Exhibit 3.4
AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS
OF
BANCORPSOUTH BANK
Organized Under the Laws of Mississippi
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1.1 PRINCIPAL AND REGISTERED OFFICE. The principal office of BancorpSouth Bank (the “Bank”) shall be located in the City of Tupelo, County of Lee, State of Mississippi. Unless the Board of Directors designates otherwise, the registered office of the Bank shall be the principal office.
Section 1.2 OTHER OFFICES. The Bank may also maintain, lease, construct, or acquire offices at such other locations, either within or outside the State of Mississippi, as the Board of Directors may, from time to time, authorize or as the business of the Bank may require.
ARTICLE II
SHAREHOLDERS
Section 2.1 GENERAL. All meetings of the shareholders of the Bank shall be held at such place (either within or outside the State of Mississippi), date and time as may be set forth in these Bylaws or as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 2.2 ANNUAL MEETING. An annual meeting of the shareholders of the Bank shall be held during the third, fourth or fifth month following the end of the Bank’s fiscal year on such date as may be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors. The business to be transacted at such meeting shall be the election of directors and such other business as shall be properly brought before the meeting. If the election of directors is not held on the date determined by the Board of Directors for an annual meeting, or at any adjournment of such meeting, the Board of Directors shall call a special meeting of the shareholders as soon as conveniently possible thereafter. At such special meeting the election of directors shall take place and such election and any other business transacted thereat shall have the same force and effect as if transacted at an annual meeting duly called and held.
Section 2.3 SPECIAL MEETING. Special meetings of the shareholders, unless otherwise required by law, may be called at any time by the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer or Secretary and shall be called by the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer or Secretary at the request in writing of a majority of the Board of Directors or of shareholders owning not less than twenty percent (20%) of all the shares of capital stock of the Bank issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at such meeting. Such written request must state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called and the person or persons calling the meeting.
Section 2.4 NOTICE OF MEETING
(a) Written notice stating the place, date and time of the annual meeting of shareholders of the Bank and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall, unless otherwise prescribed by statute, be delivered not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting, by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary, to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the shareholder at the shareholder’s address as it appears on the stock transfer books of the Bank with postage paid thereon.
(b) Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to shareholders, any notice to shareholders given by the Bank under any provision of Chapter 5 of Title 18 of the Mississippi Code (the “Banking Act”), the Mississippi Business Corporation Act (the “Act”), the Bank’s Articles of Incorporation (the “Articles”) or these Bylaws, shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the shareholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the shareholder by written notice to the Bank. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if (i) the Bank is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Bank in accordance with such consent, and (ii) such inability becomes known to the Secretary of the Bank or to the transfer agent or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action. Notice given pursuant to this Section 2.4(b) shall be deemed delivered: (1) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the shareholder has consented to receive notice; (2) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the shareholder has consented to receive notice; (3) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the shareholder of such specific posting when such notice is directed to the record address of the shareholder or to such other address at which the shareholder has consented to receive notice, upon the later of such posting or the giving of such separate notice; and (4) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when consented to by the shareholder. In addition, notice can be given in any manner authorized by the Act.
Section 2.5 VOTING LIST. The officer or agent having charge of the stock transfer books for shares of the Bank shall make a complete list of the shareholders entitled to notice of a meeting of shareholders or any adjournment thereof, arranged by voting group (and within each voting group by class or series of shares), and in alphabetical order, with the address of and the number of shares held by each shareholder. The list shall be available for inspection beginning two (2) business days after notice of the meeting is given for which the list was prepared and continuing through the meeting, at the principal office of the Bank, and shall be subject to inspection on written demand by any shareholder or the shareholder’s agent at any time during regular business hours. Such list shall also be available at the time and place of the meeting and shall be subject to the inspection of any shareholder or the shareholder’s agent during the meeting or any adjournment. The original stock transfer books shall be prima facie evidence as to shareholders entitled to examine such list or transfer book or to vote at any meeting of shareholders.
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Section 2.6 QUORUM. A majority of the shares entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at the annual meeting of shareholders. A majority of the shares entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a special meeting of shareholders. If a quorum is present at any meeting of shareholders, action on a matter (other than the election of directors) is approved if the votes cast favoring the action exceed the votes cast opposing the action, unless the vote of a greater number is required by the Articles, the Banking Act or the Act for any specific purpose. If a quorum is not established because a sufficient number of shares entitled to vote are not represented at the meeting in person or by proxy, the meeting may be adjourned by the presiding officer of the meeting without further notice. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed. The shareholders present at a duly called meeting may continue to transact business for that meeting and for any adjournment thereof, unless a new record date must be set for that adjourned meeting, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough shareholders to leave less than a quorum.
Section 2.7 PROXIES. At all meetings of shareholders, a shareholder may vote his or her shares either in person or by proxy. A shareholder or the shareholder’s agent may appoint a proxy to vote or otherwise act for the shareholder by signing an appointment form, by electronic transmission or by any other method or means permitted under the laws of the State of Mississippi. An electronic transmission must contain or be accompanied by information from which the Bank can determine that the shareholder or the shareholder’s agent authorized the electronic transmission. No proxy shall be valid after eleven (11) months from the date of execution, unless otherwise expressly provided in the appointment form, electronic transmission or other applicable method or means of appointment.
