EX-10.2 4 d860233dex102.htm EX-10.2 EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

FORM OF BUYER VOTING AGREEMENT

This VOTING AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of July 29, 2024, by and among Renasant Corporation (“Buyer”), a Mississippi corporation, The First Bancshares, Inc. (“Seller”), a Mississippi corporation, and the undersigned shareholder [and director][and executive officer] (the “Shareholder”) of Buyer in the Shareholder’s capacity as a shareholder of Buyer, and not in his or her capacity as [a director][an executive officer] of Buyer.

Preamble

Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, Buyer and Seller are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, Seller will merge with and into Buyer, with Buyer as the surviving corporation (the “Merger”), and The First Bank, a Mississippi state-chartered bank and wholly owned subsidiary of Seller (“Seller Bank”), will merge with and into Renasant Bank, a Mississippi state-chartered bank and wholly owned subsidiary of Buyer (“Buyer Bank”), with Buyer Bank as the surviving bank (together with the Merger, the “Mergers”).

As of the date hereof, the Shareholder is [a director][an executive officer] of Buyer and has Beneficial Ownership of, in the aggregate, those shares of common stock, par value $5.00 per share, of Buyer (“Buyer Common Stock”) specified on Schedule 1 attached hereto.

As a condition and inducement to Buyer and Seller entering into the Merger Agreement, Buyer and Seller have required that the Shareholder agree, and the Shareholder has agreed, to enter into this Agreement and abide by the covenants and obligations set forth herein.

Other individuals, as a condition and inducement to Buyer and Seller entering into the Merger Agreement, will enter into and abide by the covenants and obligations set forth in substantially similar voting agreements.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

GENERAL

1.1. Defined Terms. The following capitalized terms, as used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings set forth below. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Merger Agreement.

“Affiliate” of a Person means any other Person directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person.

“Beneficial Ownership” by a Person of any securities means ownership by any Person who, directly or indirectly, through any Contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares (a) voting power which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security; or (b) investment power which includes the power to dispose, or to direct the disposition, of such security; and shall otherwise be interpreted in accordance with the term “beneficial ownership” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, that for purposes of determining Beneficial Ownership, a Person shall be deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of any securities which such Person has, at any time during the term

of this Agreement, the right to acquire pursuant to any Contract, arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise (irrespective of whether the right to acquire such securities is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time, including the passage of time in excess of 60 days, the satisfaction of any conditions, the occurrence of any event or any combination of the foregoing). The terms “Beneficially Own” and “Beneficially Owned” shall have a correlative meaning.

“control” (including the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” and “under common control with”), with respect to the relationship between or among two or more Persons, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the affairs or management of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee or executor, by Contract or any other means.

“Constructive Sale” means, with respect to any security, a short sale with respect to such security, entering into or acquiring an offsetting derivative Contract with respect to such security, entering into or acquiring a futures or forward Contract to deliver such security or entering into any other hedging or other derivative transaction that has the effect of either directly or indirectly materially changing the economic benefits and risks of ownership of any security.

“Covered Shares” means, with respect to the Shareholder, the Existing Shares, together with any shares of Buyer Common Stock or other capital stock of Buyer that the Shareholder acquires Beneficial Ownership of on or after the date hereof.

“Encumbrance” means any security interest, pledge, mortgage, lien (statutory or other), charge, option to purchase, lease or other right to acquire any interest or any claim, restriction, covenant, title defect, hypothecation, assignment, voting trust or agreement, deposit arrangement or other encumbrance of any kind or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement).

“Existing Shares” means, with respect to the Shareholder, all shares of Buyer Common Stock Beneficially Owned by the Shareholder as specified on Schedule 1 hereto.

