Texas		75-2453320
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
5219 City Bank Parkway Lubbock, Texas		79407
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

Large accelerated filer	☐	Accelerated filer	☑
Non-accelerated filer	☐	Smaller reporting company	☐
		Emerging growth company	☑

(1)

The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Commission on March 15, 2024;

(2)

The information in the Definitive Proxy Statement for the Registrant’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders filed with the Commission on April 8, 2024 that is incorporated by reference into the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023;

(3)

The Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, filed with the Commission on May 6, 2024;

(4)

The Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on January 18, 2024, January 26, 2024, February 26, 2024, April 18, 2024, April 25, 2024 and May 16, 2024 (in each case, other than information furnished under Item 2.02 and Item 7.01 thereunder); and

(5)

The description of the Common Stock under the caption “Description of Capital Stock” contained in the prospectus forming part of the Registrant’s Form S-1 Registration Statement, which description has been incorporated by reference in Item 1 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-38895), filed pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, on May 6, 2019, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

4.1*

Amended and Restated Certificate of Formation of South Plains Financial, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Form 10-K filed on April 12, 2019, File No. 333-230851).

4.2*

Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of South Plains Financial, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on November 1, 2021, File No. 001-38895).

5.1

Opinion of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP.

23.1

Consent of Forvis Mazars, LLP.

23.2

Consent of Weaver and Tidwell, LLP.

23.3

Consent of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5.1).

24.1

Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration Statement).

99.1

South Plains Financial, Inc. 2023 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

99.2

Amendment No. 1 to South Plains Financial, Inc. 2023 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

107.1

Filing Fee Table.

(a)

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

1.

To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

i.

To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

ii.

To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement;

iii.

To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement;

2.

That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

3.

To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(b)

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(h)

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

	SOUTH PLAINS FINANCIAL, INC.
	By:	/s/ Curtis C. Griffith
		Curtis C. Griffith,
		Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Signature		Title
/s/ Curtis C. Griffith		Director (Chairman); Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer)
Curtis C. Griffith
/s/ Cory T. Newsom		Director and President
Cory T. Newsom
/s/ Steven B. Crockett		Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (principal financial and accounting officer)
Steven B. Crockett
/s/ Richard D. Campbell		Director
Richard D. Campbell
/s/ LaDana R. Washburn		Director
LaDana R. Washburn
/s/ Noe G. Valles		Director
Noe G. Valles
/s/ Kyle R. Wargo		Director
Kyle R. Wargo

/s/ Forvis Mazars, LLP

Exhibit 99.1

SOUTH PLAINS FINANCIAL, INC.

2023 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

ARTICLE I

PURPOSE

 

The purpose of the Plan is to assist Eligible Employees of the Company, and its Subsidiaries to acquire a stock ownership interest in the Company, thereby attracting, retaining and rewarding such employees and strengthening the mutual interest between employees and the Company's stockholders.  The Plan is intended to qualify as an "employee stock purchase plan" within the meaning of Section 423(b) of the Code, although the Company makes no undertaking or representation to maintain such qualification.

 

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION

 

Wherever the following terms are used in the Plan they shall have the meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.  The singular pronoun shall include the plural where the context so indicates.

 

2.1       "Account" shall mean a bookkeeping account maintained to record the amount of funds accumulated pursuant to the Plan with respect to a Participant for the purpose of purchasing Stock under the Plan.

 

2.2      "Administrator" means the entity that conducts the general administration of the Plan as provided herein.  The term "Administrator" shall refer to the Committee unless the Board has assumed the authority for administration of the Plan generally as provided in ARTICLE III.

 

2.3       "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

2.4       "Code" shall mean the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations issued thereunder.

 

2.5       "Committee" means the committee of the Board described in ARTICLE III.

 

2.6       "Company" shall mean South Plains Financial, Inc., a Texas corporation.

 

2.7      "Compensation" shall mean any cash compensation a Participant receives for services rendered to the Company or any Designated Subsidiary, including hourly wages, salary, overtime pay, variable pay, sales commissions, bereavement pay, payments for jury duty service, sick pay and vacation pay, referral pay, retroactive pay, training pay and other amounts paid in cash to a Participant through the Company's or any Designated Subsidiary's payroll system, before any salary deferral contributions made by the Participant to any tax-qualified or nonqualified deferred compensation plan.  Compensation shall not include the following:

 

(a)          Contributions made by the Company or any Designated Subsidiary to a plan of deferred compensation or any benefit plan (including any 401(k), welfare or retirement plan).  In addition, any distributions from a plan of deferred compensation (whether or not qualified) or other benefit plan (including long term or short term disability payments and workmen's compensation payments) are excluded from Compensation under the Plan.

 

(b)          Amounts received as incentive bonus compensation (other than sales commissions), bonuses or other similar compensation paid on a discretionary basis.

 

(c)         Amounts realized from the exercise of a stock option, stock appreciation rights, release of restricted stock, or performance awards, including amounts realized from the sale, exchange or other disposition of stock acquired under a statutory stock option.

 

(d)          Amounts reimbursed for relocation and tuition expenses (whether or not such amounts are includible in gross income of the Employee when reimbursed).

