8-K

FIRST FOUNDATION INC.

Date: October 21, 2024

/s/ SCOTT F. KAVANAUGH

Scott F. Kavanaugh

Chief Executive Officer

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 18, 2024

FIRST FOUNDATION INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

001-36461

20-8639702

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

(Commission

File Number)

(IRS Employer

Identification Number)


200 Crescent Court, Suite 1400
Dallas, Texas		75201
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

(469) 638-9636

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading

Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock

FFWM

New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 5.02

Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On October 18, 2024, the Board of Directors of First Foundation Inc. (the “Company”) approved and adopted, upon the recommendation of its Compensation Committee, the First Foundation Inc. Retention Bonus Plan (the “Bonus Plan”). Under the Bonus Plan, retention awards may be granted to certain key employees of the Company, including the Company’s named executive officers, as determined by the Compensation Committee from time to time. The retention awards will entitle a participant in the Bonus Plan to receive a one-time lump sum cash award of up to 50% of their base salary so long as they are employed by the Company at the time of vesting of such award. The vesting period will be no less than one month and no greater than nine months after the grant date of the retention award under the Bonus Plan.

The foregoing description is subject to and qualified by reference to the full text of the Bonus Plan and Participation Agreement, a copy of which is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.1.

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.


Exhibit No.		Description

10.1		First Foundation Inc. Retention Bonus Plan and Form Participation Agreement

104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

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SEC Form 8-K filed by First Foundation Inc.