SC 13G 1 ja13g-metbank_ejf.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

591774104

(CUSIP Number)

January 25, 2021

(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

☐ Rule 13d-1(b)

☒ Rule 13d-1(c)

☐ Rule 13d-1(d)

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

CUSIP No. 591774104

13G

1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
	I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
	EJF Capital LLC

2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
	(a)☐
	(b)☒
3	SEC USE ONLY


4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Delaware

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH		5	SOLE VOTING POWER
			0

		6	SHARED VOTING POWER
			426,051

		7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0

		8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
			426,051

9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	426,051

10	CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	☐

11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
	5.1% (1)

12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	IA

(1)	Based on 8,295,272 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”) outstanding as of December 31, 2020, as reported by the Issuer in its Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on January 21, 2021.

CUSIP No. 591774104

13G

1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
	I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
	Emanuel J. Friedman

2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
	(a)☐
	(b)☒
3	SEC USE ONLY


4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	United States

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH		5	SOLE VOTING POWER
			0

		6	SHARED VOTING POWER
			426,051

		7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0

		8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
			426,051

9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	426,051

10	CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	☐

11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
	5.1% (1)

12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	IN

(1)	Based on 8,295,272 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of December 31, 2020, as reported by the Issuer in its Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 21, 2021.

CUSIP No. 591774104

13G

1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
	I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
	EJF Sidecar Fund, Series LLC – Small Financial Equities Series

2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
	(a)☐
	(b)☒
3	SEC USE ONLY


4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Delaware

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH		5	SOLE VOTING POWER
			0

		6	SHARED VOTING POWER
			272,603

		7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0

		8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
			272,603

9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	272,603

10	CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	☐

11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
	3.3% (1)

12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	OO

(1)	Based on 8,295,272 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of December 31, 2020, as reported by the Issuer in its Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 21, 2021.

CUSIP No. 591774104

13G

1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
	I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
	EJF Financial Services Fund, LP

2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
	(a)☐
	(b)☒
3	SEC USE ONLY


4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Delaware

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH		5	SOLE VOTING POWER
			0

		6	SHARED VOTING POWER
			105,948

		7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0

		8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
			105,948

9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	105,948

10	CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	☐

11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
	1.3% (1)

12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	PN

(1)	Based on 8,295,272 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of December 31, 2020, as reported by the Issuer in its Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 21, 2021.

CUSIP No. 591774104

13G

1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
	I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
	EJF Financial Services GP, LLC

2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
	(a)☐
	(b)☒
3	SEC USE ONLY


4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Delaware

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH		5	SOLE VOTING POWER
			0

		6	SHARED VOTING POWER
			105,948

		7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0

		8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
			105,948

9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	105,948

10	CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	☐

11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
	1.3% (1)

12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	OO

(1)	Based on 8,295,272 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of December 31, 2020, as reported by the Issuer in its Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 21, 2021.

Item 1.(a) Name of Issuer

Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp.

Item 1.(b) Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices

99 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10016

Item 2.(a) Name of Person Filing

This Schedule 13G is being filed on behalf of the following persons (the “Reporting Persons”)*:

(i)	EJF Capital LLC;
(ii)	Emanuel J. Friedman;
(iii)	EJF Sidecar Fund, Series LLC – Small Financial Equities Series (“Sidecar SFES”);
(iv)	EJF Financial Services Fund, LP (the “Financial Services Fund”); and
(v)	EJF Financial Services GP, LLC.

*Attached as Exhibit A is a copy of an agreement among the Reporting Persons that this Schedule 13G is being filed on behalf of each of them.

Item 2.(b) Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence

The address of the principal business office of each Reporting Person is:

2107 Wilson Boulevard

Suite 410

Arlington, VA 22201

Item 2.(c) Citizenship

See Item 4 of the attached cover pages.

Item 2.(d) Title of Class of Securities

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”)

Item 2.(e) CUSIP Number

591774104

Item 3.

Not Applicable.

