Skip to main content

AI assistant

Sign in to chat with this filing

The assistant answers questions, extracts KPIs, and summarises risk factors directly from the filing text.

FIRST UNITED CORP/MD/ Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2020

May 19, 2020

33555_psi_2020-05-19_bf38f3c8-b967-4b99-ab58-e873759e4007.zip

Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement

Open in viewer

Opens in your device viewer

DFAN14A 1 dfan14a12447002_05192020.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. )

Filed by the Registrant ☐

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☒

Check the appropriate box:

☐ Preliminary Proxy Statement

☐ Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

☐ Definitive Proxy Statement

☒ Definitive Additional Materials

☐ Soliciting Material Under Rule 14a-12

FIRST UNITED CORPORATION
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
DRIVER MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC DRIVER OPPORTUNTIY PARTNERS I LP J. ABBOTT R. COOPER MICHALE J. DRISCOLL, ED.D ETHAN C. ELZEN LISA NARRELL-MEAD
(Name of Persons(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

☒ No fee required.

☐ Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

Field: Page; Sequence: 1

Field: /Page

(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

Field: Rule-Page

Field: /Rule-Page

(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

Field: Rule-Page

Field: /Rule-Page

(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

Field: Rule-Page

Field: /Rule-Page

(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

Field: Rule-Page

Field: /Rule-Page

(5) Total fee paid:

Field: Rule-Page

Field: /Rule-Page

☐ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:

Field: Rule-Page

Field: /Rule-Page

☐ Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.

Field: Rule-Page

Field: /Rule-Page

(1) Amount previously paid:

Field: Rule-Page

Field: /Rule-Page

(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

Field: Rule-Page

Field: /Rule-Page

(3) Filing Party:

Field: Rule-Page

Field: /Rule-Page

(4) Date Filed:

Field: Rule-Page

Field: /Rule-Page

Field: Page; Sequence: 2

Field: /Page

Driver Management Company LLC, together with the other participants named herein (collectively, “Driver”), has filed a definitive proxy statement and accompanying WHITE proxy card with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) to be used to solicit votes for the election of its slate of director nominees at the upcoming annual meeting of shareholders of First United Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”).

On May 19, 2020, Driver sent the following email to subscribers of www.RenovateMyBank.com:

1

Evidence exposes First United’s lies and meddling with shareholder rights

Fellow Shareholders,

Documents 2 that we received on Friday from the Maryland Commissioner clearly show that:

· First United instigated the Maryland Commissioner’s investigation into Driver’s purchase of the Company’s common shares with the express intent of invalidating our nomination of director candidates and stripping our voting rights for five years;

· First United affirmatively sought to hide its collusion with the Maryland Commissioner while publicly lying (including in proxy solicitation materials and a press release this week) about the extent of its lobbying and coordinated actions with state regulators; and

· First United contemplated reporting other shareholders to regulators after they expressed their discontent through public and private channels.

1 https://www.renovatemybank.com/

2 https://renovatemybank.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/DOCUMENTS_5.18.20.pdf

Field: Page; Sequence: 3

Field: /Page

It is almost hard to believe that First United’s dismal corporate governance and poor treatment of shareholders is actually far more shocking than anyone could have imagined.

The e-mails 3 between First United’s attorney—Andrew Bulgin—and the Maryland Commissioner paint the picture of a paranoid, self-interested Board far more focused on retaining power and harming Driver than anything else.

First United fundamentally fails to understand what it means to be a public company and to be accountable to shareholders.

Vote the WHITE card to bring sorely-needed change to the boardroom. Our highly-qualified nominees – Michael J. Driscoll, Ed.D, Ethan C. Elzen and Lisa Narrell-Mead – will protect and champion shareholder rights.

Sincerely, /s/ Abbott Cooper Abbott Cooper

Managing Member

Driver Management Company LLC

3 https://renovatemybank.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/FUNC-and-MD-Commissioner_5.18.20_FINAL.pdf

Field: Page; Sequence: 4

Field: /Page

4

Presentation: First United’s Desperate Lobbying

Read the evidence 4 that proves First United embarked on an extraordinary exercise to entrench its Board and subvert the change desired by a growing number of shareholders.

4 https://renovatemybank.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/FUNC-and-MD-Commissioner_5.18.20_FINAL.pdf

Field: Page; Sequence: 5

Field: /Page

5

View all the Evidence

We have made the 30 pages of evidence 5 publicly available. You’ll see the documents disprove First United’s repeated denials of meddling with shareholder rights and expose the Company’s scheme to leverage state regulators to punish shareholders who refuse to toe its line.

5 https://renovatemybank.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/DOCUMENTS_5.18.20.pdf

Field: Page; Sequence: 6

Field: /Page

6

Click here 6 for instructions on how to vote the WHITE Proxy Card for Driver’s highly-qualified director candidates before First United’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders on June 11, 2020.

6 https://www.renovatemybank.com/how-to-vote/