GNTY Guaranty Bancshares Inc

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 21, 2024

Registration No. 333-

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

GUARANTY BANCSHARES, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Texas		75-1656431
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

16475 Dallas Parkway, Suite 600

Addison, Texas 75001

(888) 572-9881

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

 

 

Tyson T. Abston

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guaranty Bancshares, Inc.

16475 Dallas Parkway, Suite 600

Addison, Texas 75001

(888) 572-9881

 

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

 

Copies to:

 

Michael G. Keeley, Esq.

Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP

2200 Ross Avenue, Suite 3600

Dallas, Texas 75201

(214) 855-3906

(214) 855-8200 (facsimile)

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: ☐

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

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer	☐		Accelerated filer	
Non−accelerated filer	☐		Smaller reporting company	☐
			Emerging growth company	☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

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The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

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Subject to completion, dated November 21, 2024

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

Guaranty Bancshares, Inc.

$150,000,000

 

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Warrants

Subscription Rights

Debt Securities

Depositary Shares

Purchase Contracts

Purchase Units

Units

 

We may offer and sell from time to time, together or separately, in one or more offerings, any combination of the securities listed above. The securities we may offer may be convertible into or exchangeable for other securities. The maximum aggregate initial public offering price of the securities offered through this prospectus is $150,000,000, or the foreign currency equivalent thereof.

When we offer securities under this registration statement, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement describing the terms of the specific issue of securities being offered, including the price at which those securities are being offered to the public. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully before you decide to invest. This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement that further describes the securities being offered to you.

We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. The prospectus supplement for each offering of securities will describe in detail the plan of distribution for that offering. If any agents, dealers or underwriters are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names, and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. See the sections of this prospectus entitled “About This Prospectus” and “Plan of Distribution” for more information. Net proceeds from the sale of securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Our common stock is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “GNTY.” We expect that any common stock sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will be listed on such exchange, subject to official notice of issuance. We have not yet determined whether any of the other securities that may be offered by this prospectus will be listed on any exchange. If we decide to apply to list any such securities on a securities exchange upon their issuance, the prospectus supplement relating to those securities will disclose the exchange on which we will apply to have those securities listed.

 

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Investing in the securities involves certain risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 4 of this prospectus and, if any, in the applicable prospectus supplement. You should also review the “Risk Factors” discussed in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and in the other documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of certain risks that you should consider before investing in our securities.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission, nor any other state securities commission nor any other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The offered securities are not deposits, savings accounts or other obligations of any bank or savings association. The offered securities are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency or instrumentality.

This prospectus is not an offer to sell any securities other than the securities offered hereby. This prospectus is not an offer to sell securities in any jurisdictions or in any circumstances in which such an offer is unlawful.

 

The date of this prospectus is , 2024.

 

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

About this Prospectus	1
About Guaranty Bancshares, Inc.	1
Where You Can Find More Information	2
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements	3
Risk Factors	4
Use of Proceeds	4
Description of Securities We May Offer	5
Description of Common Stock	5
Description of Preferred Stock	9
Description of Warrants	13
Description of Subscription Rights	14
Description of Debt Securities	15
Description of Depositary Shares	24
Description of Purchase Contracts and Purchase Units	27
Description of Units	28
Plan of Distribution	29
Legal Matters	32
Experts	32

 

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About this Prospectus

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration statement, we may offer and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus from time to time in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $150,000,000, or the foreign currency equivalent thereof.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer and sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to that offering. The applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in the documents that we have incorporated by reference. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits to the registration statement. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus together with additional information from the sources described in “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, the prospectus supplements, any free writing prospectus or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the applicable document.

The distribution of this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement and the offering of the securities in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement come should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. This prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

Unless the context indicates otherwise, references in this prospectus to “we,” “our,” “us” and the “Company” refer to Guaranty Bancshares, Inc., a Texas corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries. References in this prospectus to “Guaranty Bank & Trust” and the “Bank” refer to Guaranty Bank & Trust, N.A., a national banking association and our wholly-owned subsidiary.

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any applicable prospectus supplement when deciding whether to invest in the securities offered hereby. We have not authorized anyone to give oral or written information about this offering, our Company, or the securities offered hereby that is different from the information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable supplement to this prospectus. If anyone provides you with different information, you should not rely on it. You should assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

About Guaranty Bancshares, Inc.

We are a bank holding company with corporate headquarters in Addison, Texas and operational headquarters in Mount Pleasant, Texas. Through our wholly owned subsidiary, Guaranty Bank & Trust, we provide a wide range of relationship-driven commercial and consumer banking, as well as trust and wealth management, products and services that are tailored to meet the needs of small- and medium-sized businesses, professionals and individuals. Guaranty Bank & Trust has 33 banking locations across East Texas, Central Texas, the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan statistical area (“MSA”), and the Houston MSA. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “GNTY.”

Our corporate headquarters are located at 16475 Dallas Parkway, Suite 600, Addison, Texas 75001, and our telephone number is (888) 572-9881. Our website address is www.gnty.com. References to our website and those of our subsidiaries are not intended to be active links and the information on such websites is not, and you must not consider that information to be, a part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.

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Where You Can Find More Information

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov.

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, relating to the securities covered by this prospectus. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits and schedules, contains additional relevant information about us and the securities. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement, portions of which we have omitted as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete. You should refer to the copy of each contract or document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or incorporated by reference herein for a complete description. You may get a copy of the registration statement, at prescribed rates, from the source listed above. You may also obtain copies of these documents from us, without charge (other than exhibits, unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference), by requesting them in writing or by telephone at the following address: Corporate Secretary, Guaranty Bancshares, Inc., 16475 Dallas Parkway, Suite 600, Addison, Texas 75001, telephone: (888) 572-9881. The documents that we have filed with the SEC are also available on our website at www.gnty.com. The reference to our website is not intended to be an active link and the information on our website is not, and you must not consider the information to be, a part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information in documents we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus and should be read with the same care. When we update the information contained in documents that have been incorporated by reference, by making future filings with the SEC, the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus is considered to be automatically updated and superseded. In other words, in all cases, if you are considering whether to rely on information contained in this prospectus or information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in the document that was filed later. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below that we have previously filed with the SEC:

All reports and other documents we subsequently file under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than any portions thereof deemed furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules), prior

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to the termination of this offering, including all such documents we may file with the SEC after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement, but excluding any information furnished to, rather than filed with, the SEC, will also be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and deemed to be part of this prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports and documents. The most recent information that we file with the SEC automatically updates and supersedes older information. The information contained in any such filing will be deemed to be a part of this prospectus commencing on the date on which the document is filed.

You may obtain from us a copy of any documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus without charge to you in the manner described above.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, future events and our financial performance. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “predict,” “potential,” “believe,” “will likely result,” “expect,” “continue,” “will,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “projection,” “would” and “outlook,” or the negative version of those words or other comparable words or phrases of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond our control. Accordingly, we caution you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

There are or will be important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following:

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Other factors not identified above, including those described under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in any of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings we have made with the SEC since the date of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, may also cause actual results to differ materially from those described in our forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements included in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or in a document incorporated by reference herein or therein speak only as of the date of such document. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect factual assumptions, circumstances or events that have changed after we have made the forward-looking statements, unless we are required to do so by law. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.