Section 2.8 VOTING OF SHARES. Each outstanding share of the Bank’s common stock entitled to vote shall be entitled to one (1) vote upon each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of the shareholders. No shareholder will be allowed to vote at any meeting, either in person or by proxy, unless he or she is a shareholder of record.
Section 2.9 VOTING OF SHARES BY CERTAIN HOLDERS.
Shares standing in the name of another corporation may be voted by such officer, agent or proxy as the bylaws of such corporation may prescribe, or in the absence of such provision, as the board of directors of such corporation may determine.
Shares held by an administrator, executor, guardian, or conservator may be voted by such person, either in person or by proxy, without a transfer of such shares into his or her name if the authority to do so is contained in an appropriate order of the court by which such administrator, executor, guardian, or conservator was appointed.
Shares standing in the name of a receiver may be voted by such receiver and shares held by or under the control of a receiver may be voted by such receiver without the transfer thereof into his or her name if the authority to do so is contained in an appropriate order of the court by which such receiver was appointed.
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A shareholder whose shares are pledged shall be entitled to vote such shares until the shares have been transferred into the name of the pledgee, and thereafter the pledgee shall be entitled to vote the shares so transferred.
Shares of its own stock owned by the Bank or by any other corporation, the majority of whose voting shares are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Bank, shall not be voted at any meeting, and shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares at any given time, except for any shares of the Bank which are held in a fiduciary capacity.
Section 2.10 BUSINESS TO BE TRANSACTED AT MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
(a) Director Nominations and Shareholder Business at Annual Meetings of Shareholders.
No nominations of any person for election to the Board of Directors shall be made, and no business to be considered or acted upon by the shareholders of the Bank shall be proposed, at any annual meeting of shareholders, except as shall be (i) specified in the Bank’s notice of meeting (including shareholder proposals included in the Bank’s proxy materials under Rule 14a-8 of Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), (ii) otherwise brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (iii) a proper subject for the meeting and which is timely submitted by a shareholder of the Bank entitled to vote at such meeting who complies fully with the notice requirements set forth in this subsection (a) in addition to any other applicable law, rule or regulation applicable to such meeting.
For nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors or other business to be properly submitted by a shareholder before any annual meeting under subsection (a)(iii) above, a shareholder must give timely notice in writing of such business to the Secretary of the Bank. To be considered timely, a shareholder’s notice must be received by the Secretary at the principal office of the Bank not earlier than the date which is one hundred twenty (120) calendar days nor later than the date which is ninety (90) calendar days before the first anniversary of the date on which the Bank first mailed its proxy statement to shareholders in connection with the prior year’s annual meeting of shareholders. However, if the Bank did not hold an annual meeting during the previous year, or if the date of the applicable year’s annual meeting has been changed by more than thirty (30) calendar days from the first anniversary of the date of the previous year’s annual meeting, then a shareholder’s notice must be received by the Secretary not earlier than the date which is one hundred twenty (120) calendar days before the date on which the Bank first mailed its proxy statement to shareholders in connection with the applicable year’s annual meeting and not later than the date of the later to occur of (i) ninety (90) calendar days before the date on which the Bank first mailed its proxy statement to shareholders in connection with the applicable year’s annual meeting of shareholders or (ii) ten (10) calendar days after the Bank’s first public announcement of the date of the applicable year’s annual meeting of shareholders.
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A shareholder’s notice to the Secretary to submit a nomination or other business to an annual meeting of shareholders shall set forth: (i) the name and address of the shareholder; (ii) the class and number of shares of stock of the Bank held of record and beneficially owned by such shareholder; (iii) the name(s), including any beneficial owners, and address(es) of such shareholder(s) in which all such shares of stock are registered on the stock transfer books of the Bank; (iv) a representation that the shareholder intends to appear at the meeting in person or by proxy to submit the business specified in such notice; (v) a brief description of the business desired to be submitted to the annual meeting of shareholders, the complete text of any resolutions intended to be presented at the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting of shareholders; (vi) any personal or other material interest of the shareholder in the business to be submitted; (vii) as to each person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); and (viii) all other information relating to the nomination or proposed business which may be required to be disclosed under applicable law. In addition, a shareholder seeking to submit such nominations or business at the meeting shall promptly provide any other information reasonably requested by the Bank.
(b) Director Nominations and Shareholder Business at Special Meetings of Shareholders.
No nominations of any person for election to the Board of Directors shall be made, and no business to be considered or acted upon by the shareholders of the Bank shall be proposed, at any special meeting of shareholders, except as shall be: (i) specified in the notice of meeting or (ii) otherwise brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors. When the notice of meeting provides that directors will be elected at a special meeting of shareholders, nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or the Nominating Committee or (ii) by any shareholder of the Bank who is a shareholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this subsection (b), who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this subsection (b) in addition to any other applicable law, rule or regulation, applicable to such meeting.