 

(e)          Amounts paid in a form other than cash, fringe benefits (including auto allowances and relocation payments), employee discounts, expense reimbursement or allowances, and other forms of imputed income.

 

2.8       "Contributions" shall mean the amount of Compensation contributed by a Participant through payroll deductions or such other mode(s) of contribution approved by the Administrator where payroll deductions are prohibited under local law or administratively unfeasible to fund the purchase of Stock pursuant to an Option.

 

2.9       "Corporate Transaction" shall mean a merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation, reorganization or other corporate event described in Section 424 of the Code.

 

2.10      "Designated Subsidiary" shall mean any Subsidiary designated by the Administrator in accordance with Section 3.3(d).

 

2.11     "Effective Date" shall mean the date on which the Plan is adopted by the Board, subject to the Plan obtaining stockholder approval in accordance with Section 13.1.

 

2.12      "Eligible Employee" shall mean every Employee of the Company and each Designated Subsidiary except the following:

 

(a)          an Employee who, immediately after any rights under the Plan are granted, own (directly or through attribution) stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of Stock or other stock of the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary (as determined under Section 423(b)(3) of the Code);

 

(b)          an Employee whose customary employment is less than twenty hours per week;

 

(c)          an Employee whose customary employment is for five months or less in any calendar year; and

 

(d)          an Employee who has not satisfied a service requirement designated by the Administrator pursuant to Section 423(b)(4)(A) of the Code (which service requirement may not exceed two (2) years); and

 

(e)        an Employee who is a highly compensated employees within the meaning of Section 423(b)(4)(D) of the Code; provided however, that the limitation contained in this Section 2.12(e) shall only apply to the extent the Administrator expressly provides for such limitation, and then, such limitation shall only apply to such Offering Period.

 

For purposes of clause (a) above, the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code with regard to the attribution of stock ownership shall apply in determining the stock ownership of an individual, and stock which an Employee may purchase under outstanding options shall be treated as stock owned by the Employee.

 

2.13     "Employee" means any officer or other employee (as defined in accordance with Section 3401(c) of the Code or, for individuals performing services outside of the United States, as defined in accordance with applicable local law) of the Company or any Designated Subsidiary.

 

2.14      "Enrollment Date" shall mean the first Trading Day of each Offering Period.

 

2.15    "Enrollment Period" shall mean that period of time prescribed by the Administrator, which period shall conclude prior to the Enrollment Date, during which Eligible Employees may elect to participate in an Offering Period.  The duration and timing of Enrollment Periods may be changed or modified by the Administrator from time to time.

 

2.16     "Fair Market Value" means, as of any given date, the fair market value of a share of Stock on the date determined by such methods or procedures as may be established from time to time by the Administrator.  Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock as of any given date shall be as follows:

 

(a)          If Stock is traded on any established national securities exchange, the closing price (in regular trading) of a share of Stock quoted on such exchange on that date, or, if no sales of Stock were reported on that date, the closing price (in regular trading) on the last preceding date on which sales were reported;

 

(b)           If Stock is not traded on an exchange but is quoted on a national market or other quotation system, the closing price of a share of Stock on the automated quotation system on that date, or, if no sales of Stock were reported on that date, the closing price on the last preceding date on which such sale was reported; or

 

(c)           If none of the above is applicable, such amount as may be determined by the Administrator in good faith, to be the fair market value per share of Stock.

 

2.17     "Non-Section 423 Offering" shall mean the rules, procedures, or sub-plans, if any, adopted by the Administrator as part of the Plan, pursuant to which Options that do not satisfy the requirements for "employee stock purchase plans" that are set forth under Section 423 of the Code may be granted to Eligible Employees of a Designated Subsidiary as a separate offering under the Plan.

 

2.18     "Offering" shall mean a Section 423 Offering or a Non-Section 423 Offering of a right to purchase Stock under the Plan during an Offering Period as further described in ARTICLE V.

 

2.19     "Offering Period" shall mean a period with respect to which the right to purchase Stock may be granted under the Plan, which may include a Non-Section 423 Offering, as determined pursuant to ARTICLE V.

 

2.20      "Option" shall mean the right to purchase Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to an Offering made under the Plan.

 

2.21      "Parent" means any corporation, other than the Company, in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company if, at the time of the determination, each of the corporations other than the Company owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.  The definition of "Parent" is intended to, and shall be construed and applied, to coincide and conform with the definition of "parent" under Section 424(e) of the Code.

 

2.22     "Participant" means any Eligible Employee who is actively participating in the Plan.

 

2.23     "Plan" shall mean this South Plains Financial, Inc. 2023 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

2.24     "Purchase Date" shall mean the last Trading Day of each Offering Period.

 

2.25     "Purchase Price" shall mean an amount equal to the lesser of (i) eighty-five percent (85%) (or such greater percentage as designated by the Administrator) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the Enrollment Date and (ii) eighty-five percent (85%) (or such greater percentage as designated by the Administrator) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the Purchase Date; provided, that the Purchase Price shall not be less than the par value of a share of Stock.

