Shareholder Proposals

To be included in First Reliance’s annual proxy statement, shareholder proposals not relating to the election of directors must be received by First Reliance at least 120 days before the one-year anniversary of the mailing date for the prior year’s proxy statement, which in our case would require that proposals be submitted no later than December 30, 2008 for next year’s annual meeting. The persons named as proxies in First Reliance’s proxy statement for the meeting will, however, have discretionary authority to vote the proxies they have received as they see fit with respect to any proposals received less than 60 days prior to the meeting date. SEC Rule 14a-8 provides additional information regarding the content and procedure applicable to the submission of shareholder proposals.

Shareholder Communications

 

Shareholders wishing to communicate with the Board of Directors or with a particular director may do so in writing, addressed to the Board or to the particular director, and sending it to the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal office at 2170 W. Palmetto Street, Florence, South Carolina 29501. The Secretary will promptly forward such communications to the applicable director or to the Chairman of the Board for consideration at the next scheduled meeting.

 

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

We have elected to “incorporate by reference” into this Proxy Statement certain information that we have filed with the SEC. This means that we disclose important information to shareholders by referring the shareholders to another document. The information incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement is an important part of this Proxy Statement and is considered to be part of this Proxy Statement from the date we file that information with the SEC. Any reports filed by us with the SEC after the date of this Proxy Statement will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any information contained in this Proxy Statement or incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement.

The following items in documents filed by First Reliance with the SEC are incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement:

	•	Items 7, 7A, 8, and 9 of First Reliance Bancshares, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 2007; and
	•	Items 1, 2, and 3 of First Reliance Bancshares Inc.’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the Quarters Ended March 31, 2008, June 30, 2008, and September 30, 2008.

 

We expect representatives of Elliott Davis, LLC, our independent registered public accounting firm, to be present at the Special Meeting, have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and respond to appropriate questions. Copies of the documents referred to above are being delivered with this Proxy Statement. The documents referred to above are also available from the Edgar filings that can be obtained through the SEC’s Internet Website (http://www.sec.gov).

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

First Reliance is subject to the information requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and in accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements, and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Such reports, proxy statements, and other information can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such materials can also be obtained at prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. In addition, such reports, proxy statements, and other information are available from the Edgar filings that can be obtained through the SEC’s Internet Website (http://www.sec.gov).

 

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements contained in this Proxy Statement that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding our expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions, or strategies regarding the future. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those detailed in this proxy statement. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this proxy statement and we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

 

17

---

 

We caution you not to place undo reliance on any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf us in this proxy statement or in any of our filings with the SEC or otherwise. Additional information with respect to factors that may cause the results to differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking statements is included in our current and subsequent filings with the SEC.

OTHER MATTERS

Management of First Reliance does not know of any matters to be brought before the Special Meeting other than those described above. If any other matters properly come before the Special Meeting, the persons designated as proxies will vote on such matters in accordance with their best judgment.

	By Order of the Board of Directors,
	/s/ F.R. Saunders, Jr.
	F.R. Saunders, Jr.
	President and Chief Executive Officer

 

________ __, ____

5300058/5

18

---

 

Appendix A

ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT

TO THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Pursuant Section 33-10-106 of the 1976 South Carolina Code of Laws, as amended, the undersigned corporation adopts the following Articles of Amendment to its Articles of Incorporation:

1.

 

The name of the corporation is First Reliance Bancshares, Inc. (the “Corporation”).

 

2.

 

The date of incorporation of the Corporation is April 12, 2001.

 

3.

 

The registered agent’s name and address is

 

F.R. Saunders, Jr.

2170 West Palmetto Street

Florence, South Carolina 29501.

 

4.

 

At a board meeting held on November 7, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Corporation duly adopted the amendment set forth in Article 5 of these Articles of Amendment.

 

5.

