10-Q 1 f10q0302.htm FORM 10Q - MARCH 31, 2002 FORM 10Q MARCH 31, 2002

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

|X| QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2002

OR

|   | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                                            to                                           


Commission file number 1-12991


BancorpSouth, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Mississippi 64-0659571
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or
organization)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
 
One Mississippi Plaza, Tupelo, Mississippi 38804
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(662) 680-2000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

NOT APPLICABLE
(Former name, former address, and former fiscal year, if changed since last year)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes  X  No      
As of May 10, 2002, the Registrant had outstanding 81,193,828 shares of common stock, par value $2.50 per share.



BANCORPSOUTH, INC.
CONTENTS

PART I. Financial Information Page
  ITEM 1. Financial Statements  
     
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
March 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001
 
 
3
     
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2002 and 2001
 
 
4
     
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2002 and 2001
 
 
5
     
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)
 
6
  ITEM 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
13
  ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 24
 
PART II.
 
Other Information
 
 
  ITEM 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 24

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this Report may not be based on historical facts and are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1993, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements may be identified by reference to a future period(s) or by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “intend,” “could” and “would.” These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, those relating to the Company’s liquidity, provision and allowance for credit losses, the use of proceeds from the issuance of the junior subordinated debt securities in connection with the trust preferred offering, critical accounting policies, litigation contingencies, student loans, equipment expense, stock repurchase program, capital resources and off-balance sheet arrangements. We caution you not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this Report, in that actual results could differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, changes in economic conditions, prevailing interest rates and government fiscal and monetary policies, effectiveness of the Company’s interest rate hedging strategies, changes in laws and regulations affecting financial institutions, ability of the Company to effectively service loans, ability of the Company to identify and integrate acquisitions and investment opportunities, manage its growth and effectively serve an expanding customer and market base, changes in the Company’s operating or expansion strategy, geographic concentrations of assets, availability of and costs associated with obtaining adequate and timely sources of liquidity, dependence on existing sources of funding, competition from other financial services companies, market conditions as they affect the ability of the Company to repurchase shares of its common stock, possible adverse ruling, judgments, settlements and other outcomes of pending litigation and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s press releases and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date of this Report.



PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements

BANCORPSOUTH, INC.
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)

 

March 31,
2002

 

December 31,
2001
  (In thousands)
ASSETS      
Cash and due from banks $288,797    $341,513 
Interest bearing deposits with other banks 13,608    18,030 
Held-to-maturity securities, at amortized cost 1,180,333    1,110,463 
Available-for-sale securities, at fair value 1,420,635    1,083,191 
Federal funds sold and securities
   purchased under agreement to resell
278,053    343,511 
Loans 6,257,011    6,127,045 
   Less: Unearned discount 50,101    53,845 
           Allowance for credit losses 85,140 
  83,150 
Net loans 6,121,770    5,990,050 
Mortgages held for sale 57,185    65,537 
Premises and equipment, net 213,329    211,576 
Other assets 243,146 
  231,558 
TOTAL ASSETS $9,816,856 
  $9,395,429 
LIABILITIES      
Deposits:      
   Demand: Non-interest bearing $1,084,148    $1,108,499 
                   Interest bearing 2,320,449    2,158,698 
   Savings 893,693    910,682 
   Time 3,876,841 
  3,678,961 
Total deposits 8,175,131    7,856,840 
Federal funds purchased and securities
   sold under repurchase agreements
444,137    473,912 
Short-term borrowings 4,000    –  
Long-term debt 140,651    140,939 
Guaranteed preferred beneficial interests
   in junior subordinated debt securities
125,000    –  
Other liabilities 117,270 
  118,335 
TOTAL LIABILITIES 9,006,189 
  8,590,026 
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY      
Common stock 203,078    203,064 
Capital surplus 15,112    11,457 
Accumulated other comprehensive income 15,790    24,243 
Retained earnings 576,687 
  566,639 
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY $810,667 
  $805,403 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY $9,816,856 
  $9,395,429 
See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.



BANCORPSOUTH, INC.
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income
(Unaudited)

 

Three months ended
March 31,


 
2002
  2001
  (In thousands, except for per share amounts)
INTEREST REVENUE:      
Loans $113,884    $136,123 
Deposits with other banks 55    176 
Interest on federal funds sold and securities
  purchased under agreement to resell
3,308    5,601 
Held-to-maturity securities:      
  Taxable 13,938    13,212 
  Tax-exempt 2,491    2,838 
Available-for-sale securities:      
  Taxable 14,256    13,606 
  Tax-exempt 2,157    1,970 
Mortgages held for sale 912 
  614 
  Total interest revenue 151,001 
  174,140 
INTEREST EXPENSE:      
Deposits 49,901    83,944 
Interest on federal funds purchased and securities
  sold under agreement to repurchase
3,322    6,313 
Other 3,895 
  2,284 
  Total interest expense 57,118 
  92,541 
  Net interest revenue 93,883    81,599 
Provision for credit losses 6,760 
  4,097 
  Net interest revenue, after provision for      
    credit losses 87,123 
  77,502 
OTHER REVENUE:      
Mortgage lending 5,554    (1,333)
Trust income 1,917    1,684 
Service charges 10,210    10,342 
Life insurance income 1,127    1,094 
Security gains (losses), net (25)   2,884 
Insurance commissions 5,668    4,608 
Other 9,025 
  8,670 
  Total other revenue 33,476 
  27,949 
OTHER EXPENSE:      
Salaries and employee benefits 42,591    38,721 
Net occupancy expense 5,254    5,129 
Equipment expense 6,535    7,032 
Telecommunications 1,925    2,182 
Other 20,867 
  19,768 
  Total other expense 77,172 
  72,832 
  Income before income taxes 43,427    32,619 
Income tax expense 14,029 
  10,300 
  Net income $29,398 
  $22,319 
Earnings per share: Basic $0.36 
  $0.27 
                                 Diluted $0.36 
  $0.27 
Dividends declared per common share $0.15 
  $0.14 
See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.