 

2.26     "Section 423 Offering" shall mean the rules, procedures, or sub-plans, if any, adopted by the Administrator as part of the Plan, pursuant to which Options that satisfy the requirements for "employee stock purchase plans" that are set forth under Section 423 of the Code may be granted to Eligible Employees of a Designated Subsidiary as a separate offering under the Plan.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary and in accordance with Section 423 of the Code, all Eligible Employees who are granted options under the Plan in a Section 423 Offering shall have the same rights and privileges.

 

2.27     "Stock" means the common stock, $1.00 par value, of the Company.

 

2.28    "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation, other than the Company, in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if, at the time of the determination, each of the corporations other than the last corporation in an unbroken chain owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.  The definition of "Subsidiary" is intended to, and shall be construed and applied, to coincide and conform with the definition of "subsidiary" under Section 424(f) of the Code.

 

2.29      "Trading Day" shall mean any day on which the national stock exchange upon which the Stock is listed is open for trading or, if the Stock is not listed on an established stock exchange or national market system, a business day, as determined by the Administrator in good faith.

 

ARTICLE III

ADMINISTRATION

 

3.1      Administrator.  Unless otherwise delegated by the Board, the Compensation Committee of the Board shall be both the Committee and the Administrator, subject to further delegation from the Compensation Committee.  The Committee shall be constituted to comply with applicable law.  Appointment of Committee members shall be effective upon acceptance of appointment.  The Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the administration of the Plan.  Committee members may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the Board.  Vacancies in the Committee may be filled only by the Board.

 

3.2      Action by the Administrator.  A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for purposes of any actions taken as the Administrator.  The acts of a majority of the Committee members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, and, subject to applicable law and the Bylaws of the Company, acts approved in writing by a majority of the Committee in lieu of a meeting, shall be deemed the acts of the Administrator.  When acting as the Administrator, each member of the Committee is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to that member by any officer or other employee of the Company or any Designated Subsidiary, the Company's independent certified public accountants, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the operation, administration and interpretation of the Plan.

 

3.3       Authority of Administrator.  The Administrator shall have the power, subject to, and within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan to:

 

(a)          determine when and how rights to purchase stock of the Company shall be granted and the provisions of each Offering of such rights (which need not be identical), including establishing the timing and length of Offering Periods and establishing minimum and maximum contribution rates;

 

(b)          establish new or changing limits on the number of shares of Stock an Eligible Employee may elect to purchase with respect to any Offering Period, if such limits are announced prior to the first Offering Period to be affected;

 

(c)         establish, in its sole discretion, sub-plans of the Plan (and separate Offerings thereunder) for the purposes of effectuating Non-Section 423 Offerings.  To the extent permitted under applicable law, the Administrator may delegate its authority and responsibilities hereunder to an appropriate sub-committee consisting of one or more officers of the Company;

 

(d)         designate from time to time which Subsidiaries of the Company shall be Designated Subsidiaries, which designation may be made without the approval of the stockholders of the Company;

 

(e)          construe and interpret the Plan and rights granted under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for its administration;

 

(f)           correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan, in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to make the Plan fully effective;

 

(g)          amend the Plan as provided in ARTICLE XIII; and

 

(h)         exercise such powers and to perform such acts as the Administrator deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of the Company and its Subsidiaries and to carry out the intent that the Plan be treated as an "employee stock purchase plan" within the meaning of Section 423 of the Code.

 

The Administrator shall have the authority to delegate routine day-to-day administration of the Plan to such officers and employees of the Company as the Administrator deems appropriate.

 

3.4      Decisions Binding.  The Administrator's interpretation of the Plan, any Options granted pursuant to the Plan, and all decisions and determinations by the Administrator with respect to the Plan are final, binding, and conclusive on all parties.

 

ARTICLE IV

SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

 

4.1       Number of Shares.  Subject to ARTICLE XII, the aggregate number of shares of Stock which may be issued pursuant to rights granted under the Plan shall be one million (i.e., 1,000,000) shares of Stock.  If any Option granted under the Plan shall for any reason terminates without having been exercised, the Stock not purchased under such Option shall again become available for the Plan.  For avoidance of doubt, the limitation set forth in this paragraph may be used to satisfy purchases of shares of Stock under either a Section 423 Offering or a Non-Section 423 Offering.

 

4.2       Individual Share Limit.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, and in addition to the limitation set forth in Section 8.4, below, the maximum shares of Stock that may be acquired by a Participant pursuant to an Option for each Offering Period is 1,200 shares of Stock.  The Administrator may, for future Offering Periods, increase or decrease, in its absolute discretion, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock an Eligible Employee may purchase on the Purchase Date of each Offering Period.

 

4.3       Stock Distributed.  Any Stock distributed pursuant to the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Stock, treasury stock or Stock purchased on the open market.

 

ARTICLE V

OFFERING PERIODS

 

The Administrator may from time to time grant Options to purchase Stock of the Company under the Plan to Eligible Employees during one or more Offering Periods selected by the Administrator commencing on an Enrollment Date.  For purposes of the Plan, the Administrator may establish separate Offerings under the Plan (the terms of which need not be identical) in which Eligible Employees of one or more Designated Subsidiaries may participate, even if the dates of the applicable Offering Periods of each such Offering are identical and the provisions of the Plan will separately apply to each Offering.  In the event an Offering Period is not designated by the Administrator, the right to purchase Stock under the Plan shall be granted twice each year on or about January 1^st and July 1^st of each calendar year and the term of the Offering Period shall be six (6) months; provided however, that the first Offering Period shall commence on July 1, 2023 and end on December 31, 2023.  The Administrator shall have the authority to change the duration, frequency, start and end dates of Offering Periods.

