---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001206774-23-000699"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "SFST"
cik: "0001090009"
company_name: "SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES INC"
filed_at: "2023-05-16T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-14T23:11:37.270212+00:00"
event_type: "other"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.3
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.3
confidence: "low"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Southern First Bancshares shareholders approve board declassification at annual meeting

## Summary
- Approved amendment to phase out classified board structure (6,495,350 for, 4,371 against, 6,722 abstain).
- Elected five directors: Cajka, Ellefson, Hooper, Lattimore, Maner (each with >5.4M votes for).
- Non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation passed (4,312,380 for, 2,091,829 against).
- Ratified Elliott Davis as independent auditor (7,193,840 for, 15,034 against, 4,681 abstain).
- Presentation made available at annual meeting; no financial results or guidance disclosed in filing.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001206774-23-000699
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: SFST
- cik: 0001090009
- company_name: SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES INC
- filed_at: 2023-05-16T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: other
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.3
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.3
- confidence: low
- sec_items: 5.07, 7.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000120677423000699/0001206774-23-000699-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000120677423000699/sfst4201261-8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001206774-23-000699
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001206774-23-000699.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001206774-23-000699.txt

## Key facts
- Shareholder Votes
  SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES INC shareholders approved Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation to phase out the classified board of directors structure at the 2023-05-16 meeting.
  - Proposal: charter amendment
  - Outcome: passed
  - Meeting: 2023-05-16
  source text: 2. the amendment to the Articles of Incorporation to phase out the classified board of directors structure;
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000120677423000699/0001206774-23-000699-index.htm
- Shareholder Votes
  SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES INC shareholders approved Non-binding resolution on our executive compensation policies and procedures at the 2023-05-16 meeting.
  - Proposal: say on pay
  - Outcome: passed
  - Meeting: 2023-05-16
  source text: 3. the non-binding resolution on our executive compensation policies and procedures;
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000120677423000699/0001206774-23-000699-index.htm
- Shareholder Votes
  SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES INC shareholders approved Ratification of the appointment of Elliott Davis, LLC as our independent public accountant at the 2023-05-16 meeting.
  - Proposal: auditor ratification
  - Outcome: passed
  - Meeting: 2023-05-16
  source text: 4. the ratification of the appointment of Elliott Davis, LLC as our independent public accountant.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000120677423000699/0001206774-23-000699-index.htm
- Shareholder Votes
  SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES INC shareholders approved Election of five directors at the 2023-05-16 meeting.
  - Proposal: director election
  - Outcome: passed
  - Meeting: 2023-05-16
  source text: 1. the election of five members to our board of directors;
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000120677423000699/0001206774-23-000699-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.