Nominations by shareholders of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of shareholders if the shareholder’s notice required by this section is delivered to the Secretary at the principal office of the Bank not earlier than the date which is one hundred twenty (120) calendar days before the date of such special meeting and not later than the date of the later to occur of (i) ninety (90) calendar days before the date of such special meeting of shareholders or (ii) ten (10) calendar days after the Bank’s first public announcement of the date of the special meeting of shareholders.
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A shareholder’s notice to the Secretary to nominate persons for election to the Board of Directors at a special meeting of shareholders shall set forth: (i) the name and address of the shareholder; (ii) the class and number of shares of stock of the Bank held of record and beneficially owned by such shareholder; (iii) the name(s), including any beneficial owners, and address(es) of such shareholder(s) in which all such shares of stock are registered on the stock transfer books of the Bank; (iv) a representation that the shareholder intends to appear at the meeting in person or by proxy to nominate the persons specified in such notice; (v) any personal or other material interest of the shareholder in the nomination of such persons for election to the Board of Directors; (vi) as to each person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); and (vii) all other information relating to the nomination of persons for election to the Board of Directors which may be required to be disclosed under applicable law. In addition, a shareholder seeking to submit such nomination at the meeting shall promptly provide any other information reasonably requested by the Bank.
(c) General
Only those persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.10 shall be considered by the Board of Directors or the Nominating Committee as to whether such persons should be recommended as director nominees for election as directors at any meeting of shareholders. Only business brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.10 shall be conducted at a meeting of shareholders. The officer presiding over the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.10 and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this Section 2.10, to declare that such defective proposal shall be disregarded.
For purposes of this Section 2.10, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, PR Newswire, Business Wire or comparable news service or in a document filed or furnished by the Bank pursuant to the Exchange Act.
In addition to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.10, a shareholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.10.
In addition to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.10, a shareholder who seeks to have any proposal included in the Bank’s proxy materials shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
Subject to the provisions of this Section 2.10, a resolution or motion shall be considered for vote only if proposed by a shareholder or a duly authorized proxy and seconded by a shareholder or duly authorized proxy other than the individual who proposed the resolution or motion.
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Section 2.11 PRESIDING OFFICER. Meetings of the shareholders shall be presided over by the Chief Executive Officer of the Bank, or if he is not present, by an officer ranking at least as high as Vice President, or if neither the Chief Executive Officer nor such an officer is present, by a chairman to be chosen by a majority of the shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting. The Secretary of the Bank or, in the Secretary’s absence, an Assistant Secretary, shall act as secretary of every meeting, but if neither the Secretary nor an Assistant Secretary is present, the chairman of such meeting shall choose any person present to act as secretary of the meeting.
Section 2.12 CONDUCT OF MEETINGS. Meetings of shareholders generally shall be conducted in accordance with the following:
(a) | The chairman of the meeting shall have absolute authority over matters of procedure, and there shall be no appeal from the ruling of the chairman. The chairman may, but is under no obligation to, follow rules of parliamentary procedure to conduct any meeting. |
(b) | If disorder should arise which prevents the continuation of the legitimate business of the meeting, the chairman may announce the adjournment of the meeting; and upon his so doing, the meeting is immediately adjourned. |
(c) | The chairman may ask or require that anyone who is not a bona fide shareholder or proxy leave the meeting. |
Section 2.13 ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT. Action required or permitted by Section 79-4-1.01 et seq. of the Act to be taken at a shareholders' meeting may be taken without a meeting if the action is taken by all the shareholders entitled to vote on the action. The action must be evidenced by one or more written consents describing the action taken, signed by all the shareholders entitled to vote on the action and delivered to the Bank for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the corporate records. A unanimous consent signed under this subsection is the act of the shareholders when consents signed by all shareholders have been delivered to the corporation.
ARTICLE III
RECORD DATE
For the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders, or any adjournment thereof, or shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or in order to make a determination of shareholders for any other purpose, the Board of Directors of the Bank may fix in advance a date as the record date for any such determination of shareholders, such date in any case to be not more than seventy (70) days and, in case of a meeting of shareholders, not less than ten (10) days prior to the date on which the particular action requiring such determination of shareholders is to be taken. If no record date is fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders or to receive payment of a dividend, the date on which notice of the meeting is mailed or the date on which the resolution of the Board of Directors declaring such dividend is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of shareholders. When determination of shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders has been made as provided in this Article III, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof unless the meeting is adjourned to a date more than one hundred twenty (120) days after the date fixed for the original meeting, in which event the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date.
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ARTICLE IV
DIRECTORS
Section 4.1 NUMBER AND TERM; STOCK OWNERSHIP. The management of all affairs, property and business of the Bank shall be vested in the Board of Directors, which shall consist of not less than nine (9) nor more than fifteen (15) Directors. The exact number within such range shall be established by resolution of the Board of Directors. Each director shall hold office for the term provided in the Articles, and until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified. Each director must be the owner, in his or her own right, of unencumbered stock of the Bank in the amount of at least two hundred dollars ($200.00) par value.
