Edgar Filing: PARK NATIONAL CORP /OH/

Document

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 06, 2017

Registration No. 333 - __________

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

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PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Ohio		31-1179518
(State or other jurisdiction of		(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)		Identification No.)



50 North Third Street, Newark, Ohio		43055
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

Park National Corporation

Employees Stock Ownership Plan

(Full title of the plan)



David L. Trautman		Copy to:
Chief Executive Officer and President		Elizabeth Turrell Farrar, Esq.
Park National Corporation		Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP
50 North Third Street		52 East Gay Street
Newark, Ohio 43055		Columbus, Ohio 43215
(Name and address of agent for service)

(740) 349-8451

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.



Large accelerated filer	ý	Accelerated filer	q

Non-accelerated filer	q	Smaller reporting company	q
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
		Emerging growth company	q

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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. q

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Calculation of Registration Fee



Title of securities to be registered (1)	Amount to be registered (2)	Proposed maximum offering price per share (3)		Proposed maximum aggregate offering price (3)		Amount of registration fee
Common Shares, without par value	1,000,000	$	105.20	$	105,200,000	$	12,193


(1)	In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement on Form S-8 also covers an indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership Plan described herein.

(2)

In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act, this Registration Statement on Form S-8 also covers an indeterminate number of additional common shares that may become issuable under the terms of the Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership Plan to prevent dilution resulting from any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or other similar transaction or adjustment affecting the common shares of Park National Corporation.


(3)	Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the aggregate offering price and the registration fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and 457(h) promulgated under the Securities Act and computed on the basis of $105.20, which is the average of the high and low prices per share for a common share of Park National Corporation as reported on NYSE MKT on July 5, 2017.

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Part I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

This Registration Statement on Form S‑8 (this “Registration Statement”) is being filed by Park National Corporation (the “Registrant” or “Park”) with respect to the Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership Plan (the “Plan”). The document(s) containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to participants in the Plan as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Such documents are not being filed with the Commission either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Act. Such documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

Part II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The following documents, filed by the Registrant and the Plan with the Commission, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof:


•	the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Registrant for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the Commission on February 21, 2017 (SEC File No. 001-13006);


•	the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Registrant for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2017, filed with the Commission on April 27, 2017 (SEC File No. 001‑13006);


•	the Current Reports on Form 8‑K filed by the Registrant with the Commission on January 23, 2017 (excluding Items 2.02 and 7.01), April 21, 2017 (excluding Items 2.02 and 7.01), April 26, 2017 and June 16, 2017 (SEC File No. 001‑13006);


•	the definitive proxy statement for the Registrant’s 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders filed by the Registrant with the Commission on March 3, 2017;


•	the Annual Report on Form 11-K of the Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership Plan for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the Commission on June 29, 2017; and


•	the description of the Registrant’s common shares, without par value, contained in “Item 5. Other Information” of Part II of the Quarterly Report of the Registrant on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2015 (SEC File No. 001-13006), together with any subsequent amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

All documents which may be filed by the Registrant or the Plan with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), Section 13(c), Section 14 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered under the Plan pursuant to this Registration Statement have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall also be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be made a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

Pursuant to General Instruction B of Form 8-K, any information furnished pursuant to “Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition” or “Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure” of Form 8-K is not deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, and the Registrant is not incorporating by reference any information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01, or any exhibits relating to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01, into this Registration Statement.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated in this Registration Statement by reference, or contained in this Registration Statement, shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained in any subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

Item 4. Description of Securities.

The common shares, without par value, of the Registrant are registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act. Therefore, in accordance with the instructions to Item 4 of Part II of Form S-8, no description of such common shares is provided hereunder.

In addition, in accordance with the instructions to Item 4 of Part II of Form S-8, no description is provided hereunder of the interests in the Plan.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not Applicable.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

(a) Ohio General Corporation Law

Section 1701.13(E) of the Ohio Revised Code grants corporations broad powers to indemnify directors, officers, employees and agents. Section 1701.13(E) provides:

(E) (1) A corporation may indemnify or agree to indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent of another corporation, domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit, a limited liability company, or a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorney’s fees, judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit, or proceeding, if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, if the person had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit, or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, the person had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.