 

Article Three of the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended by deleting Article Three in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof a new Article Three as follows:

(a) The total number of shares of capital stock which the corporation is authorized to issue is Thirty Million (30,000,000) shares, divided into Twenty Million (20,000,000) shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, and Ten Million (10,000,000) shares of preferred stock, no par value (the “Preferred Stock”). The shares of common stock shall have unlimited voting rights and shall be entitled, subject to any preferences of any Preferred Stock then outstanding, to receive the net assets of the Corporation upon dissolution.

(b) The Board of Directors of the corporation is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by law and the provisions of this Article, to provide for the issuance of the shares of Preferred Stock in series, and to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences, and relative rights of the shares of each such series and the qualifications, or restrictions thereof. The authority of the Board of Directors with respect to each series shall include, but not be limited to, determination of the following:

(i)

The number of shares constituting that series and the distinctive designation of that series;

(ii)

The dividend rate on the shares of that series, whether dividends shall be cumulative, and, if so, from which date or dates, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payments of dividends on shares of that series;

 

19

---

 

(iii)

Whether that series shall have voting rights, in addition to the voting rights provided by law, and, if so, the terms of such voting rights;

(iv)

Whether that series shall have conversion privileges, and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion, including provisions for adjustment of the conversion rate in such events as the Board of Directors shall determine;

(v)

Whether or not the shares of that series shall be redeemable, and, if so, the terms and conditions of such redemption, including the date or dates upon or after which they shall be redeemable, and the amount per share payable in case of redemption, which amount may vary under different conditions and at different redemption rates;

(vi)

Whether that series shall have a sinking fund for the redemption or purchase of shares of that series, and, if so, the terms and amount of such sinking fund;

(vii)

The rights of the shares of that series in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the corporation, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment of shares of that series; and

(viii)

Any other relative rights, preferences, and limitations of that series.

 

6.

 

At a special meeting of shareholders on December 30, 2008, the shareholders of the Corporation duly adopted the amendment set forth in Article 5 of these Articles of Amendment in accordance with the provisions of Section 33-10-103 of the South Carolina Business Corporation Act of 1988. At the date of adoption of the Amendment, the number of outstanding shares of each voting group entitled to vote on the Amendment, and the vote of such shares was:

		Number of		Number of		Number of Votes		Number of Undisputed
Voting		Outstanding		Votes Entitled		Represented at		Shares
Group		Shares		to be Cast		the Meeting		For Amendment
Common Stock

 

7.

All other provisions of the Articles of Incorporation shall remain in full force and effect.

 

8.

 

Unless a delayed date is specified, the effective date of these Articles of Amendment shall be the date of acceptance for filing by the Secretary of State of South Carolina (see Section 33-1-230(b) of 1976 South Carolina Code of Laws, as amended).

 

---

 

Appendix B

 

TARP Capital Purchase Program

(Non-Public QFIs, excluding S Corps and Mutual Organizations)

Preferred Securities

 

Summary of Preferred Terms

 

Issuer:

Qualifying Financial Institution (“QFI”) means any (i) top-tier Bank Holding Company (“BHC”), or top-tier Savings and Loan Holding Company (“SLHC”) that engages solely or predominately in activities permissible for financial holding companies under relevant law, that in either case is not publicly traded, (ii) U.S. bank or U.S. savings association organized in a stock form that are neither publicly traded nor controlled by a BHC or SLHC, or (iii) U.S. bank or U.S. savings association that is not publicly traded and is controlled by a SLHC that is not publicly traded and does not engage solely or predominately in activities that are permitted for financial holding companies under relevant law, other than S Corporations and Mutual Depository Institutions. The term QFI shall not mean any institution that is controlled by a foreign bank or company. For purposes of this program, “U.S. bank”, “U.S. savings association”, “BHC” and “SLHC” means a bank, savings association, BHC or SLHC organized under the laws of the United States or any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, any territory or possession of the United States, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, or the Virgin Islands. The United States Department of the Treasury will determine the eligibility and allocation for QFIs after consultation with the appropriate Federal banking agency.

 

“S Corporation” means any U.S. bank, U.S. savings association, BHC or SLHC organized as a corporation that has made a valid election to be taxed under Subchapter S of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.

