MIDSOUTH BANCORP INC
8-A12B, 1995-07-25
NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS
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                  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                      Washington, D.C. 20549


                             FORM 8-A


          FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
               PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
                   SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                        MIDSOUTH BANCORP, INC.
          (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)


            Louisiana                         72-1020809
     (State of incorporation or           (I.R.S. Employer
         organization)                    Identification No.)



     102 Versailles Boulevard, Lafayette, LA           70501
    (Address  of principal executive offices)       (Zip Code)


     If this Form relates to the registration  of a class of debt
     securities and is effective upon filing pursuant to General
     Instruction  A.(c)(1), please check the following box. ______

     If this Form relates to the registration of a class of debt
     securities and is to become effective simultaneously with
     the effectiveness of a concurrent registration statement under  
     the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to General Instruction A.(c)(2),   
     please check the following box.  _______


     Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

     Title of each class                         Name  of each exchange
     to be so registered                         on which each class is
                                                    to be registered

     Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock,     American Stock Exchange
     Series  A, no par value, $14.25 
     stated value

     Common Stock, .10 par value                American Stock Exchange

     
     Securities to be registered  pursuant  to Section 12(g) of the Act:  none
          
<PAGE>

          INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT


        Item 1.  Description of Registrant's Securities to
        be Registered.

        General.

            MidSouth Bancorp,  Inc.  (the  "Company")  has
        five  million  shares  of  common stock, $0.10 par
        value  per  share (the "Common  Stock")  and  five
        million shares  of  no  par  value preferred stock
        (the "Preferred Stock") authorized for issuance by
        the  Company's Board of Directors  (the  "Board").
        As of  July  31,  1995, the effective date of this
        registration,   the   Company   had   issued   and
        outstanding 719,650 shares  of  Common  Stock  and
        187,286  shares  of  Preferred  Stock, and 243,889
        shares of Common Stock were reserved  for issuance
        upon  conversion of Preferred Stock, the  exercise
        of stock  options  and other purposes.  The rights
        of  shareholders  of Common  Stock,  as  described
        below, are subject  to the prior rights of holders
        of the Preferred Stock,  as described below, which
        may from time to time be outstanding.

            The   Common   Stock   has   previously   been
        registered  pursuant  to  Section  12(b)   of  the
        Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934, in connection
        with  the  listing  of  the  Common Stock  on  the
        American Stock Exchange Emerging  Companies Market
        Place.   The  Common Stock is to be delisted  from
        the Emerging Companies  Market  Place and relisted
        on the regular American Stock Exchange.  This Form
        8-A relates to the registration of  the  Company's
        Common  Stock  and  Series  A Preferred Stock,  as
        described  below  under  the  caption   "Series  A
        Preferred  Stock,"  to  be  listed  on the regular
        American   Stock   Exchange.    This  Registration
        Statement  describes  both  the Common  Stock  and
        Series A Preferred Stock.

            The  following description  of  the  Company's
        securities   is   qualified  in  its  entirety  by
        reference to the Company's  Amended  and  Restated
        Articles  of  Incorporation  (the "Articles")  and
        Amended and Restated By-laws (the  "By-laws")  and
        to  the  applicable  provisions  of  the Louisiana
        Business Corporation Law ("LBCL").


        Common Stock

            Dividend   Rights.    Holders  of  outstanding
        Common Stock ("Common Shareholders")  are entitled
        to  receive  such  dividends,  if  any, as may  be
        declared by the Board, in its discretion,  out  of
        funds legally available therefor.

            Voting   Rights.    Common   Shareholders  are
        entitled to one vote per share on  all  matters to
        be  voted on by the shareholders, subject  to  the
        provisions   of   the   Louisiana   Control  Share
        Acquisition  Statute,  described  below.    Common
        Shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights.

            Liquidation  Rights.   In  the  event  of  the
        liquidation of the Company, after payment of debts
        and  expenses  and  any  payment  due on Preferred
        Stock,  if  any  is  at the time outstanding,  the
        Common Shareholders will  be  entitled  to receive
        all  remaining  assets  of the Company ratably  in
        proportion to the number of shares held by them.

            Preemptive Rights.  Common Shareholders do not
        have  the  right to subscribe  to  any  additional
        capital stock that may be issued by the Company.