(2) A corporation may indemnify or agree to indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending, or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent of another corporation, domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit, a limited liability company, or a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorney’s fees, actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit, if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any of the following:

(a) Any claim, issue, or matter as to which such person is adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of the person’s duty to the corporation unless, and only to the extent that, the court of common pleas or the court in which such action or suit was brought determines, upon application, that, despite the adjudication of liability, but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and

reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court of common pleas or such other court shall deem proper;

(b) Any action or suit in which the only liability asserted against a director is pursuant to section 1701.95 of the Revised Code.

(3) To the extent that a director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division (E)(1) or (2) of this section, or in defense of any claim, issue, or matter in the action, suit, or proceeding, the person shall be indemnified against expenses, including attorney’s fees, actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the action, suit, or proceeding.

(4) Any indemnification under division (E)(1) or (2) of this section, unless ordered by a court, shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case, upon a determination that indemnification of the director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in division (E)(1) or (2) of this section. Such determination shall be made as follows:

(a) By a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors of the indemnifying corporation who were not and are not parties to or threatened with the action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division (E)(1) or (2) of this section;

(b) If the quorum described in division (E)(4)(a) of this section is not obtainable or if a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, in a written opinion by independent legal counsel other than an attorney, or a firm having associated with it an attorney, who has been retained by or who has performed services for the corporation or any person to be indemnified within the past five years;

(d) By the court of common pleas or the court in which the action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division (E)(1) or (2) of this section was brought.

Any determination made by the disinterested directors under division (E)(4)(a) or by independent legal counsel under division (E)(4)(b) of this section shall be promptly communicated to the person who threatened or brought the action or suit by or in the right of the corporation under division (E)(2) of this section, and, within ten days after receipt of such notification, the person shall have the right to petition the court of common pleas or the court in which such action or suit was brought to review the reasonableness of that determination.

(5) (a) Unless at the time of a director’s act or omission that is the subject of an action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division (E)(1) or (2) of this section, the articles or the regulations of a corporation state, by specific reference to this division, that the

provisions of this division do not apply to the corporation and unless the only liability asserted against a director in an action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division (E)(1) or (2) of this section is pursuant to section 1701.95 of the Revised Code, expenses, including attorney’s fees, incurred by a director in defending the action, suit, or proceeding shall be paid by the corporation as they are incurred, in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit, or proceeding, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director in which the director agrees to do both of the following:

(i) Repay that amount if it is proved by clear and convincing evidence in a court of competent jurisdiction that the director’s action or failure to act involved an act or omission undertaken with deliberate intent to cause injury to the corporation or undertaken with reckless disregard for the best interests of the corporation;

(ii) Reasonably cooperate with the corporation concerning the action, suit, or proceeding.

(b) Expenses, including attorney’s fees, incurred by a director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent in defending any action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division (E)(1) or (2) of this section, may be paid by the corporation as they are incurred, in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit, or proceeding, as authorized by the directors in the specific case, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent to repay that amount, if it ultimately is determined that the person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation.

(6) The indemnification or advancement of expenses authorized by this section shall not be exclusive of, and shall be in addition to, any other rights granted to those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses under the articles, the regulations, any agreement, a vote of shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in their official capacities and as to action in another capacity while holding their offices or positions, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of that person. A right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses arising under a provision of the articles or the regulations shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to that provision after the occurrence of the act or omission that becomes the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which the indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought, unless the provision in effect at the time of that act or omission explicitly authorizes that elimination or impairment after the act or omission has occurred.

(7) A corporation may purchase and maintain insurance or furnish similar protection, including, but not limited to, trust funds, letters of credit, or self-insurance, on behalf of or for any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent of another corporation, domestic or foreign,

nonprofit or for profit, a limited liability company, or a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against the person and incurred by the person in any such capacity, or arising out of the person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the person against that liability under this section. Insurance may be purchased from or maintained with a person in which the corporation has a financial interest.

(8) The authority of a corporation to indemnify persons pursuant to division (E)(1) or (2) of this section does not limit the payment of expenses as they are incurred, indemnification, insurance, or other protection that may be provided pursuant to divisions (E)(5), (6), and (7) of this section. Divisions (E)(1) and (2) of this section do not create any obligation to repay or return payments made by the corporation pursuant to division (E)(5), (6), or (7).

(9) As used in division (E) of this section, “corporation” includes all constituent entities in a consolidation or merger and the new or surviving corporation, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, trustee, member, manager, or agent of such a constituent entity, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent entity as a director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent of another corporation, domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit, a limited liability company, or a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this section with respect to the new or surviving corporation as the person would if the person had served the new or surviving corporation in the same capacity.