“Permitted Transfer” means a Transfer (a) as the result of the death of the Shareholder by the Shareholder to a descendant, heir, executor, administrator, testamentary trustee, lifetime trustee or legatee of the Shareholder, (b) Transfers to Affiliates (including trusts) and family members in connection with estate and tax planning purposes, (c) Transfers to any other shareholder and director or executive officer of Buyer who has executed a copy of this Agreement on the date hereof, (d) Transfers in connection with the payment of any withholding taxes owed by the Shareholder in connection with any vesting, settlement, or exercise, as applicable, of a Buyer Restricted Stock Award, (e) Transfers in respect of Covered Shares pledged in a bona fide transaction, which is outstanding prior to or as of the date hereof, to a lender to the Shareholder, and (f) such transfers as Seller may otherwise permit; provided, that, in the case of the foregoing clauses (a), (b), and (f), prior to the effectiveness of such Transfer, such transferee executes and delivers to Buyer and Seller an agreement that is identical to this Agreement or such other written agreement, in form and substance acceptable to Seller, to assume all of Shareholder’s obligations hereunder in respect of the Covered Shares subject to such Transfer and to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, with respect to the Covered Shares subject to such Transfer, to the same extent as the Shareholder is bound hereunder and to make each of the representations and warranties hereunder in respect of the Covered Shares Transferred as the Shareholder shall have made hereunder.

 

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“Transfer” means, with respect to any security, the direct or indirect assignment, sale, transfer, tender, exchange, pledge, hypothecation, or the grant, creation or suffrage of an Encumbrance in or upon, or the gift, placement in trust, or the Constructive Sale or other disposition of such security (including transfers by testamentary or intestate succession or otherwise by operation of Law) or any right, title or interest therein (including, but not limited to, any right or power to vote to which the holder thereof may be entitled, whether such right or power is granted by proxy or otherwise), or the record or beneficial ownership thereof, the offer to make such a sale, transfer, Constructive Sale or other disposition, and each Contract, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing, to effect any of the foregoing. The term “Transferred” shall have a correlative meaning.

ARTICLE II

COVENANTS OF SHAREHOLDER

2.1. Agreement to Vote. The Shareholder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that during the term of this Agreement, at a special meeting of the shareholders of Buyer or at any other meeting of the shareholders of Buyer, however called, including any adjournment or postponement thereof, and in connection with any written consent of the shareholders of Buyer (collectively, “Buyer Shareholders’ Meeting”), the Shareholder shall, in each case to the fullest extent that such matters are submitted for the vote or written consent of the Shareholder and that the Covered Shares are entitled to vote thereon or consent thereto:

(a) appear at each such meeting or otherwise cause the Covered Shares as to which the Shareholder controls the right to vote to be counted as present thereat for purposes of calculating a quorum; and

(b) vote (or cause to be voted), in person or by proxy, or deliver (or cause to be delivered) a written consent covering, all of the Covered Shares as to which the Shareholder controls the right to vote:

(i) in favor of the approval of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Mergers, and any actions required in furtherance thereof;

(ii) against any action or agreement that could result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or any other obligation of Buyer under the Merger Agreement; and

(iii) against any action, agreement, amendment to any agreement or organizational document, transaction, matter or proposal submitted for the vote or written consent of the shareholders of Buyer that is intended or would reasonably be expected to impede, interfere with, prevent, delay, postpone, discourage, frustrate the purposes of or adversely affect the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or this Agreement or the performance by Buyer of its obligations under the Merger Agreement.

2.2. No Inconsistent Agreements. The Shareholder hereby covenants and agrees that, except for this Agreement and the lock-up agreement, dated as the date hereof, entered into among the Shareholder, Buyer and Stephens Inc. as representative to certain underwriters, in connection with the offering of Buyer Common Stock announced on the date hereof (the “Lock-Up Agreement”), the Shareholder (a) shall not enter into, at any time while this Agreement remains in effect, any voting agreement or voting trust or any other Contract with respect to the Covered Shares, (b) shall not grant at any time while this Agreement remains in effect, a proxy, Consent or power of attorney in contravention of the obligations of the Shareholder under this Agreement with respect to the Covered Shares, (c) shall not commit any act, except for Permitted Transfers, that could restrict or affect his or her legal power, authority and right to vote any of the Covered Shares then held of record or Beneficially Owned by the Shareholder or otherwise

 

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reasonably expected to prevent or disable the Shareholder from performing any of his or her obligations under this Agreement, and (d) shall not take any action that would reasonably be expected to make any representation or warranty of the Shareholder contained herein untrue or incorrect or have the effect of impeding, preventing, delaying, interfering with, disabling or adversely affect the performance by, the Shareholder from performing any of his or her obligations under this Agreement.