 

ARTICLE VI

PARTICIPATION

 

6.1       Eligibility.  Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator in a manner consistent with Section 423 of the Code, any Eligible Employee who shall be employed by the Company or a Designated Subsidiary on the day immediately preceding a given Enrollment Date for an Offering Period shall be eligible to participate in the Plan during such Offering Period, subject to the requirements of this ARTICLE VI and the limitations imposed by Section 423(b) of the Code.

 

6.2       Enrollment.  Except as otherwise designated by the Administrator, an Eligible Employee may become a Participant in the Plan for an Offering Period during the Enrollment Period prior to the beginning of the Offering Period to which it relates.  An election to participate in the Plan shall be made by completing the online enrollment process through the Company's designated Plan broker (or such other enrollment procedures that the Administrator may establish in its sole discretion).  A payroll deduction authorization will be effective for the first Offering Period following the completion of the enrollment process.

 

6.3       No Automatic Re-Enrollment.  Following the end of each Offering Period, each Participant shall be automatically re-enrolled in the next Offering Period at the applicable rate of payroll deductions in effect on the last Trading Day of the prior Offering Period or otherwise as provided under ARTICLE VII, unless (i) the Participant has elected to withdraw from the Plan in accordance with Section 10.1, (ii) the Participant authorization is modified by completing a subsequent online enrollment process in accordance with this ARTICLE VI, (iii) the Participant's employment has terminated, or (iv) the Participant is ineligible to participate in the next Offering Period.  A Participant must complete the enrollment process for each Offering Period, as elections will not carryover from one Offering Period to the next.

 

6.4       Non-U.S. Employees.  An Eligible Employee who is a citizen or resident of a jurisdiction other than the United States (without regard to whether such individual also is a citizen or resident of the United States, for tax purposes or otherwise) may be excluded from participation in the Plan or an Offering if the participation of such Eligible Employee is prohibited under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction or if complying with the laws of the applicable jurisdiction would cause the Plan or a Section 423 Offering to violate Section 423 of the Code.  In the case of a Non-Section 423 Offering, an Eligible Employee (or group of Eligible Employees) may be excluded from participation in the Offering if the Administrator has determined, in its sole discretion, that participation of such Eligible Employee(s) is prohibited under applicable law, or is not advisable or practicable for any reason.

 

ARTICLE VII

PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS

 

7.1       Payroll Deductions.  During the online enrollment process, an Eligible Employee shall authorize a Contribution amount to be withheld by the Company or the Designated Subsidiary employing such Eligible Employee on each payday during an Offering Period as payroll deductions under the Plan.  The Contribution shall be designated in a whole percentage between one percent (1%) and ten percent (10%) of the Eligible Employee's Compensation (or such other maximum percentage as the Administrator may establish from time to time before an Offering Period begins) to be deducted on each payday during an Offering Period and credited to the Participant's Account for the purchase of Stock pursuant to the Offering.  The Company or the Designated Subsidiary shall maintain records of all payroll deductions but shall have no obligation to pay interest on payroll deductions or to hold such amounts in a trust or in any segregated account.  Unless expressly permitted by the Administrator, a Participant may not make any separate Contributions or payments to the Plan.

 

7.2       Election Changes.  A Participant may elect to have Contributions completely discontinued at any time, but an election to discontinue Contributions during an Offering Period shall be deemed to be an election to withdraw pursuant to Section 10.1.  No change in Contributions other than complete discontinuance can be made during an Offering Period, and, specifically, once an Offering Period has commenced, a Participant may not alter the rate of his or her Contribution for such offering.

 

7.3       Frequency of Payroll Deductions.  Except as otherwise designated by the Administrator, payroll deductions for a Participant shall commence on the first payroll on or following the Enrollment Date and shall end on the last payroll in the Offering Period to which such authorization is applicable, unless sooner terminated by the Participant as provided in ARTICLE X.

 

7.4       Insufficient Payroll Deductions.  If in any payroll period a Participant's Compensation is insufficient (after other authorized deductions) to permit a Contribution, no Contribution shall be made on the effected payroll date.  Deduction of the full amount originally elected by the Participant will recommence as soon as his or her Compensation is sufficient to permit such Contribution; provided, however, no additional amounts will be deducted on any future payroll date to satisfy missed Contributions that occurred during the payroll periods with insufficient Contributions.

 

7.5       Suspension of Payroll Deductions.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to comply with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 8.4, a Participant's Contributions may be suspended by the Administrator at any time during an Offering Period.

 

ARTICLE VIII

GRANT AND EXERCISE OF RIGHTS

 

8.1        Grant of Rights.  On the Enrollment Date of each Offering Period, each Eligible Employee participating in such Offering Period shall, subject to the maximum number of shares of Stock specified under Section 4.2 and the provisions of Section 8.4, be granted an Option to purchase that number of shares of Stock equal to the quotient of (i) the aggregate Contributions authorized to be withheld by such Participant in accordance with Section 7.1 for such Offering Period and held in the Participant's Account, divided by (ii) the Purchase Price.