            Preferred  Stock.   The  Board  is authorized,
        without action of shareholders except as described
        under "Series A Preferred Stock" below,  to  issue
        up  to five million shares of Preferred Stock from
        time   to   time,  and  to  fix  the  preferences,
        limitations and  relative  rights of the shares of
        Preferred Stock and Common Stock,  as  well  as to
        establish  and  fix variations in the preferences,
        limitations and relative  rights between different
        series of Preferred Stock.   Shares  of  Preferred
        Stock  authorized  by the Board may have dividend,
        liquidation, voting  and  other rights superior to
        shares of Common Stock.  In  addition,  the  Board
        may  grant  to  the holders of Preferred Stock the
        right to elect one  or more directors or the right
        to convert shares of  Preferred  Stock into Common
        Stock.

            One  of  the  effects  of  the  existence   of
        undesignated  Preferred  Stock  and authorized but
        unissued Common Stock may be to enable  the  Board
        to make more difficult or to discourage an attempt
        to  obtain  control  of the Company.  For example,
        shares of Common or Preferred  Stock could be sold
        privately  to  purchasers  who might  support  the
        Board in a control contest or  could  be  sold  to
        dilute  the  voting  or  other  rights of a person
        seeking to obtain control.  In addition, the Board
        could cause the Company to issue  Preferred  Stock
        entitling  holders  (1)  to  vote  separately as a
        class on any proposed transaction, (2)  to convert
        Preferred  Stock into Common Stock, (3) to  demand
        redemption at a specified price in connection with
        a change in  control  or  (4)  to  exercise  other
        rights   designed   to   impede  a  takeover.   In
        addition, although the Board  will  authorize  the
        issuance of Common or Preferred Stock only when it
        considers  doing  so to be in the best interest of
        shareholders, the issuance  of  additional  shares
        may, among other things, have a dilutive effect on
        earnings and equity per share of Common Stock  and
        on the voting rights of the Common Shareholders.


        Certain Provisions of the Articles and By-laws

            Approval  of Continuing Directors for Issuance
        of Capital Stock.   The  Articles provide that the
        issuance  of  Common or Preferred  Stock  must  be
        authorized by a  majority of Continuing Directors,
        in addition to a majority  of  the  members of the
        Board  present  at  a  meeting  of  directors.   A
        Continuing Director is defined in the  Articles as
        a  person  who  (1)  was a member of the Board  on
        March 3, 1993 or (2) became  a member of the Board
        after  March  3, 1993 upon the nomination  of  the
        Board at a time  when  a  majority  of the members
        were Continuing Directors.

            Directors.  The Articles provide for the Board
        to be divided into three classes, as  nearly equal
        in number as possible, with members of  each class
        to serve for three years and with one class  being
        elected each year.  A director may be removed only
        for  cause  by the affirmative vote of the holders
        of not less than 80% of the total voting power and
        only at a special shareholders' meeting called for
        such purpose.   At  the  same meeting at which the
        shareholders  remove one or  more  directors,  the
        shareholders may  elect  a successor or successors
        for the unexpired term or  terms.   Any vacancy on
        the Board (including any vacancy resulting from an
        increase  in  the authorized number of  directors,
        from the removal  of a director, from a failure of
        the  shareholders to  elect  the  full  number  of
        authorized    directors   or   from   the   death,
        interdiction or  resignation  of  a director) may,
        notwithstanding any resulting absence  of a quorum
        of directors, be filled by the affirmative vote of
        a  majority  of  all  of  the Continuing Directors
        remaining in office unless  the  shareholders fill
        the vacancy at a special meeting called  for  that
        purpose  prior  to such action.  Directors elected
        to   fill  a  vacancy   serve   until   the   next
        shareholders'  meeting  held  for  the election of
        directors of the class to which he or she has been
        appointed  and  until  his  or  her  successor  is
        elected and qualified.

