SEC Form 4 · accession 0001437749-26-026579
Business First Bancshares, Inc. · BFST
Statement of changes in beneficial ownership, as filed. Original on EDGAR ↗
Reporting owner
William G. Hall
Director
Period of report
Aug 5, 2026
Accepted (ET)
Aug 7, 2026 · 4:06 pm EDT
Rule 10b5-1 plan
box not checked
Issuer CIK
0001624322
Table I — non-derivative securities
| Security | Date | Code | Shares | Price | A/D | Owned after | D/I | Nature of ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common StockF1,F2,F5 | Aug 5, 2026 | S | 9,723 | $31.97 | D | 0 | I | By: Align Capital, LLC |
| Common StockF2,F4,F5 | Aug 5, 2026 | S | 1,666 | $31.97 | D | 3,550 | I | By: Align Opportunities, LP |
| COMMON STOCKF3 | holding | — | — | — | 20,990 | D |
Table II — derivative securities
| Security | Conv. / exercise price | Date | Code | Shares | A/D | Exercisable | Expires | Underlying | Underlying shares | Owned after | D/I |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted Stock UnitsF6 | $0.00 | holding | — | — | — | — | — | Common Stock | 998 | 998 | D |
| Stock Options (Right to Buy)F7 | $24.45 | holding | — | — | — | — | Oct 16, 2029 | Common Stock | 511 | 511 | D |
| Stock Options (Right to Buy)F7 | $24.45 | holding | — | — | — | — | Jan 1, 2031 | Common Stock | 767 | 767 | D |
| Stock Options (Right to Buy)F7 | $24.45 | holding | — | — | — | — | Aug 17, 2032 | Common Stock | 767 | 767 | D |
Explanation of responses
- F1The shares of common stock were transferred from Align Opportunities, LP to Align Capital, LLC in November 2024 in a transaction exempt from Section 16 pursuant to Rule 16a-13.
- F2This transaction was executed in multiple trades at prices ranging from $31.90 to $32.05. The price reported above reflects the weighted average sale price. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, the issuer or a securityholder of the issuer full information regarding the number of shares and prices at which the transaction was effected.
- F3Includes 72 shares currently being held in escrow pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the "Reorganization Agreement") by and between the issuer and Oakwood Bancshares, Inc. ("Oakwood").
- F4The 3,550 shares are being held in escrow pursuant to the Reorganization Agreement by and between the issuer and Oakwood.
- F5The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.
- F6The time-based restricted stock units were granted to the reporting person on June 25, 2026, under the Business First Bancshares, Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan. The time-based restricted stock units will fully vest on June 25, 2027. Each time-based restricted stock unit is economically equivalent to one share of common stock of the issuer. Under the terms of the relevant restricted stock unit grant, the reported unvested restricted stock units are subject to forfeiture upon the occurrence of certain events.
- F7The stock options (right to buy) were granted to the reporting person on October 1, 2024, pursuant to the Reorganization Agreement by and between the issuer and Oakwood.