| SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION | |
| Washington, D.C. 20549 | |
|
| |
| SCHEDULE 13G | |
| Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 | |
| (Amendment No. )* | |
|
Howard Bancorp, Inc. | |
| (Name of Issuer) | |
|
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | |
| (Title of Class of Securities) | |
|
442496105 | |
| (CUSIP Number) | |
|
June 2, 2015 | |
| (Date of event which requires filing of this statement) | |
| Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule 13G is filed: | |
| ¨ | Rule 13d-1(b) |
| x | Rule 13d-1(c) |
| ¨ | Rule 13d-1(d) |
| (Page 1 of 10 Pages) | |
______________________________
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be demed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).
| CUSIP No. 442496105 | 13G | Page 2 of 10 Pages |
| 1 |
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS Stieven Financial Investors, L.P. | |||
| 2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) ¨ (b) x | ||
| 3 | SEC USE ONLY | |||
| 4 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware | |||
| NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH |
5 |
SOLE VOTING POWER -0- | ||
| 6 |
SHARED VOTING POWER 320,550 shares of Common Stock | |||
| 7 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- | |||
| 8 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 320,550 shares of Common Stock | |||
| 9 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 320,550 shares of Common Stock | |||
| 10 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES | ¨ | ||
| 11 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 5.1% | |||
| 12 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON PN | |||
| CUSIP No. 442496105 | 13G | Page 3 of 10 Pages |
| 1 |
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS Stieven Financial Offshore Investors, Ltd. | |||
| 2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) ¨ (b) x | ||
| 3 | SEC USE ONLY | |||
| 4 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Cayman Islands | |||
| NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH |
5 |
SOLE VOTING POWER -0- | ||
| 6 |
SHARED VOTING POWER 70,754 shares of Common Stock | |||
| 7 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- | |||
| 8 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 70,754 shares of Common Stock | |||
| 9 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 70,754 shares of Common Stock | |||
| 10 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES | ¨ | ||
| 11 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 1.1% | |||
| 12 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON OO | |||
| CUSIP No. 442496105 | 13G | Page 4 of 10 Pages |
| 1 |
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS Stieven Capital Advisors, L.P. | |||
| 2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) ¨ (b) x | ||
| 3 | SEC USE ONLY | |||
| 4 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware | |||
| NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH |
5 |
SOLE VOTING POWER -0- | ||
| 6 |
SHARED VOTING POWER 391,304 shares of Common Stock | |||
| 7 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- | |||
| 8 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 391,304 shares of Common Stock | |||
| 9 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 391,304 shares of Common Stock | |||
| 10 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES | ¨ | ||
| 11 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 6.2% | |||
| 12 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IA, PN | |||
| CUSIP No. 442496105 | 13G | Page 5 of 10 Pages |
| 1 |
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS Joseph A. Stieven | |||
| 2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) ¨ (b) x | ||
| 3 | SEC USE ONLY | |||
| 4 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION United States | |||
| NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH |
5 |
SOLE VOTING POWER -0- | ||
| 6 |
SHARED VOTING POWER 391,304 shares of Common Stock | |||
| 7 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- | |||
| 8 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 391,304 shares of Common Stock | |||
| 9 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 391,304 shares of Common Stock | |||
| 10 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES | ¨ | ||
| 11 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 6.2% | |||
| 12 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IN | |||
| CUSIP No. 442496105 | 13G | Page 6 of 10 Pages |
| Item 1(a). | NAME OF ISSUER: |
| The name of the issuer is Howard Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company"). |
| Item 1(b). | ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES: |
| The Company's principal executive offices are located at 6011 University Boulevard, Suite 370, Ellicott City, MD 21043. |
| Item 2(a). | NAME OF PERSON FILING: |
| This statement is filed by: | ||
| (i) | Stieven Financial Investors, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("SFI"), with respect to the shares of Common Stock (as defined in Item 2(d) below) held by it; | |
| (ii) | Stieven Financial Offshore Investors, Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company ("SFOI"), with respect to the shares of Common Stock held by it; | |
| (iii) | Stieven Capital Advisors, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("SCA"), which serves as the investment manager to SFI and SFOI, with respect to the shares of Common Stock held by SFI and SFOI; and | |
| (iv) | Joseph A. Stieven ("Mr. Stieven"), Chief Executive Officer of SCA with respect to the shares of Common Stock held by SFI and SFOI; | |
| The foregoing persons are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Reporting Persons." Any disclosures herein with respect to persons other than the Reporting Persons are made on information and belief after making inquiry to the appropriate party. | ||
