BANCORPSOUTH INC
S-4/A, 1997-07-23
STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS
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<PAGE>   1
   
    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JULY 23, 1997

                                                    REGISTRATION NO. 333-28081
    
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                              --------------------
   
                              AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
                                    FORM S-4
             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
    
                              --------------------

                               BANCORPSOUTH, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<S>                                    <C>                           <C>
         MISSISSIPPI                        64-0659571                                6798
(State or other jurisdiction of          (I.R.S. Employer            (Primary Standard Industrial Incorporation
        organization)                  Identification Number)              or Classification Code Number)
</TABLE>

                              ONE MISSISSIPPI PLAZA
                            TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI 38801
                                 (601) 680-2000
          (Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, including
             Area Code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)

                              --------------------

                               AUBREY B. PATTERSON
                               BANCORPSOUTH, INC.
                              ONE MISSISSIPPI PLAZA
                            TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI 38801
                                 (601) 680-2000
            (Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
                   Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

                              --------------------


                          Copies of communications to:


                             THEODORE W. LENZ, ESQ.
                          WALLER LANSDEN DORTCH & DAVIS
                    A PROFESSIONAL LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
                                511 UNION STREET
                           2100 NASHVILLE CITY CENTER
                         NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37219-1760
                                 (615) 244-6380

                              --------------------


         APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As
soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement and
appropriate stockholder action.


         If the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered in
connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with
General Instruction G, check the following box. [ ] 


         If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be
offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the
Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with 
dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box:  [X] 
                                                                               
   
    

================================================================================

<PAGE>   2



PROSPECTUS

                                7,500,000 SHARES

                                  BANCORPSOUTH

                                  COMMON STOCK

                             -----------------------

         BancorpSouth, Inc. (the "Company"), a Mississippi corporation, a bank
holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as
amended, may from time to time offer shares of common stock, par value $2.50 per
share (the "BancorpSouth Common Stock"), in an aggregate amount of up to
7,500,000 shares, on terms to be determined at the time of such offering. The
BancorpSouth Common Stock may be offered from time to time in such amounts, at
such prices and on such terms to be set forth in one or more supplements to this
Prospectus (each a "Supplement").

         The BancorpSouth Common Stock is to be offered directly by the Company
in connection with the acquisition of, or business combination with, certain
banking or savings institutions. The specific terms under which the BancorpSouth
Common Stock is being offered in connection with the delivery of this Prospectus
will be set forth in the applicable Supplement and will include the specific
number of shares of BancorpSouth Common Stock and the issuance price per share.
BancorpSouth Common Stock may not be sold through this Prospectus without
delivery of the applicable Supplement.

         The BancorpSouth Common Stock is listed on The New York Stock Exchange
under the symbol "BXS."

         Shares of BancorpSouth Common Stock are not savings or deposit accounts
and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Company or any other
governmental agency.

                             -----------------------

    THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
       AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS
         THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
             COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
                PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS
                               A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

                             -----------------------

   
                 The date of this Prospectus is July 25, 1997
    


<PAGE>   3



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                          <C>
AVAILABLE INFORMATION.........................................................3

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE.............................4

THE COMPANY...................................................................5

LENDING ACTIVITIES............................................................6

LEGAL MATTERS................................................................11

EXPERTS......................................................................11
</TABLE>
    

     No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations other than those contained in this Prospectus in connection with
the offering made hereby, and, if given or made, such information or
representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the
Company. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation
of an offer to buy any securities other than the shares of BancorpSouth Common
Stock offered hereby or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy
such shares to any person, or the solicitation of a proxy from any person, in
any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation of an offer or proxy
solicitation is unlawful. The delivery of this Prospectus at any time does not
imply that the information herein is correct as of any time subsequent to its
date.





                                        2

<PAGE>   4



                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

     The Company has filed a Registration Statement on Form S-4, including
amendments thereto, if any, with respect to the BancorpSouth Common Stock (the
"Registration Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission"). This Prospectus and any accompanying Supplement do not contain
all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement and the exhibits
and schedules thereto. Statements contained in this Prospectus as to the
contents of any contract or other document referred to are not necessarily
complete and in each instance reference is made to the copy of such contract or
other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or as
previously filed with the Commission and incorporated herein by reference. For
further information with respect to the Company and the BancorpSouth Common
Stock reference is made to such Registration Statement, exhibits and schedules.

