Simmons First National Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Arkansas (hereinafter called the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to _______________, or registered assigns, the principal sum of $__________ Dollars [if the Security is a Global Security, then insert— or such other principal amount represented hereby as may be set forth in the records of the Securities Registrar hereinafter referred to in accordance with the Indenture] on December 30, 2033. The Company further promises to pay interest on said principal sum from December 16, 2003, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly (subject to deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on March 30th, June 30th, September 30th and December 30th of each year, commencing on March 30, 2004, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (and no interest shall accrue in respect of the amounts whose payment is so delayed for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date until such next succeeding Business Day), except that, if such Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case, with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, at a fixed rate per annum equal to 6.97% through the Interest Payment Date in December, 2010, and a variable rate per annum, reset quarterly, equal to LIBOR plus 2.80% thereafter, together with Additional Tax Sums, if any, as provided inSection 10.5 of the Indenture, until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for or made available for payment;provided, that any overdue principal, premium or Additional Tax Sums and any overdue installment of interest shall bear Additional Interest (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable) at a fixed rate per annum equal to 6.97% through the Interest Payment Date in December, 2010, and a variable rate per annum, reset quarterly, equal to LIBOR plus 2.80% thereafter, compounded quarterly, from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand. The amount of interest payable shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in the relevant interest period. The amount of interest payable for any full interest period shall be computed by dividing the applicable rate per annum by four. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest installment. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities not less than ten (10) days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right, at any time and from time to time during the term of this Security, to defer the payment of interest on this Security for a period of up to twenty (20) consecutive quarterly interest payment periods (each such period, an “Extension Period”), during which Extension Period(s), no interest shall be due and payable (except any Additional Tax Sums that may be due and payable). No Extension Period shall end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date, and no Extension Period shall extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the principal of this Security. No interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period (except any Additional Tax Sums that may be due and payable), except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest (to the extent payment of such interest would be legally enforceable) at a fixed rate per annum equal to 6.97% through the Interest Payment Date in December, 2010, and a variable rate per annum, reset quarterly, equal to LIBOR plus 2.80% thereafter, compounded quarterly, from the dates on which amounts would have otherwise been due and payable until paid or made available for payment. At the end of any such Extension Period, the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on this Security, together with such Additional Interest. Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the Company may further defer the payment of interest;provided, that (i) all such previous and further extensions comprising such Extension Period do not exceed twenty (20) quarterly interest payment periods, (ii) no Extension Period shall end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date and (iii) no Extension Period shall extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the principal of this Security. Upon the termination of any such Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and any Additional Interest then due on any Interest Payment Date, the Company may elect to begin a new Extension Period;provided, that (i) such Extension Period does not exceed twenty (20) quarterly interest payment periods, (ii) no Extension Period shall end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date and (iii) no Extension Period shall extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the principal of this Security. The Company shall give the Holder of this Security and the Trustee written notice of its election to begin any such Extension Period at least one Business Day prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date on which interest on this Security would be payable but for such deferral or, so long as this Security is held by the Trust, at least one Business Day prior to the earlier of (i) the next succeeding date on which Distributions on the Preferred Securities of Simmons First Capital Trust III would be payable but for such deferral and (ii) the date on which the Property Trustee of such Trust is required to give notice to any securities exchange or other applicable self-regulatory organization or to holders of such Preferred Securities of the record date for the payment of such Distributions. 16
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