Risk Factors

Investing in our securities involves a significant degree of risk. Before you invest in our securities, you should carefully read and consider the risk factors contained under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our most recent Form 10-K and any updated or additional disclosure about risk factors included our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K or other filings that we have made with the SEC since the date of our most recent Form 10-K that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We may also include updated or additional disclosure about risk factors in our future annual, quarterly or current reports filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information about how to obtain a copy of these documents. You should also carefully consider the risks and other information that may be contained in, or incorporated by reference into, any prospectus supplement relating to specific offerings of securities. Additional risks and uncertainties of which we are not aware or that we believe are not material at the time could also materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

Use of Proceeds

Unless otherwise indicted in the applicable prospectus supplement, we expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of offered securities by us for general corporate purposes, which may include:

The prospectus supplement with respect to an offering of offered securities may identify different or additional uses for the proceeds of that offering.

Except as otherwise stated in an applicable prospectus supplement, pending the application of the net proceeds from the sale of offered securities, we expect to either deposit such net proceeds in deposit accounts or invest them in short-term obligations.

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Description of Securities We May Offer

This prospectus contains summary descriptions of our capital stock. These summary descriptions are not meant to be complete descriptions of each security. The applicable prospectus supplement for an offering may add, update, or change the terms and conditions of the securities as described in this prospectus. This summary is qualified by reference to the applicable provisions of the Texas Business Organizations Code (which we refer to as the TBOC), our Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Formation (which we refer to as our certificate of formation), and our Third Amended and Restated Bylaws (which we refer to as our bylaws), each as amended and as may be further amended from time to time. You are urged to read those documents carefully. Copies of our certificate of formation and bylaws are incorporated by reference into this prospectus as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information about how to obtain a copy of these documents.

Description of Common Stock

The following is a summary of our common stock and certain terms of our certificate of formation and our bylaws. This discussion summarizes some of the important rights of our shareholders but does not purport to be a complete description of these rights and may not contain all of the information regarding our capital stock that is important to you. The descriptions herein are qualified in their entirety by reference to our certificate of formation and bylaws, copies of which are filed with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and applicable law.

General

We are incorporated in the state of Texas. The rights of our shareholders are generally covered by Texas law and our certificate of formation and bylaws (each as amended and restated and in effect as of the date of this prospectus). The terms of our common stock are therefore subject to Texas law, including the TBOC, and the common and constitutional law of Texas.

Our certificate of formation authorizes us to issue up to 50,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share. As of November 18, 2024, 11,424,308 shares of our common stock were outstanding. In addition, we have reserved an additional 1,100,000 shares of Guaranty common stock for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options to purchase shares of our common stock, of which 401,030 of such options are outstanding. The outstanding shares of common stock include 10,087 shares of restricted stock subject to vesting. The authorized but unissued shares of Guaranty’s capital stock are available for future issuance without shareholder approval, unless otherwise required by applicable law or the rules of any applicable securities exchange.

Voting Rights

Each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote for each share on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights and preferences of the holders of any outstanding shares of our preferred stock. Our certificate of formation does not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors. Directors are elected by a majority of the votes cast, unless the number of director nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected at the meeting, in which case directors would be elected by a plurality of the votes cast.

Dividend Rights

Subject to certain regulatory restrictions discussed in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and to the rights of holders of any preferred stock that we may issue, all shares of our common stock are entitled to share equally in dividends from legally available funds, when, as, and if declared by our board of directors.

No Preemptive Rights

No holder of our common stock has a right under the TBOC, or our certificate of formation or bylaws, to purchase shares of common stock upon any future issuance.

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Liquidation Rights

In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, the holders of our common stock would be entitled to share ratably in any of the net assets or funds which are available for distribution to shareholders, after the satisfaction of all liabilities and accrued and unpaid dividends and liquidation preferences on any outstanding preferred stock.

Modification of Rights

An amendment to our certificate of formation requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon. Our bylaws may be amended by our board of directors, by the vote of a majority of the entire board of directors, or by our shareholders, by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding shares of voting stock, voting together as a single class and cast at a meeting of the shareholders called for that purpose.

Other Rights

Holders of our common stock have no conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no other redemption or sinking fund provisions that are applicable to our common stock.

Action by Written Consent

Our certificate of formation allows for any action required or permitted to be taken at an annual or special meeting of shareholders to be taken by written consent in lieu of such a meeting of shareholders; provided, however, any such consent must be unanimous written consent of all shareholders entitled to vote on the action.

Certain Certificate of Formation and Bylaws Provisions Potentially Having an Anti-Takeover Effect

Certain provisions of our certificate of formation and bylaws, and the corporate and banking laws applicable to us, may be deemed to have anti-takeover effects and may delay, prevent or make more difficult unsolicited tender offers or takeover attempts that a shareholder may consider to be in his or her best interests, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares held by shareholders. These provisions may also have the effect of making it more difficult for third parties to cause the replacement of our current management.

Authorized but Unissued Shares. The corporate laws and regulations applicable to us enable our board of directors to issue, from time to time and at its discretion, but subject to the rules of any applicable securities exchange, any authorized but unissued shares of our common or preferred stock. Any such issuance of shares could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The ability of our board of directors to issue authorized but unissued shares of our common or preferred stock at its sole discretion may enable our board to sell shares to individuals or groups who the board perceives as friendly with management, which may make more difficult unsolicited attempts to obtain control of our organization. In addition, the ability of our board of directors to issue authorized but unissued shares of our capital stock at its sole discretion could deprive the shareholders of opportunities to sell their shares of common stock or preferred stock for prices higher than prevailing market prices.

Preferred Stock. Our certificate of formation contain provisions that permit our board of directors to issue, without any further vote or action by the shareholders, shares of preferred stock in one or more series and, with respect to each such series, to fix the number of shares constituting the series and the designation of the series, the voting rights (if any) of the shares of the series, and the powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions, of the shares of such series. Although the creation and authorization of preferred stock does not, in and of itself, have any effect on the rights of the holders of our common stock, the issuance of one or more series of preferred stock may affect the holders of common stock in a number of respects, including the following: by subordinating our common stock to the preferred stock with respect to dividend rights, liquidation preferences, and other rights, preferences, and privileges; by diluting the voting power of our common stock; by diluting the earnings per share of our common stock; and by issuing common stock, upon the conversion of the preferred stock, at a price below the fair market value or original issue price of the

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common stock that is outstanding prior to such issuance. See “Description of Preferred Stock” for additional information.

Board Structure and Vacancies. Our certificate of formation provides that our board of directors is divided into three classes serving staggered three-year terms. In addition, our certificate of formation provides that any vacancy on the board of directors, including up to two newly created directorships, may be filled by a majority of the board of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum. Our certificate of formation also provides that directors may be removed from office only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the combined voting power of the then outstanding shares of stock, with all classes and series of shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors voting together as a single class.

No Cumulative Voting. The TBOC does not permit cumulative voting in the election of directors, unless expressly provided in a corporation’s certificate of formation, and our certificate of formation does not provide for such authority.

Special Meetings of Shareholders. For a special shareholders’ meeting to be called by one or more shareholder(s), our bylaws require the request of holders of at least 50% of the outstanding shares entitled to vote at the meeting to call a special shareholders’ meeting.

Advance Notice Procedures for Director Nominations and Shareholder Proposals. Our bylaws establish an advance notice procedure with regard to business to be brought before an annual or special meeting of shareholders and with regard to the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than by or at the direction of the board of directors. Although this procedure does not give our board of directors any power to approve or disapprove shareholder nominations for the election of directors or proposals for action, it may have the effect of precluding a contest for the election of directors or the consideration of shareholder proposals if the established procedure is not followed, and of discouraging or deterring a third party from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or to approve its proposal without regard to whether consideration of the nominees or proposals might be harmful or beneficial to our shareholders and us.

Amending our Bylaws. Our board of directors may alter, amend or repeal our bylaws, or adopt new bylaws, without shareholder approval.

Shareholder Actions. Our certificate of formation prohibits shareholder action by less than unanimous written consent, thereby requiring virtually all actions to be taken at a meeting of the shareholders.