     The Company is subject to the information requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and, in accordance therewith, files
reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission. The
Registration Statement, as well as such reports, proxy statements and other
information, may be inspected and copied at prescribed rates at the public
reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza,
450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's regional
offices located at 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661
and Seven World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048. In addition,
the Commission maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy and information
statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically
with the Commission at http://www.sec.gov. The BancorpSouth Common Stock is
listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "Exchange"), and such reports,
proxy statements and other information may be inspected at the offices of the
Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York, 10005.




                                        3

<PAGE>   5



                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

     The following documents or portions of documents filed by the Company with
Commission are incorporated herein by reference:

     (1)  The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
          31, 1996;

     (2)  The Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended
          March 31, 1997;

     (3)  The description of the BancorpSouth Common Stock contained in the
          Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated May 14, 1997; and

     (4)  The description of the BancorpSouth Common Stock Purchase Rights
          contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated
          May 14, 1997.

     All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. Any statement
contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of
this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any
subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein, modifies or supersede such statement. Any such statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to constitute a part of this Prospectus.

     THIS PROSPECTUS INCORPORATES DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE WHICH ARE NOT PRESENTED
HEREIN OR DELIVERED HEREWITH. A COPY OF THESE DOCUMENTS IS AVAILABLE UPON
WRITTEN OR ORAL REQUEST, AT NO CHARGE, FROM CATHY S. FREEMAN, VICE PRESIDENT AND
CORPORATE SECRETARY, BANCORPSOUTH, INC., ONE MISSISSIPPI PLAZA, TUPELO,
MISSISSIPPI 38801, (601) 681-2000.



                                        4

<PAGE>   6



                                   THE COMPANY

     The Company is a bank holding company with commercial banking operations in
Mississippi and Tennessee principally through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Bank
of Mississippi ("BOM"). The Company's principal office is located at One
Mississippi Plaza, Tupelo, Mississippi, 38801 and its telephone number is (601)
680-2000.

     Through its subsidiaries, the Company conducts a general commercial banking
and trust business through offices in communities throughout Mississippi and
West Tennessee. The Company has grown through the acquisition of other banks,
the purchase of assets from federal regulators and through the opening of new
branches and offices. In addition, the Company's subsidiaries operate consumer
finance and credit life insurance subsidiaries.

     The Company, through its subsidiaries, provides a range of financial
services to individuals and small-to-medium size businesses. Various types of
checking accounts, both interest bearing and non-interest bearing, are
available. Savings accounts and certificates of deposit with a range of
maturities and interest rates are available to meet the needs of customers.
Other services include safe deposit and night depository facilities. Limited
24-hour banking with automated teller machines is provided in most of its
principal markets. BOM is an issuing bank for MasterCard and overdraft
protection is available to approved MasterCard holders maintaining checking
accounts with the company's subsidiary banks.

     The Company offers a variety of services through the trust departments of
its subsidiary banks, including personal trust and estate services, certain
employee benefit accounts and plans, including individual retirement accounts,
and limited corporate trust functions.




                                        5

<PAGE>   7
   
                               LENDING ACTIVITIES

GENERAL 

         The Company's lending activities include both commercial and consumer
loans. Loan originations are derived from a number of sources including real
estate broker referrals, mortgage loan companies, direct solicitation by the
Company's loan officers, present savers and borrowers, builders, attorneys,
walk-in customers and, in some instances, other lenders. The Company has
established disciplined and systematic procedures for approving and monitoring
loans that vary depending on the size and nature of the loan.

Commercial Lending

         The Company offers a variety of commercial loan services including term
loans, lines of credit, equipment and receivable financing and agricultural
loans. A broad range of short-to-medium term commercial loans, both secured and
unsecured are made available to businesses for working capital (including
inventory and receivables), business expansion (including acquisition and
development of real estate and improvements), and the purchase of equipment and
machinery. At times, the Company also makes construction loans to real estate
developers for the acquisition, development and construction of residential
subdivisions.

         Commercial loans are granted based on the borrower's ability to
generate cash flow to support its debt obligations and other cash related
expenses. A borrower's ability to repay commercial loans is substantially
dependent on the success of the business itself and on the quality of its
management. As a general practice, the Company takes as collateral a security
interest in any available real estate, equipment, inventory, receivables or
other personal property although such loans may also be made infrequently on an
unsecured basis. Generally, the Company requires personal guaranties of such
loans to offset these risks.

