Edgar Filing: PEOPLES BANCORP INC

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Smaller reporting company

March 2012 S-8 (Registration Statement)

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 5, 2012

Registration No. 333 - __________

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933



	PEOPLES BANCORP INC.
	(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Ohio		31-0987416
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)




138 Putnam Street, P.O. Box 738, Marietta, Ohio		45750-0738
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

Peoples Bancorp Inc. Second Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors of Peoples Bancorp Inc. and Subsidiaries

(Full title of the plan)



	M. Ryan Kirkham, Vice President/Corporate Counsel 138 Putnam Street, P.O. Box 738, Marietta, Ohio 45750-0738
	(Name and address of agent for service)



	(740) 376-7574
	(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, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Calculation of Registration Fee



Title of securities to be registered	Amount to be registered		Proposed maximum offering price per share		Proposed maximum aggregate offering price (2)		Amount of registration fee
Deferred Compensation Obligations (1)	$	2,001,250.00	100	%	$	2,001,250.00	$	229.35
Common Shares, without par value (1)	125,000		$ 16.01 (3)		$	2,001,250.00	N/A
Total Registration Fee	N/A		N/A		N/A		$	229.35

(1)

The Deferred Compensation Obligations being registered are general unsecured obligations of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (“Peoples” or the “Registrant”) and of subsidiaries of the Registrant under the Peoples Bancorp Inc. Second Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors of Peoples Bancorp Inc. and Subsidiaries (the “Directors Deferred Compensation Plan”). Each participant in the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan may direct that Deferred Compensation Obligations be treated as allocated within the participant's bookkeeping account under the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan between a cash account (earning interest equal to the three-year certificate of deposit interest rate of the Registrant's national bank subsidiary Peoples Bank, National Association) and a stock account (under which common shares of Peoples are allocated at fair market value on the first business day of each calendar quarter based on (i) the amount deferred and (ii) subsequent cash dividends on the common shares previously credited to the account). Distributions in respect of Deferred Compensation Obligations which are treated as allocated to the stock account are made in common shares of the Registrant or in cash, as elected by the participant at the time of deferral. Accordingly, reference is made in the above table to the maximum number of common shares of the Registrant that may be distributed in respect of such Deferred Compensation Obligations if they were all treated as allocated to the stock accounts of participants and to be distributed in the form of common shares of the Registrant.


(2)	Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.


(3)	Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee based upon the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant's common shares as reported on The NASDAQ Global Select Market® on March 2, 2012.

Part I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

The documents containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to participants in the Peoples Bancorp Inc. Second Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors of Peoples Bancorp Inc. and Subsidiaries (the “Directors Deferred Compensation Plan”) as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). In accordance with the instructions to Part I of Form S-8, such documents will not be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) either as part of this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (this “Registration Statement”) or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act. These 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 Commission allows the Registrant to “incorporate by reference” in this Registration Statement the information in the documents that the Registrant files with the Commission, which means that important information can be disclosed to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this Registration Statement. The following documents, filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), 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, 2011, filed with the Commission on February 28, 2012 (File No. 0-16772);


•	the Current Reports on Form 8‑K filed/furnished by the Registrant with the Commission on January 24, 2012, January 26, 2012, February 3, 2012 (two Forms 8-K), February 10, 2012, February 16, 2012 and February 27, 2012 (this latter Form 8-K as amended by the Form 8-K/A filed on February 29, 2012) (File No. 0-16772); and


•	the description of the Registrant's common shares, without par value, contained in “Item 5. Other Information” of Part II of the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 21, 2003, together with any subsequent registration statement or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

All documents which may be filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), Section 13(c), Section 14 or Section 15(d) of 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 Directors Deferred Compensation 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 Peoples 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.

Common Shares

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

Deferred Compensation Obligations

The Deferred Compensation Obligations being registered are general unsecured obligations of Peoples, and of subsidiaries of Peoples, under the Peoples Bancorp Inc. Second Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors of Peoples Bancorp Inc. and Subsidiaries (the “Directors Deferred Compensation Plan”).