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

3.1. Representations and Warranties of the Shareholder. The Shareholder hereby represents and warrants to Seller, Buyer and Buyer Bank as follows:

(a) Authorization; Validity of Agreement; Necessary Action. The Shareholder has the requisite capacity and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform his or her obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Shareholder and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Shareholder, enforceable against him or her in accordance with its terms (except as may be limited by the Bankruptcy and Equity Exceptions).

(b) Ownership. The Existing Shares are, and all of the Covered Shares owned by the Shareholder from the date hereof through and on the Closing Date will be, Beneficially Owned by the Shareholder except to the extent such Covered Shares are Transferred after the date hereof pursuant to a Permitted Transfer. From the date hereof through and on the Closing Date, the Shareholder has and will have sole title to the Covered Shares, free and clear of any Encumbrances other than those imposed by applicable Securities Laws and the Lock-Up Agreement. As of the date hereof, the Existing Shares constitute all of the shares of Buyer Common Stock Beneficially Owned by the Shareholder. The Shareholder has and will have at all times through the Closing Date sole voting power (including the right to control such vote as contemplated herein), sole power of disposition (including the right to control any disposition), subject to the provisions of the Lock-Up Agreement, sole power to issue instructions with respect to the matters set forth in ARTICLE II hereof (including the right to control the making or issuing of any such instructions), and sole power to agree to all of the matters set forth in this Agreement (including the right to cause such agreements), in each case with respect to all of the Existing Shares and with respect to all of the Covered Shares owned by the Shareholder at all times through the Closing Date. The Shareholder has and will have possession of an outstanding certificate or outstanding certificates representing all of the Covered Shares (other than Covered Shares held at the Depository Trust Company or in book-entry form) and such certificate or certificates does or do not contain any legend or restriction inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement, the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

(c) No Violation. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Shareholder does not, and the performance by the Shareholder of his or her obligations under this Agreement will not, (i) conflict with or violate any Law or Order applicable to the Shareholder or by which any of his or her Assets is bound, or (ii) constitute or result in a Default under or the loss of any benefit under, or result in the creation of any Encumbrance on the Assets of the Shareholder under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Contract to which the Shareholder is a party or by which the Shareholder or any of his or her Assets is bound, except for any of the foregoing as would not be reasonably be expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to materially impair the ability of the Shareholder to perform his or her obligations under this Agreement. Except as contemplated by this Agreement, neither the Shareholder nor any of his or her Affiliates (A) has entered into any voting agreement or voting trust with respect to any Covered Shares or entered into any other Contract relating to the voting of the Covered Shares or (B) has appointed or granted a proxy or power of attorney with respect to any Covered Shares.

 

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(d) Consents and Approvals. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Shareholder does not, and the performance by the Shareholder of its obligations under this Agreement and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, require the Shareholder to obtain any Consent. No Consent of Shareholder’s spouse is necessary under any “community property” or other laws in order for Shareholder to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.

(e) Legal Proceedings. There is no Litigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Shareholder, threatened against or affecting the Shareholder or any of his or her Affiliates that could reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Shareholder to perform his or her obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby on a timely basis.

(f) No Fees. The Shareholder has not employed any broker or finder or incurred any Liability for any financial advisory fees, investment bankers’ fees, brokerage fees, commissions, or finders’ fees in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

(g) Reliance by Seller. The Shareholder understands and acknowledges that Seller is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon the Shareholder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement and the representations and warranties of Shareholder contained herein.