 

8.2       Exercise of Rights.  Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8.4, each Participant in the Plan automatically and without any further action will be deemed to have exercised the Participant's Option on each Purchase Date, to the extent that the balance then in the Participant's Account under the Plan is sufficient to purchase at the Purchase Price the whole number of shares of Stock subject to the Option granted to such Participant under the Plan for such Offering Period.  No fractional shares shall be issued on the exercise of rights granted under the Plan.

 

8.3       Excess Account Balances.  Any amounts remaining in a Participant's Account as of any Purchase Date after the purchase of Stock shall be distributed to the Participant, without interest, as soon as practicable after the Purchase Date; provided, however, that any amounts attributable to any fractional share that was not purchased on the Purchase Date shall be carried over to the next Offering Period unless the Participant has elected to withdraw from the Plan in accordance with Section 10.1.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, establish alternative means for treating amounts remaining in Participant Accounts following any Purchase Date to the extent consistent with applicable law.

 

8.4       Limitation on Purchase of Stock.  In addition to the limitations set forth in Section 4.2, above, an Eligible Employee may not be granted an Option under the Plan if such Option, (together with any other rights granted to such Eligible Employee under "employee stock purchase plans" of the Company, any Parent or any Subsidiary, as specified by Section 423(b)(8) of the Code), excluding Options granted pursuant to any Non-Section 423 Offering, permits such Eligible Employee to purchase Stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary at a rate which exceeds $25,000 of fair market value of such Stock (determined as of the first day of the Offering Period during which such Option is granted) for each calendar year in which such Option is outstanding at any time.  This limitation shall be applied in accordance with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code.

 

8.5       Five Percent Limit.  An Eligible Employee may not be granted an Option to purchase Stock under the Plan if such Participant (directly or through attribution), immediately after such Option is granted, would own or hold options to purchase Common Stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company, its Parent, or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

8.6       Pro Rata Allocation of Shares.  If the Administrator determines that, on a given Purchase Date, the number of shares of Stock with respect to Options are to be exercised may exceed (i) the number of shares of Stock that were available for issuance under the Plan on the Enrollment Date of the applicable Offering Period, or (ii) the number of shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan on such Purchase Date, the Administrator may in its sole discretion provide that the Company shall make a pro rata allocation of the shares of Stock available for purchase on such Enrollment Date or Purchase Date, as applicable, in as uniform a manner as shall be practicable and as it shall determine in its sole discretion to be equitable among all Participants for whom Options to purchase Stock are to be exercised pursuant to this ARTICLE VIII on such Purchase Date.  The Company may make pro rata allocation of the shares of Stock available on the Enrollment Date of any applicable Offering Period pursuant to the preceding sentence, notwithstanding any authorization of additional shares for issuance under the Plan by the Company's stockholders subsequent to such Enrollment Date.  The balance of the amount credited to the account of each Participant which has not been applied to the purchase of shares of Stock shall be paid to such Participant in one lump sum in cash, without interest, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Purchase Date.

 

8.7      Withholding.  At the time a Participant's Option under the Plan is exercised, in whole or in part, or at the time some or all of the Stock issued under the Plan is disposed of, the Participant shall make adequate provision for the Company's federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other tax withholding obligations, if any, which arise upon the exercise of the Option or the disposition of the Stock in accordance with such procedures and withholding methods that may be established by the Administrator in its sole discretion.  At any time, the Company or a Designated Subsidiary may, but shall not be obligated to, withhold from the Participant's compensation or other amounts payable to the Participant the amount necessary to meet applicable withholding obligations, including any withholding required to make available to the Company or a Designated Subsidiary any tax deductions or benefits attributable to sale or early disposition of Stock by the Participant.

 

ARTICLE IX

ISSUANCE OF STOCK

 

9.1       Brokerage Account or Plan Share Account.  By enrolling in the Plan, each Participant shall be deemed to have authorized the establishment of a brokerage account on his or her behalf at a securities brokerage firm selected by the Administrator.  Alternatively, the Administrator may provide for Plan share accounts for each Participant to be established by the Company or by an outside entity selected by the Administrator that is not a brokerage firm.  Stock purchased by a Participant pursuant to the Plan shall be held in the Participant's brokerage or Plan share account.  Participants may be required to enter into agreements and authorizations (the terms of which may include, without limitation, conditions or restrictions on the transfer of shares of Stock from Participants' brokerage accounts) with the Plan broker selected by the Administrator and the Company as the Company may prescribe.

 

9.2       Conditions upon Issuance of Stock.  The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificate or certificates for shares of Stock purchased upon the exercise of rights under the Plan prior to fulfillment of all of the following conditions:

 

(a)          The admission of such shares to listing on all stock exchanges, if any, on which the Stock is then listed;

 

(b)         The completion of any registration or other qualification of such shares under any state or federal law or under the rulings or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental regulatory body, which the Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, deem necessary or advisable;

 

(c)          The obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any state or federal governmental agency which the Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable;

 

(d)          The payment to the Company of all amounts which it is required to withhold under federal, state or local law upon exercise of the rights, if any; and

 

(e)          The lapse of such reasonable period of time following the exercise of the rights as the Administrator may from time to time establish for reasons of administrative convenience.