Exclusive Forum. Our certificate of formation provides that, subject to certain exceptions, the state courts located in Titus County, Texas shall be the sole and exclusive forum for certain shareholder litigation matters. Although we believe this provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of Texas law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies and in limiting our litigation costs, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers and may limit our shareholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us. However, it is possible that a court could rule that this provision is unenforceable or inapplicable to a particular dispute.

Notice and Approval Requirements. Federal banking laws also impose notice, approval and ongoing regulatory requirements on any shareholder or other party that seeks to acquire direct or “indirect” control of an FDIC-insured depository institution. These laws include the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 and the Change in Bank Control Act.

The overall effect of these provisions may be to deter a future offer or other merger or acquisition proposals that a majority of our shareholders might view to be in their best interests as the offer might include a substantial premium over the market price of our common stock at that time. In addition, these provisions may have the effect of assisting our board of directors and our management in retaining their respective positions and placing them in a better position to resist changes that the shareholders may want to make if dissatisfied with the conduct of our business.

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Indemnification

Our certificate of formation provides that our directors and officers will be indemnified by us to the fullest extent permitted by the TBOC against any and all expenses, liabilities or other matters while acting in his or her capacity as a director or officer. We have also agreed to advance expenses incurred by any such director or officer in connection with any threatened, pending or completed proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by the TBOC, subject to certain conditions. To the extent that indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons, we have been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, this indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

Limitation of Liability

Our certificate of formation also limits the personal liability of our directors and officers in actions brought on our behalf or on behalf of our shareholders for monetary damages as a result of a director’s acts or omissions while acting in a capacity as a director or officer, with certain exceptions. Our certificate of formation does not eliminate or limit our right or the right of our shareholders to seek injunctive or other equitable relief not involving monetary damages.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Computershare Trust Company, N.A. serves as our transfer agent and registrar.

Listing and Trading

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “GNTY.”

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Description of Preferred Stock

The following description is a general summary of the terms of the preferred stock that we may issue. The description below and in any prospectus supplement relating to the offer for sale of shares of a series of our preferred stock does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our certificate of formation, the applicable amendment to our certificate of formation establishing the terms of the series of preferred stock being offered for sale by means of a prospectus supplement, and our bylaws, each of which we will make available upon request. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for additional information.

General

We are authorized to issue 15,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $5.00 per share. As of November 18, 2024, we had no shares of our preferred stock outstanding.

Our certificate of formation permits us to issue one or more series of preferred stock and authorizes our board of directors to designate the preferences, limitations and relative rights of any such series of preferred stock. Each share of a series of preferred stock will have the same relative rights as, and be identical in all respects with, all the other shares of the same series. Preferred stock may have voting rights, subject to applicable law and determination at issuance of our board of directors. While the terms of preferred stock may vary from series to series, common shareholders should assume that all shares of preferred stock will be senior to our common stock in respect of distributions and on liquidation.

Although the creation and authorization of preferred stock does not, in and of itself, have any effect on the rights of the holders of our common stock, the issuance of one or more series of preferred stock may affect the holders of common stock in a number of respects, including the following: by subordinating our common stock to the preferred stock with respect to dividend rights, liquidation preferences, and other rights, preferences, and privileges; by diluting the voting power of our common stock; by diluting the earnings per share of our common stock; and by issuing common stock, upon the conversion of the preferred stock, at a price below the fair market value or original issue price of the common stock that is outstanding prior to such issuance. While the terms of preferred stock may vary from series to series, common shareholders should assume that all shares of preferred stock will be senior to our common stock in respect of distributions and on liquidations.

Terms of the Preferred Stock That We May Offer

You should refer to the prospectus supplement relating to the shares of one or more series of preferred stock being offered for sale for the specific terms of that series, including:

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Ranking

Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement relating to the shares of a series of preferred stock, such shares will rank on an equal basis with each other series of preferred stock and prior to the common stock as to dividends and distributions of assets.

Distributions

Holders of the preferred stock of each series will be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors, out of our assets legally available for payment to shareholders, cash distributions, or distributions in kind or in other property if expressly permitted and described in the applicable prospectus supplement, at the rates and on the dates as we will set forth in such prospectus supplement. We will pay each distribution to holders of record as they appear on our stock transfer books on the record dates determined by our board of directors or as set forth in the statement of designation for such series of preferred stock.

Distributions on any series of preferred stock may be cumulative or non-cumulative.

If any shares of the preferred stock of any series are outstanding, no full dividends will be declared or paid or set apart for payment on our preferred stock of any other class or series ranking, as to dividends, equally with or junior to the preferred stock of such series of preferred stock for any period unless all required dividends are paid. The phrase “all required dividends are paid” when used in this prospectus with respect to a series of preferred stock means that:

When dividends are not paid in full, or a sum sufficient for the full payment is not so set apart, upon the shares of preferred stock of any series and the shares of any other series of preferred stock ranking equally as to dividends with the preferred stock of the series, all dividends declared upon shares of preferred stock of the series and any other series of preferred stock ranking equally as to dividends with the preferred stock will be declared equally so that the amount of dividends declared per share on the preferred stock of the series and the other series of preferred stock will in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued and unpaid dividends per share on the shares of preferred stock of the series, which will not include any accumulation in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods if the preferred stock does not have cumulative dividend, and the other series of preferred stock bear to each other. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, will be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on preferred stock of the series which may be in arrears.

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Except as provided in the immediately preceding paragraph, unless all required dividends are paid, no dividends, other than in common stock or other stock ranking junior to the preferred stock of the series as to dividends and participation in our assets upon our winding up or termination, will be declared or paid or set aside for payment or other distribution will be declared or made upon the common stock or any of our other stock ranking junior or equally with the preferred stock of the series as to dividends or participation in our assets upon our winding up or termination, nor will any common stock or any of our other capital stock ranking junior to or equally with preferred stock of the series as to dividends or participation in our assets upon our winding up or termination be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration, or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any shares of any stock, by us except by conversion into or exchange for our other stock ranking junior to the preferred stock of the series as to dividends and participation in our assets upon our winding up or termination.

Any dividend payment made on shares of a series of preferred stock will first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid dividend due with respect to shares of the series that remains payable.

Redemption

If so provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the preferred stock will be subject to mandatory redemption or redemption at our option, in whole or in part, in each case upon the terms and notice, at the times and at the redemption prices set forth in the prospectus supplement.

The prospectus supplement relating to the offer for sale of shares of a series of preferred stock that is subject to mandatory redemption will specify the required notice and the number of shares of the preferred stock that will be redeemed by us in each year commencing after a date to be specified, at a redemption price per share to be specified, together with an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon, which will not, if the shares of that series of preferred stock does not have a cumulative dividend, include an accumulation in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividends periods, to the date of redemption. The redemption price may be payable in cash or other property, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. If the redemption price for preferred stock of any series is payable only from the net proceeds of the issuance of our stock, the terms of the shares of that series of preferred stock may provide that, if no stock will have been issued or to the extent the net proceeds from any issuance are insufficient to pay in full the aggregate redemption price then due, the preferred stock will automatically and mandatorily be converted into shares of our applicable stock pursuant to conversion provisions specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless provided otherwise for any series of preferred stock, unless all required dividends are paid:

Liquidation Preference

Upon any voluntary or involuntary winding up or termination of our affairs as a company, then, before any distribution or payment will be made to the holders of any common stock or any other class or series of shares of our capital stock ranking junior to the shares of a series of the preferred stock in the right to participate in the distribution of assets upon our winding up or termination, the holders of shares of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive out of our assets legally available for distribution to shareholders liquidating distributions in the amount of the liquidation preference set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, plus an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid distributions. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distributions to which they are entitled, the holders of shares of such series of preferred stock will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets. If, upon the voluntary or involuntary winding up or termination, our available assets are insufficient to pay the amount of the liquidating distributions on all outstanding shares of a series of our preferred stock having a liquidation preference and the corresponding amounts payable on all shares of other classes or series

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of shares of our capital stock ranking equally with such series of our preferred stock in the right to the distribution of our assets, then the holders of the shares of such series of preferred stock and all other classes or series of shares of capital stock will share ratably in any distribution of assets in proportion to the full liquidating distributions to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled.