(b) Regulations of Park National Corporation

The Regulations of Park contain the following provisions with respect to the indemnification of directors and officers:

ARTICLE FIVE

INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE

Section 5.01. Mandatory Indemnification. The corporation shall indemnify any officer or director of the corporation who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (including, without limitation, any action threatened or instituted by or in the right of the corporation), by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another corporation (domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit), partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, filing fees, court reporters’ fees and transcript costs), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or

not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. A person claiming indemnification under this Section 5.01 shall be presumed, in respect of any act or omission giving rise to such claim for indemnification, to have acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal matter, to have had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, and the termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, rebut such presumption.

Section 5.02. Court-Approved Indemnification. Anything contained in the Regulations or elsewhere to the contrary notwithstanding:

(A) the corporation shall not indemnify any officer or director of the corporation who was a party to any completed action or suit instituted by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another corporation (domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit), partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, in respect of any claim, issue or matter asserted in such action or suit as to which he shall have been adjudged to be liable for acting with reckless disregard for the best interests of the corporation or misconduct (other than negligence) in the performance of his duty to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Common Pleas of Licking County, Ohio or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite such adjudication of liability, and in view of all the circumstances of the case, he is fairly and reasonably entitled to such indemnity as such Court of Common Pleas or such other court shall deem proper; and

(B) the corporation shall promptly make any such unpaid indemnification as is determined by a court to be proper as contemplated by this Section 5.02.

Section 5.03. Indemnification for Expenses. Anything contained in the Regulations or elsewhere to the contrary notwithstanding, to the extent that an officer or director of the corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section 5.01, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be promptly indemnified by the corporation against expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, filing fees, court reporters’ fees and transcript costs) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.

Section 5.04. Determination Required. Any indemnification required under Section 5.01 and not precluded under Section 5.02 shall be made by the corporation only upon a determination that such indemnification of the officer or director is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 5.01. Such determination may be made only (A) by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors of the corporation who were not and are not parties to, or threatened with, any such action, suit or proceeding, or (B) if such a quorum is not

obtainable or if a majority of a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, in a written opinion by independent legal counsel other than an attorney, or a firm having associated with it an attorney, who has been retained by or who has performed services for the corporation, or any person to be indemnified, within the past five years, or (C) by the shareholders, or (D) by the Court of Common Pleas of Licking County, Ohio or (if the corporation is a party thereto) the court in which such action, suit or proceeding was brought, if any; any such determination may be made by a court under division (D) of this Section 5.04 at any time [including, without limitation, any time before, during or after the time when any such determination may be requested of, be under consideration by or have been denied or disregarded by the disinterested directors under division (A) or by independent legal counsel under division (B) or by the shareholders under division (C) of this Section 5.04]; and no failure for any reason to make any such determination, and no decision for any reason to deny any such determination, by the disinterested directors under division (A) or by independent legal counsel under division (B) or by shareholders under division (C) of this Section 5.04 shall be evidence in rebuttal of the presumption recited in Section 5.01. Any determination made by the disinterested directors under division (A) or by independent legal counsel under division (B) of this Section 5.04 to make indemnification in respect of any claim, issue or matter asserted in an action or suit threatened or brought by or in the right of the corporation shall be promptly communicated to the person who threatened or brought such action or suit, and within ten (10) days after receipt of such notification such person shall have the right to petition the Court of Common Pleas of Licking County, Ohio or the court in which such action or suit was brought, if any, to review the reasonableness of such determination.

Section 5.05. Advances for Expenses. Expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, filing fees, court reporters’ fees and transcript costs) incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section 5.01 shall be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding to or on behalf of the officer or director promptly as such expenses are incurred by him, but only if such officer or director shall first agree, in writing, to repay all amounts so paid in respect of any claim, issue or other matter asserted in such action, suit or proceeding in defense of which he shall not have been successful on the merits or otherwise:

(A) if it shall ultimately be determined as provided in Section 5.04 that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as provided under Section 5.01; or

(B) if, in respect of any claim, issue or other matter asserted by or in the right of the corporation in such action or suit, he shall have been adjudged to be liable for acting with reckless disregard for the best interests of the corporation or misconduct (other than negligence) in the performance of his duty to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the Court of Common Pleas of Licking County, Ohio or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite such adjudication of liability, and in view of all the circumstances, he is fairly and reasonably entitled to all or part of such indemnification.