            Classification  of the Board helps  to  assure
        the  continuity  and stability  of  the  Company's
        management and policies,  since  a majority of the
        directors  at  any  time will have served  on  the
        Board for at least one  year.   A  minimum  of two
        annual  shareholders'  meetings would be necessary
        to  change  the majority of  the  Board,  and  the
        holders of more  than  50% of the Common Stock may
        elect  all of the directors  over  the  course  of
        three  years.    Because   the   classified  Board
        structure   makes  it  more  difficult   for   the
        Company's shareholders  to  change  the control of
        the  Board  for any reason, including performance,
        however, the  classified  Board structure tends to
        perpetuate existing management.   In addition, the
        structure  may discourage tender offers  or  other
        acquisitions  of  the  Company's  stock by persons
        desiring to change the Board.

            The removal provisions would preclude  a third
        party   from  gaining  control  of  the  Board  by
        removing  incumbent  directors  without  cause and
        filling the vacancies created thereby with its own
        nominees.  Without this provision, under the LBCL,
        directors  could be removed with or without  cause
        by vote of a  majority  of  the  voting  power.  A
        party   controlling   the   requisite  vote  could
        circumvent  the  classified  board   structure  by
        calling a special shareholders' meeting,  removing
        the incumbent directors and electing its own slate
        of  directors.   Providing  that directors may  be
        removed  only for cause and only  by  80%  of  the
        total voting  power  protects the classified board
        structure  against such  action.   The  provision,
        however, reduces  the  power  of  shareholders  to
        remove incumbent directors.

            The provision relating to filling vacancies on
        the  Board eliminates the ability of directors who
        oppose existing directors, or successors supported
        by existing  directors,  to increase their control
        over  the  Board  by  filling   vacancies.   Also,
        because  a  director  elected  by  the  Continuing
        Directors to fill a vacancy serves until  the next
        shareholders'  meeting  held  for the election  of
        directors of the class to which he or she has been
        appointed,  shareholders  may  be  prevented  from
        electing another director to fill that seat for up
        to  three  years,  unless  the  director   may  be
        removed.

            Evaluation   of   Tender   Offers   and  Other
        Extraordinary Transactions.  The Articles  contain
        a provision allowing the Board, when evaluating  a
        tender  offer  or  an  offer  to  make a tender or
        exchange    offer   or   to   effect   a   merger,
        consolidation   or  share  exchange,  to  consider
        certain  enumerated   factors  in  exercising  its
        judgment  in  determining  what  is  in  the  best
        interests of the  Company  and  its  shareholders.
        These  factors  include considerations other  than
        the fact that the  price  per share offered by the
        potential acquiror may be higher  than  the recent
        trading  price.   The  LBCL  currently allows  the
        Board to consider the same factors  set  forth  in
        the  Articles.   The  provision is included in the
        Articles so that any change  in  the LBCL will not
        affect the Board's existing power in this area and
        so that the provision will be given  greater force
        by   virtue  of  its  approval  by  the  Company's
        shareholders.   Because the provisions may provide
        the Board with legally  sanctioned  justifications
        for  resisting a takeover attempt when  the  price
        per share  offered  by  the  potential acquiror is
        greater than the recent trading  price  per share,
        the  provision may have the effect of discouraging
        in  advance   or  even  defeating  an  acquisition
        proposal.   The   provision   may   also  dissuade
        shareholders displeased with the Board's  response
        to  an  acquisition  proposal  from  initiating  a
        derivative suit against the Board or from  seeking
        to enjoin certain actions of the Board.  As  such,
        the  provision  may have the effect of maintaining
        the   position  of  incumbent   management.    The
        provision  will  not  make  a business combination
        regarded  by  the  Board  as  being  in  the  best
        interests of the Company and its shareholders more
        difficult to accomplish.

            Board Nominations.  The Articles  provide that
        in  order for a shareholder to nominate  a  person
        for election  as  a director, the shareholder must
        give written notice  to the Company by January 15;
        provided,  that if the  Company  gives  notice  of
        either an annual  meeting  called for a date after
        May 31 or of a special shareholders' meeting, then
        the shareholder notice must  be  received  by  the
        Company no later than the close of business on the
        tenth day after the Company's notice is given.   A
        shareholder    notice    must    contain   certain
        information, including the name, age,  address and
        principal occupation of the proposed nominee,  the
        number  of  shares of capital stock of the Company
        beneficially  owned by the proposed nominee, and a
        description  of   the   relationship  between  the
        shareholder  giving the notice  and  the  proposed
        nominee.  Two  inspectors, not affiliated with the
        Company, appointed  by  the  Company's  Secretary,
        will determine whether the notice provisions  were
        met.  The nomination provision is designed to give
        the  Board sufficient time to consider whether the
        Board  wishes  to  support  the  nomination of the
        proposed  nominee  and  helps to ensure  that  the
        shareholders'  meeting will  be  conducted  in  an
        orderly fashion.   Because  a shareholder who does
        not  comply  with  the  notice provisions  may  be
        prevented from nominating a director at a meeting,
        the provision may make a  change in control of the
        Board more difficult.