 

“Mutual Depository Institution” means any U.S. bank, U.S. savings association, BHC or SLHC organized in a mutual form.

 

Initial Holder:

United States Department of the Treasury (the “UST”).

____________________

1 For the purposes of this term sheet “publicly traded” means a company (1) whose securities are traded on a national securities exchange and (2) required to file, under the federal securities laws, periodic reports such as the annual (Form 10-K) and quarterly (Form 10-Q) reports with either the Securities and Exchange Commission or its primary federal bank regulator. A company may be required to do so by virtue of having securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which applies to all companies that are traded on an exchange or that have $10 million in assets and 500 shareholders of record or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act which requires companies that have filed a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and have 300 or more securityholders of record of the registered class to file reports required under Section 13 of the Exchange Act, e.g., periodic reports.

 

---

 

Size:

QFIs may sell preferred to the UST subject to the limits and terms described below.

 

Each QFI may issue an amount of Preferred equal to not less than 1% of its risk-weighted assets and not more than the lesser of (i) $25 billion and (ii) 3% of its risk-weighted assets.

 

Security:

Preferred, liquidation preference $1,000 per share. (Depending upon the QFI’s available authorized preferred shares, the UST may agree to purchase Preferred with a higher liquidation preference per share, in which case the UST may require the QFI to appoint a depositary to hold the Preferred and issue depositary receipts.)

 

Ranking:

Senior to common stock and pari passu with existing preferred shares other than preferred shares which by their terms rank junior to any existing preferred shares.

 

Regulatory

Capital Status:

Tier 1.

 

Term:

Perpetual life.

 

Dividend:

The Preferred will pay cumulative dividends at a rate of 5% per annum until the fifth anniversary of the date of this investment and thereafter at a rate of 9% per annum. For Preferred issued by banks which are not subsidiaries of holding companies, the Preferred will pay non-cumulative dividends at a rate of 5% per annum until the fifth anniversary of the date of this investment and thereafter at a rate of 9% per annum. Dividends will be payable quarterly in arrears on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year.

 

Redemption:

Preferred may not be redeemed for a period of three years from the date of this investment, except with the proceeds from a Qualified Equity Offering (as defined below), which results in aggregate gross proceeds to the QFI of not less than 25% of the issue price of the Preferred. After the third anniversary of the date of this investment, the Preferred may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at the option of the QFI. All redemptions of the Preferred shall be at 100% of its issue price, plus (i) in the case of cumulative Preferred, any accrued and unpaid dividends and (ii) in the case of non-cumulative Preferred, accrued and unpaid dividends for the then current dividend period (regardless of whether any dividends are actually declared for such dividend period). All redemptions shall be subject to the approval of the QFI’s primary federal bank regulator.

 

“Qualified Equity Offering” shall mean the sale by the QFI after the date of this investment of Tier 1 qualifying perpetual preferred stock or common stock for cash (other than any sales made pursuant to agreements or arrangements entered into, or pursuant to financing plans which were publicly announced, on or prior to November 17, 2008).

 

---

 

Restrictions

on Dividends:

Subject to certain exceptions, for as long as any Preferred is outstanding, no dividends may be declared or paid on junior preferred shares, preferred shares ranking pari passu with the Preferred, or common shares (other than in the case of pari passu preferred shares, dividends on a pro rata basis with the Preferred), nor may the QFI repurchase or redeem any junior preferred shares, preferred shares ranking pari passu with the Preferred or common shares, unless (i) in the case of cumulative Preferred all accrued and unpaid dividends for all past dividend periods on the Preferred are fully paid or (ii) in the case of non-cumulative Preferred the full dividend for the latest completed dividend period has been declared and paid in full.

 

Commondividends:

The UST’s consent shall be required for any increase in common dividends per share until the third anniversary of the date of this investment. After the third anniversary and prior to the tenth anniversary, the UST’s consent shall be required for any increase in aggregate common dividends per share greater than 3% per annum; provided that no increase in common dividends may be made as a result of any dividend paid in common shares, any stock split or similar transaction. The restrictions in this paragraph no longer apply if the Preferred and Warrant Preferred are redeemed in whole or the UST has transferred all of the Preferred and Warrant Preferred to third parties.

