EXHIBIT 4.25
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT, dated as of January 28,
2002 executed and delivered by BANCORPSOUTH, INC., a
Mississippi corporation and bank holding company (the
"Guarantor") having its principal office at One
Mississippi Plaza, Tupelo, MS 38802, and THE BANK OF
NEW YORK, a New York banking corporation, as trustee
(the "Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the
Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the
Trust Securities (as defined herein) of BANCORPSOUTH
CAPITAL TRUST I, a Delaware statutory business trust
(the "Issuer").
WHEREAS pursuant to a Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (the
"Trust Agreement"), dated as of January 28, 2002, among the Trustees named
therein, the Guarantor, as Depositor, and the Holders from time to time of
undivided beneficial ownership interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer
is issuing $125,000,000 aggregate liquidation amount of its 8.15% Capital
Securities, liquidation amount $25.00 per Security (the "Capital Securities")
and $3,866,000 of aggregate liquidation amount of Common Securities, liquidation
amount $25.00 per security (the "Common Securities" and collectively with the
Capital Securities, the "Trust Securities") representing undivided beneficial
ownership interests in the assets of the Issuer and having the terms set forth
in the Trust Agreement;
WHEREAS the Trust Securities will be issued by the Issuer and the
proceeds thereof will be used by the Issuer to purchase the Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities due January 28, 2032 (as defined in the Trust Agreement) (the
"Junior Subordinated Debt Securities") of the Guarantor, which will be held by
The Bank of New York, as Property Trustee under the Trust Agreement, as trust
assets; and
WHEREAS as incentive for the Holders to purchase Trust Securities the
Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set
forth herein, to pay to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein)
and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder, which
purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor
executes and delivers this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the Holders
from time to time of the Trust Securities.
ARTICLE I
Definitions
SECTION 1.01. Definitions. As used in this Guarantee Agreement, the
terms set forth below shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the
following meanings. Capitalized or otherwise defined terms used but not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the
Trust Agreement as in effect on the date hereof.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person; provided, however, that an Affiliate of the
Guarantor shall not be deemed to include the Issuer. For the purposes of this
definition, "control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the
power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or
indirectly, whether through the ownership of
voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and
"controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
"Capital Securities" shall have the meaning specified in the first
recital of this Guarantee Agreement.
"Common Securities" shall have the meaning specified in the first
recital of this Guarantee Agreement.
"Debt" shall have the meaning specified in the Indenture.
"Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of its
payment or other obligations under this Guarantee Agreement; provided, however,
that, except with respect to a default in payment of any Guarantee Payments, the
Guarantor shall have received notice of default and shall not have cured such
default within 60 days after receipt of such notice; provided, further, that no
Event of Default shall occur unless an Event of Default (as defined in the
Indenture or the Trust Agreement) shall have occurred and be continuing.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions,
without duplication, with respect to the Trust Securities, to the extent not
paid or made by or on behalf of the Issuer: (i) any accrued and unpaid
Distributions required to be paid on the Trust Securities, to the extent the
Issuer shall have funds on hand available therefor at such time, (ii) the
redemption price, including all accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date of
redemption (the "Redemption Price"), with respect to the Trust Securities called
for redemption by the Issuer to the extent the Issuer shall have funds on hand
available therefor at such time, and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary
termination, winding-up or liquidation of the Issuer, unless Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities are distributed to the Holders or all of the Capital Securities
are redeemed, the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount of
$25.00 per Trust Security plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date of
payment to the extent the Issuer shall have funds on hand available to make such
payment at such time and (b) the amount of assets
of the Issuer remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of
the Issuer (in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution").
"Guarantee Trustee" means The Bank of New York, until a Successor
Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant
to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement and thereafter means each such
Successor Guarantee Trustee.
"Guarantor" shall have the meaning specified in the first recital of
this Guarantee Agreement.