BANCORPSOUTH, INC.
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,
  2002
  2001
  (In thousands)
Net cash provided by operating activities $51,072 
  $16,523 
Investing activities:      
Proceeds from calls and maturities of
  held-to-maturity securities
65,372    136,221 
Proceeds from calls and maturities of
  available-for-sale securities
93,322    62,937 
Proceeds from sales of
  held-to-maturity securities
5,278    –  
Proceeds from sales of
  available-for-sale securities
470    79,657 
Purchases of held-to-maturity securities (140,665)   (340,526)
Purchases of available-for-sale securities (441,207)   (73,844)
Net decrease (increase) in short-term investments 65,458    (307,474)
Net (increase) decrease in loans (219,037)   67,111 
Proceeds from sale of student loans 82,354    61,878 
Purchases of premises and equipment (11,145)   (13,309)
Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment 4,743    1,945 
Other, net 12,144 
  (5,184)
Net cash used by investing activities (482,913)
  (330,588)

Financing activities:

 

 

 
Net increase in deposits 318,291    304,707 
Net (decrease) increase in short-term
  borrowings and other liabilities
(25,959)   5,108 
Repayment of long-term debt (13,788)   (271)
Issuance of junior subordinated debt 121,063    –  
Common stock repurchased (15,040)   (3,948)
Payment of cash dividends (12,193)   (11,750)
Exercise of stock options 2,329 
  178 
Net cash provided by financing activities 374,703 
  294,024 

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

(57,138)

 

(20,041)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of
  period
 
359,543 
   
326,575 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $302,405 
  $306,534 
See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.


BANCORPSOUTH, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

NOTE 1 - BASIS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT PRESENTATION AND
PRINCIPALS OF CONSOLIDATION

The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies in effect as of December 31, 2001, as set forth in the annual consolidated financial statements of BancorpSouth, Inc. (the “Company”), as of such date, except that the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” as of January 1, 2002 (See Notes 7 and 8). In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the consolidated condensed financial statements have been included and all such adjustments were of a normal recurring nature. The results of operations for the three-month period ended March 31, 2002 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

The consolidated condensed financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, BancorpSouth Bank (the “Bank”), and the Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiaries, Century Credit Life Insurance Company, Personal Finance Corporation, BancorpSouth Insurance Services, Inc., BancorpSouth Insurance Services of Alabama, Inc. and BancorpSouth Investment Services, Inc. BancorpSouth Capital Trust I (“the Trust”), a business trust, is treated as a subsidiary of the Company for financial reporting purposes (See Note 6).

NOTE 2 - LOANS

The composition of the loan portfolio by collateral type is detailed below:

  March 31,
  December 31,
  2002
  2001
  2001
  (In thousands)
Commercial and agricultural $731,210   $644,796   $691,463
Consumer and installment 768,499   939,878   865,188
Real estate mortgage:          
   1-4 Family 1,721,348   1,748,815   1,661,871
   Other 2,717,032   2,337,140   2,586,596
Lease financing 290,010   263,984   291,116
Other 28,912
  86,430
  30,811
    Total $6,257,011
  $6,021,043
  $6,127,045


The following table presents information concerning non-performing loans:

  March 31,   December 31,
  2002
  2001
  (In thousands)
Non-accrual loans $9,714   $10,825
Loans 90 days or more past due 30,789   33,012
Restructured loans 38
  40
Total non-performing loans $40,541
  $43,877


NOTE 3 - ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES

The following schedule summarizes the changes in the allowance for credit losses for the periods indicated:

  Three month periods
ended March 31,
  Year ended
December 31,
  2002
  2001
  2001
  (In thousands)
Balance at beginning of period $83,150    $81,730    $81,730 
Provision charged to expense 6,760    4,097    22,259 
Recoveries 934    1,364    4,050 
Loans charged off (6,933)   (6,730)   (24,889)
Acquisitions 1,229 
  –  
  – 
Balance at end of period $85,140 
  $80,461 
  $83,150 


NOTE 4 - PER SHARE DATA

The computation of basic earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. The computation of diluted earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the shares resulting from the assumed exercise of all outstanding stock options using the treasury stock method.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted earnings per share computations for the periods shown:

  Three Months Ended March 31,
  2002
  2001
  Income
(Numerator)

  Shares
(Denominator)

  Per Share
Amount

  Income
(Numerator)

  Shares
(Denominator)

  Per Share
Amount

Basic EPS (In thousands, except per share amounts)
Income available to                      
  common shareholders $29,398   81,108   $0.36
  $22,319   83,808   $0.27
Effect of dilutive stock                      
  options –  
  572
      –  
  407
   
Diluted EPS
Income available to
  common shareholders
                     
  plus assumed exercise $29,398
  81,680
  $0.36
  $22,319
  84,215
  $0.27

NOTE 5 - COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

The following table presents the components of other comprehensive income and the related tax effects allocated to each component for the periods indicated:

  Three Months Ended March 31,
  2002
  2001
  Before
tax
amount

  Tax
(expense)
benefit

  Net
of tax
amount

  Before
tax
amount

  Tax
(expense)
benefit

  Net
of tax
amount

Unrealized gains on securities: (In thousands)
  Unrealized gains arising
    during holding period
$13,729    ($5,251)   $8,478    $15,081    ($5,768)   $9,313 
  Less: Reclassification adjustment                      
    for net (gains) losses realized in net income (40)
  15 
  (25)
  (2,562)
  980
  (1,582)
Other comprehensive income (loss) $13,689 
  ($5,236)
  $8,453    $12,519 
  ($4,788)
  $7,731 
Net income         29,398 
          22,319 
Comprehensive income         $37,851 
          $30,050 

NOTE 6 - ISSUANCE OF TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES

On January 28, 2002, BancorpSouth Capital Trust I (the “Trust”), a Delaware business trust which is treated as a subsidiary of the Company for financial reporting purposes, issued 5,000,000 shares of 8.15% trust preferred securities, $25 liquidation amount per share, due January 28, 2032 and redeemable at the option of the Company after January 28, 2007. Payment of distributions on the trust preferred securities is guaranteed by the Company, but only to the extent the Trust has funds legally and immediately available to make such distributions. The Trust invested the proceeds of from the issuance of the trust preferred securities in the 8.15% junior subordinated debt securities issued by the Company, which will mature on January 28, 2032. The net proceeds to the Company from the issuance of its junior subordinated debt securities to the Trust in the amount of $121,062,500 will be used for general corporate purposes, including repurchase of shares of its outstanding common stock, investments at the holding company level, extensions of credit to its subsidiaries and possible acquisitions.