If liquidating distributions will have been made in full to all holders of preferred stock having a liquidation preference, our remaining assets will be distributed among the holders of any other classes or series of shares of capital stock ranking junior to the preferred stock upon winding up or termination, according to their respective rights and preferences and in each case according to their respective number of shares.

For those purposes, our consolidation or merger with or into any other corporation, trust or entity, or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all of our property or business, will not be deemed to constitute a winding up or termination.

Voting Rights

The holders of shares of preferred stock will have no voting rights, except:

Conversion Rights

The prospectus supplement for a series of preferred stock will state the terms, if any, on which shares of that series are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our common stock.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, Computershare Trust Company, N.A. will serve as our transfer agent and registrar for any preferred stock we might issue.

 

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Description of Warrants

The following description is a general summary of the terms of the warrants that we may issue. We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock or debt securities and may issue warrants independently or together with common stock, preferred stock or debt securities or attached to or separate from such securities, in one or more series. Warrants may be offered independently, together with other securities offered by any prospectus supplement, or through a dividend or other distribution to shareholders and may be attached to or separate from other securities. Warrants may be issued under a written warrant agreement to be entered into between us and the holder or beneficial owner, or under a written warrant agreement with a warrant agent specified in a prospectus supplement. A warrant agent would act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants of a particular series and would not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of those warrants.

You should refer to the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants being offered for sale for the specific terms of the warrants, including:

Until any warrants to purchase our securities are exercised, holders of the warrants will not have any rights of holders of the underlying securities.

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Description of Subscription Rights

The following description is a general summary of the terms of the subscription rights that we may issue. We may issue subscription rights to purchase our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities. These subscription rights may be issued independently or together with any other security offered hereby and may or may not be transferable by the shareholder receiving the subscription rights in such offering. In connection with any offering of subscription rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any offering of subscription rights for which this prospectus is being delivered, including the following:

The description in the applicable prospectus supplement of any subscription rights we offer will not necessarily be complete and is subject to, and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to, the applicable subscription rights agreement and subscription rights certificate, which will be filed with the SEC in connection with any offering of subscription rights.

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Description of Debt Securities

We may issue, separately or together with, or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of other securities, debt securities, including debentures, notes, bonds, and other evidence of indebtedness as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The debt securities may be either secured or unsecured and will be either senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. The debt securities will be issued under one or more separate indentures between us and a trustee to be specified in an accompanying prospectus supplement. Senior debt securities will be issued under a senior indenture and subordinated debt securities will be issued under a subordinated indenture. The complete terms of the debt securities will be contained in the indenture and supplemental indenture applicable to the debt securities. These documents will be included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement. You should read the indenture and applicable supplemental indenture relating to any debt securities. We refer to the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture together as the “indentures.” You should also read the applicable prospectus supplement, which will contain additional information and which may update or change some of the information below.

The following summary of the material provisions of the indentures and the debt securities does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the provisions of the applicable indentures and certificates evidencing the applicable debt securities. The specific terms of the applicable indentures and debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If any particular terms of the applicable indentures or debt securities described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described below, then the terms described below will be deemed to have been superseded by those described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

General

Debt securities may be issued in separate series without limitation as to aggregate principal amount. We may specify a maximum aggregate principal amount for the debt securities of any series. We are not limited as to the amount of debt securities that we may issue under the indentures. Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement, a series of debt securities may be reopened to issue additional debt securities of such series. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinated as described below under the heading “ —Subordinated Debt.”

The prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities will set forth the material terms of the debt securities being offered, as established pursuant to a board resolution, in an officer’s certificate or in a supplemental indenture, including:

 

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However, no terms of the indentures may be modified or deleted if they are required under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act, and any modification or deletion of the rights, duties or immunities of an indenture trustee will have been consented to in writing by the trustee.

If we denominate the purchase price of any of the debt securities in a foreign currency or currencies, or if the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any series of debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies, we will include in the applicable prospectus supplement information on the restrictions, elections, material U.S. federal income tax considerations, specific terms and other information with respect to that issue of debt securities and the relevant foreign currency or currencies.

Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be registered debt securities. Debt securities may be sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates. The material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities sold at a discount will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Senior Debt

Except as otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement, senior debt securities will be unsecured and will rank equally with all our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt, and will rank senior in right of payment to any subordinated debt.

Subordinated Debt

Except as otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement, subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of our senior indebtedness, as more fully described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Under the subordinated debt indenture, senior indebtedness means, without duplication, the principal, premium, if any, unpaid interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization, whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement and indemnification obligations, and all other amounts payable under or in respect of the following indebtedness, whether any such indebtedness exists as of the date of the indenture or is created, incurred or assumed after such date:

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Since we are holding company, our right, and accordingly, the right of our creditors and shareholders, including the holders of the securities offered by this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, to participate in any distribution of assets of any of our subsidiaries upon its liquidation, reorganization or similar proceeding is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent that our claims as a creditor of the subsidiary may be recognized.

In the event of any insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership or similar proceedings, payment in full of all principal, premium, if any, and interest must be made or provided for with respect to all outstanding senior debt before we can make any payment or distribution of principal, premium, if any, any additional amounts or interest on the subordinated debt securities.

Registration and Transfer

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, each series of the offered securities will be issued in registered form only, without coupons. The indentures will also allow us to issue the securities in bearer form only, or in both registered and bearer form. Any securities issued in bearer form will have interest coupons attached, unless they are issued as zero coupon securities. Securities in bearer form will not be offered, sold, resold or delivered in connection with their original issuance in the United States or to any United States person other than to offices of certain United States financial institutions located outside the United States. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities we are offering will be issued in denominations of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of the securities, but we may require payment of an amount sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange.

Payment and Paying Agent

Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be payable as to principal, interest, and any premium in the designated currency or currency unit at the office of a designated paying agent. At our option, payment of interest on fully registered securities may also be made by check mailed to the persons in whose names the securities are registered on the days specified in the indentures or any prospectus supplement.

The designated paying agent in the United States for the securities we are offering is provided in the indentures that are or will be deemed incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

Global Securities

The securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global certificates, or global securities, that will be deposited with a depositary that we will identify in a prospectus supplement. Global securities may be issued in either registered or bearer form and in either temporary or permanent form. All global securities in bearer form will be deposited with a depositary outside the United States. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for individual certificates evidencing securities in definitive form represented thereby, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary to a nominee of that depositary or by a nominee of that depositary to a depositary or another nominee of that depositary.

The specific terms of the depositary arrangements for each series of securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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Modification and Waiver

Each indenture will provide that modifications and amendments may be made by us and the trustee with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of each series affected by the amendment or modification. However, unless the applicable indenture provides otherwise, no modification or amendment may, without the consent of each holder affected:

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of any series may waive compliance by us and the trustee with certain provisions of the applicable indenture. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of any series may waive any past default under the applicable indenture with respect to that series, except a default in the payment of the principal, or any premium, interest, or additional amounts payable on a security of that series or in respect of a covenant or provision which under the terms of the applicable indenture cannot be modified or amended, without the consent of each affected holder.

