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<TITLE>First Financial Holdings, Inc. S-8 for 2007 Equity Incentive Plan </TITLE>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><font size="2">As filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on May 16, 2007</font></TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="RIGHT">Registration Statement No. 333-______</FONT></TD>
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<B><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">UNITED STATES<br>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<br>
WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549</B></FONT></TD>
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<B><FONT SIZE=4><P ALIGN="CENTER">FORM S-8</B></FONT></TD>
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<B><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">REGISTRATION STATEMENT<br>
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</B></FONT></TD>
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<B><FONT SIZE=4><P ALIGN="CENTER">FIRST FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.</B></FONT></TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</FONT></TD>
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<B><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">Delaware</B></FONT></TD>
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<B><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">57-0866076</B></FONT></TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">(State or other jurisdiction of<br>
incorporation or organization)</FONT></TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">(I.R.S. Employer<br>
Identification No.)</FONT></TD>
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<B><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">34 Broad Street, Charleston, South Carolina</B></FONT></TD>
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<B><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">29401</B></FONT></TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">(Address of principal executive offices)</FONT></TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">(Zip code)</FONT></TD>
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<B><FONT SIZE=4><P ALIGN="CENTER">First Financial Holdings, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan</B></FONT></TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">(Full title of the plan)</FONT></TD>
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<B><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">Dorothy B. Wright</B></FONT></TD>
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<B><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">John F. Breyer, Jr., Esquire</B></FONT></TD>
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<B><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">Vice President, Investor Relations</B></FONT></TD>
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<B><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">Breyer &amp; Associates PC</B></FONT></TD>
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<B><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">First Financial Holdings, Inc.</B></FONT></TD>
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<B><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">8180 Greensboro Drive</B></FONT></TD>
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<B><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">34 Broad Street</B></FONT></TD>
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<B><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">Suite 785</B></FONT></TD>
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<B><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">Charleston, South Carolina 29401</B></FONT></TD>
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<B><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">McLean, Virginia 22102</B></FONT></TD>
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<B><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">(843) 529-5931</B></FONT></TD>
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<B><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">(703) 883-1100</B></FONT></TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)</FONT></TD>
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<B><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</B></FONT></TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P>Title of each class of securities to be registered</FONT></TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">Amount to be registered</FONT></TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">Proposed maximum offering price per share</FONT></TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">Proposed maximum aggregate offering price</FONT></TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">Amount of registration fee</FONT></TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P>Common stock,</P>
<P>$.01 par value per share</FONT></TD>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER">900,000<SUP>(1)</SUP></FONT></TD>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER">$33.765<SUP>(2)</SUP></FONT></TD>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER">$30,388,500</FONT></TD>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER">$932.93</FONT></TD>
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<SUP><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">(1)</SUP>&nbsp;&nbsp;Together with an indeterminate number of additional shares which may be necessary to adjust the number of shares reserved for issuance pursuant to the First Financial Holdings, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan as a result of a stock split, stock dividend or similar adjustment of the outstanding common stock of the registrant.<br>
<SUP>(2)</SUP>&nbsp;&nbsp;Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(h), calculated on the basis of $33.765 per share, the average of the high and low share prices of First Financial Holdings, Inc. common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on May 14, 2007.</FONT></TD>
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<B>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</p>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER">PART I</P>
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<B><P ALIGN="CENTER">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS</P>
</B>
<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The document containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to participants in the First Financial Holdings, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &quot;Commission&quot;) under the Securities Act of 1933.  This document is not being filed with the Commission, but constitutes (along with the documents incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II hereof) a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933.</P>
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<P align="center">&nbsp;&nbsp;I-1</P>
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<B><P ALIGN="CENTER">PART II</P>
</B>
<B><P ALIGN="CENTER">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</P>
</B>
<U><P>Item 3</U>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Incorporation of Documents by Reference</P>

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following documents previously or concurrently filed by First Financial Holdings, Inc. (the &quot;Registrant&quot;) with the Commission are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:</P>

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006 (File No. 000-17122) filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934;</P>

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;all other reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Annual Report on Form 10-K referred to in Item 3(a) above; and</P>

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;the description of the Registrant's common stock, par value $.01 per share, set forth in the Registrant's Proxy Statement/Prospectus dated December 11, 1987 and filed as part of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 33-18272), dated November 9, 1987.</P>

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents.  Any statement contained in the documents incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated, by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is, or is deemed to be, incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.</P>

