<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000921895-23-000735.txt : 20230321
<SEC-HEADER>0000921895-23-000735.hdr.sgml : 20230321
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20230321171747
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000921895-23-000735
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	DFAN14A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20230321
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20230321

SUBJECT COMPANY:	

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERISERV FINANCIAL INC /PA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000707605
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				251424278
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		DFAN14A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-11204
		FILM NUMBER:		23750512

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MAIN & FRANKLIN STS
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 430
		CITY:			JOHNSTOWN
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15907
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8145335300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MAIN & FRANKLIN STS
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 430
		CITY:			JOHNSTOWN
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15907

FILED BY:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Driver Management Co LLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001756372
		IRS NUMBER:				831994022
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		DFAN14A

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		250 PARK AVENUE
		STREET 2:		7TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10177
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212-572-4811

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		250 PARK AVENUE
		STREET 2:		7TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10177
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>DFAN14A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>dfan14a12447006_03212023.htm
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<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>UNITED
STATES</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Washington,
D.C. 20549</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 16pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>SCHEDULE
14A</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(Rule
14a-101)</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 0">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 0">SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">(Amendment No. )</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Filed by the Registrant &#9744;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Filed by a Party other than the Registrant &#9746;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Check the appropriate box:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">&#9744;</TD><TD>Preliminary Proxy Statement</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top"><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">&#9744;</TD><TD>Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))</TD></TR></TABLE>



<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top"><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">&#9744;</TD><TD>Definitive Proxy Statement</TD></TR></TABLE>



<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top"><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">&#9744;</TD><TD>Definitive Additional Materials</TD></TR></TABLE>



<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top"><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">&#9746;</TD><TD>Soliciting Material Under &sect; 240.14a-12</TD></TR></TABLE>



<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="border-collapse: collapse; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%">
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    <TD STYLE="width: 100%; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: Black 0.5pt solid"><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.</P>
</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: left">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: center; vertical-align: top"><P>(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)</P>

</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: left">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: left">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: center; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: Black 0.5pt solid"><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">DRIVER MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">DRIVER OPPORTUNITY PARTNERS I LP</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">J. ABBOTT R. COOPER</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">JULIUS D. RUDOLPH</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">BRANDON L. SIMMONS</P>
</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: left">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: center; vertical-align: top"><P>(Name of Persons(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)</P>

</TD></TR>
</TABLE>

<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></P>

<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top"><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">&#9746;</TD><TD>No fee required</TD></TR></TABLE>



<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"></P>

<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></P>

<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top"><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">&#9744;</TD><TD>Fee paid previously with preliminary materials</TD></TR></TABLE>



<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top"><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">&#9744;</TD><TD>Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11</TD></TR></TABLE>



<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">Driver Management Company
LLC (&ldquo;Driver Management&rdquo;), together with the other participants named herein (collectively, &ldquo;Driver&rdquo;), has filed
a preliminary proxy statement and accompanying WHITE universal proxy card with the Securities and Exchange Commission to be used to solicit
votes for the election of its slate of highly-qualified director nominees at the 2023 annual meeting of shareholders of AmeriServ Financial,
Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (the &ldquo;Company&rdquo;).</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">On March 21, 2023, J. Abbot
R. Cooper, Managing Member of Driver Management, was quoted in the following article published by S&amp;P Capital IQ:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 18pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt 1.95pt"><B>AmeriServ sues activist investor Driver to seek declaratory
judgment</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt 1.95pt"><B>Tuesday, March 21, 2023 2:22 PM ET</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 1.95pt">By Rica Dela Cruz</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 1.95pt"><I>Market Intelligence</I></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 1.95pt"><I>&nbsp;</I></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 1.95pt">Johnstown, Pa.-based AmeriServ Financial Inc. sued activist investor
Driver Opportunity Partners I LP to seek a declaratory judgment that Driver's notice of intent to nominate two director candidates at
the company's 2023 annual meeting is invalid.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 9pt 0 1.95pt">AmeriServ also sued Driver's founder and managing member, Abbott
Cooper, and the purported director nominees, Julius Rudolph and Brandon Simmons, according to a March 20 news release.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 9pt 0 1.95pt">Driver Management Co. LLC, the general partner of Driver, owns
8.6% of AmeriServ's common stock, according to a Jan. 20 filing.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 9pt 0 1.95pt">The lawsuit was filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Cambria
County, Pa. The action was brought after AmeriServ board determined that Driver's notice of intent to nominate directors is invalid because
it contains material defects. Also, Cooper's nomination does not comply with the company's interlocks bylaw that prohibits board members
and nominees from maintaining concurrent directorships at other depository institutions, according to a news release.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 1.95pt">AmeriServ is also seeking a declaratory judgment that Driver
be enjoined from soliciting proxies in connection with the annual meeting.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 1.95pt">The AmeriServ board believes letting Driver &quot;disregard AmeriServ's
bylaws and run a costly, distracting proxy contest to advance what appears to be its own short-term agenda runs counter to shareholders'
best interests,&quot; the release said.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 1.95pt">In response to a request for comment, Abbott Cooper said via
email that the company thinks AmeriServ s &quot;claims are meritless, and [it] intends to protect all [AmeriServ] shareholders' right
to elect directors of their choice.&quot;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif; margin: 0 0 0 1.95pt">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PARTICIPANTS</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">Driver Management Company LLC (&ldquo;Driver Management&rdquo;),
together with the other participants named herein (collectively, &ldquo;Driver&rdquo;), has filed a preliminary proxy statement and accompanying
WHITE universal proxy card with the Securities and Exchange Commission (&ldquo;SEC&rdquo;) to be used to solicit votes for the election
of its slate of highly-qualified director nominees at the 2023 annual meeting of shareholders of AmeriServ Financial, Inc., a Pennsylvania
corporation (the &ldquo;Company&rdquo;).</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">DRIVER STRONGLY ADVISES ALL SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY
TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER PROXY MATERIALS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. SUCH PROXY
MATERIALS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE ON THE SEC&rsquo;S WEB SITE AT&nbsp;<FONT STYLE="color: #79A2BD"><U>HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV</U></FONT>.
IN ADDITION, THE PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PROXY SOLICITATION WILL PROVIDE COPIES OF THE PROXY STATEMENT WITHOUT CHARGE, WHEN AVAILABLE, UPON
REQUEST. REQUESTS FOR COPIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE PARTICIPANTS&rsquo; PROXY SOLICITOR.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">The participants in the proxy solicitation are anticipated
to be Driver Management, Driver Opportunity Partners I LP (&ldquo;Driver Opportunity&rdquo;), J. Abbott R. Cooper, Julius D. Rudolph and
Brandon L. Simmons.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">As of the date hereof, the participants in the proxy
solicitation beneficially own in the aggregate 1,477,919 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the &ldquo;Common
Stock&rdquo;). As of the date hereof, Driver Opportunity directly beneficially owns 201,000 shares of Common Stock, including 1,000 shares
held in record name. Driver Management, as the general partner of Driver Opportunity and investment manager to certain separately managed
accounts (the &ldquo;SMAs&rdquo;), may be deemed to beneficially own the (i) 201,000 shares of Common Stock directly beneficially owned
by Driver Opportunity and (ii) 1,276,919 shares of Common Stock held in the SMAs. Mr. Cooper, as the managing member of Driver Management,
may be deemed to beneficially own the (i) 201,000 shares of Common Stock directly beneficially owned by Driver Opportunity and (ii) 1,276,919
shares of Common Stock held in the SMAs. Neither of Messrs. Rudolph or Simmons beneficially own any securities of the Company.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

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