Section 4.2 ELECTION. Directors shall, except as otherwise required by the Act or the Articles, be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the shares entitled to vote in the election at a meeting at which a quorum is present. In an uncontested election, any nominee for director who receives a greater number of votes “withheld” from his or her election than votes “for” such election (a “Majority Withheld Vote”) shall promptly tender his or her resignation (unless previously tendered), following certification of the shareholder vote.
The independent directors who serve on the Nominating Committee shall consider the resignation offer and recommend to the Board whether to accept it. The Board shall act on the Nominating Committee’s recommendation within ninety (90) days following certification of the shareholder vote. Thereafter, the Board shall promptly disclose its decision whether to accept the director’s resignation offer (and the reasons for rejecting the resignation offer, if applicable) in a press release to be disseminated in the manner that press releases are typically distributed by the Bank.
Any director who tenders his or her resignation pursuant to this provision shall not participate in the Nominating Committee recommendation or Board action regarding whether to accept the resignation offer.
If each member of the Nominating Committee received a Majority Withheld Vote at the same election, then the independent directors who did not receive a Majority Withheld Vote shall appoint a committee amongst themselves to consider the resignation offers and recommend to the Board whether to accept them. However, if the only directors who did not receive a Majority Withheld Vote in the same election constitute three or fewer directors, all directors may participate in the action regarding whether to accept the resignation offers.
Section 4.3 REMOVAL. Shareholders may remove one or more directors with or without cause (as defined in the Articles). A director may be removed by the shareholders only at a meeting called for the purpose of removing him or her and the meeting notice must state that the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the meeting is removal of the director. Such removal shall be in accordance with the Articles and the Act. A director may also be removed for cause by the affirmative vote of the Bank’s Board of Directors.
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Section 4.4 RESIGNATION. A director may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the Bank, the Board of Directors or its Chairman. A resignation is effective when the notice is delivered, unless the notice specifies a later effective date.
Section 4.5 VACANCIES. If a vacancy occurs on the Board of Directors for any reason, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number of directors, the Board of Directors may fill the vacancy, provided that the Board of Directors may elect instead to (i) not fill the vacancy or (ii) to have the vacancy filled by vote of the shareholders at any regular or special meeting of the shareholders. A vacancy that will occur at a later date, by reason of resignation or otherwise, may be filled before the vacancy occurs, but the new Director may not take office until the vacancy occurs.
Section 4.6 COMPENSATION. No stated salary shall be paid to Directors for their services, except as prescribed by the Act or the Banking Act, but each Director shall receive compensation, as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors, for attendance at regular, special and committee meetings of the Board. Each director may be paid his or her expenses for meeting attendance, if any, as determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. No member of the Board of Directors who is also an officer of the Bank shall be compensated for service on the Board of Directors.
Section 4.7 MEETINGS. Following (but not necessarily on the same date as) the annual meeting of the shareholders, the Board of Directors shall convene, for the purpose of an annual meeting, taking their oaths, organizing the new Board and electing the Board officers, electing the officers of the Bank, and transacting such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting.
All meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place, date and time, within or outside of the State of Mississippi, as may be set forth in these Bylaws or as shall be determined, from time to time, by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall meet at least quarterly, including an annual meeting to follow the annual meeting of the shareholders. The place, date and time of each meeting shall be stated in the notice and call of the meeting.
Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at any time upon call of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or on the written request of at least three (3) directors describing the purpose or purposes for which it is to be held.
Section 4.8 NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such places and times as shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the directors.
Notice of special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given orally (in which case a written confirmation notice is not necessary) or in writing by the Secretary delivered by overnight delivery, U.S. mail, facsimile, electronic transmission or personal delivery to the director not less than two (2) days prior to the date of the meeting; the place, date and time of the meeting shall be stated in the notice.
Attendance of a director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a director at the beginning of the meeting objects to holding the meeting or to the transaction of any business at the meeting and thereafter does not vote for or assent to action taken at the meeting.
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The foregoing paragraphs of this Section 4.8 shall also apply to meetings of committees of the Board of Directors and their members, provided that notice of special meetings may also be given by or upon the authority of the chairman of such committee.
Section 4.9 QUORUM. The presence of not less than a majority of the whole Board of Directors, excluding any vacancies which may exist, shall be required at all regular and special meetings to constitute a quorum. In the event that a quorum of the Bank’s directors cannot be readily assembled because of some catastrophic event, the Emergency Bylaw contained in Article XII of these Bylaws shall be in effect for the duration of the Emergency (as defined in Article XII).
Section 4.10 VOTING. Each Director shall have the right of one (1) vote and shall be entitled to vote only if in attendance at the meeting. Voting at all meetings of the Board of Directors shall be by voice vote. If a quorum is present, the act of a majority of directors present at the meeting shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
Section 4.11 ACTION BY SIMULTANEOUS COMMUNICATION. Unless otherwise provided in the Articles, the Board of Directors may permit any or all directors to participate in a regular or special meeting by, or conduct the meeting through the use of, any means of communication by which all directors participating may simultaneously hear each other during the meeting. A director participating in a meeting by this means is deemed to be present in person at the meeting.