            The  foregoing  provisions  do  not  apply  to
        holders of Series A Preferred  Stock in situations
        in which the Series A Preferred  Stock is entitled
        to  elect  directors.   See  "Series  A  Preferred
        Stock."

            Limitation of Certain Liabilities of Directors
        and Officers, Indemnification and Insurance.   The
        Articles  contain  a provision that eliminates any
        personal liability of  the Company's directors and
        officers to the Company  and  its shareholders for
        monetary damages for breach of  his or her duty of
        care  to them.  A director or officer  is  liable,
        however,  for monetary damages for (1) a breach of
        his or her  duty  of loyalty to the Company or its
        shareholders, (2) acts  or  omissions  not in good
        faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a
        knowing  violation  of  law,  (3)  knowingly,   or
        without   the  exercise  of  reasonable  care  and
        inquiry, authorizing  the  payment  of an unlawful
        dividend  or  distribution  or  the repurchase  or
        redemption of the Company's stock  in violation of
        law,  or  (4)  any  transaction  from  which   the
        director  or  officer derived an improper personal
        benefit.

            The Articles also authorize the Board to adopt
        by-laws    and    resolutions     providing    for
        indemnification of directors and officers  of  the
        Company  and  of  its  subsidiaries  and  of other
        persons to the full extent permitted by law.   The
        Board  has  adopted By-laws containing a provision
        granting such  indemnification  to  the  Company's
        directors   and   officers,   and   the  Company's
        shareholders   ratified   the  adoption  of   this
        provision at a meeting held  on April 7, 1993.  In
        addition,  the  Articles authorize  the  Board  to
        cause the Company  to  enter  into  contracts with
        present and future directors and officers  of  the
        Company  and  its  subsidiaries,  and with others,
        providing   for   the   elimination  of  liability
        described  above  and for indemnification  to  the
        full extent permitted  by  law.  The Articles also
        authorize the Board to exercise  the power granted
        by Section 83(F) of the LBCL, which,  in  addition
        to  giving  the  Company  broad  powers to procure
        insurance  for  director  and  officer  liability,
        authorizes the Company to create  trust  funds  or
        other  forms  of self-insurance for the payment of
        such liability.   The Articles authorize the Board
        to  cause  the  Company   to   approve   for   its
        subsidiaries    limitation    of   liability   and
        indemnification  provisions  comparable  to  those
        discussed above.  Any amendment  or  repeal of the
        limitation   of   liability   and  indemnification
        provisions  may  not adversely affect  any  rights
        granted thereunder  with  respect  to  any  act or
        omission  occurring  prior  to  the  time  of such
        amendment or repeal.

            The  limitation  of liability, indemnification
        and insurance provisions  could have the effect of
        reducing the likelihood that  a  shareholder would
        bring  a  derivative  suit  against the  Company's
        directors  and  officers  for  reasons  which  may
        include their resistance of an attempted change in
        control  of  the Company, because  the  chance  of
        recovery by the  Company  and  its shareholders is
        reduced in general.

            Special Shareholders' Meetings.   Pursuant  to
        the  Articles, the Company's shareholders are able
        to cause  special  shareholders'  meetings  to  be
        called  only  upon  the  written  request  of  any
        shareholder  or  group  of shareholders holding in
        the aggregate at least 80%  of  the  total  voting
        power.  The LBCL allows shareholders' meetings  to
        be  called upon request of 20% of the total voting
        power  (except as provided in the articles or in a
        by-law adopted  by  shareholders).   The provision
        has   the   effect   of   reducing  the  power  of
        shareholders  to  force  the  Company  to  hold  a
        shareholders' meeting.