NOTE 7 - GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the three months ended March 31, 2002 were as follows:

  Retail
Banking
  All
Other
   
Total
  (In thousands)
Balance as of January 1, 2002 $27,534      $27,534 
Goodwill reclassed as other identifiable intangible (3,445)     (3,445)
Goodwill acquired during the period 8,447      8,447 
Impairment losses –  
 
  –  
Balance as of March 31, 2002 $32,536 
 
  $32,536 


The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the year ended December 31, 2001 were as follows:

  Retail
Banking
  All
Other
   
Total
  (In thousands)
Balance as of January 1, 2001 $30,415      $30,415 
Amortization of goodwill (3,013)     (3,013)
Adjustment to goodwill acquired during year 132      132 
Impairment losses –  
 
  –  
Balance as of December 31, 2001 $27,534 
 
  $27,534 


The following table presents information regarding the components of the Company's identifiable intangible assets for the periods indicated:

  Three months ended
March 31, 2002

  Year ended
December 31, 2001

  Gross Carrying
Amount

 
 

Accumulated
Amortization

  Gross Carrying
Amount

 
 

Accumulated
Amortization

Amortized intangible assets: (In thousands)
  Core deposit intangibles $11,548    $2,994    $9,299    $2,689 
  Customer lists 4,904    391    4,904    321 
  Mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) 67,374    22,269    64,158    20,532 
 
 
 
 
  Three months ended
March 31,

  2002
  2001
Aggregate amortization expense for: (In thousands)
  Core deposit intangibles $306    $113 
  Customer lists 69    69 
  Mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) 1,722    1,372 
 
 
 
 
  Core Deposit
Intangibles

  Customer
Lists

   
MSRs

Estimated amortization expense: (In thousands)        
  For year ended 12/31/02 $1,503   $288   $6,200
  For year ended 12/31/03   1,464     288     5,600
  For year ended 12/31/04   1,345     288     5,000
  For year ended 12/31/05   1,154     288     4,500
  For year ended 12/31/06   1,011     288     4,100


The following table provides the transitional disclosures required under SFAS No. 142 for the Company’s goodwill and other intangible assets:

  Three months ended
March 31,

  2002
  2001
  (In thousands, except per share data)
Reported net income $29,398    $22,319 
Add back: Goodwill amortization –  
  768 
Adjusted net income $29,398 
  $23,087 
Basic earnings per share:  
  Reported net income $0.36    $0.27 
  Goodwill amortization –  
  0.01 
  Adjusted net income $0.36 
  $0.28 
Diluted earnings per share:  
  Reported net income $0.36    $0.27 
  Goodwill amortization –  
  –  
  Adjusted net income $0.36 
  $0.27 


NOTE 8 - RECENT PRONOUNCEMENTS

The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations” effective July 1, 2001 and the provisions of SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” effective January 1, 2002. SFAS No. 141 requires that the purchase method of accounting be used for all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 as well as all purchase method business combinations completed after June 30, 2001. SFAS No. 141 also specifies certain criteria that intangible assets acquired in a purchase method business combination must meet to be recognized and reported apart from goodwill. SFAS No. 142 requires that goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives no longer be amortized, but instead tested for impairment at least annually in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 142. SFAS No. 142 also requires that intangible assets with definite useful lives be amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to the estimated residual values, and reviewed for impairment in accordance with SFAS No. 121, “Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed Of.”

The Company also adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment of Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” effective January 1, 2002. SFAS No. 144 supersedes both SFAS No. 121, “Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of” and the accounting and reporting provisions of APB Opinion No. 30, “Reporting the Results of Operations—Reporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a Business, and Extraordinary, Unusual and Infrequently Occurring Events and Transactions (Opinion 30), for the disposal of a segment of a business (as previously defined in Opinion 30). SFAS No. 144 retains the fundamental provisions in SFAS No. 121 for recognizing and measuring impairment losses on long-lived assets held for use and long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale, while also resolving significant implementation issues associated with SFAS No.121. For example, SFAS No. 144 provides guidance on how a long-lived asset that is used as part of a group should be evaluated for impairment, establishes criteria for when a long-lived asset is held for sale and prescribes the accounting for a long-lived asset that will be disposed of other than by sale. SFAS No. 144 retains the basic provisions of Opinion 30 on how to present discontinued operations in the income statement but broadens that presentation to include a component of an entity (rather than a segment of a business). Unlike SFAS No. 121, an impairment assessment under SFAS No. 144 will never result in a write-down of goodwill. Rather, goodwill is evaluated for impairment under SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. The adoption of SFAS No. 144 had no impact on the Company’s financial statements.

NOTE 9 - BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

On February 28, 2002, the Company completed its merger with Pinnacle Bancshares, Inc. (“Pinnacle”), a bank holding company with approximately $130 million in assets. Pinnacle is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas and provides the Company with two banking locations in Arkansas’ largest market. The Company issued approximately 555,000 shares of common stock in addition to cash paid to Pinnacle shareholders to consummate the merger. Supplemental pro forma information has not been presented, as this acquisition did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. Beginning March 1, 2002, the results of operations for Pinnacle are included in the income statement of the Company.

NOTE 10 - SEGMENT REPORTING

The Company’s principal activity is community banking, which includes providing a full range of deposit products, commercial loans and consumer loans. General corporate and other includes leasing, mortgage lending, trust services, credit card activities, insurance services, investment services and other activities not allocated to community banking.