         The Company has very little exposure as an agricultural lender. Crop
production loans are either fully supported by the collateral and financial
strength of the borrower or else a 90% loan guaranty is obtained through the
Farmers Home Administration on such loans.

Residential Consumer Lending

         A portion of the Company's lending activities consists of the
origination of fixed and adjustable rate residential mortgage loans secured by
owner-occupied property located in the Company's primary market areas. Home
mortgage lending is unique in that a broad geographic territory may be serviced
by originators working from strategically placed offices either within the
Company's traditional banking facilities or from affordable storefront locations
in commercial buildings. In addition, the Company offers construction loans,
second mortgages, home improvement loans and home equity lines of credit. The
Company's banking subsidiary has received an "outstanding" CRA rating from the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation after its most recent examination.
    



                                       6
<PAGE>   8


   
         The Company finances the construction of individual, owner-occupied
houses on the basis of written underwriting and construction loan management
guidelines. First mortgage construction loans are made to solvent and competent
contractors on both a pre-sold and a "speculation" basis. Such loans are also
made to qualified individual borrowers and are generally supported by a take-out
commitment from a permanent lender. The Company makes residential construction
loans to individuals who intend to erect owner occupied housing on a purchased
parcel of real estate. The construction phase of these loans have certain 
risks, including the viability of the contractor, the contractor's ability to 
complete the project and changes in interest rates.

         In most cases, the Company will sell its mortgage loans of 15 or more
years in term in the secondary market. The sale to the secondary market allows
the Company to hedge against the interest rate risks related to such lending
operations. This brokerage arrangement allows the Company to accommodate its
clients' demands while eliminating the interest rate risk for the 15 to 30 year
period generally associated with such loans. After the sale of a loan, the
Company's only involvement is to act as a servicing agent.

         The Company in most cases requires title, fire, extended casualty
insurance, and, where required by applicable regulations, flood insurance to be
obtained by the borrower. The Company maintains its own errors and omissions
insurance policy to protect against loss in the event of failure of a mortgagor
to pay premiums on fire and other hazard insurance policies. Mortgage loans
originated by the Company customarily include a "due on sale" clause giving the
Company the right to declare a loan immediately due and payable in the event,
among other matters, that the borrower sells or otherwise disposes of the real
property subject to a mortgage. In general, the Company enforces due on sale
clauses. Borrowers are typically permitted to refinance or prepay loans at their
option without penalty.

Non-Residential Consumer Lending

         Non-residential consumer loans made by the Company include loans for
automobiles, recreation vehicles, boats, personal (secured and unsecured) and
deposit account secured loans. In addition, the Company provides federally
insured or guaranteed student loans to students at major universities and
community colleges in the Company's market areas. The Company also conducts
various indirect lending activities through established retail companies in its
market areas. Non-residential consumer loans are attractive to the Company
because they typically have a shorter term and carry higher interest rates than
that charged on other types of loans. Nonresidential consumer loans, however, do
pose additional risks of collectability when compared to traditional types of
loans granted by commercial banks such as residential mortgage loans.

         The Company also issues credit cards solicited on the basis of
applications received through referrals from the Company's bank branch networks.
The Company generally has a small portfolio of credit card receivables
outstanding. Credit card lines are underwritten using conservative credit
criteria, including past credit history and debt-to-income ratios, similar to
the
    


                                       7
<PAGE>   9

   
credit policies applicable to other personal consumer loans. Historically, the
Company believes that its credit card losses have been well-below industry
norms.

         Consumer loans are granted based on employment and financial
information solicited from prospective borrowers as well as credit records
collected from various reporting agencies. Stability of the borrower,
willingness to pay and credit history are the primary factors to be considered.
The availability of collateral is also a factor considered in making such a
loan. The Company seeks collateral that can be assigned and has good
marketability with a clearly adequate margin of value. The geographic area of
the borrower is another consideration with preference given to borrowers in the
Company's market area.