            Vote on Certain Transactions and Amendments to
        Articles.  The Articles provide that if a proposal
        to  be  presented  to  the shareholders  has  been
        recommended by a majority of all of the Continuing
        Directors,  then  the  affirmative   vote  of  the
        holders of a majority of the voting power  present
        at   the  shareholders'  meeting  called  for  the
        purpose  will  be  required  to  approve a merger,
        consolidation, share exchange, disposition  of all
        or  substantially  all  of  the  Company's assets,
        dissolution  or  an  amendment  to  the  Company's
        Articles, and the affirmative vote of  a  majority
        of the votes cast will be required to approve  any
        other  proposal (which in each case is the minimum
        vote allowed  by the LBCL).  If a proposal has not
        been recommended  by  a  majority  of  all  of the
        Continuing Directors, then the affirmative vote of
        80% of the total voting power with respect to each
        such   matter   will  be  required  to  constitute
        shareholder approval.

            Louisiana Fair  Price  Protection Statute.  In
        addition   to  the  vote  described   above,   the
        requirements   of   the   Louisiana   Fair   Price
        Protection  and Control Share Acquisition Statutes
        will apply to  actions  covered by those statutes.
        The  Louisiana  Fair  Price   Protection   Statute
        requires  that any "Business Combination" (defined
        to  include   a   merger,   consolidation,   share
        exchange,  certain asset distributions and certain
        issuances of securities) with a shareholder who is
        the beneficial owner of ten percent or more of the
        voting  power   of  the  Company  (an  "Interested
        Shareholder") or  an  affiliate  of  an Interested
        Shareholder   be   recommended   by   the   Board.
        Additionally,  the  Business  Combination  must be
        approved  by the affirmative vote of at least  (1)
        80%  of  the   votes   entitled   to  be  cast  by
        outstanding shares of voting stock  of the Company
        voting together as a single voting group,  and (2)
        two-thirds  of  the  votes entitled to be cast  by
        holders of voting stock  other  than  voting stock
        held  by  the  Interested Shareholder who  is,  or
        whose  affiliate  is,  a  party  to  the  Business
        Combination  or  an  affiliate or associate of the
        Interested  Shareholder,   voting  together  as  a
        single  group.  These votes are  not  required  if
        certain minimum  price,  form of consideration and
        procedural  requirements  are   satisfied  by  the
        Interested Shareholder.

            Louisiana  Control Share Acquisition  Statute.
        The Louisiana Control  Share  Acquisition  Statute
        provides  that any shares acquired by a person  or
        group  (an  "Acquiror")  in  an  acquisition  that
        causes such person  or  group to have the power to
        direct  the  exercise  of  voting   power  in  the
        election of directors in excess of 20%, 33-1/3% or
        50% thresholds will have only such voting power as
        is  accorded  by  the holders of all shares  other
        than "Interested Shares,"  as  defined below, at a
        meeting called for the purpose of  considering the
        voting  power  to  be  accorded  to  such  shares.
        "Interested Shares" include all shares as to which
        the Acquiror, any officer of the Company  and  any
        director of the Company who is also an employee of
        the  Company,  may exercise or direct the exercise
        of voting power.   If a meeting of shareholders is
        held to consider the  voting rights to be accorded
        to an Acquiror and the shareholders do not vote to
        accord voting rights to  such  shares, the Company
        may have the right to redeem the  shares  held  by
        the  Acquiror  for  their fair value.  The statute
        permits the Articles  or  By-laws  to exclude from
        the  statute's application acquisitions  occurring
        after the adoption of the exclusion.

            By-Laws.    The   Articles  provide  that  the
        Company's  By-laws  may  be   adopted  only  by  a
        majority  vote of all of the Continuing  Directors
        and may be  amended  or  repealed only by majority
        vote of all of the Continuing  Directors or by the
        affirmative  vote of the holders  of  80%  of  the
        total voting power.  A proposal to amend or repeal
        the By-laws may only be considered at an annual or
        special shareholders'  meeting the notice of which
        expressly states that the  proposed  amendment  or
        repeal is to be considered at the meeting.