 

ARTICLE X

WITHDRAWAL

 

10.1     Withdrawal.  A Participant may withdraw all, but not less than all, of the Contributions credited such Participant's Account and not yet used to exercise such Participant's Option under the Plan at any time by completing the appropriate online withdrawal process through the Company's designated Plan broker or contacting the Company.  A notice of withdrawal must be received no later than the last day of the month immediately preceding the month of the Purchase Date.  Upon receipt of such notice, Contributions on behalf of the Participant shall be discontinued and no payroll deductions will be made during a succeeding Offering Period, unless the Participant re-enrolls in accordance with Section 6.2.  All of the Participant's Contributions credited to such Participant's Account during the Offering Period shall be paid to such Participant, without interest, as soon as reasonably practicable.

 

10.2     Future Participation.  A Participant's withdrawal from an Offering Period shall not have any effect upon eligibility to participate in any similar plan which may hereafter be adopted by the Company or a Designated Subsidiary or in subsequent Offering Periods that commence after the termination of the Offering Period from which the Participant withdraws.

 

ARTICLE XI

TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR ELIGIBILITY

 

11.1     General.  If the employment of a Participant terminates prior to the Purchase Date relating to a particular Offering Period for any reason, including retirement, death or failure of a Participant to remain an Eligible Employee of the Company or of a Designated Subsidiary, participation in the Plan immediately and without any act on the part of the Participant shall terminate.  Following the Participant's termination of employment as described above, the Company will refund to the Participant or, in the case of the death of the Participant, the person or persons entitled thereto, any unused Contributions credited to the Participant's Account during the Offering Period, without interest, and thereupon the Participant's Option shall terminate.

 

11.2     Transfer of Employment.  A Participant whose employment transfers or whose employment terminates with an immediate rehire (with no break in service) by or between the Company or any Designated Subsidiary (including transfers between Designated Subsidiaries) participating in a Section 423 Offering will not be treated as having terminated employment for purposes of participating in the Plan or an Offering; provided, however, if a Participant transfers from a Section 423 Offering to a Non-Section 423 Offering (or vice versa) or between Non-Section 423 Offerings, the Participant will be treated as having withdrawn from the Offering Period in accordance with ARTICLE X, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator in its sole decision and in accordance with applicable law.

 

11.3      Leave of Absence.

 

(a)          During a paid leave of absence approved by the Company and meeting the requirements of U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.421‑1(h)(2), a Participant's elected Contributions shall continue.

 

(b)          If a Participant takes an unpaid leave of absence that is approved by the Company and meets the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.421‑1(h)(2), then Contributions on behalf of the Participant shall be discontinued and no other Contributions shall be permitted (unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or required by applicable law).  Any amounts credited to the Participant's Account may be used to purchase Stock on the next applicable Purchase Date.

 

(c)          If a Participant takes a leave of absence that is not described in Section 11.3(a) or 11.3(b), then the Participant shall be considered to have withdrawn from the Plan in accordance with ARTICLE X hereof.

 

Further, notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Section 11.3, if a Participant takes a leave of absence and such leave of absence exceeds ninety (90) days, then the Participant shall be considered to have withdrawn from the Plan in accordance with ARTICLE X hereof on the ninety-first (91st) day of such leave of absence; provided, however, that if the Participant's right to employment is guaranteed either by statute or contract, then such ninety (90)-day period shall be extended until the last day upon which such reemployment rights are so guaranteed.

 

ARTICLE XII

ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN STOCK

 

12.1    Changes in Capitalization.  In the event that any change is made in the Stock by reason of any stock dividend or by reason of subdivision, stock split, reverse stock split, combination or exchange of shares, recapitalization, reorganization, reclassification of shares, or any other similar corporate event affecting the Stock, appropriate action will be taken by the Board to make such proportionate adjustments, if any, as the Board in its discretion may deem appropriate to reflect such change with respect to (i) the aggregate number and type of shares of Stock (or other securities or property) that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations established pursuant to Section 4.2 on the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be purchased); (ii) the class(es) and number of shares and price per share of Stock subject to outstanding Options; and (iii) the Purchase Price with respect to any outstanding Options.

 

12.2     Dissolution or Liquidation.  Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, in the event of a proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, any Offering Period then in progress will be shortened by setting a new Purchase Date and the Offering Period will end immediately prior to the proposed dissolution or liquidation.  The new Purchase Date will be before the date of the Company's proposed dissolution or liquidation.  Before the new Purchase Date, the Administrator will provide each Participant with written notice, which may be electronic, of the new Purchase Date and that the Participant's Option will be exercised automatically on such date, unless before such time, the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering in accordance with Section 10.1.

 

12.3     Corporate Transaction.  In the event of a Corporate Transaction, each outstanding Option will be assumed or an equivalent option substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation.  If the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute the Option, the Offering Period with respect to which the Option relates will be shortened by setting a new Purchase Date on which the Offering Period will end.  The new Purchase Date will occur before the date of the Corporate Transaction.  Prior to the new Purchase Date, the Administrator will provide each Participant with written notice, which may be electronic, of the new Purchase Date and that the Participant's Option will be exercised automatically on such date, unless before such time, the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering in accordance with Section 10.1.