The Directors Deferred Compensation Plan is a non-qualified deferred compensation plan which allows a participating non-employee director of Peoples, or of one of Peoples' subsidiaries, to defer all or part of his or her director's fees, including the Federal income tax thereon. Non-employee directors are permitted to allocate their Deferred Compensation Obligations within each of their bookkeeping accounts under the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan between a cash account (earning interest equal to the three-year certificate of deposit interest rate of the Registrant's national bank subsidiary Peoples Bank, National Association) and a stock account (under which common shares of Peoples are allocated at fair market value on the first business day of each calendar quarter based on (i) the amount deferred and (ii) subsequent cash dividends on the common shares previously credited to the account). The only right a participant in the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan has with respect to his or her cash account and/or stock account is to receive distributions upon termination of service as a director. Distributions in respect of the Deferred Compensation Obligations are made in a lump sum or annual installments, at the election of the director beginning (i) on the first business day of the calendar month following the date of the director's termination of service due to resignation, retirement, death or otherwise for the portion of the account, if any, that was earned and vested before January 1, 2005, and any additions attributable to such portion of the account; and (ii) on the first business day of the calendar month following the earlier of the directors' death or separation from service as a director for the remaining portion of the account in the first

year in which the person is no longer a director. For a director who is also a “specified employee” for purpose of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, on the date of the director's separation from service, the distribution of the portion of the account that was earned and vested on or after January 1, 2005, will be delayed until the first business day of the seventh month following the date of separation of service. Distributions in respect of Deferred Compensation Obligations which are treated as allocated to the stock account are made in common shares of Peoples or in cash, as elected by the director at the time of deferral, and distributions in respect of Deferred Compensation Obligations which are treated as allocated to the cash account are made only in cash.

The foregoing description of the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan and the Deferred Compensation Obligations registered pursuant to this Registration Statement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan, which is filed as Exhibit 4.3 to this Registration Statement. Such exhibit is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety pursuant to Rule 411(b)(3) of the Securities Act.

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 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, 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 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, if he had no reasonable cause to believe his 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 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 reasonable cause to believe that his 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 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, 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 him in connection with

the defense or settlement of such action or suit, 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, 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 his 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 therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses, including attorney's fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him 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 he 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, such 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 such 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 he agrees to do both of the following:

(i) Repay such amount if it is proved by clear and convincing evidence in a court of competent jurisdiction that his 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 such amount, if it ultimately is determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation.

(6) The indemnification authorized by this section shall not be exclusive of, and shall be in addition to, any other rights granted to those seeking indemnification 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 such a person.

(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 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 power to indemnify him against such 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 he would if he had served the new or surviving corporation in the same capacity.

(b) Peoples Bancorp Inc. Code of Regulations

The Code of Regulations of Peoples contains 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington County, Ohio in any such action, suit or proceeding.

Peoples has purchased insurance coverage under policies that insure directors and officers against certain liabilities that might be incurred by them in their capacities as directors and officers, subject to the conditions and exclusions of the policies.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not Applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits.

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



Exhibit No.	Description	Location
4.1(a)	Amended Articles of Incorporation of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on May 3, 1993)	Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Registration Statement on Form 8-B of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (“Peoples”) filed July 20, 1993 (File No. 0-16772)
4.1(b)	Certificate of Amendment to the Amended Articles of Incorporation of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on April 22, 1994)	Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a)(2) to Peoples' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 (File No. 0-16772) (“Peoples' 1997 Form 10-K”)
4.1(c)	Certificate of Amendment to the Amended Articles of Incorporation of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on April 9, 1996)	Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a)(3) to Peoples' 1997 Form 10-K
4.1(d)	Certificate of Amendment to the Amended Articles of Incorporation of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on April 23, 2003)	Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to Peoples' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2003 (File No. 0-16772) (“Peoples' March 31, 2003 Form 10-Q”)
4.1(e)	Certificate of Amendment by Shareholders or Members to the Amended Articles of Incorporation of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on January 22, 2009)	Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Peoples' Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed on January 23, 2009 (File No. 0-16772)