"Holder" means a person in whose name a Trust Security or Trust
Securities is registered on the books and records of the Issuer; provided,
however, that in determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of
Trust Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder,
"Holder" shall not include the Guarantor, the Guarantee Trustee, or any
Affiliate of the Guarantor or the Guarantee Trustee.
"Indenture" means the Junior Subordinated Indenture dated as of January
28, 2002, as supplemented and amended between the Guarantor and The Bank of New
York, as trustee, relating to the issuance of the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities.
"Issuer" shall have the meaning specified in the first recital of this
Guarantee Agreement.
"List of Holders" has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(a).
"Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Securities" means, except as
provided by the Trust Indenture Act, a vote by the Holder(s), voting separately
as a class, of more than 50% of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of all then
Outstanding Capital Securities.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a
certificate signed by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, President or a
Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Associate Treasurer, an Assistant
Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such
Person, and delivered to the Guarantee Trustee. Any Officers' Certificate
delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for
in this Guarantee Agreement shall include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers'
Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions
relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the
examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering
the Officers' Certificate;
(c) statement that each officer has made such examination or
investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable
such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such
covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each officer,
such condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Responsible Officer" when used with respect to the Guarantee Trustee
means any officer assigned to the Corporate Trust Office, including any managing
director, vice president, assistant vice president, assistant treasurer,
assistant secretary or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing
functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and
having direct responsibility for the administration of this Guarantee Agreement,
and also, with respect to a particular matter, any other officer to whom such
matter is referred because of such officer's knowledge of and familiarity with
the particular subject.
"Senior Debt" shall have the meaning specified in the Indenture.
"Successor Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Guarantee Trustee
possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.01.
"Trust Agreement" shall have the meaning specified in the first recital
of this Guarantee Agreement.
"Trust Securities" shall have the meaning specified in the first
recital of this Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE II
Trust Indenture Act
SECTION 2.01. Trust Indenture Act; Application. (a) This Guarantee
Agreement will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.
(b) If and to the extent that any provision of this Guarantee
Agreement limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by
Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such
imposed duties shall control.
SECTION 2.02. List of Holders. (a) The Guarantor shall furnish or cause
to be furnished to the Guarantee Trustee (i) semi-annually, not more than 15
days after June 30 and December 31 as of such record date, a list, in such form
as the Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of
the Holders ("List of Holders") as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the
delivery thereof, and (ii) at such other times as the Guarantee Trustee may
request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Guarantor of any
such request, a List of Holders as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the
time such list is furnished, in each case to the extent such information is in
the possession or control of the Guarantor and is not identical to a previously
supplied list of Holders or has not otherwise been received by the Guarantee
Trustee in its capacity as such. The Guarantee Trustee may destroy any List of
Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of Holders.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall comply with its obligations
under Section 311(a), Section 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.03. Reports by the Guarantee Trustee. Not later than the last
calendar day in February of each calendar year, commencing with the last
calendar day in February 2003, the Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the
Holders such reports dated as of December 31 of the prior year, if any, as are
required by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act in the form and in the manner
provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Guarantee Trustee shall
also comply with the requirements of Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.04. Periodic Reports to the Guarantee Trustee. The Guarantor
shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee, the Securities and Exchange Commission
and the Holders such documents, reports and information, if any, as required by
Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act and the compliance certificate required
by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act, in the form, in the manner and at the
times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.05. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent. The
Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee such evidence of compliance
with such conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Guarantee Agreement
that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust
Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be given by any officer
pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given in the form of an Officers'
Certificate.
SECTION 2.06. Events of Default; Waiver. The Holders of a Majority in
Liquidation Amount of the Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders,
waive any past Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such
Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising
therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this
Guarantee Agreement, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other
default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent therefrom.