ARTICLE IV

OTHER COVENANTS

4.1. Prohibition on Transfers; Other Actions.

(a) Until the earlier of the receipt of the Buyer Shareholder Approval or the date on which the Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, the Shareholder hereby agrees not to (i) Transfer any of the Covered Shares, Beneficial Ownership thereof or any other interest specifically therein unless such Transfer is a Permitted Transfer; (ii) enter into any Contract with any Person, or take any other action, that violates or conflicts with or would reasonably be expected to violate or conflict with, or result in or give rise to a violation of or conflict with, the Shareholder’s representations, warranties, covenants and obligations under this Agreement; (iii) grant any proxy, power-of-attorney or other authorization in or with respect to any or all of the Covered Shares other than as required to effect the Shareholder’s voting obligations in Section 2.1; (iv) except as otherwise permitted by this Agreement or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, take any action that could restrict or otherwise affect the Shareholder’s legal power, authority and right to vote all of the Covered Shares then Beneficially Owned by him or her, or otherwise comply with and perform his or her covenants and obligations under this Agreement; or (v) publicly announce any intention to do any of the foregoing. Any Transfer in violation of this provision shall be void. Following the date hereof, Buyer shall notify its transfer agent that there is a stop transfer order with respect to all of the Covered Shares and that this Agreement places limits on the voting of the Covered Shares; provided, that any such stop transfer order and notice will immediately be withdrawn and terminated by Buyer following the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 5.1.

(b) The Shareholder understands and agrees that if the Shareholder attempts to Transfer, vote or provide any other Person with the authority to vote any of the Covered Shares other than in compliance with this Agreement, Buyer shall not, and the Shareholder hereby unconditionally and irrevocably instructs Buyer to not (i) permit such Transfer on its books and records, (ii) issue a new certificate representing any of the Covered Shares, or (iii) record such vote unless and until the Shareholder shall have complied with the terms of this Agreement.

 

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4.2. Certain Events. In the event of a stock split, stock dividend or distribution, or any change in the Buyer Common Stock by reason of any split-up, reverse stock split, recapitalization, combination, reclassification, exchange of shares or the like, the terms “Existing Shares” and “Covered Shares” shall be deemed to refer to and include such shares as well as all such stock dividends and distributions and any securities into which or for which any or all of such shares may be changed or exchanged or which are received in such transaction.

4.3. Notice of Acquisitions. The Shareholder hereby agrees to notify Seller and Buyer as promptly as practicable (and in any event at least two Business Days prior to the occurrence of any of the following events) in writing of (a) the number of any additional shares of Buyer Common Stock or other securities of Buyer of which the Shareholder acquires Beneficial Ownership on or after the date hereof, and (b) any proposed Permitted Transfers of the Covered Shares, Beneficial Ownership thereof or other interest specifically therein; except, in either case, in connection with the acquisition of any shares of Buyer Common Stock through any dividend reinvestment or 401(k) plan of Buyer existing as of the date hereof, or acquired upon the exercise or vesting of equity awards under any equity incentive plan of Buyer existing on the date hereof.

4.4. Shareholder Capacity. The Shareholder is signing this Agreement solely in his or her capacity as a holder of Buyer Common Stock, and nothing herein shall prohibit, prevent or preclude the Shareholder from taking or not taking any action in the Shareholder’s capacity as [a director][an executive officer] of Buyer to the extent permitted by the Merger Agreement.

4.5. Further Assurances. From time to time, at the request of Buyer or Seller and without further consideration, the Shareholder shall execute and deliver such additional documents and take all such further action as may be reasonably necessary to effect the actions and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

4.6. Disclosure. The Shareholder hereby authorizes Buyer and Seller to publish and disclose in any announcement or disclosure required by applicable Law and any proxy statement filed in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement the Shareholder’s identity and ownership of the Covered Shares and the nature of the Shareholder’s obligation under this Agreement.

ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS

5.1. Termination. This Agreement shall remain in effect until the earlier to occur of (a) the Effective Time, (b) the date of termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms, and (c) the termination of this Agreement by mutual written consent of the parties hereto; provided, that the provisions of ARTICLE V shall survive any termination of this Agreement. Nothing in this Section 5.1 and no termination of this Agreement shall relieve or otherwise limit any party of liability for fraud, or willful or intentional breach of this Agreement.

5.2. No Ownership Interest. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to vest in Buyer or Seller any direct or indirect ownership or incidence of ownership of or with respect to any Covered Shares. All rights, ownership and economic benefits of and relating to the Covered Shares shall remain vested in and belong to the Shareholder, and Buyer or Seller shall not have any authority to direct the Shareholder in the voting or disposition of any of the Covered Shares, except as otherwise provided herein.

 

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5.3 Notices. All notices or other communications which are required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and sufficient if delivered by hand, by registered or certified mail, postage pre-paid, return receipt requested, by courier or overnight carrier, or by email (with confirmed receipt) to the Persons at the addresses set forth below (or at such other address as may be provided hereunder), and shall be deemed to have been delivered as of the date so delivered:

 

Buyer:

   

Renasant Corporation

  

Renasant Bank

  

209 Troy Street

  

Tupelo, Mississippi 38804

  

Attention: C. Mitchell Waycaster

  

Email: [***]

Copy to Counsel:

   

Covington & Burling LLP

  

The New York Times Building

  

620 Eighth Avenue

  

New York, NY 10018-1405

  

Attention: Frank M. (Rusty) Conner

  

Email: rconner@cov.com

  

Attention: Michael P. Reed

  

Email: mreed@cov.com;

  

Attention: Charlotte May

  

Email: cmay@cov.com

Seller:

   

The First Bancshares, Inc.

  

The First Bank

  

6480 U.S. Highway 98 West

  

Hattiesburg, MS 39404-5549

  

Attention: M. Ray Cole, Jr.

  

Email: [***]

Copy to Counsel:

   

Alston & Bird LLP

  

One Atlantic Center

  

1201 W. Peachtree St. NE

  

Atlanta, GA 30305

  

Attention: Mark Kanaly

  

Email: Mark.Kanaly@alston.com;

  

Attention: Will Hooper

  

Email: Will.Hooper@alston.com

Shareholder:

   

To those Persons indicated on Schedule 1.

5.4 Interpretation. Neither this Agreement nor any uncertainty or ambiguity herein shall be construed or resolved against any party, whether under any rule of construction or otherwise. No party to this Agreement shall be considered the draftsman. The parties acknowledge and agree that this Agreement has been reviewed, negotiated, and accepted by all parties and their attorneys and, unless otherwise defined herein, the words used shall be construed and interpreted according to their ordinary meaning so as fairly to accomplish the purposes and intentions of all parties hereto. Section headings of this Agreement are for reference purposes only and are to be given no effect in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun used herein shall include the corresponding masculine,

 

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feminine or neuter forms. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The word “or” shall not be exclusive and “any” means “any and all.” “Extent” in the phrase “to the extent” means the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase does not mean simply “if.” The words “hereby,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder” and similar terms refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any specific Section.

5.5 Counterparts; Delivery by Electronic Transmission. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement and any signed agreement or instrument entered into in connection with this Agreement, and any amendments or waivers hereto or thereto, to the extent signed and delivered by electronic means, including by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of electronic means, including e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, to deliver a signature to this Agreement or any amendment hereto or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of electronic means, including e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, as a defense to the formation of a contract and each party hereto forever waives any such defense.

5.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and, to the extent referenced herein, the Merger Agreement, together with the several agreements and other documents and instruments referred to herein or therein or annexed hereto or thereto, constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the transactions contemplated hereunder and thereunder and supersedes all prior arrangements or understandings, with respect thereto, written and oral.