4.1(f)	Certificate of Amendment by Directors or Incorporators to Articles filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio on January 28, 2009, evidencing adoption of amendments by the Board of Directors of Peoples Bancorp Inc. to Article FOURTH of Amended Articles of Incorporation to establish express terms of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Shares, Series A, each without par value, of Peoples Bancorp Inc.	Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Peoples' Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed on February 2, 2009 (File No. 0-16772)
4.1(g)	Amended Articles of Incorporation of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (reflecting amendments through January 28, 2009) [For SEC reporting compliance purposes only - not filed with Ohio Secretary of State]	Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1(g) to Peoples' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 (File No. 0-16772) ("Peoples' 2008 Form 10-K")
4.2(a)	Code of Regulations of Peoples Bancorp Inc.	Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(b) to Peoples' Registration Statement on Form 8-B filed July 20, 1993 (File No. 0-16772)
4.2(b)	Certified Resolutions Regarding Adoption of Amendments to Sections 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.08, 1.10, 2.03(C), 2.07, 2.08, 2.10 and 6.02 of the Code of Regulations of Peoples Bancorp Inc. by shareholders on April 10, 2003	Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(c) to Peoples' March 31, 2003 Form 10-Q
4.2(c)	Certificate regarding adoption of amendments to Sections 3.01, 3.03, 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 3.07, 3.08 and 3.11 of the Code of Regulations of Peoples Bancorp Inc. by shareholders on April 8, 2004	Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to Peoples' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004 (File No. 0-16772)
4.2(d)	Certificate regarding adoption of amendments to Sections 2.06, 2.07, 3.01 and 3.04 of Peoples Bancorp Inc.'s Code of Regulations by the shareholders on April 13, 2006	Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Peoples' Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed on April 14, 2006 (File No. 0-16772)
4.2(e)	Certificate regarding adoption of an amendment to Section 2.01 of Peoples Bancorp Inc.'s Code of Regulations by shareholders on April 22, 2010	Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2(e) to Peoples' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A (Amendment No. 1) for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2010 (File No. 0-16772) (“Peoples' June 30, 2010 Form 10-Q/A”)
4.2(f)	Code of Regulations of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (reflecting amendments through April 22, 2010) [For SEC reporting compliance purposes only]	Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2(f) to Peoples' June 30, 2010 Form 10-Q/A
4.3	Peoples Bancorp Inc. Second Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors of Peoples Bancorp Inc. and Subsidiaries	Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1(a) to Peoples' 2008 Form 10-K



5	Opinion of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP regarding the legality of securities to be offered*	Filed herewith
23.1	Consent of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP (included in Exhibit 5)	Filed as part of Exhibit 5
23.2	Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm	Filed herewith
24	Powers of Attorney of Executive Officers and Directors of Peoples Bancorp Inc.	Filed herewith

* The common shares, without par value, of Peoples Bancorp Inc. being registered pursuant to this Registration Statement will not be original issuance securities. Accordingly, in accordance with the instructions to Item 8(a) of Part II of Form S-8, no opinion of counsel as to the legality of such common shares is required or provided hereunder.

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 20% 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 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.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signatures on following page.]

SIGNATURES

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 Marietta, State of Ohio, on the 5th day of March, 2012.



			PEOPLES BANCORP INC.

		By:	/s/ EDWARD G. SLOANE
			Edward G. Sloane
			Executive Vice President,
			Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

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 March 5, 2012.



Signature		Title
/s/ CHARLES W. SULERZYSKI*		President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Charles W. Sulerzyski

/s/ EDWARD G. SLOANE		Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
Edward G. Sloane

/s/ CARL L. BAKER, JR.*		Director
Carl L. Baker, Jr.

/s/ GEORG W. BROUGHTON*		Director
George W. Broughton

/s/ RICHARD FERGUSON*		Chairman of the Board and Director
Richard Ferguson

/s/ JAMES S. HUGGINS*		Director
James S. Huggins

/s/ BRENDA F. JONES, M.D.*		Director
Brenda F. Jones, M.D.

/s/ DAVID L. MEAD*		Director
David L. Mead

/s/ SUSAN D. RECTOR*		Director
Susan D. Rector

/s/ PAUL T. THEISEN*		Vice Chairman of the Board and Director
Paul T. Theisen

/s/ THOMAS J. WOLF*		Director
Thomas J. Wolf

*The above-named directors of the Registrant sign this Registration Statement on Form S-8 by Edward G. Sloane, their attorney-in-fact, pursuant to Powers of Attorney signed by the above-named directors, which Powers of Attorney are filed with this Registration Statement on Form S-8 as exhibits, in the capacities indicated and on the 5th day of March, 2012.