Section 5.06. Article FIVE Not Exclusive. The indemnification provided by this Article FIVE shall not be exclusive of, and shall be in addition to, any other rights to which any person seeking indemnification may be entitled under the Articles or the Regulations or any agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be an officer or director of the corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of such a person.

Section 5.07. Insurance. The corporation may purchase and maintain insurance or furnish similar protection, including but not limited to trust funds, letters of credit, or self-insurance, on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, trustee, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation (domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit), partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the obligation or the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Article FIVE. Insurance may be purchased from or maintained with a person in which the corporation has a financial interest.

Section 5.08. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Article FIVE, and as examples and not by way of limitation:

(A) A person claiming indemnification under this Article FIVE shall be deemed to have been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section 5.01, or in defense of any claim, issue or other matter therein, if such action, suit or proceeding shall be terminated as to such person, with or without prejudice, without the entry of a judgment or order against him, without a conviction of him, without the imposition of a fine upon him and without his payment or agreement to pay any amount in settlement thereof (whether or not any such termination is based upon a judicial or other determination of the lack of merit of the claims made against him or otherwise results in a vindication of him); and

(B) References to an “other enterprise” shall include employee benefit plans; references to a “fine” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the corporation” within the meaning of that term as used in this Article FIVE.

Section 5.09. Venue. Any action, suit or proceeding to determine a claim for indemnification under this Article FIVE may be maintained by the person claiming such indemnification, or by the corporation, in the Court of Common Pleas of Licking County, Ohio. The corporation and (by claiming such indemnification) each such person consent to the exercise of jurisdiction over its or his person by the Court of Common Pleas of Licking County, Ohio in any such action, suit or proceeding.

Section 5.10. Laws and Regulations. Anything contained in the Regulations or elsewhere to the contrary notwithstanding, any indemnification or insurance provided for under this Article FIVE shall be subject to the limitations of and conditioned upon compliance with the provisions of applicable state and federal laws and regulations, including, without limitation: (A) the provisions of the Ohio Revised Code governing indemnification by an Ohio corporation of, and insurance maintained by an Ohio corporation on behalf of, its officers, directors or employees; and (B) the provisions of 12 U.S.C. § 1828(k) and Part 359 of the regulations of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) (12 C.F.R. Part 359), which provisions contain certain prohibitions and limitations on the making of certain indemnification payments and the maintenance of certain insurance coverage by FDIC-insured depository institutions and their holding companies.

Park maintains insurance policies under which directors and officers of Park are insured, within the limits and subject to the limitations of such policies, against expenses in connection with the defense of actions, suits or proceedings, and certain liabilities that might be imposed as a result of such actions, suits or proceedings, to which they are parties by reason of being or having been directors or officers of Park.

(d) Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership Plan

Section 10.5 of the Plan addresses certain reimbursements which are to be made to the Trustee, the Employer or the Administrator (as each term is defined in the Plan) in respect of claims, suits or proceedings brought regarding the Plan. Section 10.5 provides:

In the event any claim, suit, or proceeding is brought regarding the Trust and/or Plan established hereunder to which the Trustee, the Employer or the Administrator may be a party, and such claim, suit, or proceeding is resolved in favor of the Trustee, the Employer or the Administrator, they shall be entitled to be reimbursed from the Trust Fund for any and all costs, attorney’s fees, and other expenses pertaining thereto incurred by them for which they shall have become liable provided there has been no breach of fiduciary duty by the party seeking reimbursement.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not Applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits.

(a) Exhibits:

The following exhibits are filed with or incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement:



Exhibit No.	Description
4.1(a)	Articles of Incorporation of Park National Corporation as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on March 24, 1992 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to Park National Corporation’s Form 8-B, filed on May 20, 1992 (SEC File No. 000-18772) (“Park’s Form 8-B”))

4.1(b)	Certificate of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Park National Corporation as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on May 6, 1993 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(b) to Park National Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1993 (SEC File No. 000-18772))

4.1(c)	Certificate of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Park National Corporation as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on April 16, 1996 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to Park National Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 1996 (SEC File No. 001-13006))

4.1(d)	Certificate of Amendment by Shareholders as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on April 22, 1997 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a)(1) to Park National Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 1997 (SEC File No. 001-13006) (“Park’s June 30, 1997 Form 10-Q”))

