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): August 18, 2022

The First Bancshares, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Mississippi
000-22507
64-0862173
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

6480 U.S. Hwy 98 West, Hattiesburg, MS 
39402
(Address of principal executive offices)
 (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (601) 268-8998

N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

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 Act: 

Title of each class Trading symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock
 FBMS
 NASDAQ 



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR 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. ☐
Item 8.01.
Other Events

On August 19, 2022, The First Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) announced the appointment of M. Ray “Hoppy” Cole, Jr., its current Chief Executive Officer, to serve as Chairman of the Board of the Company and its principal operating subsidiary, The First Bank (the "Bank"), effective as of August 18, 2022. E. Ricky Gibson, the Company's former Chairman of the Board, will continue to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company and the Bank, and Ted E. Parker has been appointed to serve as the Lead Independent Director for the Company, effective as of August 18, 2022. A copy of the press release announcing the Company's appointment of Mr. Cole as Chairman of the Board and Ted E. Parker as Lead Independent Director is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits

Exhibit 99.1

Exhibit 104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
                         

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
The First Bancshares, Inc.


Date:  August 19, 2022



/s/ Donna T. (Dee Dee) Lowery       

Name: Donna T. (Dee Dee) Lowery

Title:   EVP and CFO