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All information appearing in this Registration Statement is qualified in its entirety by the detailed information, including financial statements, appearing in the documents incorporated herein by reference.</P>

<U><P>Item 4</U>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Description of Securities</P>

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not Applicable</P>

<U><P>Item 5</U>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Interests of Named Experts and Counsel</P>

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not Applicable</P>

<U><P>Item 6</U>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Indemnification of Directors and Officers</P>

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Article XV of the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation requires indemnification of any person who is or was a director, officer or employee of the Registrant, or who serves or served at the Registrant's request as a director, officer, employee, agent, partner or trustee of another entity, for expenses actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding.  In order to qualify for indemnification, the person seeking indemnification must meet the minimum standard of behavior, as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation. </P>

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides for permissible and mandatory indemnification of directors, officers, employees and agents in certain circumstances.  Section 145(a) provides a corporation with the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding (other than a derivative action), by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or </P>
<P align="center">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;II-1</P>
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<P>proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person's conduct was unlawful.  Section 145(b) provides similarly with respect to derivatives actions; however, no indemnification shall be made if the person seeking indemnification has been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.</P>

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section 145(c) provides that to the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 145(a) and 145(b), or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.  Section 145(d) provides that any indemnification under Sections 145(a) and 145(b) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct.  Section 145(j) provides that the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, Section 145 shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.</P>

<U><P>Item 7</U>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Exemption From Registration Claimed</P>

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not Applicable</P>

<U><P>Item 8</U>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Exhibits</P>

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following exhibits are filed with or incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement on Form S-8:</P>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">Exhibit<br>
Number</FONT></TD>
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<P>Description of Document</FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">4.1</FONT></TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P>Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant<SUP>(1)</SUP></FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="88%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">4.2</FONT></TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P>Bylaws of the Registrant<SUP>(2)</SUP></FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="88%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">5</FONT></TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P>Opinion of Breyer &amp; Associates PC</FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="88%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">23.1</FONT></TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P>Consent of KPMG LLP</FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="88%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">23.2</FONT></TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P>Consent of Breyer &amp; Associates PC (contained in its opinion filed as Exhibit 5)</FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">24</FONT></TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P>Power of attorney (contained in the signature page of the Registration Statement)</FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">99</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%" VALIGN="TOP">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>First Financial Holdings, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan<SUP>(3)</SUP></FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TD WIDTH="88%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=1></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="88%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=9><P></P></TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2>
<SUP><P>(1)</SUP></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="94%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1993 and the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1997.</FONT></TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2>
<SUP><P>(2)</SUP></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="94%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the Commission on December 1, 2004.</FONT></TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2>
<SUP><P>(3)</SUP></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="94%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Definitive Annual Meeting Proxy Statement, filed with the Commission on December 14, 2006.</FONT></TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><P>&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>
<P align="center">&nbsp;&nbsp;II-2</P></DIR><U>
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<P>Item 9</U>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Undertakings</P>

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:</P>

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.&nbsp;&nbsp;To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement: (i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement; and (iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change in such information in the Registration Statement; provided, however, that clauses (i) and (ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those clauses is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.</P>

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.&nbsp;&nbsp;That, for the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed the initial bona fide offering thereof.</P>

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3.&nbsp;&nbsp;To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.</P>

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.</P>

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officer and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P align="center">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;II-3</P>
<hr noshade color="#000000"><p style='page-break-before:always'></p>

</FONT><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<FONT SIZE=2>
<B><P ALIGN="CENTER">SIGNATURES</P>
</B>
<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Charleston, State of South Carolina, on May 16, 2007.</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="640" id="table1">
     <tr>
          <td width="350">&nbsp;</td>
          <td colspan="2"><B><FONT SIZE=2>FIRST FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.</FONT></B></td>
     </tr>
     <tr>
          <td width="350">&nbsp;</td>
          <td width="25">&nbsp;<p><FONT SIZE=2>By:</FONT></td>
          <td width="265"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT><p>
          <FONT SIZE=2>/s/ A. Thomas
          Hood</FONT></td>
     </tr>
     <tr>
          <td width="350" height="1"></td>
          <td width="25" height="1"></td>
          <td width="265" bgcolor="#000000" height="1"></td>
     </tr>
     <tr>
          <td width="350">&nbsp;</td>
          <td width="25">&nbsp;</td>
          <td width="265"><FONT SIZE=2>A. Thomas Hood</FONT></td>
     </tr>
     <tr>
          <td width="350">&nbsp;</td>
          <td width="25">&nbsp;</td>
          <td width="265"><FONT SIZE=2>Chairman, President
          and Chief Executive Officer</FONT></td>
     </tr>
     <tr>
          <td width="350">&nbsp;</td>
          <td width="25">&nbsp;</td>
          <td width="265"><FONT SIZE=2>(Duly Authorized
          Representative)</FONT></td>
     </tr>
</table>