 

Repurchases:

The UST’s consent shall be required for any repurchases of equity securities or trust preferred securities (other than (i) repurchases of the Preferred and (ii) repurchases of junior preferred shares or common shares in connection with any benefit plan in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) until the tenth anniversary of the date of this investment unless prior to such tenth anniversary the Preferred and the Warrant Preferred are redeemed in whole or the UST has transferred all of the Preferred and the Warrant Preferred to third parties. In addition, there shall be no share repurchases of junior preferred shares, preferred shares ranking pari passu with the Preferred, or common shares if prohibited as described above under “Restrictions on Dividends”.

 

Other Dividend and

Repurchase

Restrictions:

From and after the tenth anniversary of the date of this investment, the QFI shall be prohibited from paying common dividends or repurchasing any equity securities or trust preferred securities until all equity securities held by the UST are redeemed in whole or the UST has transferred all of such equity securities to third parties.

 

---

 

Voting rights:

The Preferred shall be non-voting, other than class voting rights on (i) any authorization or issuance of shares ranking senior to the Preferred, (ii) any amendment to the rights of Preferred, or (iii) any merger, exchange or similar transaction which would adversely affect the rights of the Preferred.

 

If dividends on the Preferred are not paid in full for six dividend periods, whether or not consecutive, the Preferred will have the right to elect 2 directors. The right to elect directors will end when full dividends have been paid for (i) all prior dividend periods in the case of cumulative Preferred or (ii) four consecutive dividend periods in the case of noncumulative Preferred.

 

Transferability:

The Preferred will not be subject to any contractual restrictions on transfer or the restrictions of any stockholders’ agreement or similar arrangement that may be in effect among the QFI and its stockholders at the time of the Preferred investment or thereafter; provided that the UST and its transferees shall not effect any transfer of the Preferred which would require the QFI to become subject to the periodic reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. If the QFI otherwise becomes subject to such reporting requirements, the QFI will file a shelf registration statement covering the Preferred as promptly as practicable and, if necessary, shall take all action required to cause such shelf registration statement to be declared effective as soon as possible. In addition, the UST and its transferees shall have piggyback registration rights for the Preferred. Subject to the above, the QFI shall take all steps as may be reasonably requested to facilitate the transfer of the Preferred.

 

Executive

Compensation:

As a condition to the closing of this investment, the QFI and its senior executive officers covered by the EESA shall modify or terminate all benefit plans, arrangements and agreements (including golden parachute agreements) to the extent necessary to be in compliance with, and following the closing and for so long as UST holds any equity or debt securities of the QFI, the QFI shall agree to be bound by, the executive compensation and corporate governance requirements of Section 111 of the EESA and any guidance or regulations issued by the Secretary of the Treasury on or prior to the date of this investment to carry out the provisions of such subsection. As an additional condition to closing, the QFI and its senior executive officers covered by the EESA shall grant to the UST a waiver releasing the UST from any claims that the QFI and such senior executive officers may otherwise have as a result of the issuance of any regulations which modify the terms of benefits plans, arrangements and agreements to eliminate any provisions that would not be in compliance with the executive compensation and corporate governance requirements of Section 111 of the EESA and any guidance or regulations issued by the Secretary of the Treasury on or prior to the date of this investment to carry out the provisions of such subsection.

 

Related Party

Transactions:

For as long as the UST holds any equity securities of the QFI, the QFI and its subsidiaries will not enter into transactions with related persons (within the meaning of Item 404 under the SEC’s Regulation S-K) unless (i) such transactions are on terms no less favorable to the QFI and its subsidiaries than could be obtained from an unaffiliated third party, and (ii) have been approved by the audit committee or comparable body of independent directors of the QFI.

 

---

 

Summary of Warrant Terms

 

Warrant:

The UST will receive warrants to purchase, upon net settlement, a number of net shares of preferred stock of the QFI (the “Warrant Preferred”) having an aggregate liquidation preference equal to 5% of the Preferred amount on the date of investment. The initial exercise price for the warrants shall be $0.01 per share or such greater amount as the charter may require as the par value per share of Warrant Preferred. The UST intends to immediately exercise the warrants.