Results of operations and selected financial information by operating segment for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2002 and 2001 are presented below:

   
Community
Banking

  General
Corporate
and Other

   
 
Total

  (In thousands)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2002          
Results of Operations          
Net interest revenue $76,752    $17,131    $93,883 
Provision for credit losses 6,063 
  697 
  6,760 
Net interest revenue after provision for credit losses 70,689    16,434    87,123 
Other revenue 17,279    16,197    33,476 
Other expense 61,439 
  15,733 
  77,172 
Income before income taxes 26,529    16,898    43,427 
Income taxes 8,570 
  5,459 
  14,029 
Net income $17,959    $11,439    $29,398 
Selected Financial Information          
Identifiable assets (at end of period) $8,916,118    $900,738    $9,816,856 
Depreciation & amortization 6,212    446    6,658 


Three Months Ended March 31, 2001
         
Results of Operations          
Net interest revenue $67,187    $14,412    $81,599 
Provision for credit losses 3,221 
  876 
  4,097 
Net interest revenue after provision for credit losses 63,966    13,536    77,502 
Other revenue 17,508    10,441    27,949 
Other expense 58,303 
  14,529 
  72,832 
Income before income taxes 23,171    9,448    32,619 
Income taxes 8,953 
  1,347 
  10,300 
Net income $14,218    $8,101    $22,319 
Selected Financial Information          
Identifiable assets (at end of period) $8,605,709    $778,369    $9,384,078 
Depreciation & amortization 6,337    464    6,801 


ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
              CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

BancorpSouth, Inc. (the “Company”) is a bank holding company headquartered in Tupelo, Mississippi. BancorpSouth Bank (the “Bank”), the Company’s banking subsidiary, has commercial banking operations in Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana. The Bank and its consumer finance, credit life insurance, insurance agency and brokerage subsidiaries provide commercial banking, leasing, mortgage origination and servicing, life insurance, brokerage and trust services to corporate customers, local governments, individuals and other financial institutions through an extensive network of branches and offices.

The following discussion provides certain information concerning the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of the Company. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements for the periods ended March 31, 2002 and 2001, found in Item 1., “Financial Statements” of this Report.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Summary

The Company’s net income for the first quarter of 2002 was $29.40 million, an increase of 31.72% from $22.32 million in the first quarter of 2001. Basic and diluted earnings per share for the first quarter of 2002 were $0.36, compared to basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.27 for the same period of 2001. The annualized returns on average assets for the first quarter of 2002 and 2001 were 1.24% and 0.99%, respectively. Relatively stable short-term interest rates during the first quarter of 2002 compared to falling short-term interest rates during the first quarter of 2001 lessened the pressure on the Company’s net interest margin and was a primary factor in the significant increase in earnings.

Critical Accounting Policies

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, which require the Company to make estimates and assumptions. The Company believes that its determination of the allowance for credit losses and the valuation of mortgage servicing rights involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity than the Company’s other significant accounting policies. Further, these estimates can be materially impacted by changes in (1) market conditions or (2) the actual or perceived financial condition of the Company’s borrowers, subjecting the Company to significant volatility of earnings.

The allowance for credit losses is established through the provision for credit losses, which is a charge against earnings. Provisions for credit losses are made to reserve for estimated probable losses on loans. The allowance for credit losses is a significant estimate and is regularly evaluated by the Company for adequacy by taking into consideration factors such as changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio; trends in actual and forecasted credit quality, including delinquency, charge-off and bankruptcy rates; and current economic conditions that may affect a borrower’s ability to pay. The use of different estimates or assumptions could produce different provisions for credit losses.

The need for and the amount of a valuation allowance to reflect the carrying value of capitalized mortgage servicing rights at the lower of cost or fair value is a significant estimate and if determined necessary, is reflected in a charge against mortgage lending revenue. In determining the fair value of capitalized mortgage servicing rights, the Company utilizes the expertise of an independent third party. Relying on assumptions about factors such as mortgage interest rates, discount rates, mortgage loans prepayment speeds, market trends, and industry demand, a fair value estimate of the Company’s capitalized mortgage servicing rights is performed and reviewed by management. The use of different estimates or assumptions could produce different fair values. The Company does not routinely hedge the value of capitalized mortgage servicing rights and is susceptible to significant fluctuations in value in rapidly changing interest rate environments.

Net Interest Revenue

Net interest revenue is the difference between interest revenue earned on assets, such as loans, leases and securities, and interest expense paid on liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings, and continues to provide the Company with its principal source of revenue. Net interest revenue is affected by the general level of interest rates, changes in interest rates and by changes in the amount and composition of interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities. The Company’s long-term objective is to manage those assets and liabilities to maximize net interest revenue, while balancing interest rate, credit, liquidity and capital risks. For purposes of this discussion, interest revenue from tax-exempt loans and investment securities has been adjusted to a fully taxable equivalent basis, using an effective tax rate of 35%.

Net interest revenue was $96.86 million for the three months ended March 31, 2002, compared to $84.51 million for the same period in 2001, representing an increase of $12.36 million, or 14.62%.

Interest revenue decreased $23.07 million, or 13.03%, to $153.98 million for the three months ended March 31, 2002 from $177.05 million for the three months ended March 31, 2001. While average interest earning assets increased by $428.36 million, or 5.02%, to $8.97 billion for the first quarter of 2002 from $8.54 billion for the first quarter of 2001, the average yield of those assets declined by 145 basis points to 6.96% for the first quarter of 2002 from 8.41% for the first quarter of 2001.

Interest expense decreased $35.42 million, or 38.28%, to $57.12 million for the three months ended March 31, 2002 from $92.54 million for the three months ended March 31, 2001. Average interest bearing liabilities increased $352.59 million, or 4.84%, to $7.64 billion for the first quarter of 2002 from $7.29 billion for the first quarter of 2001, while the average rate paid on those liabilities decreased 212 basis points to 3.03% for the first quarter of 2002 from 5.15% for the first quarter of 2001.

The relative performance of the asset deployment and funding functions are frequently measured by two calculations – net interest margin and net interest rate spread. Net interest margin is determined by dividing fully taxable equivalent net interest revenue by average earning assets. Net interest rate spread is the difference between the average fully taxable equivalent yield earned on interest earning assets and the average rate paid on interest bearing liabilities.