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P align="center">II-4</P>
<hr noshade color="#000000"><p style='page-break-before:always'></p>


<B><P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">POWER OF ATTORNEY</P>
</B>
<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.  Each person whose signature appears below hereby makes, constitutes and appoints A. Thomas Hood his true and lawful attorney, with full power to sign for such person and in such person's name and capacity indicated below, and with full power of substitution any and all amendments to this Registration Statement, hereby ratifying and confirming such person's signature as it may be signed by said attorney to any and all amendments.</P>
</FONT>
<TABLE BORDER="0" CELLSPACING=0 WIDTH=624 cellpadding="0">
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom" HEIGHT=26>
<FONT SIZE=2><P>By:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom" HEIGHT=26>
<FONT SIZE=2>
<P>/s/ A. Thomas Hood</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom" HEIGHT=26><P></P></TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom" HEIGHT=26>
<FONT SIZE=2><P>By:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom" HEIGHT=26>
<FONT SIZE=2>
<P>/s/ James C. Murray</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom" height="1"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom" bgcolor="#000000" height="1"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom" height="1"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom" height="1"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom" bgcolor="#000000" height="1"></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>A. Thomas Hood<br>
Director (Principal Executive Officer)</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>James C. Murray<br>
Director</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Date:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>May 16, 2007</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Date:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>May 16, 2007</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>By:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">
<P>/s/ <FONT SIZE=2>R. Wayne Hall</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>By:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2>
<P>/s/ Paul G. Campbell, Jr.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<tr>
     <TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom" height="1"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom" bgcolor="#000000" height="1"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom" height="1"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom" height="1"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom" bgcolor="#000000" height="1"></TD>
</tr>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>R. Wayne Hall<br>
Executive Vice President<br>
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="top">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Paul G. Campbell, Jr.<br>
Director</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Date:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>May 16, 2007</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Date:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>May 16, 2007</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom" HEIGHT=26>
<FONT SIZE=2><P>By:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom" HEIGHT=26>
<FONT SIZE=2>
<P>/s/ Paula Harper Bethea</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom" HEIGHT=26><P></P></TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom" HEIGHT=26>
<FONT SIZE=2><P>By:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom" HEIGHT=26>
<FONT SIZE=2>
<P>/s/ Thomas J. Johnson</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<tr>
     <TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom" height="1"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom" bgcolor="#000000" height="1"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom" height="1"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom" height="1"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom" bgcolor="#000000" height="1"></TD>
</tr>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Paula Harper Bethea<br>
Director</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Thomas J. Johnson<br>
Director</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Date:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>May 16, 2007</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Date:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>May 16, 2007</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>By:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2>
<P>/s/ Ronnie M. Givens</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>By:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2>
<P>/s/ D. Kent Sharples</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<tr>
     <TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom" height="1"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom" bgcolor="#000000" height="1"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom" height="1"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom" height="1"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom" bgcolor="#000000" height="1"></TD>
</tr>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Ronnie M. Givens<br>
Director</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>D. Kent Sharples<br>
Director</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Date:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>May 16, 2007</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Date:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>May 16, 2007</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>By:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2>
<P>/s/ James L. Rowe</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>By:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom">
<FONT SIZE=2>
<P>/s/ Henry M. Swink</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<tr>
     <TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom" height="1"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom" bgcolor="#000000" height="1"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="bottom" height="1"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="bottom" height="1"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="bottom" bgcolor="#000000" height="1"></TD>
</tr>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>James L. Rowe<br>
Director</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Henry M. Swink<br>
Director</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="TOP">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Date:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>May 16, 2007</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="TOP">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Date:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>May 16, 2007</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">II-5</P>
<hr noshade color="#000000"><p style='page-break-before:always'></p>