With the trustee, unless the applicable indenture provides otherwise, we may modify and amend any indenture without the consent of any holder for any of the following purposes:

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Calculation of Outstanding Debt Securities

To calculate whether the holders of a sufficient principal amount of the outstanding securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver under any indenture, any securities owned by us, or owned by any other obligor of the securities or any affiliate of ours or any other obligor, shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for purposes of the calculation.

Additional Provisions

Other than the duty to act with the required standard of care during an event of default, the trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the applicable indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the securities, unless the holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnification. Each indenture provides that the holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding securities of any series may, in certain circumstances, direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or other power conferred on the trustee.

No holder of a security of any series will have the right to institute any proceeding for any remedy under the applicable indenture, unless:

However, the holder of any security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal, any premium, any interest or any additional amounts in respect of such security on or after the date expressed in such security and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment. We are required to file annually with the trustee a certificate of no default, or specifying any default that exists.

Transactions with the Trustee

We and our subsidiaries may maintain deposit accounts and conduct various banking and other transactions with an indenture trustee. The trustee and its subsidiaries may maintain deposit accounts and conduct various banking transactions with us and our subsidiaries.

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Conversion Rights

The applicable prospectus supplement relating to any convertible debt securities will describe the terms on which those securities are convertible.

Events of Default

The following constitute “events of default” under the indentures:

Upon an event of default relating to a bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization proceeding, the principal amount of the applicable series of debt securities shall be automatically accelerated. Upon any other event of default, unless the supplemental indenture provides otherwise, either the trustee or holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series may declare the principal amount due and payable immediately. In the event of a default in the payment of interest or principal, the holders of senior debt will be entitled to be paid in full before any payment can be made to holders of subordinated debt securities. However, a holder of a subordinated debt security (or the trustee under the applicable indenture on behalf of all of the holders of the affected series) may, subject to certain limitations and conditions, seek to enforce overdue payments of interest or principal on the subordinated debt securities. Subject to certain conditions, the declaration of acceleration may be revoked, and past defaults (except uncured payment defaults and certain other specified defaults) may be waived, by the holders of not less than a majority of the principal amount of securities of that series.

You should refer to the prospectus supplement relating to each series of securities for the particular provisions relating to events of default and the ability to accelerate.

Trustee

The accompanying prospectus supplement will specify the trustee for the particular series of debt securities to be issued under the indentures.

At all times, the trustee must be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, with authority to exercise corporate trust powers, be subject to the supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia authority, have at all times a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000, otherwise satisfy the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act, and not be us or any person directly or indirectly controlled or controlled by or under common control with us.

If the trustee acquires any conflicting interest, as defined in the Trust Indenture Act, with respect to the debt securities, within 90 days after the trustee has or acquired a conflicting interest, which has not been cured or waived, the trustee would generally be required by the Trust Indenture Act to eliminate that conflicting interest or resign as trustee with respect to the debt securities issued under the applicable indenture. If the trustee resigns, we are required to promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to the affected securities. The trustee and/or certain of its affiliates may provide banking, investment and other services to us.

Book Entry Issuance

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If so provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue the debt securities of each series offered by means of this prospectus in the form of one or more fully registered global debt securities, without coupons, each of which we refer to as a “global security.” Each such global security will be registered in the name of a depositary or a nominee of a depositary and held through one or more domestic clearing systems, principally the book-entry system operated by Depository Trust Company, or DTC, in the United States. No person who acquires an interest in these global securities will be entitled to receive a certificate or other instrument representing the person’s interest in the global securities except as set forth under “—Certificated debt securities” below or in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, all references in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement to this prospectus to actions by holders of any debt securities that are global securities refer to actions taken by DTC upon instructions from its participants, and all references herein to payments and notices to the holders refer to payments and notices to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered holder of the offered debt securities. Electronic securities and payment transfer, processing, depositary and custodial links have been established among the DTC system and other systems, either directly or indirectly, which enable global securities to be issued, held and transferred among these clearing systems through these links.

Although DTC has agreed to the procedures described below in order to facilitate transfers of global securities among participants in DTC, it is under no obligation to perform or continue to perform those procedures, and those procedures may be modified or discontinued at any time. Neither we, any trustee nor any registrar and transfer agent with respect to our debt securities of any series offered by means of this prospectus will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC or any of its direct or indirect participants of its obligations under the rules and procedures governing the operations of DTC.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities of a series issued in the form of one or more global securities will be registered in the name of DTC or a nominee of DTC. Where appropriate with respect to the debt securities of a series being offered and sold by means of this prospectus, links will be established among DTC to facilitate cross-market transfers of those debt securities associated with secondary market trading. While the following information in this prospectus concerning DTC and its book-entry system has been obtained from sources we believe to be reliable, we take no responsibility for the accuracy of that information. Furthermore, DTC has no obligation to perform or continue to perform the procedures described below, and any of them may discontinue or change those procedures at any time.

Depository Trust Company

DTC has advised us of the following information: DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities that its direct participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities, through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, which, in turn, is owned by a number of direct participants of DTC. Access to the DTC system is also available to others, referred to as indirect participants, such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a direct or indirect custodial relationship with a direct participant. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

Beneficial interests in a global security representing outstanding debt securities of a series will be shown on, and transfers of beneficial interests in the global security will be made only through, records maintained by DTC and DTC participants. When you purchase our debt securities through the DTC system, the purchases must be made by or through a direct DTC participant, which will receive credit for the debt securities in its account on DTC’s records. When you actually purchase the debt securities, you will become their beneficial owner and your ownership interest will be recorded only on the records of the DTC participants. DTC will have no knowledge of your individual ownership of the debt securities. DTC’s records will show only the identity of the direct DTC participants and the amount of the debt securities held by or through them. When you purchase debt securities through the DTC system, you will not receive a written confirmation of your purchase or sale or any periodic account statement

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directly from DTC. You should instead receive these confirmations and account statements from the DTC participant through which you purchase the debt securities. The DTC participants are responsible for keeping accurate account of the holdings of their customers.

The trustee and we will treat DTC or its nominee as the owner of each global security registered in the name of DTC or its nominee for all purposes. Accordingly, the trustee will wire payments on the debt securities to the DTC nominee that is the registered holder of the debt securities. It is DTC’s current practice, upon receipt of any payment of distributions or liquidation amounts due on a global security, to proportionately credit direct DTC participants’ accounts on the payment date based on their holdings of the relevant securities. Payments to you with respect to your beneficial interest in any debt securities in turn will be the responsibility of the DTC participants based on their respective customary practices, and the trustee, any paying agent and we will have no direct responsibility or liability to pay amounts due on a global security to you or any other beneficial owners in that global security. Any redemption notices likewise will be sent by us or, at our request, by the trustee directly to DTC, which in turn will inform the DTC participants, which will then contact you as a beneficial holder. In addition, it is DTC’s current practice to pass through any consenting or voting rights to the direct DTC participants by using an omnibus proxy. Those direct DTC participants should, in turn, solicit votes and consents from you, the ultimate owner of debt securities, based on their respective customary practices.

Under the rules, regulations and procedures creating and affecting DTC and its operations, DTC is required to make book-entry transfers between direct DTC participants on whose behalf it acts with respect to the debt securities and is required to receive and transmit distributions of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities. DTC participants with which investors have accounts with respect to the debt securities similarly are required to make book-entry transfers and receive and transmit payments on behalf of their respective investors.

Because DTC can only act on behalf of direct DTC participants, who in turn act on behalf of indirect DTC participants and certain banks, the ability of a person having a beneficial interest in a security held in DTC to transfer or pledge that interest to persons or entities that do not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take actions in respect of that interest, may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate representing that interest. The laws of some states of the United States require that certain persons take physical delivery of securities in certificated form in order to transfer or perfect a security interest in those securities. Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a security held in DTC to those persons may be limited.

DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of debt securities under the terms and conditions of the debt securities (including, without limitation, the presentation of debt securities for exchange) only at the direction of one or more of the direct DTC participants to whose accounts with DTC interests in the relevant debt securities are credited, and only in respect of the portion of the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities as to which that direct DTC participant has or those direct DTC participants have given the direction. However, in certain circumstances described under “—Certificated debt securities” below, DTC will exchange the global securities held by it for certificated debt securities, which it will distribute to the direct DTC participants.

Certificated Debt Securities

Debt securities represented by one or more global securities will be exchangeable for certificated debt securities with the same terms in authorized denominations only if:

If a global security is exchanged for certificated debt securities, the trustee will keep the registration books for the applicable debt securities at its corporate office and follow customary practices and procedures regarding those certificated debt securities.

 

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Description of Depositary Shares

The following description is a general summary of the terms of the depositary shares that we may issue. We may elect to offer fractional interests in shares of our preferred stock, in which case we will issue receipts for depositary shares and each of these depositary shares will represent a fraction of a share of the applicable series of our preferred stock, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following summary of the terms of the depositary shares does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the terms of the depositary shares and our preferred stock, as well as the form of the deposit agreement, our certificate of formation and the certificate of designation relating to the applicable series of our preferred stock that are, or will be, filed with the SEC. Therefore, you should carefully consider the actual provisions of these documents.

General

Each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fractional interest in shares of our preferred stock underlying that depositary share, to all rights and preferences of our preferred stock underlying that depositary share. These rights may include dividend, voting, redemption and liquidation rights.

The shares of our preferred stock underlying the depositary shares will be deposited with a bank or trust company selected by us to act as depositary, under a deposit agreement between us, the depositary and the holders of the depositary receipts. The depositary will be the transfer agent, registrar and dividend disbursing agent for the depositary shares. The name and address of the principal executive office of the depositary will be included in the prospectus supplement relating to the issue.

The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the depositary agreement. Holders of depositary receipts agree to be bound by the deposit agreement, which requires holders to take certain actions such as filing proof of residence and paying certain charges.

Dividends and Other Distributions

The depositary will distribute cash dividends or other cash distributions, if any, received in respect of the series of our preferred stock underlying the depositary shares to the record holders of depositary receipts in proportion to the number of depositary shares owned by those holders on the relevant record date. The relevant record date for depositary shares will be the same date as the record date for our preferred stock.

In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary receipts that are entitled to receive the distribution, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution. If this occurs, the depositary, with our approval, may adopt another method for the distribution, including selling the property and distributing the net proceeds to the holders.

Liquidation Preference

If a series of our preferred stock underlying the depositary shares has a liquidation preference, in the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of depositary shares will be entitled to receive the fraction of the liquidation preference accorded each share of the applicable series of our preferred stock, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Redemption

If a series of our preferred stock underlying the depositary shares is subject to redemption, the depositary shares will be redeemed from the proceeds received by the depositary resulting from the redemption, in whole or in part, of our preferred stock held by the depositary. Whenever we redeem any of our preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem, as of the same redemption date, the number of depositary shares representing our preferred stock so redeemed. The depositary will mail the notice of redemption to the record holders of the depositary receipts promptly upon receiving the notice from us and no fewer than 20 nor more than 60 days, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, prior to the date fixed for redemption of our preferred stock.

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After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be outstanding. When the depositary shares are no longer outstanding, all rights of the holders will end, except the right to receive money, securities or other property payable upon redemption.

Voting

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of our preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in the notice of meeting to the record holders of the depositary receipts underlying our preferred stock. Each record holder of those depositary receipts on the record date will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of our preferred stock underlying that holder's depositary shares. The record date for the depositary will be the same date as the record date for our preferred stock. The depositary will try, as far as practicable, to vote our preferred stock underlying the depositary shares in accordance with these instructions. We will agree to take all action that may be deemed necessary by the depositary in order to enable the depositary to vote our preferred stock in accordance with these instructions. The depositary will not vote our preferred stock to the extent that it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary receipts.

Withdrawal of Preferred Stock

Owners of depositary shares will be entitled to receive upon surrender of depositary receipts at the principal office of the depositary and payment of any unpaid amount due to the depositary, the number of whole shares of our preferred stock underlying their depositary shares.

Partial shares of our preferred stock will not be issued. Holders of our preferred stock will not be entitled to deposit the shares under the deposit agreement or to receive depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares for our preferred stock.

Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement

The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement may be amended by agreement between the depositary and us. However, any amendment which materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary shares, other than fee changes, will not be effective unless the amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding depositary shares. The deposit agreement may be terminated by the depositary or us only if:

Charges of Depositary

We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangement. We will also pay charges of the depositary in connection with:

Holders of depositary receipts will pay transfer, income and other taxes and governmental charges and other specified charges as provided in the deposit agreement for their accounts. If these charges have not been paid, the depositary may:

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Miscellaneous

The depositary will forward to the holders of depositary receipts all reports and communications we deliver to the depositary that we are required to furnish to the holders of our preferred stock. In addition, the depositary will make available for inspection by holders of depositary receipts at the principal office of the depositary, and at such other places as it may from time to time deem advisable, any reports and communications we deliver to the depositary as the holder of our preferred stock.

Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if either we or the depositary are prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond the control of either the depositary or us in performing our respective obligations under the deposit agreement. Our obligations and the depositary's obligations will be limited to the performance in good faith of our or the depositary's respective duties under the deposit agreement. Neither we nor the depositary will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or our preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. The depositary and we may rely on:

Resignation and Removal of Depositary

The depositary may resign at any time by delivering a notice to us. We may remove the depositary at any time. Any such resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. The successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice for resignation or removal. The successor depositary must be a bank and trust company having its principal office in the United States of America and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.

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Description of Purchase Contracts and Purchase Units

The following description is a general summary of the terms of the purchase contracts and purchase units that we may issue. We may issue purchase contracts for the purchase or sale of our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities issued by us or by third parties as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each purchase contract will entitle the holder thereof to purchase or sell, and obligate us to sell or purchase on specified dates, such securities at a specified purchase price, which may be based on a formula, all as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may, however, satisfy our obligations, if any, with respect to any purchase contract by delivering the cash value of such purchase contract or the cash value of the securities otherwise deliverable, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will also specify the methods by which the holders may purchase or sell such securities, and any acceleration, cancellation or termination provisions or other provisions relating to the settlement of a purchase contract. The price per security and the number of securities may be fixed at the time the purchase contracts are entered into or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the applicable purchase contracts.

The purchase contracts may be issued separately or as part of units consisting of a purchase contract and debt securities or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities, or any other securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement or any combination of the foregoing, securing the holders' obligations to purchase the securities under the purchase contracts, which we refer to herein as “purchase units.” The purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under the purchase contracts in a specified manner. The purchase contracts also may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the purchase contracts or the purchase units, as the case may be, or vice versa, and those payments may be unsecured or pre-funded on some basis.

The prospectus supplement relating to any offering of purchase contracts or purchase units will contain the specific terms of the purchase contracts or purchase units. These terms may include, without limitation, the following:

The description in the applicable prospectus supplement of any purchase contracts and purchase units we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable purchase contract or unit agreement, which will be filed with the SEC in connection with any offering of such securities.

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Description of Units

We may issue units comprised of any combination of two or more of the other securities described in this prospectus and as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder, with rights and obligations of a holder, of each security included in the unit. The units may be issued under unit agreements to be entered into between us and a unit agent.

The applicable prospectus supplement will specify the terms of the units, including:

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any units. The description in the applicable prospectus supplement of any units we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable unit agreement, which will be filed with the SEC in connection with any offering of units.