SECTION 2.07. Event of Default; Notice. (a) The Guarantee Trustee
shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by
mail, first
class postage prepaid, to the Holders, notices of all Events of Default known to
the Guarantee Trustee, unless such Events of Default have been cured before the
giving of such notice; provided, that, except in the case of a default in the
payment of a Guarantee Payment, the Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in
withholding such notice if and so long as the Board of Directors of the
Guarantor, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or a
Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that the
withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge
of any Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer charged with the
administration of the Trust Agreement shall have received written
notice of such Event of Default.
SECTION 2.08. Conflicting Interests. The Trust Agreement shall be
deemed to be specifically described in this Guarantee Agreement for the purposes
of clause (i) of the first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
ARTICLE III
Powers, Duties and Rights of the
Guarantee Trustee
SECTION 3.01. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee. (a) This
Guarantee Agreement shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of
the Holders, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Guarantee
Agreement to any Person except a Holder exercising his or her rights pursuant to
Section 5.04(iv) or to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such
Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Guarantee
Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Guarantee Trustee shall
automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee Trustee, upon acceptance by such
Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment hereunder, and such vesting and
cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have
been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such Successor
Guarantee Trustee.
(b) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee Agreement for the
benefit of the Holders.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event
of Default and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have
occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are
specifically set forth in this Guarantee Agreement, and no implied
covenants shall be read into this Guarantee Agreement against the
Guarantee Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has
not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.06), the Guarantee
Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by
this Guarantee Agreement, and use the same degree of care and skill in
its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use under
the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(d) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be construed
to relieve the Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent
action, its own negligent failure to act or its own wilful misconduct,
except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default
and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default
that may have occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the
Guarantee Trustee shall be determined solely by the
express provisions of this Guarantee Agreement, and
the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable except for
the performance of such duties and obligations as are
specifically set forth in this Guarantee Agreement;
and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part
of the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee may
conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements
and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein,
upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the
Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the requirements
of this Guarantee Agreement; but in the case of any
such certificates or opinions that by any provision
hereof or of the Trust Indenture Act are specifically
required to be furnished to the Guarantee Trustee, the
Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the
same to determine whether or not they conform to the
requirements of this Guarantee Agreement;
(ii) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any
error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer
of the Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the
Guarantee Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent
facts upon which such judgment was made;
(iii) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with
respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in
good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of
not less than a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the
Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting
any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee
Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the
Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement; and
(iv) no provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall
require the Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk
its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability
in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of
any of its rights or powers if the Guarantee Trustee shall have
reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such
funds or liability is not assured to it under the terms of this
Guarantee Agreement or indemnity satisfactory to it against
such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
SECTION 3.02. Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee. (a) Subject to the
provisions of Section 3.01:
(i) The Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely and
shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting
upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument,
opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order,
bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other
paper or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and
to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or
parties.
(ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor
contemplated by this Guarantee Agreement shall be sufficiently
evidenced by an Officers' Certificate unless otherwise
prescribed herein.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this
Guarantee Agreement, the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it
desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking,
suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, the
Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically
prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part,
request and conclusively rely upon an Officers' Certificate
which, upon receipt of such request from the Guarantee Trustee,
shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor.
(iv) The Guarantee Trustee may consult with legal
counsel, and the advice or written opinion of such legal
counsel with respect to legal matters shall be full and
complete authorization and protection in respect of any action
taken, suffered or omitted to be
taken by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such
advice or opinion. Such legal counsel may be legal counsel to
the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may be one of its
employees. The Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any
time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this
Guarantee Agreement from any court of competent jurisdiction.
(v) The Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation
to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this
Guarantee Agreement at the request or direction of any Holder,
unless such Holder shall have provided to the Guarantee Trustee
such security and indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it,
against the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and
expenses) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in
complying with such request or direction, including such
reasonable advances as may be requested by the Guarantee
Trustee; provided, that nothing contained in this Section
3.02(a)(v) shall be taken to relieve the Guarantee Trustee,
upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation
to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this
Guarantee Agreement.
(vi) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make
any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any
resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion,
report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond,
debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper
or document, but the Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may
make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or
matters as it may see fit.