Net interest margin for the first quarter of 2002 and 2001 was 4.38%, and 4.01%, respectively. Net interest rate spread for the first quarter of 2002 was 3.93%, an increase of 67 basis points from 3.26% for the same period of 2001. This improvement in net interest margin and net interest rate spread was due to the Company’s ability to offset the decrease in the average rate earned on interest earning assets, from 8.41% for the first quarter of 2001 to 6.96% for the first quarter of 2002, by a larger decrease in the average rate paid on interest bearing liabilities from 5.15% for the first quarter of 2001 to 3.03% for the first quarter of 2002. The increase in net interest margin and net interest rate spread for the three-month period ended March 31, 2002 over the same period of 2001 was primarily due to repricing of maturing time deposits at prevailing lower interest rates during the first quarter of 2002.

Provision for Credit Losses

The provision for credit losses is the cost of providing an allowance or reserve for estimated probable losses on loans. The amount for each accounting period is dependent upon many factors, including loan growth, net charge-offs, changes in the composition of the loan portfolio, delinquencies, management’s assessment of loan portfolio quality, the value of collateral and general economic factors. The process of determining the adequacy of the provision requires that management make material estimates and assumptions that are particularly susceptible to significant change. Future additions to the allowance for credit losses may be necessary based upon changes in economic conditions. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Company’s allowance for credit losses. These agencies may require the Company to recognize changes to the allowance based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination.

The provision for credit losses totaled $6.76 million for the first quarter of 2002, compared to $4.10 million for the same period of 2001, representing an increase of 65.00%. Loans charged off, net of recoveries, increased 11.80% in the first quarter, when compared to the same period of 2001. The increase in the provision for credit losses for the first quarter of 2002 of $2.66 million over the provision for credit losses for the first quarter of 2001, reflects the decline in general economic conditions in the region serviced by the Company as evidenced by a 31.03%% increase in the Company’s non-performing assets for the first quarter of 2002 as compared to the first quarter of 2001. Consumer and installment loans, which include indirect automobile, consumer finance and credit card loans, have been most affected by the economic slow down. The Company’s exposure to losses from indirect automobile sales financing continues to diminish as that portfolio of loans has decreased by $23.4 million since December 31, 2001. The Company’s allowance for credit losses as a percentage of loans outstanding was 1.37% at March 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001.

Other Revenue

Other revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2002 totaled $33.48 million, compared to $27.95 million for the same period of 2001, an increase of 19.78%. The most significant change in other revenue was in mortgage lending. Revenue of $5.55 million from mortgage lending activities was recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2002, an increase of $6.89 million from a loss from mortgage lending activities of $1.33 million for the first quarter of 2001. The Company’s revenue from mortgage lending is primarily attributable to two activities, origination of new mortgage loans and servicing mortgage loans, and typically fluctuates as interest rates change. The Company’s normal practice is to generate mortgage loans, sell the loans in the secondary market and retain the servicing rights to the sold loans. The mortgage servicing rights are carried as an asset by the Company and represent the present value of the future stream of servicing fees expected to be earned over the estimated lives of the loans being serviced. The Company does not routinely hedge the value of its mortgage servicing asset and is susceptible to significant fluctuations in value in changing interest rate environments. When interest rates decline, as they did in the first quarter of 2001, refinancing of home mortgages typically accelerates and the value of the Company’s mortgage servicing asset typically declines as the expected lives of the underlying mortgages shorten. This resulted in a $4.32 million charge to mortgage revenue in the first quarter of 2001 to record the impairment to the Company’s mortgage servicing asset. During the first quarter of 2002, interest rates remained relatively stable and changes in the value of the Company’s mortgage servicing asset resulted in recovery of $531,000 of previously recorded impairment in the first quarter of 2002. Revenue from mortgage loan origination activities was $4.21 million in the first quarter of 2002 compared to $2.20 million in the first quarter of 2001.

Service charge revenue decreased 1.28%, from $10.34 million for the first quarter of 2001 to $10.21 million for the first quarter of 2002. Insurance service fees increased 23.00%, from $4.61 million for the first quarter of 2001 to $5.67 million for the first quarter of 2002. The increase in insurance revenue for the first quarter of 2002 compared to the respective period in 2001 is primarily attributable to increased annuity sales. Revenue from fiduciary activities was $1.92 million for the first quarter of 2002, an increase of 13.84% from the $1.68 million reported in the first quarter of 2001.

Net security losses of $25,000 were reported in the first quarter of 2002 compared to net security gains of $2.88 million for the first quarter of 2001 and reflect the sales of securities from the available-for-sale portfolio and certain securities from the held-to-maturity portfolio sold due to their deterioration in credit quality. Other revenue for the first quarter of 2002 included a gain of $2.16 million from the sale of $80.19 million in student loans compared to a gain of $1.70 million on sales of $61.10 million in student loans in the first quarter of 2001. The Bank continues to originate student loans, which may result in subsequent periodic sales.

Other Expense

Other expense totaled $77.17 million for the first quarter of 2002, a 5.96% increase from $72.83 million for the same period of 2001. Salaries and employee benefits expense for the first quarter of 2002 was $42.59 million, a 10.00% increase from $38.72 million for the first quarter of 2001. This increase is attributable to increases in employee salaries and the cost of employee health care and other benefits, the addition of employees for locations added since the first quarter of 2001 and employees added through acquisitions in the first quarter of 2002. Occupancy expense increased 2.44% to $5.25 million for the first quarter of 2002 from $5.13 million for the first quarter of 2001. This increase was primarily due to additional locations and facilities opened since March 31, 2001. Equipment expense of $6.54 million for the first quarter of 2002 represented a decrease of 7.07% when compared to equipment expense of $7.03 million for the first quarter of 2001. The primary reason for the decrease in equipment expense is the elimination of duplicate data processing operations as the former First United Bancshares banks were converted to the Company’s operating systems during 2001. Telecommunications expense of $1.93 million for the first quarter of 2002 represented a decrease of 11.78% when compared to telecommunications expense of $2.18 million for the first quarter of 2001. This decrease is primarily attributable to decreased voice and data transmission expense. The other components of other expense reflect normal increases and general inflation in the cost of services and supplies purchased by the Company.