 

Term:

10 years

 

Exercisability:

Immediately exercisable, in whole or in part.

 

Warrant Preferred:

The Warrant Preferred shall have the same rights, preferences, privileges, voting rights and other terms as the Preferred, except that (1) the Warrant Preferred will pay dividends at a rate of 9% per annum and (2) the Warrant Preferred may not be redeemed until all the Preferred has been redeemed.

 

Transferability:

The warrants will not be subject to any contractual restrictions on transfer or the restrictions of any stockholders’ agreement or similar arrangement that may be in effect among the QFI and its stockholders at the time of this investment or thereafter; provided that the UST shall not effect any transfer of the warrants or underlying Warrant Preferred which would require the QFI to become subject to the periodic reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

If the QFI otherwise becomes subject to the periodic reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the QFI will file a shelf registration statement covering the warrants and the Warrant Preferred underlying the warrants as promptly as practicable and, if necessary, shall take all action required to cause such shelf registration statement to be declared effective as soon as possible. In addition, the UST and its transferees shall have piggyback registration rights for the warrants and the Warrant Preferred underlying the warrants. Subject to the above, the QFI shall take all steps as may be reasonably requested to facilitate the transfer of the warrants or the Warrant Preferred.

---

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

REVOCABLE PROXY

SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON __________, _____________, 2009

The undersigned hereby appoints Leonard A. Hoogenboom or F. R. Saunders, Jr., as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes them or either of them to represent and to vote, as designated below, all of the common stock of First Reliance Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”), which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present at the Special Meeting of Shareholders (the “Special Meeting”) to be held on ____________, 2009 at the First Reliance Bank – Learning Center, 2148 West Palmetto Street in Florence, South Carolina, and at any adjournments thereof, upon the proposals described in the accompanying Notice of the Special Meeting and the Proxy Statement relating to the Special Meeting, receipt of which are hereby acknowledged.

The Proxies will vote, as directed on this proxy, on the proposals set forth in the notice of the special meeting and proxy statement. The Proxies are authorized to vote at their discretion as to any other business which may come properly before the special meeting. If a vote is not specified, the Proxies will vote for approval of the proposals.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR PROPOSAL 1 AND FOR PROPOSAL 2.

PROPOSAL 1:

To amend the Articles of Incorporation to approve a proposed amendment to First Reliance Bancshares’s Articles of Incorporation authorizing a class of ten million (10,000,000) shares of preferred stock, no par value, as set forth in Appendix A to the Proxy Statement.

_____	FOR the proposed	_____	AGAINST the proposed	_____	ABSTAIN
	amendment to the		amendment to the
	Articles of Incorporation		Articles of Incorporation

PROPOSAL 2:

To authorize management of First Reliance Bancshares to adjourn the Special Meeting to another time and date if such action is necessary to solicit additional proxies or attendance at the Special Meeting.

_____	FOR authority to adjourn	_____	AGAINST authority to	_____	ABSTAIN
	the Special Meeting		adjourn the Special Meeting

 

This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted as directed, but if no direction to the contrary is indicated, it will be voted FOR Proposals 1 and 2. Discretionary authority is hereby conferred as to all other matters as to which management does not have reasonable notice prior to the meeting and that properly come before the meeting.

		Signature(s) of Shareholder(s)
[INSERT LABEL INFORMATION HERE]
		Name(s) of Shareholders(s)
		Date:		, 200_
		(Be sure to date your Proxy)
	Please mark, sign and date this Proxy, and return it in the enclosed pre-addressed envelope. No postage is necessary. If stock is held in the name of more than one person, all persons must sign. Signatures should correspond exactly with the name or names appearing on the stock certificate(s). When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.

 

(Please check the applicable box)

 

I WILL o WILL NOT o BE ATTENDING THE SPEICAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS.

 

PLEASE RETURN PROXY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

 

---