ASSET QUALITY

         Management seeks to maintain a high quality of assets through
conservative underwriting and sound lending practices. Management intends to
follow this policy even though it may result in foregoing the funding of higher
yielding loans. While there is no assurance that the Company will not suffer
losses on its loans, management believes that the Company has in place adequate
underwriting and loan administration policies and personnel to manage the
associated risks prudently.

         In an effort to maintain the quality of the loan portfolio, management
seeks to minimize higher risk types of lending. Undesirable loans include loans
to provide initial equity and working capital to new businesses with no other
capital strength, loans secured by unregistered stock, loans for speculative
transactions in stock, land or commodity markets, loans to borrowers or the
taking of collateral outside the Company's trade area, loans dependent on
secondary liens as primary collateral, and non-recourse loans. To the extent
risks are identified, additional precautions are taken in order to reduce the
Company's risk of loss. Commercial loans entail certain additional risks since
they usually involve large loan balances to single borrowers or a related group
of borrowers, resulting in a more concentrated loan portfolio. Further, since
their payment is usually dependent upon the successful operation of the
commercial enterprise, they also are subject to adverse conditions in the
economy.

         The Board of Directors of the Company concentrates its efforts and
resources, and that of its management and lending officials, on loan review and
underwriting policies. Loan status and monitoring is handled through the
Company's Loan Administration Department. Weak financial performance is
identified and monitored using past due reporting, the internal loan rating
system, loan review reports, the various loan committee functions, and periodic
Asset Quality Rating Committee meetings. Senior loan officers have established a
review process with the objective of quickly identifying, evaluating, and
initiating necessary corrective action for substandard loans. The results of
loan reviews are reported to the audit committee of the Board of Directors.
Combined, these components are integral elements of the Company's loan program
which has resulted in its loan portfolio performance to date. Nonetheless,
management maintains a cautious outlook in anticipating the potential effects of
uncertain economic conditions (both locally and nationally) and the possibility
of more stringent regulatory standards.
    



                                       8
<PAGE>   10

   
ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES

         The Company maintains disciplined and systematic procedures for the
collection of delinquent loan payments. When a borrower fails to make a required
payment on a loan, the Company attempts to have the deficiency cured by
communicating with the borrower. In most cases, deficiencies are cured promptly.
The Account Officer handles the administration of the loan throughout its term
and, depending on the size and complexity of the loan, the Loan Administration
Department may be involved in the work out of a problem loan as may be required
to resolve the problem in a way that assures that the Company's loss exposure is
minimized. If a delinquency is not cured, it is the Company's general policy to
institute appropriate legal action to collect the loan, including foreclosing on
any collateral securing the loan and obtaining a deficiency judgment against the
borrower, if appropriate. Loans are generally placed on nonaccrual status if, in
management's opinion, payment in full of principal and interest is not expected,
or when payment of principal or interest is more than 90 days past due, unless
the loan is both well-secured and in the process of collection.

         In originating loans, the Company recognizes that credit losses will be
experienced and that the risk of loss will vary with, among other things, the
type of loan being made, the creditworthiness of the borrower over the term of
the loan and, in the case of a secured loan, the quality of the collateral for
the loan as well as general economic conditions. The Company has a disciplined
and systematic methodology which is employed in determining the appropriate
level for the allowance for loan and lease losses ("ALLL"). The Loan Reserve
Valuation Committee (the "Committee"), a committee of senior officers appointed
by the Board of Directors of the Company, reviews the adequacy of the allowance
for credit losses. An amount is provided as a charge against current income,
based on the recommendation of the Committee and senior management's approval,
to maintain the ALLL at a level sufficient to absorb possible losses inherent in
the Company's loan portfolio. This provision is determined after examining
potential losses in specific credits and considering the general risks
associated with lending functions such as current and anticipated economic
conditions, business trends in the Company's region and nationally, historical
experience as related to losses, changes in the mix of the loan portfolio and
credits which bear substantial risk of loss but which cannot be readily
quantified.

         A key factor in determining the amount of the ALLL is the Company's
loan classification system. The Company conducts periodic internal examinations
of its banking subsidiary's loan portfolio. In conducting such reviews, the
Company utilizes a rating system similar to the rating system used by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The Company has a disciplined approach
for assigning credit ratings and classifications to individual credits. Each
credit is assigned a grade by the loan officer at origination which serves as a
basis for the credit analysis of the entire portfolio. Periodically, loan
officers review the status of each credit and update its grading. The gradings
assigned by the loan officer are reviewed by an independent Loan Review
Department. The Loan Review Department is responsible for reviewing the credit
rating and classification of individual credits. The department also assesses
trends in the overall portfolio, adherence to internal credit policies and loan
administration procedures and other factors which may affect the overall
adequacy of the ALLL. In addition to assessing loan quality, loan reviews
    



                                       9
<PAGE>   11


   
include tracking loan growth, deposit growth, past due statistics, charge-offs
and recoveries, and overdrafts. Loan operations, loan documentation, and loan
compliance are also examined in detail. The Loan Review Department reports its
findings to the Committee to consider in establishing the ALLL.

         The Committee is responsible for ensuring that the ALLL provides
coverage of both known and inherent losses. The Committee meets at least
quarterly to determine the amount of additions to the ALLL. The Committee is
comprised of senior management from the Loan Administration, Lending and Finance
departments. Management continues to actively monitor the Company's asset
quality and to charge off loans against the ALLL when appropriate or to provide
specific loan allowances when necessary. Although management believes it uses
the best information available to make determinations with respect to the ALLL,
future adjustments may be necessary if economic conditions differ from the
economic conditions in the assumptions used in making the final determinations.
    





                                       10
<PAGE>   12




                                  LEGAL MATTERS

     The validity of the shares of BancorpSouth Common Stock to be offered
hereunder will be passed upon by Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, A Professional
Limited Liability Company, Nashville, Tennessee, special counsel to the Company.
Certain matters concerning this offering will be passed upon on behalf of the
Company by Riley, Ford, Caldwell & Cork, P.A., Tupelo, Mississippi. Frank A.
Riley, a shareholder of such firm, is a director of the Company.


                                     EXPERTS

     The Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company, as of December 31,
1996, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31,
1996, have been incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and in the
Registration Statement in reliance upon the report of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP,
independent certified public accountants, incorporated by reference herein, and
upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.




                                        11

<PAGE>   13



                                     PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 20.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     Articles VIII and IX of the Registrant's Restated Articles of
Incorporation, as amended, provide as follows:

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                  ELIMINATION OF CERTAIN LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS

     A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the
Corporation or its shareholders for money damages for any action taken, or any
failure to take action, as a director, except for liability for:

     (i) the amount of a financial benefit received by a director to which he is
     not entitled;

     (ii) an intentional infliction of harm on the Corporation or the
     shareholders;

     (iii) a violation of Section 79-4-8.33 of the Mississippi Business
     Corporation Act (the "Act"); or

     (iv) an intentional violation of criminal law.

If the Act is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or
limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director
of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent
permitted by the Act, as so amended. Any repeal or modification of the
provisions of this Article 8 by the shareholders shall not adversely affect any
right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of
such repeal or modification.

                                   ARTICLE IX
                                 INDEMNIFICATION

     (a) The Corporation 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 Corporation, and
whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or otherwise, by reason
of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a
director, 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: (i) to the
full extent permitted by Section 79-4-8.51 of the Act, and (ii) 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 (A) the director,
officer, employee or agent is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification
in view of all of the relevant circumstances, and (B) 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(1) of the Act, but the remaining provisions of
Section 79-4-8.53 of the Act shall be applicable to any such request. The
Corporation may, to the full extent permitted by law, purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any such person against any liability which may be
asserted against him or her.



                                      II-1

<PAGE>   14



     (b) The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses set forth in
Subsection (a) of this Article 9 are intended to be greater than those which are
otherwise provided for in the Act, are contractual between the Corporation 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 set forth in Subsection (a) of this Article 9 shall not
be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification
or advancements of expenses may be entitled or granted by law, these Articles of
incorporation, the Bylaws, a resolution of the Board of Directors, vote of the
shareholders of the Corporation, or an agreement with the Corporation, which
means of indemnification and advancement of expenses are hereby specifically
authorized. Any repeal or modification of the provisions of this Article 9 shall
not affect any obligations of the Corporation 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 9 which
occur subsequent to the effective date of such amendment.

     (c) If this Article 9 or any portion thereof shall be invalidated on any
ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall
nevertheless indemnify each director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation as to any liability incurred or other amounts paid with respect to
any proceeding, including, without limitation, a grand jury proceeding and any
proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation, to the fullest extent
permitted by any applicable portion of this Article 9 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 9 shall have the meanings given
in Section 79-4-8.50 of the Act.

ITEM 21.  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

                   (a)  Exhibits
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER         DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT
- -------        ----------------------
<S>     <C>  <C> 
   3.1  --   Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant(1)
   3.2  --   Amendment to Articles of Incorporation of Registrant, as filed on May 4, 1994(1)
   3.3  --   Bylaws of the Registrant, as amended(2)
   4.1  --   Specimen BancorpSouth Common Stock Certificate(3)
   5.1  --   Opinion of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, A Professional Limited Liability Company(8)
  10.1  --   Stock Bonus Agreement, dated as of November 6, 1987, between Bancorp of Mississippi, Inc. and Aubrey
             B. Patterson, Jr.(4)
  10.2  --   Escrow Agreement, dated as of November 6, 1987, between Bank of Mississippi and Aubrey B.
             Patterson, Jr.(4)
  10.3  --   Form of Deferred Compensation Agreement between the Registrant and certain key executives(5)
  10.4  --   1994 Stock Incentive Plan(3)
  10.5  --   1995 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors(3)
  10.6  --   Stock Bonus Agreement, dated as of January 17, 1995, between the Registrant and Michael W. Weeks(6)
  10.7  --   Escrow Agreement, dated as of January 17, 1995, between Bank of Mississippi and Michael W. Weeks(6)
  11.1  --   Statement re computation of earnings per share(7)
  21.1  --   List of subsidiaries of the Registrant(7)
  23.1  --   Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
  23.2  --   Consent of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, A Professional Limited Liability Company (included in
             opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1)
  24.1  --   Power of Attorney (included on page II-5)
</TABLE>
    



                                      II-2

<PAGE>   15




- -------------------
(1)  Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Registrant's
     Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed on January 6, 1995, (registration
     No. 33-88274).
(2)  Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Registrant's
     Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed on May 14, 1997.
(3)  Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Registrant's Annual
     Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994.
(4)  Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Registrant's Annual
     Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1987.
(5)  Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Registrant's Annual
     Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1988.
(6)  Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Registrant's Annual
     Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995.
(7)  Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Registrant's Annual
     Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996.
   
(8)  Previously filed.
    

ITEM 22.  UNDERTAKINGS.

     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

     (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

         (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act;

         (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration
Statement;

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

     (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act,
each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.

     (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.

     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes as follows: that prior to any
public reoffering of the securities registered hereunder through use of a
prospectus which is a part of this Registration Statement, by any person or
party who is deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Rule 145(c), the
issuer undertakes that such reoffering prospectus will contain the information
called for by the applicable registration form with respect to reofferings by


                                      II-3

<PAGE>   16



persons who may be deemed underwriters, in addition to the information called
for by the other items of the applicable form.

     The Registrant undertakes that every prospectus: (i) that is filed pursuant
to the paragraph immediately preceding, or (ii) that purports to meet the
requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the Act and is used in connection with an
offering of securities subject to Rule 415, will be filed as part of an
amendment to the Registration Statement and will not be used until such
amendment is effective, and that, for purposes of determining any liability
under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant, pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted against the
Registrant by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with
the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of
its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by
it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be
governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to respond to requests for
information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to
Items 4, 10(b), 11, or 13 of this Form, within one business day of receipt of
such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or
other equally prompt means. This includes information contained in documents
filed subsequent to the effective date of the Registration Statement through the
date of responding to the request.

     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to supply by means of a
post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the
Company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and
included in the Registration Statement when it became effective.



                                      II-4

<PAGE>   17



                                   SIGNATURES

   
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of
Tupelo, State of Mississippi, on July 22, 1997.
    

                                          BANCORPSOUTH, INC.