Income Tax

Income tax expense was $14.03 million and $10.30 million for the first quarter of 2002 and 2001, respectively, representing an increase of 36.20%. The increase for the first quarter of 2002 compared to the first quarter of 2001 is a function of increased income in 2002. The effective tax rates for the first quarter of 2002 and 2001 were 32.30% and 31.58%, respectively.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

Earning Assets

The percentage of earning assets to total assets measures the effectiveness of management’s efforts to invest available funds into the most efficient and profitable uses. Earning assets at March 31, 2002 were $9.16 billion, or 93.28% of total assets, compared with $8.69 billion, or 92.53% of total assets, at December 31, 2001.

The securities portfolio is used to make various term investments, to provide a source of liquidity and to serve as collateral to secure certain types of deposits. Held-to-maturity securities at March 31, 2002 were $1.18 billion, compared with $1.11 billion at the end of 2001, a 6.29% increase. Available-for-sale securities were $1.42 billion at March 31, 2002, compared to $1.08 billion at December 31, 2001, a 31.15% increase.

The Bank’s loan portfolio makes up the largest single component of the Company’s earning assets. The Bank’s lending activities include both commercial and consumer loans. Loan originations are derived from a number of sources, including direct solicitation by the Bank’s loan officers, real estate broker referrals, mortgage loan companies, current savers and borrowers, builders, attorneys, walk-in customers and, in some instances, other lenders. The Bank has established disciplined and systematic procedures for approving and monitoring loans that vary depending on the size and nature of the loan. Loans, net of unearned discount, totaled $6.21 billion at March 31, 2002, which represents a 2.20% increase from the December 31, 2001 total of $6.07 billion. Loans increased even though the Company sold $80.19 million of student loans in the first three months of 2002 and management continued its strategy to reduce the Company’s exposure to indirect automobile sales financing by allowing its portfolio of such loans to decline. Indirect automobile loans were $123.0 million at March 31, 2002, representing a decrease of $23.4 million from $146.4 million at December 31, 2001.

At March 31, 2002, the Company did not have any concentrations of loans in excess of 10% of total loans outstanding. Loan concentrations are considered to exist when there are amounts loaned to a multiple number of borrowers engaged in similar activities that would cause them to be similarly impacted by economic or other conditions. However, the Company does conduct business in a geographically concentrated area. Therefore, the ability of the Company’s borrowers to repay loans is to some extent dependent upon the economic conditions prevailing in the Company’s market area.

In the normal course of business, management becomes aware of possible credit problems in which borrowers exhibit potential for the inability to comply with the contractual terms of their loans, but which do not currently meet the criteria for disclosure as potential problem loans because management currently does not have serious doubt as to the borrowers’ ability to comply with the loan terms. Historically, some of these loans are ultimately restructured or placed in non-accrual status.

The Company’s policy provides that loans, other than installment loans, are generally placed on non-accrual status if, in management’s opinion, payment in full of principal or 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. Non-performing loans were 0.65% of all loans outstanding at March 31, 2002 and 0.72% of all loans outstanding at December 31, 2001.

Allowance for Credit Losses

The Company attempts to maintain the allowance for credit losses at a level that, in the opinion of management, is adequate to meet the estimated probable losses on its current portfolio of loans. The process of determining the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses requires that management make material estimates and assumptions that are particularly susceptible to significant change. In employing its systematic methodology, the Company follows several processes to determine the allowance for credit losses.

The allowance for credit losses is based principally upon the Company’s loan classification system. The Company has a disciplined approach for assigning credit ratings and classifications to individual credits. Each credit is assigned a grade by the relevant loan officer, which serves as a basis for the credit analysis of the entire portfolio. The grade considers the borrower’s creditworthiness, collateral values, cash flows and other factors. An independent loan review department is responsible for reviewing the credit rating and classification of individual credits and assessing trends in the portfolio, adherence to internal credit policies and procedures and other factors that may affect the overall adequacy of the allowance. The loss factors assigned to each classification are based upon the attributes (loan to collateral values, borrower creditworthiness, etc.) of the loans typically assigned to each grade. Management periodically reviews the loss factors assigned in light of the general economic environment and overall condition of the loan portfolio and modifies the loss factors assigned to each classification as deemed appropriate. The overall allowance includes a component representing the results of other analyses intended to ensure that the allowance is adequate to cover other probable losses inherent in the portfolio. This component considers analyses of changes in credit risk resulting from different underwriting criteria in acquired loan portfolios, industry concentrations, changes in the mix of loans originated, overall credit criteria and other economic indicators. Future additions to the allowance may be necessary based on changes in economic conditions. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Company’s allowance for credit losses. These agencies may require the Company to record changes to the allowance based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination.

The allocation of allowance by loan category is based, in part, on evaluations of specific loans’ past history and on economic conditions within specific industries or geographical areas. Accordingly, because all of these conditions are subject to change, the allocation is not necessarily indicative of the breakdown of any future allowance or losses. The following table presents (a) the allocation of the allowance for credit losses by loan category and (b) the percentage of total loans for each category in the loan portfolio for the dates indicated:



  March 31,
  December 31,
  2002
  2001
  2001
  ALLOWANCE       ALLOWANCE       ALLOWANCE      
  FOR   % OF   FOR   % OF   FOR   % OF  
  CREDIT   TOTAL   CREDIT   TOTAL   CREDIT   TOTAL  
  LOSSES
  LOANS
  LOSSES
  LOANS
  LOSSES
  LOANS
 
  (Dollars in thousands)
Commercial and agricultural $10,378   11.69%   $12,960   10.71%   $10,923   11.29%  
Consumer and installment 12,516   12.28%   27,091   15.61%   12,853   14.12%  
Real estate mortgage 55,427   70.93%   32,760   67.86%   50,068   69.34%  
Lease financing 2,683   4.64%   2,500   4.38%   2,584   4.75%  
Other 4,136
  0.46%
  5,150
  1.44%
  6,722
  0.50%
 
    Total $85,140
  100.00%
  $80,461
  100.00%
  $83,150
  100.00%
 


The following table provides an analysis of the allowance for credit losses for the periods indicated:

   
 
Three months ended March 31,
  Twelve
months ended
December 31,
  2002
  2001
  2001
  (Dollars in thousands)
Balance, beginning of period
 
$83,150 
 
 
 
$81,730 
 
 
 
$81,730 
 
Loans charged off:          
Commercial and agricultural (2,027)   (789)   (3,763)
Consumer & installment (4,318)   (5,105)   (16,898)
Real estate mortgage (588)   (836)   (3,764)
Lease financing – 
  – 
  (464)
   Total loans charged off (6,933)
  (6,730)
  (24,889)
Recoveries:          
Commercial and agricultural 321    335    394 
Consumer & installment 567    744    3,092 
Real estate mortgage 35    269    511 
Lease financing 11 
  16 
  53 
   Total recoveries 934 
  1,364 
  4,050 
           
Net charge-offs (5,999)   (5,366)   (20,839)
           
Provision charged to operating expense 6,760    4,097    22,259 
Acquisitions 1,229 
  –   
  – 
Balance, end of period $85,140 
  $80,461 
  $83,150 
Average loans for period $6,142,294 
  $6,025,742 
  $6,010,841 
RATIOS:          
Net charge-offs to average loans-annualized 0.39%
  0.36%
  0.35%


Deposits and Other Interest Bearing Liabilities

Deposits originating within the communities served by the Bank continue to be the Company’s primary source of funding its earning assets. Total deposits at March 31, 2002 were $8.18 billion as compared to $7.86 billion at December 31, 2001, representing a 4.05% increase. Non-interest bearing demand deposits decreased by $24.35 million, or 2.20%, from $1.11 billion at December 31, 2001 to $1.08 billion at March 31, 2002, while interest bearing demand, savings and time deposits grew $342.64 million, or 5.08%, from $6.75 billion to $7.10 billion from December 31, 2001 to March 31, 2002.

Liquidity, Capital Resources and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

One of the Company’s goals is to provide adequate funds to meet changes in loan demand and increases in the normal level of deposit withdrawals. This goal is accomplished primarily by generating cash from operating activities and maintaining sufficient short-term liquid assets. These sources, coupled with a stable deposit base and a strong reputation in the capital markets, allow the Company to fund earning assets and maintain the availability of funds. Management believes that the Company’s traditional sources of maturing loans and investment securities, sales of mortgages held for sale, cash from operating activities and a strong base of cored deposits are adequate to meet the Company’s liquidity needs for normal operations. To provide additional liquidity, the Company utilizes short-term financing through the purchase of federal funds and securities lending arrangements. Further, the Company maintains a borrowing relationship with the Federal Home Loan Bank which provides liquidity to fund term loans with borrowings of matched or longer maturities. Should the Company’s traditional sources of liquidity be constrained, forcing the Company to pursue avenues of funding not typically used, the Company’s net interest margin could be negatively impacted. The Company has not used in the past and does not expect to use in the future off-balance sheet entities to support the Company’s liquidity and capital needs. These entities are commonly referred to as special purpose entities and are often used as a mechanism to facilitate the sale of assets. The Company does utilize, among other tools, maturity gap tables, interest rate shock scenarios and an active asset and liability management committee to analyze, manage and plan asset growth and to assist in managing the Company’s net interest margin and overall level of liquidity. The Company’s approach to providing adequate liquidity has been successful in the past and management does not anticipate any near- or long-term changes to its liquidity strategies.

In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into various off-balance sheet commitments and other arrangements to extend credit, which are not reflected in the consolidated financial position of the Company. The business purpose of these off-balance sheet commitments is the routine extension of credit. While most of the commitments to extend credit are made at variable rates, included in these commitments are forward commitments to fund individual fixed-rate mortgage loans. These fixed-rate lending commitments expose the Company to risks associated with movements in interest rates. As a method to manage these risks, the Company also enters into forward commitments to sell individual fixed-rate mortgage loans. The Company also faces the risk of deteriorating credit quality of borrowers to whom a commitment to extend credit has been made, however no significant credit losses are expected from these commitments and arrangements.

The Company is required to comply with the risk-based capital requirements of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. These requirements apply a variety of weighting factors, which vary according to the level of risk associated with the particular assets. At March 31, 2002, the Company’s Tier 1 capital and total capital, as a percentage of total risk-adjusted assets, were 10.05% and 11.04% respectively. Both ratios exceed the required minimum levels for these ratios of 4.0% and 8.0%, respectively. In addition, the Company’s Tier 1 leverage capital ratio (Tier 1 capital divided by total assets, less goodwill) was 9.13% at March 31, 2002, compared to the required minimum Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of 4%. The $125 million in trust preferred securities issued by the Company on January 28, 2002 qualifies as Tier 1 capital (See Note 6).

The Company may pursue acquisition transactions of depository institutions and businesses closely related to banking which further the Company’s business strategies. The Company anticipates that a portion of the consideration for substantially all of these transactions, if any, would be shares of the Company’s common stock; however, transactions involving only cash consideration or other forms of consideration may also be considered.

On March 5, 2001, the Company announced a stock repurchase program whereby the Company may acquire up to 4.2 million shares of the Company’s common stock, or approximately 5% of the shares of common stock then outstanding. The shares are to be repurchased from time to time in the open market at prevailing market prices or in privately negotiated transactions. The extent and timing of any repurchases will depend on market conditions and other corporate considerations. As of March 31, 2002, 3,766,115 shares of the Company’s common stock had been repurchased under this repurchase program. The repurchase program is expected to be completed within 18 months from its commencement date of March 9, 2001. Repurchased shares will be held authorized but unissued stock and will be available for use in connection with the Company’s stock option plans and other compensation programs, or for other corporate purposes as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors.