Item 4. Ownership

(a)	Amount beneficially owned:

	See Item 9 of the attached cover pages.

(b)	Percent of class:

	See Item 11 of the attached cover pages.

(c)	Number of shares as to which such person has:

	(i)	Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:

		See Item 5 of the attached cover pages.

	(ii)	Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:

		See Item 6 of the attached cover pages.

	(iii)	Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition:

		See Item 7 of the attached cover pages.

	(iv)	Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition:

		See Item 8 of the attached cover pages.

Each of SFES and the Financial Services Fund is the record owner of the number of shares of Common Stock shown on Item 9 of their respective cover pages.

EJF Financial Services GP, LLC is the general partner of the Financial Services Fund and an investment manager of certain affiliates thereof and may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock of which the Financial Services Fund is the record owner.

EJF Capital LLC is the managing member of Sidecar SFES (and the investment manager of an affiliate thereof) and the sole member of EJF Financial Services GP, LLC, and may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock of which such entities may share beneficial ownership. EJF Capital LLC also serves as an investment adviser to accounts that are the record owners of shares of Common Stock, and may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock.

Emanuel J. Friedman is the controlling member of EJF Capital LLC and may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock over which EJF Capital LLC may share beneficial ownership.

Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class

Not Applicable.

Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person

Not Applicable.

Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company

Not Applicable.

Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group

Not Applicable.

Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group

Not Applicable.

Item 10. Certification

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated: February 4, 2021

EJF CAPITAL LLC

By:	/s/ David Bell
	Name:	David Bell
	Title:	General Counsel

EMANUEL J. FRIEDMAN

By:	/s/ Emanuel J. Friedman
	Name:	Emanuel J. Friedman

EJF SIDECAR FUND, SERIES LLC – SMALL FINANCIAL EQUITIES SERIES

By:	EJF CAPITAL LLC
Its:	Managing Member

By:	/s/ David Bell
	Name:	David Bell
	Title:	General Counsel

EJF FINANCIAL SERVICES FUND, LP

By:	EJF FINANCIAL SERVICES GP, LLC
Its:	General Partner

By:	EJF CAPITAL LLC
Its:	Sole Member

By:	/s/ David Bell
	Name:	David Bell
	Title:	General Counsel

EJF FINANCIAL SERVICES GP, LLC

By:	EJF CAPITAL LLC
Its:	Sole Member

By:	/s/ David Bell
	Name:	David Bell
	Title:	General Counsel

EXHIBIT A

The undersigned, EJF Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Emanuel J. Friedman, EJF Sidecar Fund, Series LLC – Small Financial Equities Series, a Delaware separate series limited liability company, EJF Financial Services Fund, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and EJF Financial Services GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, hereby agree and acknowledge that the information required by this Schedule 13G, to which this Agreement is attached as an exhibit, is filed on behalf of each of them. The undersigned further agree that any further amendments or supplements thereto shall also be filed on behalf of each of them.

Dated: February 4, 2021

EJF CAPITAL LLC

By:	/s/ David Bell
	Name:	David Bell
	Title:	General Counsel

EMANUEL J. FRIEDMAN

By:	/s/ Emanuel J. Friedman
	Name:	Emanuel J. Friedman

EJF SIDECAR FUND, SERIES LLC – SMALL FINANCIAL EQUITIES SERIES

By:	EJF CAPITAL LLC
Its:	Managing Member

By:	/s/ David Bell
	Name:	David Bell
	Title:	General Counsel

EJF FINANCIAL SERVICES FUND, LP

By:	EJF FINANCIAL SERVICES GP, LLC
Its:	General Partner

By:	EJF CAPITAL LLC
Its:	Sole Member

By:	/s/ David Bell
	Name:	David Bell
	Title:	General Counsel

EJF FINANCIAL SERVICES GP, LLC

By:	EJF CAPITAL LLC
Its:	Sole Member

By:	/s/ David Bell
	Name:	David Bell
	Title:	General Counsel

SEC Form SC 13G filed