        Series A Preferred Stock

            General.   In  connection  with  the merger of
        Sugarland Bancshares, Inc. ("Sugarland")  into the
        Company, the Company issued 187,286 shares  of its
        Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series  A,
        no  par  value,  $14.25  per  share  stated  value
        ("Series A Preferred Stock").  The following is  a
        summary  of  the  rights  and  preferences  of the
        Series  A  Preferred Stock as contained in Article
        IIIE of the Articles, to which reference should be
        made  for a more  complete  understanding  of  the
        terms of the Series A Preferred Stock.

            Dividend  Rights.   Holders  of  the  Series A
        Preferred Stock are entitled to receive, but  only
        when, as and if declared by the Board, and out  of
        the  funds  of  the  Company legally available for
        that  purpose, cumulative  cash  dividends  at  an
        annual  rate  of  8.28% of the stated value of the
        Series A Preferred  Stock for 1995, and thereafter
        at an annual rate fixed  on  December  31  of each
        year  for the ensuing calendar year, equal to  the
        yield for  Government  Bonds and Notes maturing in
        December of the following  year,  as  published in
        the Treasury Bonds, Notes and Bills Section of the
        last  issue  of  the Wall Street Journal published
        each  year,  plus  1%  per  annum,  and  no  more;
        provided that the annual dividend rate shall in no
        case be greater than  10%  nor  less  than 6%, and
        that, from and after the tenth anniversary  of the
        date  of  issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock
        the annual dividend rate will be fixed at 10%.  If
        more  than  one   yield   is  shown  for  December
        maturities, the average will  be  applied.   If no
        yield is quoted for December maturities, the yield
        for  the  next  earlier  available  month  will be
        applied.   If  any  quarterly dividend is not paid
        when due, the unpaid  amount will bear interest at
        a rate of 10% per annum until paid.

            Dividends on the Series  A Preferred Stock are
        payable only from legally available funds, defined
        in the Articles to mean such amount of the surplus
        of the Company as may be paid  under  the  LBCL as
        may  be  provided in cash by the Company's wholly-
        owned subsidiary,  MidSouth  National Bank, to the
        Company  as  a dividend under applicable  statutes
        and regulations  of  the  U.S.  Comptroller of the
        Currency and that would not result  in the Company
        or MidSouth National Bank having capital ratios of
        less than the required minimum regulatory  capital
        ratios,  or failing to be "adequately capitalized"
        within  the   meaning   of   applicable   law  and
        regulations,  or  being  in  violation of any law,
        regulation or regulatory directive,  agreement  or
        order.

            Dividends  payable  on  the Series A Preferred
        Stock will be paid on the first  day  of  January,
        April,  July  and October of each year or on  such
        earlier dates as  the  Board may from time to time
        fix  as  the  dates  for  payment   of   quarterly
        dividends on Common Stock, except that the initial
        dividend  on the Series A Preferred Stock will  be
        payable on  the  first  day  of January, 1996, and
        will  be in an amount, at the applicable  dividend
        rate, based on the number of days between the date
        of original issuance and the dividend payment date
        minus 90  days, provided that the aggregate amount
        payable will  be  reduced  by  the amount by which
        certain expenses of Sugarland in  connection  with
        the merger of Sugarland into MidSouth pursuant  to
        which  the  Series  A  Preferred  Stock was issued
        exceed $110,000 (the "Subtracted Amount").  In any
        case  in  which the Subtracted Amount  is  greater
        than the amount  of the dividend otherwise payable
        on January 1, 1996  such  excess  will be deducted
        from  the  amount  otherwise payable on  April  1,
        1996.

            As long as any shares  of  Series  A Preferred
        Stock   are   outstanding,  the  Company  may  not
        declare, pay or set apart for payment any dividend
        on any shares of its Common Stock or other capital
        stock ranking junior  to  the  Series  A Preferred
        Stock   as  to  dividends  or  liquidation  rights
        (collectively,  "Junior  Securities")  or make any
        payment  on  account of, or set apart for  payment
        money for a sinking or other similar fund for, the
        purchase, redemption  or  other retirement of, any
        of the Junior Securities or  any warrants, rights,
        calls  or options exercisable for  or  convertible
        into any  of  the  Junior  Securities, or make any
        distribution in respect thereof,  either  directly
        or  indirectly,  whether  in cash, other property,
        obligations or shares of the  Company  (other than
        distributions or dividends in Junior Securities to
        the  holders  of  Junior Securities), and may  not
        permit any corporation or other entity directly or
        indirectly controlled  by  the Company to purchase
        or  redeem  any of the Junior  Securities  or  any
        warrants, rights, calls or options exercisable for
        or convertible  into any of the Junior Securities,
        unless prior to or  concurrently  with the payment
        or  setting apart for payment of any  dividend  on
        any of  the Junior Securities, all accumulated and
        unpaid dividends  on  shares of Series A Preferred
        Stock, and interest thereon,  if any, have been or
        will  be  paid  in full.  No shares  of  preferred
        stock ranking senior  to  or  on a parity with the
        Series A Preferred Stock may be issued without the
        approval of the holders of the  Series A Preferred
        Stock.