5.7 Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

  5.7.1

The parties agree that this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in all respects in accordance with and all disputes arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be resolved under, the Laws of the State of Mississippi without regard to any conflict of Laws or choice of Law principles that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of this Agreement to the substantive Law of another jurisdiction.

 

  5.7.2

Each party agrees that it will bring any action or proceeding in respect of any claim arising out of or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby exclusively in any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction located in Hinds, Madison, and Rankin County, Mississippi (the “Chosen Courts”), and, solely in connection with claims arising under this Agreement or the transactions that are the subject of this Agreement, (a) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Chosen Courts, (b) waives any objection to laying venue in any such action or proceeding in the Chosen Courts, (c) waives any objection that the Chosen Courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over any party, and (d) agrees that service of process upon such party in any such action or proceeding will be effective if notice is given in accordance with Section 5.3.

 

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  5.7.3

EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT: (I) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (II) EACH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (III) EACH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (IV) EACH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 5.7.

5.8 Amendments; Waivers. To the extent permitted by Law, this Agreement may be amended or waived by a subsequent writing signed by each of the parties upon the approval of each of the parties. The parties hereto may, to the extent permitted by Law, (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto, and (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or satisfaction of any conditions contained herein. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument signed on behalf of such party, but such extension or waiver or failure to insist on strict compliance with an obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure to comply with an obligation, covenant, agreement or condition. No failure or delay by any party hereto in exercising any right, power, remedy or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any right, power or privilege.

5.9 Enforcement of Agreement. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur and that the parties hereto would not have any adequate remedy at law in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement was not performed in accordance with its specific terms or was otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of the United States or any state having jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at Law or in equity. Each of the parties waives (a) any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at Law would be adequate and (b) any requirement under any Law to post security or a bond as a prerequisite to obtaining equitable relief.

5.10 Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement which is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. If any provision of this Agreement is so broad as to be unenforceable, the provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.

 

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5.11 Assignment. Except as expressly contemplated hereby, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any party hereto (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise by operation of Law) without the prior written consent of the other parties. Any purported assignment in contravention hereof shall be null and void. Subject to the preceding sentences, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

5.12 Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any Person, other than the parties or their respective successors, any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement. The representations and warranties in this Agreement are the product of negotiations among the parties hereto and are for the sole benefit of the parties. Any inaccuracies in such representations and warranties are subject to waiver by the parties hereto in accordance herewith without notice or liability to any other Person. In some instances, the representations and warranties in this Agreement may represent an allocation among the parties hereto of risks associated with particular matters regardless of the knowledge of any of the parties hereto. Consequently, Persons other than the parties may not rely upon the representations and warranties in this Agreement as characterizations of actual facts or circumstances as of the date of this Agreement or as of any other date. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof to the contrary, no Consent, approval or agreement of any third party beneficiary will be required to amend, modify or waive any provision of this Agreement.

5.13 Expenses. Each of the parties hereto shall bear and pay all direct costs and expenses incurred by it or on its behalf in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder.

5.14 Reasonable Efforts. On the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Shareholder agrees to execute and deliver such additional documents as Seller may reasonably request and use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all appropriate actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated hereby as promptly as practicable. Without limiting the foregoing, the Shareholder shall execute and deliver to Seller and any of its designees any proxies reasonably requested by Seller with respect to the Shareholder’s voting obligations under this Agreement.

[signatures on following page]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed (where applicable, by their respective officers or other authorized Person thereunto duly authorized) as of the day and year first written above.

 

RENASANT CORPORATION
By:    
Name:   C. Mitchell Waycaster
Title:   Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice Chairman
THE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.
By:    
Name:   M. Ray (Hoppy) Cole, Jr.
Title:   Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
SHAREHOLDER
 
Name:  

 

[Signature Page to Voting Agreement]

Schedule 1

INFORMATION

 

Name

  

Existing Shares

                     

 

                     

Address for notice:

 

Name:    
Street:    
   
City, State:    
ZIP Code:    
Telephone:    
Fax:    
Email: