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

Farmers National Banc Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Ohio		0-12055		34-1371693
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

20 South Broad Street, P.O. Box 555, Canfield Ohio		44406-05555
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

(330) 533-3341
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(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:

o     Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o     Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

ITEM 8.01 OTHER EVENTS.

     The following amends and restates the description of the capital stock of Farmers National Banc Corp. (the “Company”):

AUTHORIZED CAPITAL STOCK

     The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 25,000,000 common shares, no par value. The Company is a corporation organized under Ohio law, and governed by the Ohio General Corporation Law (the “OGCL”), the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the “Articles”) and the Company’s Amended Code of Regulations (the “Code” and collectively with the Articles, the “Corporate Governance Documents”). This summary is qualified entirely by reference to the OGCL and the Corporate Governance Documents.

COMMON SHARES

     Each outstanding common share is entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. Shareholders do not have the right to vote cumulatively in the election of directors. Each outstanding common share will be entitled to such dividends as may be declared from time to time by the Company’s board of directors out of legally available funds. In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, holders of the Company’s common shares will be entitled to their proportionate share of any assets remaining after payment of liabilities. Holders of the Company common shares have no right to convert or exchange their common shares into any other securities. No redemption or sinking fund provisions apply to the Company common shares.

     As set forth in the Articles, holders of the Company common shares have pre-emptive rights, unless the common shares offered or sold are: (1) treasury shares; (2) issued as a share dividend; (3) issued or agreed to be issued for consideration other than money; (4) issued by the Company’s board of directors; (5) issued or agreed to be issued upon the conversion of convertible shares authorized in the Articles, or upon exercise of the conversion conferred and authorized by the Company’s board of directors; (6) offered to shareholders in satisfaction of their pre-emptive rights and not purchased by such shareholders, and thereupon issued and agreed to be issued for a consideration not less than that at which the common shares were so offered to shareholders, less reasonable expenses, compensation, or discount paid or allowed for sale, underwriting, or purchase of the common shares, unless by the affirmative vote or written order of the holders of two-thirds of the common shares otherwise entitled to such pre-emptive rights, the pre-emptive rights are restored as to any of such shares not theretofore issued or agreed to be issued; (7) released from pre-emptive rights by the affirmative vote or written consent of the holders of two-thirds of the shares entitled to such pre-emptive rights; and (8) released from pre-emptive rights by the affirmative vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the common shares entitled to pre-emptive rights, for offering and sale, or the grant of options with respect thereto, to any or all employees of the Company or its subsidiary corporations or to a trustee on their behalf, under a plan adopted or to be adopted by the Company’s board of directors for that purpose.

AUTHORIZED BUT UNISSUED CAPITAL STOCK

     The authorized but unissued common shares may be issued without further shareholder approval. These shares may be used for a variety of corporate purposes, including future private or public offerings, to raise additional capital or facilitate acquisitions. The existence of authorized but unissued common shares could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy context or otherwise.

ANTI-TAKEOVER EFFECTS OF CHARTER DOCUMENTS AND OHIO LAW

     There are provisions in the Company’s Corporate Governance Documents, and in the OGCL, that could discourage potential takeover attempts and make attempts by shareholders to change management more difficult.

     Classified Board of Directors. The Articles provide for the Company’s board of directors to be divided into three classes of directors, as nearly equal in number as possible, serving staggered terms. Approximately one-third of the Company’s board of directors will be elected by the shareholders each year. This classification system makes it more difficult to replace a majority of the directors and may tend to discourage a third-party from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to gain control of the Company. It also may maintain the incumbency of the Company’s board of directors.

     Business Combinations. Subject to certain exceptions, the Articles prohibit the Company from consummating a “Business Combination” except with the approval by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise at least 80% of the voting power of the Company. In the case of any Business Combination that has been approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Company’s disinterested directors, and which those directors have determined to be fair and equitable to all shareholders, may be consummated with the approval by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise at least two-thirds of the voting power of the Company. The Company’s Articles define a “Business Combination” to mean any: (i) merger or consolidation of the Company; (ii) sale, lease exchange, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; (iii) adoption of any plan of liquidation and dissolution of the Company; or (iv) reclassification of securities, recapitalization or reorganization which would increase, directly or indirectly, the proportionate equity interest or control by an acquiring entity (excluding any such transaction with an entity controlled by the Company).

     Acquisitions of More Than 10% of the Company’s Voting Power. Subject to certain exceptions, the Articles provide that in no event may any person, partnership, corporation, trust, association or other entity, acting individually, collectively or in concert with a joint or common interest, seek to acquire directly or indirectly, common shares which would entitle such acquiring entity, immediately after such acquisition, either directly or indirectly, alone or with others, to exercise or direct the exercise of 10% or more of the voting power of the Company (a “control share acquisition”) unless the acquiring entity has obtained prior authorization of the shareholders at a special meeting called for such purpose. The board of directors shall call a special meeting of shareholders for voting on the proposed control share acquisition to be held

within 50 days after the receipt by the Company of a statement from the acquiring entity providing certain information as set forth in the Articles, including that the acquiring entity has received all necessary regulatory approvals and consents to make such control share acquisition and that the proposed control share acquisition, if consummated, will not be contrary to law. The board of directors has no obligation to call such a meeting if it determines in good faith by a vote of at least two-thirds of the entire board that the proposed control share acquisition is contrary to law or cannot be consummated for financial reasons.