            Redemption  Rights.   On  or after  the  fifth
        anniversary of the date of issuance  of the Series
        A Preferred Stock, the Company may, at its option,
        redeem the whole, or from time to time,  any part,
        of  the  Series  A Preferred Stock at a redemption
        price per share payable in cash in an amount equal
        to the sum of (i)  the  stated value thereof, (ii)
        all accrued and unpaid dividends to the date fixed
        for redemption, whether or  not earned or declared
        and  (iii)  interest  accrued  to   the   date  of
        redemption on all accrued and unpaid dividends, if
        any.  If the Company redeems fewer than all of the
        outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, it
        must  select  the shares to be redeemed by lot  or
        pro rata.

            Conversion   Rights.   At  their  option,  the
        holders of the shares  of Series A Preferred Stock
        may convert such stock into shares of Common Stock
        at  the conversion rate of  one  share  of  Common
        Stock  for  each share of Series A Preferred Stock
        converted at  any  time prior to the redemption of
        the Series A Preferred Stock.  The conversion rate
        is subject to adjustment  from  time  to  time  as
        follows:

            If the Company at any time (i) pays a dividend
        or  makes  a  distribution  to  all holders of its
        Common Stock in shares of Common  Stock  and  does
        not  concurrently  issue shares of Common Stock to
        the holders of the Series  A Preferred Stock in an
        amount equivalent to what holders  of the Series A
        Preferred Stock would have received  if  they  had
        exercised  their  conversion  rights  prior to the
        dividend or distribution, or (ii) effects  a stock
        split  or reverse stock split of its Common Stock,
        then, in each such case, the conversion rate as in
        effect immediately before one of these events will
        be proportionately  decreased or increased, as the
        case may be, so that  the holders of any shares of
        the   Series   A   Preferred    Stock   thereafter
        surrendered  for  conversion will be  entitled  to
        receive the number of whole shares of Common Stock
        that they would have  owned  or  been  entitled to
        receive immediately following such event  if their
        shares  of  Series  A  Preferred  Stock  had  been
        converted into Common Stock prior thereto.
            In  the  event  of (i) any reclassification of
        the Common Stock (other  than  in a stock split or
        reverse  stock  split),  (ii)  a consolidation  or
        merger of the Company in which it  will not be the
        surviving entity, (iii) a sale by the  Company  of
        substantially  all  of  its  property or assets or
        (iv)  a statutory share exchange,  each  share  of
        Series  A Preferred Stock will be convertible into
        or represent  the  right  to receive the number of
        shares  of Common Stock, or  other  securities  or
        property,  equivalent  to  what  the holder of the
        Series A Preferred Stock would have received if he
        had exercised his conversion rights  prior to such
        an event.

            No  adjustment  in  the  conversion  rate   is
        required  unless  the  adjustment would require an
        increase or decrease in  the  conversion  rate  by
        more  than  one percent, but any adjustments which
        would  fall below  one  percent  will  be  carried
        forward cumulatively and taken into account in any
        subsequent adjustments.