(vii) The Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the
trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder
either directly or by or through its agents or attorneys, and
the Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for any
misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent or
attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.
(viii) Whenever in the administration of this
Guarantee Agreement the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it
desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any
remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the
Guarantee Trustee (A) may request instructions from the
Holders, (B) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or
taking such other action until such instructions are received
and (C) shall be fully protected in acting in accordance with
such instructions.
(b) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be deemed to
impose any duty or obligation on the Guarantee Trustee to perform any
act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred
or imposed on it in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or
in which the Guarantee Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in
accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts or to
exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power
or authority available to the Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to
be a duty to act in accordance with such power and authority.
SECTION 3.03. Indemnity. The Guarantor agrees to indemnify the
Guarantee Trustee and its directors, officers, agents and employees for, and to
hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without
negligence or bad faith on the part of the Guarantee Trustee or its directors,
officers, employees or agents, arising out of or in connection with the
acceptance or administration of this Guarantee Agreement, including the costs
and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection
with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The
Guarantee Trustee will not claim or exact any lien or charge on any Guarantee
Payments as a result of any amount due to it under this Guarantee Agreement.
This indemnity shall survive the termination of this Guarantee Agreement or the
resignation or removal of the Guarantee Trustee.
SECTION 3.04. Expenses. The Guarantor, as obligor on the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities, shall from time to time reimburse the Guarantee
Trustee for its
reasonable expenses and costs incurred in connection with the performance of its
duties hereunder.
ARTICLE IV
Guarantee Trustee
SECTION 4.01. Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility. (a) There shall at all
times be a Guarantee Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
(ii) be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the
Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital
and surplus of at least $50,000,000, and shall be a corporation
meeting the requirements of Section 310(c) of the Trust
Indenture Act. If such corporation publishes reports of
condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the
requirements of the supervising or examining authority, then,
for the purposes of this Section and to the extent permitted by
the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of
such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and
surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so
published.
(b) If at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be
eligible to so act under Section 4.01(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall
immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section
4.02(c).
(c) If the Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any
"conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the
Trust Indenture Act, the Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor shall in all
respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
SECTION 4.02. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee
Trustee. (a) Subject to Section 4.02(b), in the absence of the existence of an
Event of Default, the Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or removed without
cause at any time by the Guarantor.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed until a
Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such
appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Guarantee
Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee appointed hereunder shall hold office
until a Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until
its removal or resignation. The Guarantee Trustee may resign from
office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an
instrument in writing executed by the Guarantee Trustee and delivered
to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a
Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such
appointment by instrument in writing executed by such Successor
Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning
Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed
and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.02 within 60
days after delivery to the Guarantor of an instrument of resignation,
the resigning Guarantee Trustee may petition, at the expense of the
Guarantor, any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a
Successor Guarantee Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after
prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a
Successor Guarantee Trustee.
ARTICLE V
Guarantee
SECTION 5.01. Guarantee. The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally
agrees to pay in full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication
of amounts theretofore paid by or on behalf of the Issuer), as and when due,
regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim which the Issuer may
have or assert. The Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be
satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the
Holders or by causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to the Holders. The
Guarantor shall give prompt written notice to the Guarantee Trustee in the event
it makes any direct payment hereunder.
SECTION 5.02. Waiver of Notice and Demand. The Guarantor hereby waives
notice of acceptance of the Guarantee Agreement and of any liability to which it
applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a
proceeding first against the Guarantee Trustee, Issuer or any other Person
before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice
of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands.