 

12.4     No Adjustment under Certain Circumstances.  No adjustment or action described in this ARTICLE XII or in any other provision of the Plan shall be authorized to the extent that such adjustment or action would cause the Plan to fail to satisfy the requirements of Section 423 of the Code.

 

12.5     No Other Rights.  Except as expressly provided in the Plan, no Participant shall have any rights by reason of any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class, the payment of any dividend, any increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class or any dissolution, liquidation, merger, or consolidation of the Company or any other corporation.  Except as expressly provided in the Plan or pursuant to action of the Administrator or the Board under the Plan, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares of Stock subject to an outstanding Option or the Purchase Price of the Stock subject to an outstanding Option.

 

ARTICLE XIII

AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION

 

13.1     Stockholder Approval.  The Plan shall be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board.

 

13.2     Term of the Plan.  The Plan shall become effective on the Effective Date, and unless earlier terminated pursuant of Section 13.1, shall have a term of ten (10) years.

 

13.3     Amendment, Modification and Termination.  The Administrator or the Board may, in its sole discretion, amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time and for any reason; provided, however, that if stockholder approval is required pursuant to the Code, United States federal securities laws or regulations, or the rules or regulations of the New York Stock Exchange (or any other securities exchange on which the Stock is listed or traded), then no such amendment shall be effective unless approved by the Company's stockholders within such time period and manner as may be required.  If the Plan is terminated, the Administrator may elect to terminate all outstanding Offering Periods either immediately or once shares of Stock have been purchased on the next Purchase Date (which may, in the discretion of the Administrator, be accelerated) or permit Offering Periods to expire in accordance with their terms (and subject to any adjustment in accordance with ARTICLE XII).  If any Offering Period is terminated before its scheduled expiration, all amounts that have not been used to purchase shares of Stock will be returned to Participants, without interest, as soon as administratively practicable.

 

13.4     Certain Changes to Plan.  Without stockholder consent and without regard to whether any Participant rights may be considered to have been adversely affected, to the extent permitted by Section 423 of the Code, the Administrator shall be entitled to change the Offering Periods, limit the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld during an Offering Period, permit payroll withholding in excess of the amount designated by a Participant in order to adjust for delays or mistakes in the Company's processing of properly completed Contribution authorizations, establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting and crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of Stock for each Participant properly correspond with amounts withheld from the Participant's Compensation, and establish such other limitations or procedures as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion advisable which are consistent with the Plan.

 

ARTICLE XIV

SECTION 409A OF THE CODE; TAX QUALIFICATION

 

14.1     Section 409A of the Code.  Options to purchase Stock granted under a Section 423 Offering are exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code.  In furtherance of the foregoing and notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, if the Administrator determines that an Option granted under the Plan may be subject to Section 409A of the Code or that any provision in the Plan would cause an Option under the Plan to be subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Administrator may amend the terms of the Plan and/or of an outstanding Option granted under the Plan, or take such other action the Administrator determines is necessary or appropriate, in each case, without the Participant's consent, to exempt any outstanding Option or future Option that may be granted under the Plan from or to allow any such Options to comply with Section 409A of the Code, but only to the extent any such amendments or action by the Administrator would not violate Section 409A of the Code.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company will have no liability to a Participant or any other party if the Option to purchase Stock under the Plan that is intended to be exempt from or compliant with Section 409A of the Code is not so exempt or compliant or for any action taken by the Administrator with respect thereto.  The Company makes no representation that the right to purchase Stock under the Plan is compliant with Section 409A of the Code.

 

14.2     Tax Qualification.  Although the Company may endeavor to (i) qualify an Option to purchase Stock for favorable tax treatment under the laws of the United States or jurisdictions outside of the United States or (ii) avoid adverse tax treatment (e.g., under Section 409A of the Code), the Company makes no representation to that effect and expressly disavows any covenant to maintain favorable or avoid unfavorable tax treatment, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, including Section 14.1 above.  The Company shall be unconstrained in its corporate activities without regard to the potential negative tax impact on Participant's under the Plan.

 

ARTICLE XV

MISCELLANEOUS

 

15.1    Restriction upon Assignment.  No payroll deductions credited to a Participant, nor any rights with respect to the exercise of an Option or any rights to receive Stock hereunder may be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way (other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution, or as provided in Section 15.5 hereof) by the Participant.  Any such attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge, or other disposition shall be without effect, and the Company will treat such act as an election to withdraw Participant's entire Account in accordance with ARTICLE X.  An Option granted under the Plan shall not be transferable and is exercisable during the Participant's lifetime only by the Participant.

 

15.2     Rights as a Stockholder.  With respect to shares of Stock subject to an Option granted under the Plan, a Participant shall not be deemed to be a stockholder of the Company, and the Participant shall not have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder, until such shares have been recorded in the books of the brokerage firm selected by the Administrator or, as applicable, the Company, its transfer agent, stock plan administrator or such other outside entity which is not a brokerage firm.  No adjustments shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash securities, or other property) or distribution or other rights for which the record date occurs prior to the date of such issuance, except as otherwise expressly provided herein.  Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or required by applicable law, the Company shall not deliver to any Participant any certificates evidencing Stock issued in connection with any purchase under the Plan.