                                          By:   /S/ Aubrey B. Patterson
                                               ----------------------------
                                                  Aubrey B. Patterson
                                                  Chairman of the Board and
                                                  Chief Executive Officer


   
    

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

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       Name                                      Title                           Date
       ----                                      -----                           ----
<S>                                  <C>                                     <C>                                      
   /S/ Aubrey B. Patterson           Chairman of the Board, Chief            July 22, 1997
- --------------------------------     Executive Officer, Director
Aubrey B. Patterson                  (principal executive officer)
                                            


   /S/ L. Nash Allen, Jr.             Treasurer and Chief Financial          July 22, 1997
- --------------------------------      Officer (principal financial and              
L. Nash Allen, Jr.                    accounting officer)        
                                            


          *                           Director                               July 22, 1997
- -------------------------------
S. H. Davis
</TABLE>
    



                                      II-5

<PAGE>   18
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       Name                                      Title                           Date
       ----                                      -----                           ----
<S>                                  <C>                                     <C>                                      

           *                          Director                               July 22, 1997
- --------------------------------
Hassell H. Franklin


           *                          Director                               July 22, 1997
- --------------------------------
Fletcher H. Goode, M.D.


           *                          Director                               July 22, 1997
- --------------------------------
J. Louis Griffen, Jr.


           *                          Director                               July 22, 1997
- --------------------------------
W. G. Holliman, Jr.


           *                          Director                               July 22, 1997
- --------------------------------
A. Douglas Jumper


           *                          Director                               July 22, 1997
- --------------------------------
Turner O. Lashlee


           *                          Director                               July 22, 1997
- --------------------------------
Alan W. Perry


           *                          Director                               July 22, 1997
- --------------------------------
Frank A. Riley


           *                          Director                               July 22, 1997
- --------------------------------
Travis E. Staub


           *                          Director                               July 22, 1997
- --------------------------------
Andrew R. Townes, D.D.S.


           *                          Director                               July 22, 1997
- --------------------------------
Lowery A. Woodall


*By: /s/  L. Nash Allen, Jr.                                                 July 22, 1997
   -----------------------------
         L. Nash Allen, Jr.
         As Attorney-in-fact
</TABLE>                       
    


                                      II-6

<PAGE>   19



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER         DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT
- -------        ----------------------
<S>     <C>  <C>
   3.1  --   Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant(1)
   3.2  --   Amendment to Articles of Incorporation of Registrant, as filed on May 4, 1994(1)
   3.3  --   Bylaws of the Registrant, as amended(2)
   4.1  --   Specimen BancorpSouth Common Stock Certificate(3)
   5.1  --   Opinion of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, A Professional Limited Liability Company(8)
  10.1  --   Stock Bonus Agreement, dated as of November 6, 1987, between Bancorp of Mississippi, Inc. and Aubrey
             B. Patterson, Jr.(4)
  10.2  --   Escrow Agreement, dated as of November 6, 1987, between Bank of Mississippi and Aubrey B.
             Patterson, Jr.(4)
  10.3  --   Form of Deferred Compensation Agreement between the Registrant and certain key executives(5)
  10.4  --   1994 Stock Incentive Plan(3)
  10.5  --   1995 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors(3)
  10.6  --   Stock Bonus Agreement, dated as of January 17, 1995, between the Registrant and Michael W. Weeks(6)
  10.7  --   Escrow Agreement, dated as of January 17, 1995, between Bank of Mississippi and Michael W. Weeks(6)
  11.1  --   Statement re computation of earnings per share(7)
  21.1  --   List of subsidiaries of the Registrant(7)
  23.1  --   Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
  23.2  --   Consent of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, A Professional Limited Liability Company (included in
             opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1)
  24.1  --   Power of Attorney (included on page II-5)
</TABLE>
    

- -------------------
(1)  Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Registrant's
     Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed on January 6, 1995, (registration
     No. 33-88274).
(2)  Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Registrant's
     Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed on May 14, 1997.
(3)  Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Registrant's Annual
     Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994.
(4)  Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Registrant's Annual
     Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1987.
(5)  Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Registrant's Annual
     Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1988.
(6)  Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Registrant's Annual
     Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995.
(7)  Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Registrant's Annual
     Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996.
   
(8)  Previously filed.
    



<PAGE>   1


                                                                   EXHIBIT 23.1





                              ACCOUNTANT'S CONSENT


The Board of Directors
BancorpSouth, Inc.:



We consent to incorporation by reference in the registration statement on Form
S-4 of BancorpSouth, Inc. of our report dated January 24, 1997 on the
consolidated balance sheets of BancorpSouth, Inc. and subsidiaries as of
December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related consolidated statements of income,
shareholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year
period ended December 31, 1996, which report appears in the Annual Report of
BancorpSouth, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 1996 and to the reference to
our firm under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus.


                                            KPMG Peat Marwick LLP


Memphis, Tennessee
July 21, 1997



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