By:	/s/ EDWARD G. SLOANE
	Edward G. Sloane
	Executive Vice President,
	Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

INDEX TO EXHIBITS



Exhibit No.	Description
4.1(a)	Amended Articles of Incorporation of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on May 3, 1993) [Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Registration Statement on Form 8-B of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (“Peoples”) filed July 20, 1993 (File No. 0-16772)]
4.1(b)	Certificate of Amendment to the Amended Articles of Incorporation of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on April 22, 1994) [Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a)(2) to Peoples' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 (File No. 0-16772) (“Peoples' 1997 Form 10-K”)]
4.1(c)	Certificate of Amendment to the Amended Articles of Incorporation of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on April 9, 1996) [Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a)(3) to Peoples' 1997 Form 10-K]
4.1(d)	Certificate of Amendment to the Amended Articles of Incorporation of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on April 23, 2003) [Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to Peoples' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2003 (File No. 0-16772) (“Peoples' March 31, 2003 Form 10-Q”)]
4.1(e)	Certificate of Amendment by Shareholders or Members to the Amended Articles of Incorporation of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on January 22, 2009) [Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Peoples' Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed on January 23, 2009 (File No. 0-16772)]
4.1(f)	Certificate of Amendment by Directors or Incorporators to Articles filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio on January 28, 2009, evidencing adoption of amendments by the Board of Directors of Peoples Bancorp Inc. to Article FOURTH of Amended Articles of Incorporation to establish express terms of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Shares, Series A, each without par value, of Peoples Bancorp Inc. [Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Peoples' Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed on February 2, 2009 (File No. 0-16772)]
4.1(g)	Amended Articles of Incorporation of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (reflecting amendments through January 28, 2009) [For SEC reporting compliance purposes only - not filed with Ohio Secretary of State] [Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1(g) to Peoples' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 (File No. 0-16772) ("Peoples' 2008 Form 10-K")]
4.2(a)	Code of Regulations of Peoples Bancorp Inc. [Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(b) to Peoples' Registration Statement on Form 8-B filed July 20, 1993 (File No. 0-16772)]
4.2(b)	Certified Resolutions Regarding Adoption of Amendments to Sections 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.08, 1.10, 2.03(C), 2.07, 2.08, 2.10 and 6.02 of the Code of Regulations of Peoples Bancorp Inc. by shareholders on April 10, 2003 [Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(c) to Peoples' March 31, 2003 Form 10-Q]
4.2(c)	Certificate regarding adoption of amendments to Sections 3.01, 3.03, 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 3.07, 3.08 and 3.11 of the Code of Regulations of Peoples Bancorp Inc. by shareholders on April 8, 2004 [Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to Peoples' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004 (File No. 0-16772)]
4.2(d)	Certificate regarding adoption of amendments to Sections 2.06, 2.07, 3.01 and 3.04 of Peoples Bancorp Inc.'s Code of Regulations by the shareholders on April 13, 2006 [Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Peoples' Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed on April 14, 2006 (File No. 0-16772)]
4.2(e)	Certificate regarding adoption of an amendment to Section 2.01 of Peoples Bancorp Inc.'s Code of Regulations by shareholders on April 22, 2010 [Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2(e) to Peoples' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A (Amendment No. 1) for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2010 (File No. 0-16772). (“Peoples' June 30, 2010 Form 10-Q/A”)]



4.2(f)	Code of Regulations of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (reflecting amendments through April 22, 2010) [For SEC reporting compliance purposes only] [Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2(f) to Peoples' June 30, 2010 Form 10-Q/A]
4.3	Peoples Bancorp Inc. Second Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors of Peoples Bancorp Inc. and Subsidiaries [Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1(a) to Peoples' 2008 Form 10-K]
5	Opinion of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP regarding the legality of securities to be offered* [Filed herewith]
23.1	Consent of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP (included in Exhibit 5) [Filed herewith]
23.2	Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm [Filed herewith]
24	Powers of Attorney of Executive Officers and Directors of Peoples Bancorp Inc. [Filed herewith]

* The common shares, without par value, of Peoples Bancorp Inc. being registered pursuant to this Registration Statement will not be original issuance securities. Accordingly, in accordance with the instructions to Item 8(a) of Part II of Form S-8, no opinion of counsel as to the legality of such common shares is required or provided hereunder.