 

15.3     Participant Accounts.  No interest shall accrue on any amounts credited to a Participant Account.  All payroll deductions or lump sum contributions of a Participant under the Plan will be deposited with the general funds of the Company and may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose, and the Company shall not be obligated to segregate such payroll deduction amounts.

 

15.4     Currency Conversion.  Eligible Employees who are paid in currency other than U.S. dollars, and who contribute such currency to the Plan through contributions or payroll deductions will have such amounts converted to U.S. dollars.  The exchange rate and method for such conversion will be determined as prescribed by the Administrator for each Offering and as may be specified pursuant to any sub-plan established under the Plan.  In no event will any procedure implemented for dealing with exchange rate fluctuations that may occur during an Offering result in the acquisition of shares of Stock below the Purchase Price.  Each Eligible Employee shall bear the risk of any currency exchange fluctuations (if applicable) between the date on which any Eligible Employee amounts are converted to U.S. dollars and the Purchase Date.

 

15.5     Designation of Beneficiary.  A Participant may file, on forms supplied by the Committee, a written designation of beneficiary who is to receive any shares of Stock and cash in respect of any fractional shares of Stock, if any, from the Participant's Account under the Plan in the event of such Participant's death.  In addition, a Participant may file a written designation of beneficiary who is to receive any cash withheld through payroll deductions and credited to the Participant's notional account in the event of the Participant's death prior to the Purchase Date of an Offering Period.

 

15.6     Notices.  All notices or other communications by a Participant to the Company under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given when received in the form specified by the Company at the location, or by the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.

 

15.7     Statements.  Statements of account shall be given to participating Employees at least annually, which statements shall set forth the amounts of payroll deductions, the Purchase Price, the number of shares of Stock purchased and the remaining cash balance, if any.

 

15.8     No Rights to Continued Service.  Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to give any person (including any Eligible Employee or Participant) the right to remain in the employ or service of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary or to affect the right of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary to terminate the employment or service of any person (including any Eligible Employee or Participant) at any time, with or without cause.

 

15.9      Successors and Assigns.  The Plan shall be binding on the Company and its successors and assigns.

 

15.10    Entire Plan.  The Plan constitutes the entire plan with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior plans with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

15.11   Headings.  The headings of sections herein are included solely for convenience and shall not affect the meaning of any of the provisions of the Plan.

 

15.12   Severability.  If any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, said illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions hereof; instead, the provisions shall be fully severable and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if said illegal or invalid provision had never been included herein.

 

15.13   Governing Law.  The validity and enforceability of the Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas without regard to otherwise governing principles of conflicts of law.

 

15.14   Minimum Regulatory Capital Requirements.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or any agreement to the contrary, all Awards granted under the Plan will expire, to the extent not exercised or settled (as applicable), within 45 days following the receipt of notice from the Company’s primary federal or state regulator ("Regulator") that (i) the Company has not maintained its minimum capital requirements (as determined by the Regulator); and (ii) the Regulator is requiring termination or forfeiture of Awards.  Upon receipt of such notice from the Regulator, the Company will promptly notify each Participant that all Awards issued under the Plan have become fully vested to the full extent of the grant and that the Awards must be settled prior to the end of the 45-day period or such earlier period as may be specified by the Regulator or such Awards will be forfeited.  In case of forfeiture, no Participant will have a cause of action, of any kind or nature, with respect to the forfeiture against the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary.  Neither the Company, nor any Parent or Subsidiary will be liable to any Participant due to the failure or inability of the Company to provide adequate notice to the Participant.

 

15.15   Compensation Recoupment.  All compensation and Awards payable or paid under the Plan and any sub-plans will be subject to the Company’s ability to recover incentive-based compensation from executive officers, as is or may be required by the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, any regulations or rules promulgated thereunder, or any other "clawback" provision required by applicable law or the listing standards of any applicable stock exchange or national market system.

 

*     *     *     *     *

 

Exhibit 99.2

Security Type	Security Class Title	Fee Calculation Rule	Amount Registered	Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit	Maximum Aggregate Offering Price	Fee Rate	Amount of Registration Fee
Equity	Common stock, par value $1.00 per share	Rule 457(a)	1,000,000(1)	$22.87(2)	$22,870,000 (2)	0.00014760	$3,375.61
Total Offering Amount					$22,870,000
Total Fee Offsets							-
Net Fee Due							$3,375.61

(1)

This Registration Statement on Form S-8 (this “Registration Statement”) covers an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Common Stock”) of South Plains Financial, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “Company” or “Registrant”) reserved for issuance under the South Plains Financial, Inc. 2023 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”).  Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock that become issuable under the Plan as may be necessary to adjust the number of shares being offered or issued pursuant to the Plan as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

(2)

Estimated solely for the purposes of calculating the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and 457(h) of the Securities Act.  The proposed maximum offering price per share and the proposed maximum aggregate offering price are based upon a 15% discount from the average of the high and low stock prices of shares of Common Stock of the Registrant reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on July 9, 2024, such discount representing the maximum permissible discount offered pursuant to the Plan.