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Plan of Distribution

We may sell the offered securities directly to purchasers, through agents, through dealers, through underwriters, or through a combination of any of these methods of sale. The prospectus supplement relating to the offered securities will set forth the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents; the initial offering price of the offered securities to the public and the proceeds to us from the sale; any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation; any underwriting discounts, commissions and other allowances and reallowances paid to dealers or agents; and any securities exchanges on which the offered securities may be listed.

We may use one or more underwriters in the sale of the offered securities, in which case the offered securities will be acquired by the underwriter or underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions either:

In connection with the offering of securities, we may grant to the underwriters an option to purchase additional securities to cover over-allotments at the public offering price, with an additional underwriting commission, as may be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement. If we grant any over-allotment option, the terms of such over-allotment option will be set forth in the prospectus supplement for such securities.

Underwriters or agents may make sales in privately negotiated transactions and/or any other method permitted by law, including sales deemed to be an “at-the-market” offering as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act, which includes sales made directly on the New York Stock Exchange, the existing trading market for our common stock, or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange.

We may issue to our existing securityholders, though a dividend or similar distribution, rights to purchase shares of our common stock or preferred stock, which may or may not be transferable. In any distribution of rights to our existing security holders, if all of the underlying securities are not subscribed for, we may then sell the unsubscribed securities directly to third parties or may engage the services of one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, including standby underwriters, to facilitate the distribution of the unsubscribed securities. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any offering of our common stock or preferred stock through the issuance of rights including, if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting agreement or purchase agreement.

The anticipated date of delivery of offered securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to each offer.

Sales through Underwriters, Dealers or Agents; Direct Sales

If an underwriter is, or underwriters are, used in the sale, we will execute an underwriting agreement with the underwriters at the time of sale to the underwriters. The names of the underwriters will be set forth in the prospectus supplement, which, along with this prospectus, will be used by the underwriter to make resales of the offered securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered to the public. In connection with the sale of offered securities, the underwriter may be deemed to have received compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of offered securities for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters may also sell offered securities to or through dealers, and the dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of underwriters to purchase the offered securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent and such underwriters will be obligated to purchase all such securities, if any are purchased.

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If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the offered securities in respect of which this prospectus and a related prospectus supplement is delivered, we will sell the offered securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer, who may be deemed to be an “underwriter” as that term is defined in the Securities Act, may then resell the offered securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.

Offered securities may also be offered and sold, if so indicated in the prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with their remarketing of offered securities.

Underwriters, dealers, remarketing firms and agents may be entitled, under agreements that may be entered into with us, to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which they may be required to make in respect thereof and may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.

The specific terms of any lock-up provisions with respect to any given offering will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

In compliance with guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and unless otherwise disclosed in the applicable prospectus supplement, we do not intend for the maximum consideration or discount to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker dealer to exceed 8.0% of the aggregate amount of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.

We may directly solicit offers to purchase offered securities. Agents designated by us from time to time may also solicit offers to purchase offered securities. Any agent designated by us who may be deemed to be an “underwriter,” as that term is defined in the Securities Act, involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to such agent will be set forth, in the prospectus supplement.

Delayed Delivery Contracts

If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters, dealers or other persons to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase offered securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date or dates. Institutions with which these contracts may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and others. The obligations of any purchasers under any delayed delivery contract will not be subject to any conditions except that:

The underwriters, dealers and other persons will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of such contracts. The prospectus supplement relating to the contracts will set forth the price to be paid for offered securities pursuant to the contracts, the commission payable for solicitation of the contracts and the date or dates in the future for delivery of offered securities pursuant to the contracts.

Market Making, Stabilization and Other Transactions

Each issue of a new series of preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or rights will be a new issue of securities with no established trading market, except as indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we do not expect to list the offered securities on a securities

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exchange, except for our common stock, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. We can provide no assurance as to whether the securities will have a liquid trading market.

In order to facilitate the offering of any of the securities offered under this prospectus, the underwriters with respect to any such offering may, as described in the prospectus supplement, engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities or any other securities the prices of which may be used to determine payments on these securities. Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase the underlying security in the open market for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the price of the securities. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a stabilizing or syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. Any of these activities may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our securities or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our securities or the common stock sold by the selling shareholder. As a result, the market price of the securities may be higher than it otherwise would be in the absence of these transactions. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities at any time, all as described in the prospectus supplement.

Any person participating in the distribution of securities will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, including without limitation Regulation M, which may limit the timing of transactions involving the securities offered under this prospectus. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of such securities to engage in market-making activities with respect to the particular securities being distributed. All of the above may affect the marketability of the securities offered under this prospectus and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to such securities.

Under the securities law of various states, the securities offered under this prospectus may be sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in various states the securities offered under this prospectus may not be offered and sold unless such securities have been registered or qualified for sale in the state or an exemption from such registration or qualification is available and is complied with.

Derivative Transactions and Hedging

We, the underwriters or other agents may engage in derivative transactions involving the securities. These derivatives may consist of short sale transactions and other hedging activities. The underwriters or agents may acquire a long or short position in the securities, hold or resell securities acquired and purchase options or futures on the securities and other derivative instruments with returns linked to or related to changes in the price of the securities. In order to facilitate these derivative transactions, we may enter into security lending or repurchase agreements with the underwriters or agents. The underwriters or agents may effect the derivative transactions through sales of the securities to the public, including short sales, or by lending the securities in order to facilitate short sale transactions by others. The underwriters or agents may also use the securities purchased or borrowed from us or others (or, in the case of derivatives, securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives) to directly or indirectly settle sales of the securities or close out any related open borrowings of the securities.

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Legal Matters

Unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of our securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and related prospectus supplements will be passed upon for us by Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, Dallas, Texas, and for any applicable underwriters or agents by counsel named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Experts

Our consolidated financial statements appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 have been audited by Whitley Penn LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of said firm as an expert in accounting and auditing.

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

The following table sets forth the various expenses that we expect to incur in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being registered hereby. With the exception of the SEC registration fee, all amounts shown are estimates:

SEC registration fee(1)	$ 13,905
Printing fees and expenses	$ *
Legal fees and expenses	$ *
Accounting expenses	$ *
Trustee and depositary fees and expenses	$ *
Blue sky fees and expenses	$ *
Rating agency fees	$ *
Listing fees and expenses	$ *
Miscellaneous expenses	$ *
Total	$ *

(1) See Exhibit 107 Filing Fee Table attached to this registration statement.

* These fees are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and, accordingly, cannot be calculated at this time.

ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

The Texas Business Organizations Code, or TBOC, permits a Texas corporation to limit in its certificate of formation the liability of the corporation’s directors to the corporation or its shareholders for conduct in the performance of each such director’s duties. However, Texas law does not permit any elimination or limitation of liability of a director who is found liable under applicable law for: (1) a breach of the director’s duty of loyalty, if any, to the corporation or its shareholders; (2) an act or omission not in good faith that constitutes a breach of duty of the director to the corporation or involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (3) a transaction from which the director received an improper benefit, regardless of whether the benefit resulted from an action taken within the scope of the director’s duties; or (4) an act or omission for which the liability of a director is expressly provided by an applicable statute. The registrant’s certificate of formation provides that the personal liability of the directors and officers of the registrant for monetary damages shall be eliminated to the fullest extent permitted by the TBOC.