On February 15, 2002, the Company announced a stock repurchase program whereby the Company may acquire up to 4.1 million shares of its common stock, in addition to the 433,885 shares that the Company had yet to repurchase as of March 31, 2002, pursuant to the common stock repurchase program authorized March 5, 2001. The shares are to be repurchased from time to time in the open market at prevailing market prices or in privately negotiated transactions. The extent and time of any repurchase will depend on market conditions and other corporate considerations. This repurchase program is expected to be completed within 18 months from it announcement date. Repurchased shares will be held as authorized but unissued shares and will be available for use in connection with the Company’s stock option plans and other compensation programs, or for other corporate purposes as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors. At March 31, 2002, no shares had been repurchased under this repurchase program.

The Company conducts its stock repurchase program by using funds received in the ordinary course of business. The Company has not experienced a material effect on its capital resources or liquidity, and does not expect to experience any material effects in connection with its stock repurchase programs during the terms of these programs.

On January 28, 2002, BancorpSouth Capital Trust I (the “Trust”), a Delaware business trust which is treated as a subsidiary of the Company for financial reporting purposes, issued 5,000,000 shares of 8.15% trust preferred securities, $25 liquidation amount per share, due January 28, 2032 and redeemable at the option of the Company after January 28, 2007. The Trust invested the proceeds from the issuance of the trust preferred securities in the 8.15% junior subordinated debt securities issued by the Company which will mature on January 28, 2032. The net proceeds to the Company from the issuance of its junior subordinated debt securities to the Trust in the amount $121,062,500 will be used for general corporate purposes, including the repurchase of shares of its outstanding common stock, investments at the holding company level, extensions of credit to its subsidiaries and possible acquisitions.

Certain Litigation Contingencies

In some states in which we operate, and particularly in Mississippi, there has been a substantial increase in litigation against financial services companies in connection with lending, insurance and other financial transactions. While the allegations vary from case to case and from company to company, in general such cases allege that loans were originated or renewed at a time or in a way that improperly enhanced the charges paid by the borrower and/or that the borrowers were sold insurance products or charged fees without appropriate disclosures. Cases of this type have been filed against some of our subsidiaries. Such claims are now being asserted by several hundred individuals in an increasing number of cases filed in several different counties noted for large jury awards. Since attorneys are actively advertising for such claimants, and since some of the attorneys who have already filed cases purport to represent hundreds of additional claimants for whom they have not yet filed proceedings, the number of cases filed and the number of individuals asserting such claims will in all probability continue to increase.

These actions tend to seek large amount of damages for claims arising out of transactions that involve relatively small amounts of money. It is not possible to quantify the potential exposure presented by these claims for a number of reasons, primarily because many of the cases have only been recently filed, the facts vary from case to case and are usually disputed, the amount of jury award has differed from county to county and case to case, and the law provides juries little guidance to determine the amount of punitive damages they may render. The relatively few cases actually tried against other companies in our market area have produced varying awards. Some cases have resulted in large awards of actual and punitive damages for each claimant. None of those larger awards has yet been reviewed on appeal. Rather than face the risk and uncertainty of such awards, some companies have engaged in settlements of such cases. Thus, the results of litigation against other companies in other cases provide only limited information to predict the amount of risk created by the claims asserted against us since the factual basis for those claims may be quite different for those asserted against us, the documentation of the transactions underlying each claim varies from company to company, and jury awards (and the expectation of such awards in influencing settlement) turn on many factors.

Future legislation and court decisions may limit the amount of damages that can be recovered in such cases; however, we cannot predict the course of any such legislation or court decisions or the effect that they may have with respect to litigation directed toward us.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

During the three months ended March 31, 2002, there were no material changes to the quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risks presented in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001.

PART II
OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
   
(a) Exhibits
   
(3.1) Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 33-88274) filed on January 5, 1995, and
incorporated herein by reference)
(3.2) Amendment to Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 33-88274) filed on January 5,
1995, and incorporated herein by reference)
(3.3) Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (filed as Exhibit 3(b) to the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 (file No. 1-12991) and incorporated
herein by reference)
(3.4) Amendment to Amended and Restated Bylaws (filed as Exhibit 3(c) to the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 (file No. 1-12991) and incorporated
herein by reference)
(4.1) Specimen Common Stock Certificate (filed as Exhibit 4 to the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994 (file number 0-10826) and incorporated
herein by reference)
(4.2) Rights Agreement, dated as of April 24, 1991 including as Exhibit A the forms of Rights
Certificate and of Election to Purchase and as Exhibit B the summary of Rights to Purchase
Common Shares (filed as Exhibit 1 to the Company's registration statement on Form 8-A filed
April 24, 1991 and incorporated herein by reference)
(4.3) First Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of March 28, 2001 (filed as Exhibit 2 to the
Company's amended registration statement on Form 8-A/A filed March 28, 2001 and
incorporated herein by reference)
(4.4) Junior Subordinated Indenture (filed as Exhibit 4.8 to the Company’s Current Report on
Form 8-K filed on January 28, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference).
(4.5) Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of BancorpSouth Capital Trust I (filed as
Exhibit 4.13 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 28, 2002
and incorporated herein by reference).
(4.6) Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement relating to BancorpSouth Capital Trust I (filed
as Exhibit 4.25 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 28, 2002 and
incorporated herein by reference).
   
(b) Reports on Form 8-K

A report on Form 8-K was filed January 18, 2002, reporting under Item 5, "Other Events" and Item 7, "Financial Statements and Exhibits."

A report on Form 8-K was filed January 28, 2002, reporting under Item 5, "Other Events" and Item 7, "Financial Statements and Exhibits."

A report on Form 8-K was filed January 30, 2002, reporting under Item 7, "Financial Statements and Exhibits" and Item 9, "Regulation FD Disclosure."

A report on Form 8-K was filed February 19, 2002, reporting under Item 5, "Other Events" and Item 7, "Financial Statements and Exhibits."



SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

  BancorpSouth, Inc.                                        
(Registrant)

   
DATE: May 14, 2002 /s/ L. Nash Allen, Jr.                                      
L. Nash Allen, Jr.
Treasurer and
Chief Financial Officer