SECTION 5.03. Obligations Not Affected. The obligations, covenants,
agreements and duties of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement shall in
no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of
any of the following:
(a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise,
of the performance or observance by the Issuer of any express or
implied agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Trust
Securities to be performed or observed by the Issuer;
(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all
or any portion of the Distributions (other than any extension of time
for payment of Distributions that results from the extension of any
interest payment period on the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities as
so provided in the Indenture), Redemption Price, Liquidation
Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the Trust
Securities or the extension of time for the
performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in
connection with, the Trust Securities;
(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the
part of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right,
privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the
terms of the Trust Securities, or any action on the part of the Issuer
granting indulgence or extension of any kind;
(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution,
sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy,
assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement,
composition or readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings
affecting, the Issuer or any of the assets of the Issuer;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Trust
Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed
hereby or hereby incurred; or
(g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise
constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it
being the intent of this Section 5.03 that the obligations of the
Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and
all circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or
obtain the consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the
foregoing.
SECTION 5.04. Rights of Holders. The Guarantor expressly acknowledges
that: (i) this Guarantee Agreement will be deposited with the Guarantee Trustee
to be held for the benefit of the Holders; (ii) the Guarantee Trustee has the
right to enforce this Guarantee Agreement on behalf of the Holders; (iii) the
Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Securities have the right to
direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee Agreement
or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this
Guarantee Agreement; and (iv) any Holder may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Guarantor to enforce its rights under this Guarantee
Agreement, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer or
any other Person.
SECTION 5.05. Guarantee of Payment. This Guarantee Agreement creates a
guarantee of payment and not of collection. This Guarantee Agreement will not be
discharged except by payment of the Guarantee Payments in full (without
duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the Issuer) or upon distribution of
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities to Holders as provided in the Trust
Agreement.
SECTION 5.06. Event of Default. If an Event of Default under the Trust
Agreement has occurred and is continuing, no Guarantee Payments with respect to
the Common Securities or any guarantee payment under any Other Guarantees (as
defined in the Indenture) with respect to Common Securities of any other
BancorpSouth Capital Trust (as defined in the Indenture), if any, shall be made
until the Holders of Capital Securities shall be paid in full the Guarantee
Payments to which they are entitled under this Guarantee Agreement.
Subordination of Guarantee Payments on the Common Securities following such an
Event of Default under the Trust Agreement shall be analogous to the
subordination of the Common Securities provided for in Section 4.03 of the Trust
Agreement.
SECTION 5.07. Subrogation. The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if
any) rights of the Holders against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to
the Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement and shall have the
right to waive payment by the Issuer pursuant to Section 5.01; provided,
however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by
mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights which
it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other
agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Guarantee Agreement,
if at the time
of any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee
Agreement. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the
preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the
Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders.
SECTION 5.08. Independent Obligations. The Guarantor acknowledges that
its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Issuer with
respect to the Trust Securities and that the Guarantor shall be liable as
principal and as debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the
terms of this Guarantee Agreement notwithstanding the occurrence of any event
referred to in subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.03 hereof.
ARTICLE VI
Covenants and Subordination
SECTION 6.01. Subordination. This Guarantee Agreement will constitute
an unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will rank subordinate and junior in
right of payment to all Senior Debt of the Guarantor, to the same extent and in
the same manner that the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities are subordinated to
Senior Debt pursuant to the Indenture, it being understood that the terms of
Article XIV of the Indenture shall apply to the obligations of the Guarantor
under this Guarantee Agreement as if (x) such Article XIV were set forth herein
in full and (y) such obligations were substituted for the term "Securities"
appearing in such Article XIV.
SECTION 6.02. Pari Passu Guarantees. This Guarantee Agreement shall
rank pari passu with any similar guarantee agreements issued by the Guarantor on
behalf of the holders of trust securities issued by a trust created by the
Guarantor similar to BancorpSouth Capital Trust I.
ARTICLE VII
Termination
SECTION 7.01. Termination. This Guarantee Agreement shall terminate and
be of no further force and effect upon (i) full payment of the Redemption Price
of all Trust Securities, (ii) the distribution of Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities to the Holders in exchange for all of the Trust Securities or (iii)
full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Trust Agreement upon
liquidation of the Issuer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Guarantee
Agreement will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may
be, if at any time any Holder must repay any sums paid with respect to Trust
Securities or this Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
Miscellaneous
SECTION 8.01. Successors and Assigns. All guarantees and agreements
contained in this Guarantee Agreement shall bind the successors, assigns,
receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the
benefit of the Holders then outstanding. Except in connection with a
consolidation, merger or sale involving the Guarantor that is permitted under
Article VIII of the Indenture and pursuant to which the assignee agrees in
writing to perform the Guarantor's obligations hereunder, the Guarantor shall
not assign its obligations hereunder.
SECTION 8.02. Amendments. Except with respect to any changes which do
not adversely affect the rights of the Holders in any material respect (in which
case no consent of the Holders will be required), this Guarantee Agreement may
only be amended with the prior approval of the Holders of not less than a
Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Securities. The provisions of Article VI
of the Trust Agreement concerning meetings of the Holders shall apply to the
giving of such approval.
SECTION 8.03. Notices. Any notice, request or other communication
required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing, duty signed by
the party giving such notice, and delivered, telecopied (confirmed by delivery
of the original) or mailed by first class mail as follows:
(a) if given to the Guarantor, to the address set forth below
or such other address, facsimile number or to the attention of such
other Person as the Guarantor may give notice to the Holders:
BANCORPSOUTH, INC.
One Mississippi Plaza
Tupelo, MS 38801
Facsimile No.: (601) 680-2568
Attention: Cathy S. Freeman, Secretary
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
WALLER LANSDEN DORTCH & DAVIS, PLLC
511 Union Street, Suite 2100
Nashville, TN 37219
Facsimile No.: (615) 244-6804
Attention: Ralph W. Davis, Esq.
(b) if given to the Issuer, in care of the Guarantee Trustee,
at the Issuer's (and the Guarantee Trustee's) address set forth below
or such other address, facsimile number or to the attention of such
other person as the Guarantee Trustee on behalf of the Issuer may give
notice to the Holders:
BANCORPSOUTH CAPITAL TRUST I
c/o BANCORPSOUTH, INC.
One Mississippi Plaza
Tupelo, MS 38801
Facsimile No.: 662-680-2084
Attention: Secretary
with a copy to:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
5 Penn Plaza, 13th Floor
Facsimile No.: 212-896-7298
Attention: Robert Massimillo
(c) if given to the Guarantee Trustee:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
5 Penn Plaza
Facsimile No.: 212-896-7298
Attention: Robert Massimillo
(d) if given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the
books and records of the Issuer.
All notices hereunder shall be deemed to have been given when received
in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail,
postage prepaid, except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery
or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was
given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on
the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.
SECTION 8.04. Benefit. This Guarantee Agreement is solely for the
benefit of the Holders and is not separately transferable from the Trust
Securities.
SECTION 8.05. Interpretation. In this Guarantee Agreement, unless the
context otherwise requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Guarantee Agreement but not
defined in the preamble hereto have the respective meanings assigned to
them in Section 1.01;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee Agreement has
the same meaning throughout;
(c) all references to "the Guarantee Agreement" or "this
Guarantee Agreement" are to this Guarantee Agreement as modified,
supplemented or amended from time to time;
(d) all references in this Guarantee Agreement to Articles and
Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Guarantee Agreement
unless otherwise specified;
(e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same
meaning when used in this Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise defined
in this Guarantee Agreement or unless the context otherwise requires;
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice
versa; and
(g) the masculine, feminine or neuter genders used herein
shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter genders.
SECTION 8.06 Governing Law. THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts
shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT is executed as of the day and year first above
written.
BANCORPSOUTH, INC.
by
/s/ L. Nash Allen, Jr.
--------------------------
Name: L. Nash Allen, Jr.
Title: Treasurer and CFO
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as
Guarantee Trustee,
by
/s/ Robert A. Massimillo
--------------------------
Name: ROBERT A. MASSIMILLO
Title: VICE PRESIDENT