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<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left; text-transform: uppercase; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>UNITED STATES</b></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMMISSION</b></p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Washington, D.C. 20549</b></p>

<p style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>

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<p style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 18pt;"><b>FORM 8-K</b><br>
&nbsp;</p>

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<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>CURRENT REPORT</b></p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the<font style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Securities Exchange Act of 1934</font></b></p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Date of report (Date of earliest event reported<font style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">): <b>September 28, 2017</b></font><br>
&nbsp;</p>

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<p style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 18pt;"><b>BUSINESS FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.</b></p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</p>

<p style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

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			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Louisiana</b></p>
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			<td style="width: 28.8%; vertical-align: top;">
			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>333-200112</b></p>
			</td>
			<td style="width: 35.4%; vertical-align: top;">
			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>20-5340628</b></p>
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			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">(State of incorporation)</p>
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			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">(Commission File Number)</p>
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			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">(I.R.S. Employer Identification <font style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">No.)</font></p>
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			<td style="width: 35.8%; vertical-align: top;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 28.8%; vertical-align: top;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 35.4%; vertical-align: top;">&nbsp;</td>
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			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>500 Laurel Street</b><font style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>, Suite 101</b></font></p>

			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Baton Rouge, Louisiana</b></p>
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			<td style="width: 28.8%; vertical-align: bottom;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 35.4%; vertical-align: bottom;">
			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>7080</b><font style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>1</b></font></p>
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			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">(Address of principal executive offices)</p>
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			<td style="width: 28.8%; vertical-align: top;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 35.4%; vertical-align: top;">
			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">(Zip code)</p>
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			<td style="width: 35.8%; vertical-align: top;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 28.8%; vertical-align: top;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td style="width: 35.4%; vertical-align: top;">&nbsp;</td>
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			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Registrant<font style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&rsquo;s telephone number, including area code:<b>&nbsp;</b><b>(225) 248-7600</b></font></p>
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<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</p>

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<p style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: justify; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):</p>

<p style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: justify; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&#9744;<font style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</font></p>

<p style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: justify; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&#9744;<font style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</font></p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: justify; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&#9744;<font style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</font></p>

<p style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: justify; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&#9744;<font style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</font></p>

<p style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: justify; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 40 of the Securities Act of 1933 (&sect;230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (&sect;240.12b-2 of this chapter).</p>

<p style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 69.2%; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Emerging growth company&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#9746;</font></p>

<p style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: justify; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">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.<font style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#9746;</font></p>

<p style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

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<div id="PGHDR" style="width: 100%; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div>
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<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: justify; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>5.03&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.</b></p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: justify; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">On September 28, 2017, at a special meeting of the shareholders of Business First Bancshares, Inc. (the &ldquo;Company&rdquo;), described in Item 5.07 to this Form 8-K, the shareholders of the Company approved the Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 3.1 (the &ldquo;Amended and Restated Articles&rdquo;), which amend and restate the Articles of Incorporation of the Company in their entirety. The Amended and Restated Articles (i) increase the authorized number of shares of common stock from 10,000,000 to 50,000,000, and the authorized number of shares of preferred stock from 1,000,000 to 5,000,000, (ii) implement a majority vote standard for uncontested director elections in lieu of the current plurality vote standard, and (iii) bring the Company&rsquo;s Articles of Incorporation in line with industry best practices, the Louisiana Business Corporations Act, and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company. The Amended and Restated Articles were previously approved by the board of directors of the Company on August 23, 2017.</font></p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: justify; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">The foregoing summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Amended and Restated Articles, which was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Louisiana on <font style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">September 28, 2017, and is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and incorporated herein by reference.</font></p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: justify; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>5.07</b><font style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</b><b>Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders</b></font></p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: justify; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">A duly called and convened special meeting of the shareholders of the Company was held on September 28, 2017, pursuant to a Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement distributed to the Company&rsquo;s shareholders of record as of August 23, 2017. The only matter of business at the meeting was a proposal to adopt Amended and Restated Articles, as described in Item 5.03 to this Form 8-K. The proposal to adopt the Amended and Restated Articles was adopted and approved by a majority of the issued and outstanding shares eligible to vote at the meeting. The final voting results were as follows:</font></p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: justify; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</p>

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			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Voted For</p>
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			<td style="width: 17.8%; vertical-align: top; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-width: thin; border-right-width: thin; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid;">
			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Voted Against</p>
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			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Abstentions</p>
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			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Broker Nonvotes</p>
			</td>
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			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Approval of Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Business First Bancshares, Inc.</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width: 17.9%; vertical-align: top; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-width: thin; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid;">
			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">3,830,644</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width: 17.8%; vertical-align: top; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-width: thin; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid;">
			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">39,145</p>
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			<td style="width: 18%; vertical-align: top; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-width: thin; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid;">
			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">17,563</p>
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			<td style="width: 17.9%; vertical-align: top; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-width: thin; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid;">
			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">-</p>
			</td>
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<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: justify; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</p>

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			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>9.01</b></p>
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			<td style="width: 91.6%; vertical-align: top;">
			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Financial Statements and Exhibits</b></p>
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			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</p>
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			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</p>
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			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">(d)</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width: 91.6%; vertical-align: top;">
			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Exhibits.</p>