4.1(e)	Certificate of Amendment by Shareholders as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on December 18, 2008 in order to evidence the adoption by the shareholders of Park National Corporation on December 18, 2008 of an amendment to Article FOURTH of Park National Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation to authorize Park National Corporation to issue up to 200,000 preferred shares, without par value (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Park National Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed December 19, 2008 (SEC File No. 001-13006))



4.1(f)	Certificate of Amendment by Directors to Articles as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on December 19, 2008, evidencing the adoption of an amendment by the Board of Directors of Park National Corporation to Article FOURTH of Park National Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation to establish the express terms of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Shares, Series A, each without par value, of Park National Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Park National Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed December 23, 2008 (SEC File No. 001-13006) (“Park’s December 23, 2008 Form 8-K”))

4.1(g)	Certificate of Amendment by Shareholders filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on April 18, 2011 in order to evidence the adoption by Park National Corporation's shareholders of an amendment to Article SIXTH of Park National Corporation's Articles of Incorporation in order to provide that shareholders do not have preemptive rights (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Park National Corporation's Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed April 19, 2011 (SEC File No. 1-13006))

4.1 (h)	Articles of Incorporation of Park National Corporation (reflecting all amendments) [for SEC reporting compliance purposes only - not filed with the Ohio Secretary of State] (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1(h) to Park National Corporation's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2011 (SEC File No. 1-13006))

4.2(a)	Regulations of Park National Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(b) to Park’s Form 8-B)

4.2(b)	Certified Resolution regarding Adoption of Amendment to Subsection 2.02(A) of the Regulations of Park National Corporation by Shareholders on April 21, 1997 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(b)(1) to Park’s June 30, 1997 Form 10-Q)

4.2(c)	Certificate Regarding Adoption of Amendments to Sections 1.04 and 1.11 of Park National Corporation’s Regulations by the Shareholders on April 17, 2006 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Park National Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed April 18, 2006 (SEC File No. 001-13006))

4.2(d)	Certificate Regarding Adoption by the Shareholders of Park National Corporation on April 21, 2008 of Amendment to Regulations to Add New Section 5.10 to Article FIVE (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2(d) to Park National Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008 (SEC File No. 001-13006) (“Park’s March 31, 2008 Form 10-Q”))



4.2(e)	Regulations of Park National Corporation (reflecting all amendments) [For SEC reporting compliance purposes only] (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2(e) to Park’s March 31, 2008 Form 10-Q)

4.3(a)	Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of December 5, 2005, between Vision Bancshares, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to Vision Bancshares, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 (SEC File No. 000-50719))

4.3(b)	First Supplemental Indenture, dated to be effective as of 6:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on March 9, 2007, among Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee; Park National Corporation; and Vision Bancshares, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1(b) to Park National Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed March 15, 2007 (SEC File No. 001-13006) (“Park’s March 15, 2007 Form 8-K”))

4.4(a)	Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2005, among Vision Bancshares, Inc., as Depositor; Wilmington Trust Company, as Property Trustee and as Delaware Trustee; and the Administrative Trustees named therein, in respect of Vision Bancshares Trust I (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to Vision Bancshares, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 (SEC File No. 000-50719)) Note: Pursuant to the First Supplemental Indenture, dated to be effective as of 6:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on March 9, 2007, among Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee; Park National Corporation; and Vision Bancshares, Inc., Park National Corporation succeeded to and was substituted for Vision Bancshares, Inc. as “Depositor”

4.4(b)	Notice of Resignation of Administrative Trustees and Appointment of Successors, dated March 9, 2007, delivered to Wilmington Trust Company by the Resigning Administrative Trustees named therein, the Successor Administrative Trustees named therein and Park National Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2(b) to Park’s March 15, 2007 Form 8-K)

4.4(c)	Notice of Removal of Administrative Trustee and Appointment of Successor, dated February 21, 2013, delivered to Wilmington Trust Company by the continuing Administrative Trustees named therein and Park National Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2(c) to Park National Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 (SEC File No. 1-13006))



4.5	Guarantee Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2005, between Vision Bancshares, Inc., as Guarantor, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Guarantee Trustee, in respect of Vision Bancshares Trust I (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to Vision Bancshares, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 (SEC File No. 000-50719)) Note: Pursuant to the First Supplemental Indenture, dated to be effective as of 6:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on March 9, 2007, among Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee; Park National Corporation; and Vision Bancshares, Inc., Park National Corporation succeeded to and was substituted for Vision Bancshares, Inc. as “Guarantor”

10.1	Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership Plan (adopted December 11, 2013 as an amendment and restatement effective as provided therein) (filed herewith)

23.1	Consent of Crowe Horwath LLP, independent registered public accounting firm (filed herewith)

23.2	Consent of Crowe Horwath LLP, independent registered public accounting firm (filed herewith)

24.1	Powers of Attorney of Executive Officers and Directors of Park National Corporation (filed herewith)

(a) In accordance with the instructions to Item 8 of Part II of Form S-8, this Registration Statement does not include Exhibit 5 - Opinion regarding legality with respect to the common shares being registered since such common shares will not be original issuance securities.