Section 4.12 PRESUMPTION OF ASSENT. A director of the Bank who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors at which action on any corporate matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action unless (a) he or she objects at the beginning of the meeting to holding it or to the transaction of business at the meeting, (b) his or her dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting, or (c) he or she delivers his written dissent to such action to the presiding officer of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered mail to the Secretary of the Bank immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a director who voted in favor of such action.
Section 4.13 ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if all Directors consent to the taking of such action without a meeting by signing one or more written consents describing the action taken. The written consent or consents shall be included in the minutes or filed with the corporate records reflecting the action taken. Action taken by written consent is effective when the last director signs the consent, unless the consent specifies a different effective date.
Section 4.14 APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES. In accordance with Article VI of these Bylaws, the Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the full Board of Directors, may designate from among its members committees, each of which, to the extent provided in such resolution or in the Articles or these Bylaws, shall have and may exercise all the authority of the Board of Directors, subject to such limitations as shall be contained in such committee’s charter or as prescribed by law. Each committee of the Board shall keep minutes of meetings and shall report any actions taken at such meetings to the Board of Directors.
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Section 4.15 OATH. Each person elected Director of the Bank shall take an annual oath in the form prescribed by applicable law and any regulatory authorities. Such oath shall be immediately transmitted to the Department of Banking and Consumer Finance of the State of Mississippi and filed in its office. Additionally, the Board of Directors shall complete any forms prescribed and furnished by the Department of Banking and Consumer Finance and any other regulatory authority and shall file the same in its office when required by the Commissioner of Banking and Consumer Finance or such other regulatory authority.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
Section 5.1 NUMBER. The officers of the Bank shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, each of whom shall be elected by the Board of Directors. Such other officers and assistant officers (including without limitation Chairman of the Board, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and one or more Vice Presidents) as may be deemed necessary may be elected from time to time by the Board of Directors. Any two (2) or more offices may be held by the same person, but no officer may act in more than one capacity where action of two or more officers is required.
Section 5.2 ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE. The officers of the Bank to be elected by the Board of Directors shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at the first meeting of the Board of Directors held after each annual meeting of the shareholders. If the election of officers shall not be held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as conveniently may be done. Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and shall have qualified or until his or her death or until he or she shall resign or be removed in the manner hereinafter provided. If authorized by the Board of Directors, an officer may appoint one or more officers or assistant officers.
Section 5.3 REMOVAL. Any officer or agent may be removed by the Board of Directors, whenever in its judgment the best interest of the Bank will be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Election or appointment of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights.
Section 5.4 VACANCIES. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification, or otherwise, may be filled by the Board of Directors for the unexpired portion of the term or, for vacancies in any office at or below the level of Vice President, by the Chief Executive Officer between meetings of the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 5.6 below.
Section 5.5 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors. The Chairman may direct the President or a senior officer to preside at any meeting of the Board.
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Section 5.6 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. The Chief Executive Officer (who shall be the Chairman of the Board if so designated by the Board of Directors) shall have general supervision of the policies and operations of the Bank subject to the direction and control of the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer shall direct the management of the Bank and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her, from time to time, by the Board of Directors. He or she shall prescribe the duties of the other officers and employees and see to the proper performance thereof. He or she shall cause to be kept accurate books of account of the business of the Bank which shall at all times be open to inspection of the directors. He or she shall render, or cause to be rendered, to the shareholders annual reports in writing of the business and condition of the Bank, and similar reports at regular meetings of the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer shall have full power to sign, execute and deliver on behalf of the Bank all papers necessary to be signed, executed and delivered in carrying on the business of the Bank and such other papers as he or she may be directed to sign by the Board of Directors.
Section 5.7 PRESIDENT. The President shall participate in the general supervision of the policies and operations of the Bank subject to the direction and control of the Chief Executive Officer. The President shall have full power to sign, execute, and deliver on behalf of the Bank all papers necessary to be signed, executed and delivered in carrying on the business of the Bank and such other papers as he may be directed to sign by the Board of Directors. The President shall be a member of those committees of the Board of which he is appointed by the Board of Directors.
Section 5.8 VICE PRESIDENTS. Vice Presidents may be further designated as Senior Executive Vice Presidents, Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents, First Vice Presidents or Assistant Vice Presidents. In the absence of the Chief Executive Officer, the President shall perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer; in the absence of the President or in the event of his death, inability or refusal to act, unless the Board of Directors has designated by resolution another officer (by title or by name), a Vice President designated by the Board of Directors shall perform the duties of the President, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President. Each category of Vice President shall perform such other duties and have such responsibilities as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Chief Executive Officer or by the Board of Directors.
Section 5.9 SECRETARY. The Secretary shall: (a) keep the minutes of the proceedings of the shareholders and of the Board of Directors in one or more books provided for that purpose; (b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law; (c) be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the Bank and see that the seal of the Bank is affixed to all documents the execution of which on behalf of the Bank under its seal is duly authorized and required by law; (d) keep or cause to be kept a register of the postal address of each shareholder which shall be furnished to the Secretary by such shareholder; (e) sign with the Chief Executive Officer and/or the President, certificates for shares of the Bank, the issuance of which shall have been authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors; (f) have general charge of the stock transfer books of the Bank; and (g) in general perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to the Secretary by the Chief Executive Officer or by the Board of Directors.