<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<B><P ALIGN="CENTER">FIRST FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.<br>
EXHIBIT INDEX</P>
</B></FONT>
<TABLE BORDER="0" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 WIDTH=630>
<TR><TD WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>
<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">Exhibit<br>
Number</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="89%" VALIGN="TOP">
<FONT SIZE=2>
<P>Description of Document</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="100%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=3 bgcolor="#000000" height="1"></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="89%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>
<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">4.1</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="89%" VALIGN="TOP">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant<SUP>(1)</SUP></FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="89%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>
<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">4.2</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="89%" VALIGN="TOP">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Bylaws of the Registrant<SUP>(2)</SUP></FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="89%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>
<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">5</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="89%" VALIGN="TOP">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Opinion of Breyer &amp; Associates PC</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="89%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>
<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">23.1</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="89%" VALIGN="TOP">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Consent of KPMG LLP</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="89%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>
<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">23.2</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="89%" VALIGN="TOP">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Consent of Breyer &amp; Associates PC (contained in its opinion filed as Exhibit 5)</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="89%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>
<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">24</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="89%" VALIGN="TOP">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Power of attorney (contained in the signature page of the Registration Statement)</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="89%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>
<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">99</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="89%" VALIGN="TOP">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>First Financial Holdings, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan<SUP>(3)</SUP></FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="89%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2 bgcolor="#000000" height="1"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="89%" VALIGN="TOP" height="1"></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="89%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="TOP">
<FONT SIZE=2>
<SUP><P>(1)</SUP></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="94%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1993 and the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1997.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="TOP">
<FONT SIZE=2>
<SUP><P>(2)</SUP></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="94%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the Commission on December 1, 2004.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="6%" VALIGN="TOP">
<FONT SIZE=2>
<SUP><P>(3)</SUP></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="94%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2>
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Definitive Annual Meeting Proxy Statement, filed with the Commission on December 14, 2006.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<FONT SIZE=2>

<B><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
</B>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">II-6</P>