			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</p>

			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">The following exhibits<font style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;are filed herewith.</font></p>
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			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u>Exhibit No.</u></p>
			</td>
			<td style="width: 1516.8px; vertical-align: top;">
			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u>Description of Exhibit</u></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 137.19px; vertical-align: top;">
			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">3<font style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">.1</font></p>
			</td>
			<td style="width: 1516.8px; vertical-align: top;">
			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="ex_96070.htm" style="-sec-extract: exhibit;">Amend<font style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">ed and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Business First Bancshares, Inc., adopted September 28, 2017</font></a></p>
			</td>
		</tr>

</table>

<p style="margin: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<div id="PGBK" style="width: 100%; margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt;">
<div id="PGNUM" style="width: 100%; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div>

<hr style="border: currentColor; border-image: none; width: 100%; height: 2px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); page-break-after: always; background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<div id="PGHDR" style="width: 100%; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>SIGNATURES</b></p>

<p style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the <font style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.</font></p>

<p style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Dated: <font style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">October 2, 2017</font></p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt auto; width: 50%; font-size: 10pt;">

		<tr>
			<td colspan="2" style="width: 50%;">
			<p style="margin: 0pt;"><strong>BUSINESS FIRST BANCSHARES</strong></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="padding-left: 18pt;">By:</td>
			<td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-width: thin; border-bottom-style: solid;">/s/ David R. Melville, III</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>David R. Melville, III</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>President and Chief Executive Officer</td>
		</tr>

</table>

<p style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<div id="PGBK" style="width: 100%; margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt;">
<div id="PGNUM" style="width: 100%; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div>

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<div id="PGHDR" style="width: 100%; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="TBL6" style="width: 100%; text-indent: 0px; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">

		<tr>
			<td colspan="3" style="width: 100%; vertical-align: top;">
			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u>EXHIBIT INDEX</u></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 10.1%; vertical-align: top;">
			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u>Exhibit No.</u></p>
			</td>
			<td style="width: 87.9%; vertical-align: top;">
			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u>Description of Exhibit</u></p>
			</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 10.1%; vertical-align: top;">
			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">3<font style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">.1</font></p>
			</td>
			<td style="width: 87.9%; vertical-align: top;">
			<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="ex_96070.htm" style="-sec-extract: exhibit;">Amend<font style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">ed&nbsp;and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Business First Bancshares, Inc., adopted September 28, 2017</font></a></p>
			</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>

</table>

<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: justify; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</p>

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<p style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</p>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "Business First Bancshares, Inc.", "cik": "0001624322", "assigned-sic": "6022", "irs-number": "205340628", "state-of-incorporation": "LA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "333-200112", "film-number": "171113240"}, "business-address": {"street1": "500 LAUREL STREET", "street2": "SUITE 101", "city": "BATON ROUGE", "state": "LA", "zip": "70801", "phone": "225-248-7600"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "500 LAUREL STREET", "street2": "SUITE 101", "city": "BATON ROUGE", "state": "LA", "zip": "70801"}}
bfbi20170928_8k.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMMISSION
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
):
September 28, 2017
BUSINESS FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Louisiana
333-200112
20-5340628
(State of incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification
No.)
500 Laurel Street
, Suite 101
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
7080
1
(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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
☐
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))
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 40 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.
☒
5.03       Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
On September 28, 2017, at a special meeting of the shareholders of Business First Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company"), described in Item 5.07 to this Form 8-K, the shareholders of the Company approved the Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 3.1 (the "Amended and Restated Articles"), which amend and restate the Articles of Incorporation of the Company in their entirety. The Amended and Restated Articles (i) increase the authorized number of shares of common stock from 10,000,000 to 50,000,000, and the authorized number of shares of preferred stock from 1,000,000 to 5,000,000, (ii) implement a majority vote standard for uncontested director elections in lieu of the current plurality vote standard, and (iii) bring the Company's Articles of Incorporation in line with industry best practices, the Louisiana Business Corporations Act, and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company. The Amended and Restated Articles were previously approved by the board of directors of the Company on August 23, 2017.
The foregoing summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Amended and Restated Articles, which was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Louisiana on
September 28, 2017, and is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
5.07
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
A duly called and convened special meeting of the shareholders of the Company was held on September 28, 2017, pursuant to a Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement distributed to the Company's shareholders of record as of August 23, 2017. The only matter of business at the meeting was a proposal to adopt Amended and Restated Articles, as described in Item 5.03 to this Form 8-K. The proposal to adopt the Amended and Restated Articles was adopted and approved by a majority of the issued and outstanding shares eligible to vote at the meeting. The final voting results were as follows:
Voted For
Voted Against
Abstentions
Broker Nonvotes
Approval of Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Business First Bancshares, Inc.
3,830,644
39,145
17,563
-
9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d)
Exhibits.
The following exhibits
are filed herewith.
Exhibit No.
Description of Exhibit
3
.1
Amend
ed and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Business First Bancshares, Inc., adopted September 28, 2017
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:
October 2, 2017
BUSINESS FIRST BANCSHARES
By:
/s/ David R. Melville, III
David R. Melville, III
President and Chief Executive Officer
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.
Description of Exhibit
3
.1
Amend
ed and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Business First Bancshares, Inc., adopted September 28, 2017