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Section 5.10 TREASURER. The Treasurer shall: (a) serve as the Chief Financial Officer of the Bank; (b) have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the Bank; (c) receive and give receipts for moneys due and payable to the Bank from any source whatsoever, and deposit all such moneys in the name of the Bank in such banks, trust companies or other depositaries as shall be selected in accordance with the provisions of Article X of these Bylaws, and (d) in general perform all of the duties incident to the office of Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Chief Executive Officer or by the Board of Directors.
Section 5.11 COMPENSATION. The Board of Directors or a committee thereof shall have the authority to determine the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and each other officer of the Bank, whether by employment contract or otherwise.
Section 5.12 OATH. Every executive officer as defined in Regulation O promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall take and subscribe to an annual oath in the form prescribed by applicable law and any regulatory authorities. Such oath shall be immediately transmitted to the Department of Banking and Consumer Finance of the State of Mississippi and filed in its office.
Section 5.13 SURETY BONDS. Each officer and employee of the Bank shall give bond of suitable amount with security to be approved by the Board of Directors, conditioned for the honest and faithful discharge of his or her duties as such officer or employee. At the discretion of the Board, such bonds may be schedule or blanket form and the premiums shall be paid by the Bank. The amount of such bonds, the form of coverage and the name of the company providing the surety therefor shall be reviewed by the Board of Directors annually, and action shall be taken by the Board at that time approving the amount of the bond to be provided.
Section 5.14 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may require each officer and employee to provide a personal financial statement to the Bank, in such form and at such times as it may from time to time determine.
ARTICLE VI
COMMITTEES
Section 6.1 APPOINTMENT AND TERM. The membership of all committees of the Board of Directors shall be recommended by the Chairman of the Board and approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. Committee members shall serve for the current year for which the Board of Directors by which they were appointed was elected, or until such time as they shall resign, be disqualified or be removed from office. The chairman of each committee shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Board, which appointment shall be approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
Section 6.2 QUORUM. A majority of the entire membership of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
Section 6.3 VOTING. In voting on all matters at committee meetings, a majority vote of the members present shall be necessary.
Section 6.4 SPECIAL MEETINGS. Upon call by the Committee Chairman, Chairman of the Board, President or the Board of Directors, special committee meetings may be held at such place, date and time as may be determined from time to time.
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Section 6.5 NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Written notices of regular and special committee meetings shall not be required.
Section 6.6 AUDIT COMMITTEE. The Audit Committee shall have such duties and authority as prescribed by statute and as the Board of Directors shall determine for the review and verification of the affairs, operations, and accounts of the Bank and shall have such other duties as the Board of Directors may, from time to time, determine. The membership of the Audit Committee, shall be appointed from the membership of the Board of Directors at its annual meeting.
The Audit Committee shall complete any forms prescribed and furnished by the Department of Banking and Consumer Finance and any other regulatory authority and shall file the same in its office when required by the Commissioner of Banking and Consumer Finance or such other regulatory authority.
Section 6.7 LOAN COMMITTEE(S). The Loan Committee(s) shall have the responsibility for reviewing loans in accordance with the statutory requirements and credit policy adopted by the Board of Directors each year, and such other duties as the Board of Directors may, from time to time, determine. The membership of the Loan Committees shall be appointed from the membership of the Board of Directors at its annual meeting.
The Loan Committee(s) shall hold regular meetings as required at such place, date and time as may be determined from time to time by the Chairman of the Committee or the Board of Directors.
Section 6.8 TRUST COMMITTEE. The Trust Committee shall have such duties and responsibilities as the Board of Directors may determine for the review and approval of all trust affairs and activities and such other duties as the Board of Directors may, from time to time, determine. The membership of the Trust Committee shall be appointed from the membership of the Board of Directors at its annual meeting.
The Trust Committee shall hold regular meetings, at such place, date and time as may be determined from time to time, by the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Committee or as required by applicable law and regulatory authority.
Section 6.9 OTHER COMMITTEES. The Chairman of the Board may appoint and the Board of Directors may approve, from time to time, from the members of the Board of Directors, officers and employees of the Bank, or members of the Board of Directors, officers and employees of a bank holding company owning 100% of the voting capital stock of the Bank, or of another wholly-owned banking subsidiary of such holding company, other committees of one or more persons for such purposes and with such powers as the Board of Directors may determine.
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ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 7.1 INDEMNIFICATION
The Bank shall indemnify, and upon request shall advance expenses prior to final disposition of a proceeding to, any person (or the estate or personal representative of any person) who was or is a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether or not by or in the right of the Bank, and whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of the Bank, or is or was serving at the request of the Bank as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against any liability incurred in the action, suit or proceeding: (a) to the full extent permitted by Section 79-4-8.51 of the Act, and (b) despite the fact that such person has not met the standard of conduct set forth in Section 79-4-8.51(a) of the Act or would be disqualified for indemnification under Section 79-4-8.51(d) of the Act, if a determination is made by a person or persons enumerated in Section 79-4-8.55(b) of the Act that (i) the director, officer, employee or agent is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all of the relevant circumstances, and (ii) the acts or omissions of the officer, employee or agent did not constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct. A request for reimbursement or advancement of expenses prior to final disposition of the proceeding need not be accompanied by the affirmation required by Section 79-4-8.53(a)(1) of the Act, but the remaining provisions of Section 79-4-8.53 of the Act shall be applicable to any such request.
