 Royal Palm Way, Suite 200, Palm Beach, Florida 33480.

(iv) The business address of Alessandra T. Norcross is 218 Royal Palm Way, Suite 200 Palm Beach, Florida 33480.

(v) The business address of Alexander S. Norcross is 218 Royal Palm Way, Suite 200 Palm Beach, Florida 33480.

(c) (i) George E. Norcross, III is the Executive Chairman of Conner Strong & Buckelew Companies, LLC, an insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firm, with a business address at 218 Royal Palm Way, Suite 200, Palm Beach, Florida 33480.

(ii) Philip A. Norcross is the Managing Shareholder and Chief Executive Officer of Parker McCay P.A., a law firm, with a business address at 2 Cooper Street, Suite 1901, Camden, New Jersey 08102.

(iii) Gregory B. Braca is an investor.

(iv) Alessandra T. Norcross is the founder and chairwoman of WWB Holdings LLC d/b/a PhillyVoice, a digital news source, with a principal business address at 2929 Arch Street, Suite 675, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

(v) Alexander S. Norcross works in business development at WWB Holdings LLC d/b/a PhillyVoice, a digital news source, with a principal business address at 2929 Arch Street, Suite 675, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

(d)-(e) During the last five years, none of the Reporting Persons nor any control persons of a Reporting Person has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or has been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

(f)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vii) Each of George E. Norcross, III, Philip A. Norcross, Gregory B. Braca, Alessandra T. Norcross, and Alexander S. Norcross is a citizen of the United States.

Item 3 of the Original Schedule 13D is hereby amended to add the following:

On July 12, 2023, as set forth in Schedule A, the Avery Conner Capital Trust made a distribution in kind for no additional consideration of 4,724,662 shares of Common Stock to Alessandra T. Norcross and Alexander S. Norcross.

Item 5(c) of the Original Schedule 13D is hereby amended and restated as follows:

(c) Except as set forth on Schedule A attached hereto, none of the Reporting Persons has engaged in transactions in shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible into, exercisable for or exchangeable for Common Stock) since the filing of the Original Schedule 13D.

Item 7 of the Original Schedule 13D is hereby amended to replace Exhibit 7(a) with the following:

SCHEDULE A

Transactions in the Common Stock of the Issuer Since the Filing of the Original Schedule 13D

The following table sets forth all the transactions in the Common Stock of the Issuer effected since the filing of the Original Schedule 13D by the Reporting Persons. Except as otherwise noted, all such transactions were effected in the open market through brokers.

Avery Conner Capital Trust

Alessandra T. Norcross

Alexander S. Norcross

SIGNATURES

After due 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: July 14, 2023