<B>
<hr noshade color="#000000">
</B>
</FONT>
</blockquote>
</BODY>
</HTML>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "FIRST FINANCIAL HOLDINGS INC /DE/", "cik": "0000787075", "assigned-sic": "6035", "irs-number": "570866076", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0930"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-143011", "film-number": "07857831"}, "business-address": {"street1": "34 BROAD STREET", "street2": "SUITE 10", "city": "CHARLESTON", "state": "SC", "zip": "29401", "phone": "8435295933"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "P.O. BOX 118068", "city": "CHARLESTON", "state": "SC", "zip": "29423-8068"}}
First Financial Holdings, Inc. S-8 for 2007 Equity Incentive Plan
As filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on May 16, 2007
Registration Statement No. 333-______
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
FIRST FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
57-0866076
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
34 Broad Street, Charleston, South Carolina
29401
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip code)
First Financial Holdings, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan
(Full title of the plan)
Dorothy B. Wright
John F. Breyer, Jr., Esquire
Vice President, Investor Relations
Breyer & Associates PC
First Financial Holdings, Inc.
8180 Greensboro Drive
34 Broad Street
Suite 785
Charleston, South Carolina 29401
McLean, Virginia 22102
(843) 529-5931
(703) 883-1100
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of each class of securities to be registered
Amount to be registered
Proposed maximum offering price per share
Proposed maximum aggregate offering price
Amount of registration fee
Common stock,
$.01 par value per share
900,000
(1)
$33.765
(2)
$30,388,500
$932.93
(1)  Together with an indeterminate number of additional shares which may be necessary to adjust the number of shares reserved for issuance pursuant to the First Financial Holdings, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan as a result of a stock split, stock dividend or similar adjustment of the outstanding common stock of the registrant.
(2)
Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(h), calculated on the basis of $33.765 per share, the average of the high and low share prices of First Financial Holdings, Inc. common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on May 14, 2007.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
The document containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to participants in the First Financial Holdings, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933.  This document is not being filed with the Commission, but constitutes (along with the documents incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II hereof) a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933.
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PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3
.    Incorporation of Documents by Reference
The following documents previously or concurrently filed by First Financial Holdings, Inc. (the "Registrant") with the Commission are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:
(a)  the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006 (File No. 000-17122) filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934;
(b)  all other reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Annual Report on Form 10-K referred to in Item 3(a) above; and
(c)  the description of the Registrant's common stock, par value $.01 per share, set forth in the Registrant's Proxy Statement/Prospectus dated December 11, 1987 and filed as part of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 33-18272), dated November 9, 1987.
All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents.  Any statement contained in the documents incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated, by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is, or is deemed to be, incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
All information appearing in this Registration Statement is qualified in its entirety by the detailed information, including financial statements, appearing in the documents incorporated herein by reference.
Item 4
.  Description of Securities
Not Applicable
Item 5
.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel
Not Applicable
Item 6
.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Article XV of the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation requires indemnification of any person who is or was a director, officer or employee of the Registrant, or who serves or served at the Registrant's request as a director, officer, employee, agent, partner or trustee of another entity, for expenses actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding.  In order to qualify for indemnification, the person seeking indemnification must meet the minimum standard of behavior, as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides for permissible and mandatory indemnification of directors, officers, employees and agents in certain circumstances.  Section 145(a) provides a corporation with the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding (other than a derivative action), by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or
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proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person's conduct was unlawful.  Section 145(b) provides similarly with respect to derivatives actions; however, no indemnification shall be made if the person seeking indemnification has been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
Section 145(c) provides that to the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 145(a) and 145(b), or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.  Section 145(d) provides that any indemnification under Sections 145(a) and 145(b) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct.  Section 145(j) provides that the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, Section 145 shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
Item 7
.  Exemption From Registration Claimed
Not Applicable
Item 8
.  Exhibits
The following exhibits are filed with or incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement on Form S-8:
Exhibit
Number
Description of Document
4.1
Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant
(1)
4.2
Bylaws of the Registrant
(2)
5
Opinion of Breyer & Associates PC
23.1
Consent of KPMG LLP
23.2
Consent of Breyer & Associates PC (contained in its opinion filed as Exhibit 5)
24
Power of attorney (contained in the signature page of the Registration Statement)
99
First Financial Holdings, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan
(3)
(1)
Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1993 and the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1997.
(2)
Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the Commission on December 1, 2004.
(3)
Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Definitive Annual Meeting Proxy Statement, filed with the Commission on December 14, 2006.
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Item 9
.  Undertakings
(a)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
1.  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement: (i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement; and (iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change in such information in the Registration Statement; provided, however, that clauses (i) and (ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those clauses is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
2.  That, for the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed the initial bona fide offering thereof.
3.  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officer and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Charleston, State of South Carolina, on May 16, 2007.
FIRST FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
By:
/s/ A. Thomas
          Hood
A. Thomas Hood
Chairman, President
          and Chief Executive Officer
(Duly Authorized
          Representative)
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POWER OF ATTORNEY
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.  Each person whose signature appears below hereby makes, constitutes and appoints A. Thomas Hood his true and lawful attorney, with full power to sign for such person and in such person's name and capacity indicated below, and with full power of substitution any and all amendments to this Registration Statement, hereby ratifying and confirming such person's signature as it may be signed by said attorney to any and all amendments.
By:
/s/ A. Thomas Hood
By:
/s/ James C. Murray
A. Thomas Hood
Director (Principal Executive Officer)
James C. Murray
Director
Date:
May 16, 2007
Date:
May 16, 2007
By:
/s/
R. Wayne Hall
By:
/s/ Paul G. Campbell, Jr.
R. Wayne Hall
Executive Vice President
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
Paul G. Campbell, Jr.
Director
Date:
May 16, 2007
Date:
May 16, 2007
By:
/s/ Paula Harper Bethea
By:
/s/ Thomas J. Johnson
Paula Harper Bethea
Director
Thomas J. Johnson
Director
Date:
May 16, 2007
Date:
May 16, 2007
By:
/s/ Ronnie M. Givens
By:
/s/ D. Kent Sharples
Ronnie M. Givens
Director
D. Kent Sharples
Director
Date:
May 16, 2007
Date:
May 16, 2007
By:
/s/ James L. Rowe
By:
/s/ Henry M. Swink
James L. Rowe
Director
Henry M. Swink
Director
Date:
May 16, 2007
Date:
May 16, 2007
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FIRST FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
Description of Document
4.1
Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant
(1)
4.2
Bylaws of the Registrant
(2)
5
Opinion of Breyer & Associates PC
23.1
Consent of KPMG LLP
23.2
Consent of Breyer & Associates PC (contained in its opinion filed as Exhibit 5)
24
Power of attorney (contained in the signature page of the Registration Statement)
99
First Financial Holdings, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan
(3)
(1)
Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1993 and the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1997.
(2)
Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the Commission on December 1, 2004.
(3)
Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Definitive Annual Meeting Proxy Statement, filed with the Commission on December 14, 2006.
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