            Voting  Rights.   Except as otherwise required
        by  law  or  the Articles,  holders  of  Series  A
        Preferred Stock  are  not  entitled to any vote on
        any  matter,  including  but not  limited  to  any
        merger,  consolidation,  transfer   of  assets  or
        statutory  share  exchange,  or to notice  of  any
        meeting of shareholders of the Company.  If at any
        time the Company falls in arrears  in  the payment
        of  dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock  for
        two consecutive  quarterly  dividend  periods, the
        number  of  directors constituting the full  Board
        will be automatically  increased  by  two, and the
        holders  of  the Series A Preferred Stock,  voting
        separately as  a single class, will be entitled to
        elect two directors of the Company to fill the two
        created directorships, at a special meeting called
        for   the  purpose,   and   thereafter   at   each
        shareholders  meeting  held  for  the  purpose  of
        electing  directors  of  the  Company,  so long as
        there continues to be any arrearage in the payment
        of  dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock  for
        any past  quarterly dividend period or of interest
        on such accumulated  and  unpaid  dividends.  When
        all accumulated and unpaid dividends on the Series
        A Preferred Stock for all past quarterly  dividend
        periods, and the interest thereon, have been  paid
        in full, the right of the holders of the Series  A
        Preferred Stock to elect directors will cease, the
        number   of   directors   of   the   Company  will
        automatically be reduced by two, and the  term  of
        office  of all directors elected by the holders of
        the Series  A  Preferred  Stock  will  immediately
        terminate.

            Holders  of  the  Series  A  Preferred  Stock,
        voting  separately  as  a  class, must approve any
        issuance by the Company of preferred stock ranking
        senior  to  or  on  a  parity with  the  Series  A
        Preferred Stock, and any amendment to the Articles
        that would change the rights  and  preferences  of
        the  Series A Preferred Stock, in each case by the
        affirmative  vote  of holders of two-thirds of the
        Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding.

            Liquidation  Rights.   Upon  the  dissolution,
        liquidation or winding  up  of  the  Company,  the
        holders  of  the  Series A Preferred Stock will be
        entitled to receive  upon  liquidation,  and to be
        paid  out  of  the assets of the Company available
        for distribution  to  its  shareholders before any
        payment or distribution may  be made on the Common
        Stock  or  on  any  other  Junior Securities,  the
        amount of $14.25 per share,  plus  a  sum equal to
        all accrued and unpaid dividends, whether  or  not
        earned  or  declared  on  such shares, and accrued
        interest on such accrued and  unpaid dividends, if
        any,  to the date of final distribution.   Neither
        the sale  of  all  or  substantially  all  of  the
        property  or  business  of  the  Company,  nor the
        merger  or  consolidation  of the Company into  or
        with   any   other  entity,  or  the   merger   or
        consolidation   of   any  other  entity  into  the
        Company,   will  be  considered   a   dissolution,
        liquidation    or   winding   up,   voluntary   or
        involuntary, of the Company.

            Preemptive  Rights.    Holders   of  Series  A
        Preferred Stock do not have preemptive rights.


        Item 2.  Exhibits.

            The following exhibits are filed herewith:

            1.1 Specimen  of  the  Registrant's  Series  A
        Preferred   Stock   certificate   is  included  in
        Registrant's  Form S-4 received by the  Commission
        on April 7, 1995,  and  is  incorporated herein by
        reference.

            1.2 Specimen of the Registrant's  Common Stock
        certificate   is   included   as   Exhibit   1  to
        Registrant's  Form 8-A, received by the Commission
        on March 24, 1993, and  is  incorporated herein by
        reference.

            2.1 Amended   and   Restated    Articles    of
        Incorporation   of   Registrant  are  included  as
        Exhibit 3.1 to Registrant's  Annual Report on Form
        10-K  for  the  year  ended  December   31,  1993,
        received by the Commission on March 31, 1994,  and
        are incorporated herein by reference.

            2.2 Articles  of  Amendment to the Articles of
        Incorporation  of  Registrant   are   included  in
        Exhibit  2  to Registrant's Form S-4, received  by
        the  Commission   on   April   7,  1995,  and  are
        incorporated herein by reference.


<PAGE>
  
                             
                            SIGNATURE


            Pursuant to the requirements  of Section 12 of
        the   Securities   Exchange   Act  of  1934,   the
        Registrant  has  duly  caused  this   registration
        statement  to  be  signed  on  its  behalf by  the
        undersigned, thereto duly authorized.



                                   MIDSOUTH BANCORP, INC.


                               By:   /s/ C. R. Cloutier
                                    __________________________
                                   C. R. Cloutier, President and 
                                   Chief Executive Officer




        Dated:  July 25, 1995


                       



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