SECTION 7.2 EXPENSES
The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses set forth in Section 7.1 of this Article VII are intended to be greater than those which are otherwise provided for in the Act, are contractual between the Bank and the person being indemnified, and the heirs, executors and administrators of such person, and in this respect are mandatory, notwithstanding a person’s failure to meet the standard of conduct required for permissive indemnification under the Act, as amended from time to time. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses provided herein shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled or granted by law, the Articles, these Bylaws, a resolution of the Board of Directors, vote of the shareholders of the Bank, or an agreement with the Bank, which means of indemnification and advancement of expenses are hereby specifically authorized. Any repeal or modification of the provisions of this Article VII shall not affect any obligations of the Bank or any rights regarding indemnification and advancement of expenses of a director, officer, employee or agent with respect to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or the advancement of expenses is requested, in which the alleged cause of action accrued at any time prior to such repeal or modification. If an amendment to the Act hereafter limits or restricts in any way the indemnification rights permitted by law as of the date hereof, such amendment shall apply only to the extent mandated by law and only to activities of persons subject to indemnification under this Article VII which occur subsequent to the effective date of such amendment.
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SECTION 7.3 SEVERABILITY
If this Article VII or any portion thereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Bank shall nevertheless indemnify each director, officer, employee or agent of the Bank as to any liability incurred or other amounts paid in with respect to any proceeding, including, without limitation, a grand jury proceeding and any proceeding by or in the right of the Bank, to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article VII that shall not have been invalidated, by the Act, or by any other applicable law. Unless the context otherwise requires, terms used in this Article VII shall have the meanings given in Section 79-4-8.50 of the Act.
SECTION 7.4 INSURANCE
The Bank may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Bank, or is or was serving at the request of the Bank as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan 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 Bank would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions hereof.
SECTION 7.5 MERGERS
For the purposes of Sections 7.1 through 7.4, references to the “Bank” include all constituent corporations absorbed in a consolidation or merger, as well as the resulting or surviving corporation, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions hereof with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation in the same capacity.
ARTICLE VIII
CAPITAL STOCK
Section 8.1 GENERAL AUTHORITY. The Board of Directors shall have the power and authority to make such rules and regulations, consistent with the Articles of Incorporation, applicable statutes and regulations and these Bylaws, as it may deem expedient concerning the form, issue, registration, transfer and replacement of certificates of shares of the capital stock of the Bank.
Section 8.2 CERTIFICATED AND UNCERTIFICATED SHARES. The shares of the capital stock of the Bank may be either certificated shares or uncertificated shares. As used herein, the term “certificated shares” means shares represented by instruments in bearer or registered form, and the term “uncertificated shares” means shares not represented by instruments and the transfer of which are registered upon books maintained for that purpose by or on behalf of the Bank.
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Section 8.3 CERTIFICATES FOR CERTIFICATED SHARES. Certificates representing shares of the Bank shall be in such form as shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Such certificates shall be signed by the Chief Executive Officer and/or President and by the Secretary or by such other officers authorized by law or by the Board of Directors to do so, and sealed with the corporate seal, provided that signatures and the corporate seal may be facsimiles if the certificate is countersigned by the Bank’s transfer agent or registrar. All certificates for shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified. The name and address of the person to whom the shares represented thereby are issued, with the number of shares and date of issue, shall be entered on the stock transfer books of the Bank. All certificates surrendered to the Bank for transfer shall be cancelled and no new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate for a like number of shares shall have been surrendered and cancelled, except that in case of a lost, destroyed or mutilated certificate a new one may be issued therefor upon such terms and indemnity to the Bank as the proper officers designated by the Board of Directors may prescribe.
Section 8.4 TRANSFER OF SHARES. Transfer of shares of the Bank shall be made only on the stock transfer books of the Bank by the holder of record thereof or by his or her duly authorized agent, who shall furnish proper evidence of authority to transfer, and on surrender for cancellation of the certificate of such shares. The person in whose name shares stand on the books of the Bank shall be deemed by the Bank to be the owner thereof for all purposes.
Section 8.5 REPLACEMENTS. In case of loss or destruction of any certificate of stock, another may be issued in its place upon satisfactory proof of such loss or destruction, and, if required by the Bank, the giving of sufficient indemnity to the Bank of such stock.
ARTICLE IX
DIVIDENDS
DIVIDENDS
Section 9.1 DECLARATION. From time to time as it may determine, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion, when surplus profits justify, declare cash and/or stock dividends to the shareholders of the Bank, subject to the conditions and limitations prescribed by applicable statutes and regulations, including that no dividend shall be paid to holders of common stock unless the Bank has received written approval by the Commissioner of Banking and Consumer Finance.