(b) In accordance with the instructions to Item 8 of Part II of Form S-8, this Registration Statement does not include Exhibit 5 - Opinion regarding legality for plans subject to the requirements of ERISA as the Registrant undertakes that, as applicable, the Plan and all amendments thereto have been or will be submitted to the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) in a timely manner and all changes required by the IRS in order to qualify the Plan under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, have been or will be made.

Item 9. Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(l) 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 of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the 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 the 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 a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

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

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, 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 of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the 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.

(c)

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 6 of this Part II, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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signature pages follow]

SIGNATURES

The Registrant. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S‑8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Newark, State of Ohio, on the 6th day of July, 2017.

PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION

By: /s/ David L. Trautman

David L. Trautman, Chief Executive Officer and President

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on July 6, 2017.



Signature		Title
/s/ David L. Trautman David L. Trautman		Chief Executive Officer, President and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ C. Daniel DeLawder C. Daniel DeLawder		Chairman of the Board and Director

/s/ Brady T. Burt Brady T. Burt		Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Kelly A. Edds Kelly A. Edds		Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ Donna M. Alvarado* Donna M. Alvarado		Director

/s/ James R. DeRoberts* James R. DeRoberts		Director

/s/ F. William Englefield IV* F. William Englefield IV		Director

/s/ Alicia J. Hupp* Alicia J. Hupp		Director

/s/ Stephen J. Kambeitz* Stephen J. Kambeitz		Director



Signature		Title

/s/ Timothy S. McLain* Timothy S. McLain		Director

/s/ Robert E. O’Neill* Robert E. O'Neill		Director

/s/ Julia A. Sloat* Julia A. Sloat		Director

/s/ Rick R. Taylor* Rick R. Taylor		Director

/s/ Leon Zazworsky* Leon Zazworsky		Director

*The undersigned, by signing his name hereto, does hereby sign this Registration Statement on Form S-8 on behalf of each of the directors of the Registrant identified above pursuant to Powers of Attorney executed by the directors identified above, which Powers of Attorney are filed with this Registration Statement on Form S‑8 as Exhibit 24.1.

By: /s/ David L. Trautman Date: July 6, 2017

David L. Trautman, Attorney-in-Fact

The Plan. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the trustees (or other persons who administer the Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership Plan) have duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Newark, State of Ohio, on July 6, 2017.

PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION

EMPLOYEES STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

By: THE PARK NATIONAL BANK, Trustee

By: /s/ Brady T. Burt

Printed Name: Brady T. Burt

Title: Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer

INDEX TO EXHIBITS



Exhibit No.	Description
4.1(a)	Articles of Incorporation of Park National Corporation as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on March 24, 1992 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to Park National Corporation’s Form 8-B, filed on May 20, 1992 (SEC File No. 000-18772) (“Park’s Form 8-B”))

4.1(b)	Certificate of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Park National Corporation as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on May 6, 1993 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(b) to Park National Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1993 (SEC File No. 000-18772))

4.1(c)	Certificate of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Park National Corporation as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on April 16, 1996 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to Park National Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 1996 (SEC File No. 001-13006))

4.1(d)	Certificate of Amendment by Shareholders as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on April 22, 1997 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a)(1) to Park National Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 1997 (SEC File No. 001-13006) (“Park’s June 30, 1997 Form 10-Q”))

4.1(e)	Certificate of Amendment by Shareholders as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on December 18, 2008 in order to evidence the adoption by the shareholders of Park National Corporation on December 18, 2008 of an amendment to Article FOURTH of Park National Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation to authorize Park National Corporation to issue up to 200,000 preferred shares, without par value (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Park National Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed December 19, 2008 (SEC File No. 001-13006))