| Stieven Capital GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“SFIGP”), is the general partner of SFI. Stieven Capital Advisors GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“SCAGP”), is the general partner of SCA. Mr. Stieven is managing member of SFIGP and SCAGP. | ||
| The filing of this statement should not be construed as an admission that any of the Reporting Persons is, for the purposes of Section 13 of the Act, the beneficial owner of the Common Stock reported herein. | ||
| CUSIP No. 442496105 | 13G | Page 7 of 10 Pages |
| Item 2(b). | ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE OR, IF NONE, RESIDENCE: |
| The address of the business office of each of the Reporting Persons is 12412 Powerscourt Drive, Suite 250, St. Louis, Missouri 63131. |
| Item 2(c). | CITIZENSHIP: |
| SFI and SCA are limited partnerships organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. SFOI is a Cayman Islands exempted company. Mr. Stieven is a citizen of the United States. |
| Item 2(d). | TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES: |
| Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock") |
| Item 3. | IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO RULES 13d-1(b) OR 13d-2(b) OR (c), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A: |
| (a) | ¨ | Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act; | |
| (b) | ¨ | Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act; | |
| (c) | ¨ | Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act; | |
| (d) | ¨ | Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940; | |
| (e) | ¨ | An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E); | |
| (f) | ¨ | An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F); | |
| (g) | ¨ | A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G); | |
| (h) | ¨ | A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act; | |
| (i) | ¨ | A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act; | |
| (j) | ¨ | A non-U.S. institution in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J); | |
| (k) | ¨ | Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K). |
| If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please | |||
| specify the type of institution: | |||
| CUSIP No. 442496105 | 13G | Page 8 of 10 Pages |
| Item 4. | OWNERSHIP. |
| The figures used to calculate beneficial ownership are calculated based upon the 6,345,727 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding as of June 3, 2015 as reflected in the Form S-4/A filed by the Company on June 4, 2015. | ||
| The information required by Items 4(a)-(c) is set forth in rows 5-11 for each Reporting Person hereto and is incorporated herein by reference for each Reporting Person. |
| Item 5. | OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS. |
| Not applicable. |
| Item 6. | OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON. |
| Not applicable. |
| Item 7. | IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY. |
| Not applicable. |
| Item 8. | IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP. |
| Not applicable. |
| Item 9. | NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP. |
| Not applicable. |
| Item 10. | CERTIFICATION. |
| Each of the Reporting Persons hereby makes the following certification: | |
| By signing below each Reporting Person certifies that, to the best of his or its knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect. |
| CUSIP No. 442496105 | 13G | Page 9 of 10 Pages |
SIGNATURES
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of our knowledge and belief, the undersigned certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
| DATED: | June 12, 2015 |
| STIEVEN FINANCIAL INVESTORS, L.P. |
| By: | Stieven Capital GP, LLC | |
| its general partner |
|
/s/ Joseph A. Stieven |
||
| Name: Joseph A. Stieven | ||
| Title: Managing Member | ||
| STIEVEN FINANCIAL OFFSHORE INVESTORS, LTD. | ||
|
/s/ Christine Fletcher |
||
| Name: Christine Fletcher | ||
| Title: Director | ||
| STIEVEN CAPITAL ADVISORS, L.P. |
| By: | Stieven Capital Advisors GP, LLC | |
| its general partner |
|
/s/ Joseph A. Stieven |
||
| Name: Joseph A. Stieven | ||
| Title: Managing Member | ||
| JOSEPH A. STIEVEN | ||
|
/s/ Joseph A. Stieven |
||
| JOSEPH A. STIEVEN, individually | ||
| CUSIP No. 442496105 | 13G | Page 10 of 10 Pages |
EXHIBIT 1
JOINT ACQUISITION STATEMENT
PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-1(k)
The undersigned acknowledge and agree that the foregoing statement on Schedule 13G, is filed on behalf of each of the undersigned and that all subsequent amendments to this statement on Schedule 13G, shall be filed on behalf of each of the undersigned without the necessity of filing additional joint acquisition statements. The undersigned acknowledge that each shall be responsible for the timely filing of such amendments, and for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning him or it contained therein, but shall not be responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning the others, except to the extent that he or it knows or has reason to believe that such information is inaccurate.
DATED: June 12, 2015
| STIEVEN FINANCIAL INVESTORS, L.P. |
| By: | Stieven Capital GP, LLC | |
| its general partner |
|
/s/ Joseph A. Stieven |
||
| Name: Joseph A. Stieven | ||
| Title: Managing Member | ||
| STIEVEN FINANCIAL OFFSHORE INVESTORS, LTD. | ||
|
/s/ Christine Fletcher |
||
| Name: Christine Fletcher | ||
| Title: Director | ||
| STIEVEN CAPITAL ADVISORS, L.P. |
| By: | Stieven Capital Advisors GP, LLC | |
| its general partner |
|
/s/ Joseph A. Stieven |
||
| Name: Joseph A. Stieven | ||
| Title: Managing Member | ||
| JOSEPH A. STIEVEN | ||
|
/s/ Joseph A. Stieven |
||
| JOSEPH A. STIEVEN, individually | ||