Section 9.2 PAYMENT DATE. The date for payment of all authorized dividends shall be determined, from time to time, by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE X
CONTRACTS, LOANS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS
SECTION 10.l CONTRACTS
Any officer as designated by the Chief Executive Officer or in resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors may enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Bank, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
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SECTION 10.2 LOANS
No loans shall be contracted on behalf of the Bank and no evidence of indebtedness shall be issued in its name unless authorized by a resolution of the Board of Directors. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
SECTION 10.3 CHECKS, DRAFTS, ETC.
All checks, drafts, or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidence of indebtedness issued in the name of the Bank shall be signed by the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer of the Bank, or any other officer designated by the Board of Directors or Chief Executive Officer, and in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 10.4 DEPOSITS
All funds of the Bank not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Bank in such banks, trust companies or other depositaries as the Board of Directors may select.
ARTICLE XI
SEAL
Section 11.1 FORM. The Board of Directors shall provide a corporate seal which shall be circular in form and shall have inscribed thereon the name the Bank and the State of incorporation and the words, “Corporate Seal.”
Section 11.2 AUTHORITY TO USE SEAL. The Chairman of the Board, the President or any other officer of the Bank shall have authority to affix the Corporate Seal of the Bank and to attest the same.
Section 11.3 CUSTODY OF SEAL. The custodian of the seal shall be the Secretary or the Acting Secretary of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE XII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 12.1 BOOKS, ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS. Except as may be otherwise required by applicable statutes and regulations, the Articles of Incorporation and these Bylaws, the books, accounts and records of the Bank shall be kept at such place or places as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate, and the Board of Directors shall determine whether and to what extent the accounts, books and records of the Bank, or any of them, other than the shareholder records, shall be open to inspection of the shareholders.
Section 12.2 MINUTE BOOK RECORDS. The organization papers of the Bank, Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and amendments thereto, and the minutes and reports of all regular and special meetings of the Board of Directors, shareholders and committees shall be recorded in the minute books and kept in the principal office of the Bank.
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Section 12.3 REAL ESTATE. All transfers and conveyances of real estate, title to which is vested in the Bank, shall be made by written instrument pursuant to the order of the Board of Directors, signed and attested by an officer with the rank of Vice President or higher.
Section 12.4 FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Bank shall begin on the first (1st) day of January and end on the thirty-first (31st) day of December in each year.
Section 12.5 WAIVER OF NOTICE. Unless otherwise provided by law, whenever any notice is required to be given to any shareholder or director of the Bank under the provisions of these Bylaws, the Articles or the Act, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
Section 13.1 AMENDMENT BY INTENT. The Board of Directors may amend or repeal these Bylaws, unless (i) the Articles of Incorporation or the applicable law reserves this power exclusively to shareholders in whole or in part, or (ii) the shareholders, in amending or repealing a particular bylaw, provide expressly that the Board of Directors may not amend or repeal that bylaw. Shareholders may amend or repeal any bylaw, even though the bylaws may also be amended or repealed by the Board of Directors.
Section 13.2 AMENDMENT BY LAW. These Bylaws shall be amended ipso facto at any time one or more of the provisions herein shall be inconsistent with the Articles of Incorporation of the Bank and/or applicable statutes and regulations, and such amendments shall be duly recorded and approved, as a matter of course, by the Board of Directors.
Section 13.3 REQUIRED FILING. A certified copy of all amendments to these Bylaws shall be filed when required with the Department of Banking and Consumer Finance of the State of Mississippi immediately after adoption, and as may be required by any other such regulatory authority.
ARTICLE XIV
EMERGENCY BYLAW
In the event that a quorum of directors cannot be readily assembled because of a catastrophic event (an “Emergency”), the Board of Directors may take action by the affirmative vote of a majority of those directors present at a meeting and may exercise any emergency power granted to a board of directors under the Act not inconsistent with this bylaw. If less than three regularly elected directors are present, the director present having the greatest seniority as a director may appoint one or more persons (not to exceed the number most recently fixed by the Board pursuant to Section 4.1) from among the officers or other executive employees of the Bank to serve as substitute directors. If no regularly elected director is present, the officer present having the greatest seniority as an officer shall serve as a substitute director, shall appoint up to four additional persons from among the officers or other executive employees of the Bank to serve as substitute directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called in an Emergency by any one director or, if no director is present at the Bank’s principal offices, by the officer present having the greatest seniority as an officer.
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All provisions of these Bylaws not contained in this Article XIV which are consistent with this Article XIV shall remain effective during the Emergency. Any Emergency causing this Article XIV to become operative shall be deemed to be terminated whenever either of the following conditions is met: (i) the directors and any substitute directors determine by a majority vote at a meeting that the Emergency is over or (ii) a majority of the directors elected pursuant to the provisions of these Bylaws other than this Article XIV hold a meeting and determine that the Emergency is over.
Adopted by the Board of Directors on December 7, 2016.
/s/ Cathy S. Freeman | |
Cathy S. Freeman | |
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer |
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