4.1(f)	Certificate of Amendment by Directors to Articles as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on December 19, 2008, evidencing the adoption of an amendment by the Board of Directors of Park National Corporation to Article FOURTH of Park National Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation to establish the express terms of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Shares, Series A, each without par value, of Park National Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Park National Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed December 23, 2008 (SEC File No. 001-13006) (“Park’s December 23, 2008 Form 8-K”))



4.1(g)	Certificate of Amendment by Shareholders filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on April 18, 2011 in order to evidence the adoption by Park National Corporation's shareholders of an amendment to Article SIXTH of Park National Corporation's Articles of Incorporation in order to provide that shareholders do not have preemptive rights (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Park National Corporation's Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed April 19, 2011 (SEC File No. 1-13006))

4.1(h)	Articles of Incorporation of Park National Corporation (reflecting all amendments) [for SEC reporting compliance purposes only - not filed with the Ohio Secretary of State] (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1(h) to Park National Corporation's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2011 (SEC File No. 1-13006))

4.2(a)	Regulations of Park National Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(b) to Park’s Form 8-B)

4.2(b)	Certified Resolution regarding Adoption of Amendment to Subsection 2.02(A) of the Regulations of Park National Corporation by Shareholders on April 21, 1997 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(b)(1) to Park’s June 30, 1997 Form 10-Q)

4.2(c)	Certificate Regarding Adoption of Amendments to Sections 1.04 and 1.11 of Park National Corporation’s Regulations by the Shareholders on April 17, 2006 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Park National Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed April 18, 2006 (SEC File No. 001-13006))

4.2(d)	Certificate Regarding Adoption by the Shareholders of Park National Corporation on April 21, 2008 of Amendment to Regulations to Add New Section 5.10 to Article FIVE (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2(d) to Park National Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008 (SEC File No. 001-13006) (“Park’s March 31, 2008 Form 10-Q”))

4.2(e)	Regulations of Park National Corporation (reflecting all amendments) [For SEC reporting compliance purposes only] (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2(e) to Park’s March 31, 2008 Form 10-Q)

4.3(a)	Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of December 5, 2005, between Vision Bancshares, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to Vision Bancshares, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 (SEC File No. 000-50719))



4.3(b)	First Supplemental Indenture, dated to be effective as of 6:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on March 9, 2007, among Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee; Park National Corporation; and Vision Bancshares, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1(b) to Park National Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed March 15, 2007 (SEC File No. 001-13006) (“Park’s March 15, 2007 Form 8-K”))

4.4(a)	Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2005, among Vision Bancshares, Inc., as Depositor; Wilmington Trust Company, as Property Trustee and as Delaware Trustee; and the Administrative Trustees named therein, in respect of Vision Bancshares Trust I (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to Vision Bancshares, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 (SEC File No. 000-50719)) Note: Pursuant to the First Supplemental Indenture, dated to be effective as of 6:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on March 9, 2007, among Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee; Park National Corporation; and Vision Bancshares, Inc., Park National Corporation succeeded to and was substituted for Vision Bancshares, Inc. as “Depositor”

4.4(b)	Notice of Resignation of Administrative Trustees and Appointment of Successors, dated March 9, 2007, delivered to Wilmington Trust Company by the Resigning Administrative Trustees named therein, the Successor Administrative Trustees named therein and Park National Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2(b) to Park’s March 15, 2007 Form 8-K)

4.4(c) 4.5	Notice of Removal of Administrative Trustee and Appointment of Successor, dated February 21, 2013, delivered to Wilmington Trust Company by the continuing Administrative Trustees named therein and Park National Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2(c) to Park National Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 (SEC File No. 1-13006)) Guarantee Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2005, between Vision Bancshares, Inc., as Guarantor, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Guarantee Trustee, in respect of Vision Bancshares Trust I (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to Vision Bancshares, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 (SEC File No. 000-50719)) Note: Pursuant to the First Supplemental Indenture, dated to be effective as of 6:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on March 9, 2007, among Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee; Park National Corporation; and Vision Bancshares, Inc., Park National Corporation succeeded to and was substituted for Vision Bancshares, Inc. as “Guarantor”



10.1	Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership Plan (adopted December 11, 2013 as an amendment and restatement effective as provided therein) (filed herewith)

23.1	Consent of Crowe Horwath LLP, independent registered public accounting firm (filed herewith)

23.2	Consent of Crowe Horwath LLP, independent registered public accounting firm (filed herewith)

24.1	Powers of Attorney of Executive Officers and Directors of Park National Corporation (filed herewith)