     A control share acquisition may not be made or consummated until the proposed control share acquisition has been approved by the shareholders of the Company at a special meeting called for such purpose. If the board of directors, by a vote of at least two-thirds of the entire board, determines that the proposed control share acquisition will be made to all of the Company shareholders at the same time on a uniform and fair basis, for all of the outstanding shares other than those shares which are already owned by the acquiring entity, the proposed control share acquisition must be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise at least a two-thirds majority of the voting power and by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise at least a two-thirds majority of such voting power excluding: (i) shares which are already owned by the acquiring entity; (ii) shares which the acquiring entity has the right to vote, acquire, or control; and (iii) shares owned by the Company employees who are also the Company directors.

     Unless such a determination is made by the requisite vote of the board of directors, the proposed control share acquisition must be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise at least 80% of the voting power and by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise at least 80% of that portion of such voting power excluding: (i) shares which are already owned by the acquiring entity; (ii) shares which the acquiring entity has the right to vote, acquire, or control; and (iii) shares owned by the Company employees who are also the Company’s directors.

     Any control share acquisition which is authorized as set out above must be consummated in accordance with the terms set forth in the acquiring entity’s statement to us within 180 days following such shareholder approval.

     Any shares acquired in a control share acquisition not authorized as provided above will be excluded from voting in any subsequent meeting of the shareholders. Additionally, the Secretary will direct the transfer agent to refuse to transfer shares on the Company books which represent shares acquired in a control share acquisition not authorized as provided above.

     Ohio Merger Moratorium Statute. The Company is an “issuing public corporation” as defined under the OGCL. Chapter 1704 of the OGCL governs transactions between an issuing public corporation and: (i) an “interested shareholder,” which, generally, means someone who becomes a beneficial owner of 10% or more of the shares of a corporation without the prior approval of the board of directors of the corporation; and (ii) persons affiliated or associated with an interested shareholder.

     For at least three years after an interested shareholder becomes such, the following transactions are prohibited if they involve both an issuing public corporation and either an interested shareholder or anyone affiliated or associated with an interested shareholder: (i) the disposition or acquisition of any interest in assets; (ii) mergers, consolidations, combinations and majority share acquisitions; (iii) voluntary dissolutions or liquidations; and (iv) the issuance or transfer of shares or any rights to acquire shares in excess of 5% of the outstanding shares.

     Subsequent to the three-year period, these transactions may take place provided that either of the following conditions are satisfied: (i) the transaction is approved by the holders of shares with at least two-thirds of the voting power of the corporation, or a different proportion set forth in the articles of incorporation, including at least a majority of the outstanding shares after excluding shares controlled by the interested shareholder; or (ii) the business combination results in shareholders, other than the interested shareholder, receiving a fair price, as determined by Section 1704.03(A)(4), for their shares.

     If, prior to the acquisition of shares by which a person becomes an interested shareholder, the board of directors of the corporation approves the transaction by which the person would become an interested shareholder, then Chapter 1704’s prohibition does not apply. The prohibition imposed by Chapter 1704 continues indefinitely after the initial three-year period unless the subject transaction is approved by the requisite vote of the shareholders or satisfies statutory conditions relating to the fairness of consideration received by shareholders, other than the interested shareholder.

     Chapter 1704 does not apply to a corporation if its articles of incorporation or code of regulations state that it does not apply. The Company has not opted out of the application of this statute.

     Ohio Control Share Statute. Section 1701.831 of the OGCL requires the prior authorization of the shareholders of an issuing public corporation in order for any person to acquire, either directly or indirectly, shares of that corporation that would entitle the acquiring person to exercise or direct the exercise of one-fifth or more of the voting power of that corporation in the election of directors or to exceed specified other percentages of voting power.

     A person proposing to make an acquisition of common shares subject to Section 1701.831 of the OGCL must deliver to the issuing public corporation a statement disclosing, among other things: (i) the number of common shares owned, directly or indirectly, by the person; (ii) the range of voting power that may result from the proposed acquisition; and (iii) the identity of the acquiring person.

     Within 10 days after receiving this statement, the issuing public corporation must call a special meeting of shareholders to vote on the proposed share acquisition. The acquiring person may complete the proposed acquisition only if the acquisition is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all shares entitle to vote in the election of directors represented at the meeting excluding the voting power of all “interested shares.” Interested shares include any shares held by the acquiring person and those held by officers and

directors of the issuing public corporation as well as by certain others, including many holders commonly characterized as arbitrageurs.

     Section 1701.831 does not apply to a corporation if its articles of incorporation or code of regulations state that it does not apply. Pursuant to the Articles, Section 1701.831 of the OGCL does not currently apply to the Company; however, the Articles currently contain more stringent control share acquisition restrictions, which are described in more detail above. In the event that the control share acquisition provisions of the Company’s Articles are found to be unenforceable, the Articles provide that Section 1701.831 of the OGCL shall apply to the Company.

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 hereunto duly authorized.

Date: December 10, 2010