Sections 8.101 and 8.103 of the TBOC provide that a Texas corporation may indemnify a person who was, is, or is threatened to be a named defendant or respondent in a proceeding because the person is, or was a director only if a determination is made that such indemnification is permissible under the TBOC: (1) by a majority vote of the directors who at the time of the vote are disinterested and independent, regardless of whether such directors constitute a quorum; (2) by a majority vote of a board committee designated by a majority of disinterested and independent directors and consisting solely of disinterested and independent directors; (3) by special legal counsel selected by the board of directors or a committee of the board of directors as set forth in (1) or (2); (4) by the shareholders in a vote that excludes the shares held by directors who are not disinterested and independent; or, (5) by unanimous vote of the shareholders. The power to indemnify applies only if such person acted in good faith and, in the case of conduct in the person’s official capacity as a director, in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the best interest of the corporation, and, in all other cases, that the person’s conduct was not opposed to the best interest of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, that such person had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

Section 8.104 of the TBOC provides that a Texas corporation may pay or reimburse, in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding, reasonable expenses incurred by a present director who was, is, or is threatened to be made a named defendant or respondent in a proceeding after the corporation receives a written affirmation by the director of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification

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under Section 8.101 of the TBOC and a written undertaking by or on behalf of the director to repay the amount paid or reimbursed if it is ultimately determined that he or she has not met that standard or if it is ultimately determined that indemnification of the director is not otherwise permitted under the TBOC. Section 8.105 of the TBOC also provides that reasonable expenses incurred by a former director or officer, or a present or former employee or agent of the corporation, who was, is, or is threatened to be made a named defendant or respondent in a proceeding may be paid or reimbursed by the corporation, in advance of the final disposition of the action, as the corporation considers appropriate.

Section 8.105 of the TBOC provides that a corporation may indemnify and advance expenses to a person who is not a director, including an officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, as provided by: (1) the corporation’s governing documents; (2) an action by the corporation’s governing authority; (3) resolution by the shareholders; (4) contract; or (5) common law. As consistent with Section 8.105 of the TBOC, a corporation may indemnify and advance expenses to persons who are not directors to the same extent that a corporation may indemnify and advance expenses to directors.

Our certificate of formation provides that, to the fullest extent and under the circumstances permitted by Chapter 8 of the TBOC, (1) we must indemnify and advance expenses to directors and officers, and (2) we may indemnify and advance expenses to employees and agents who are not directors and officers. Our certificate of formation also authorizes us to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of our directors and officers.

The foregoing is only a general summary of certain aspects of Texas law and our certificate of formation dealing with indemnification of directors and officers, and does not purport to be complete. It is qualified in its entirety by reference to the detailed provisions of those sections of the TBOC referenced above and our certificate of formation, which is incorporated by reference into this registration statement.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Act, or the FDI Act, provides that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation may prohibit or limit, by regulation or order, payments by any insured depository institution or its holding company for the benefit of directors and officers of the insured depository institution, or others who are or were “institution-affiliated parties,” as defined by the FDI Act, in order to pay or reimburse such person for any liability or legal expense sustained with regard to any administrative or civil enforcement action which results in a final order against the person. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation regulations prohibit, subject to certain exceptions, insured depository institutions, their subsidiaries, and affiliated holding companies from indemnifying officers, directors, or employees from any civil money penalty or judgment resulting from an administrative or civil enforcement action commenced by any federal banking agency, or for that portion of the costs sustained with regard to such an action that results in a final order or settlement that is adverse to the director, officer, or employee.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers, or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable. Finally, our ability to provide indemnification to our directors and officers is limited by federal banking laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, 12 U.S.C. 1828(k). We also maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.

ITEM 16. EXHIBITS.

Exhibit Number		Description
1.1		Form of Underwriting Agreement*
3.1		Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Formation of Guaranty Bancshares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the registration statement on Form S-1/A filed by Guaranty Bancshares, Inc. on May 1, 2017)
3.2		Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of Guaranty Bancshares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the registration statement on Form S-1 filed by Guaranty Bancshares, Inc. on April 6, 2017)

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Exhibit Number		Description
4.1		Specimen Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registration statement on Form S-1 filed by Guaranty Bancshares, Inc. on April 6, 2017)
4.2		Specimen Preferred Stock Certificate*
4.3		Form of Articles of Amendment for Series of Preferred Stock*
4.4		Form of Warrant Agreement and Certificate*
4.5		Form of Subscription Rights (including form of Subscription Rights Certificate)*
4.6		Form of Indenture for Senior Debt Securities*
4.7		Form of Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities*
4.8		Form of Senior Debt Security*
4.9		Form of Subordinated Debt Security*
4.10		Form of Purchase Contract Agreement*
4.11		Form of Unit Agreement and Unit Certificate*
5.1		Opinion of Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP
23.1		Consent of Whitley Penn LLP
23.2		Consent of Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1		Powers of attorney (included on signature page)
25.1		Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, for the Senior Debt Indenture**
25.2		Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, for the Subordinated Debt Indenture**
107		Filing Fee Table

 

* To be subsequently filed, if necessary, by an amendment to the registration statement or by a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference in connection with the offering of securities registered hereunder.

** To be filed separately pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

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

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

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Filing Fee Tables” in the effective registration statement;

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement; provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in Paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (ii), and (iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a

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post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415 (a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of a registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(6) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new

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registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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

(8) To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Addison, State of Texas, on the 21st day of November, 2024.

Guaranty Bancshares, inc.
By:	/s/ Tyson T. Abston
	Tyson T. Abston
	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

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POWERS OF ATTORNEY

Each of the undersigned officers and directors of Guaranty Bancshares, Inc. hereby constitutes and appoints Tyson T. Abston as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, in his or her name, place and stead and on his or her behalf, and in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) and exhibits to this Registration Statement, and any other registration statement for the same offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing which said attorney-in-fact and agent may deem necessary or advisable to be done or performed in connection with any or all of the above-described matters, as fully as each of the undersigned could do if personally present and acting, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the dates indicated.

Signature		Title	Date
By:	/s/ Tyson T. Abston	Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director	November 21, 2024
	Tyson T. Abston	(Principal Executive Officer)
By:	/s/ Shalene A. Jacobson	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer	November 21, 2024
	Shalene A. Jacobson	(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
By:	/s/ Kirk L. Lee	Director	November 21, 2024
	Kirk L. Lee
By:	/s/ Richard W. Baker	Director	November 21, 2024
	Richard W. Baker
By:	/s/ Jeffrey Webb Brown	Director	November 21, 2024
	Jeffrey Webb Brown
By:	/s/ James S. Bunch	Director	November 21, 2024
	James S. Bunch
By:	/s/ Sondra Cunningham	Director	November 21, 2024
	Sondra Cunningham
By:	/s/ Bradley K. Drake	Director	November 21, 2024
	Bradley K. Drake

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Signature		Title	Date
By:	/s/ Christopher B. Elliott	Director	November 21, 2024
	Christopher B. Elliott
By:	/s/ Carl Johnson, Jr.	Director	November 21, 2024
	Carl Johnson, Jr.
By:	/s/ James Michael Nolan, Jr.	Director	November 21, 2024
	James Michael Nolan, Jr.

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November 21, 2024

Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP

2200 Ross Avenue, Suite 3600
Dallas, Texas 75201-7932
United States

Tel +1 214 855 8000

Fax +1 214 855 8200

nortonrosefulbright.com

Guaranty Bancshares, Inc.
16475 Dallas Parkway, Suite 600

Addison, Texas 75001

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Guaranty Bancshares, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “Company”), with respect to certain legal matters in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the offer and sale by the Company from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, of an indeterminate amount of: (i) common stock of the Company, par value $1.00 per share (“Common Stock”); (ii) preferred stock of the Company, par value $5.00 per share (“Preferred Stock,” and together with Common Stock, “Company Stock”), in one or more series, which may be convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock; (iii) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities (as defined below) (“Warrants”); (iv) rights to subscribe for and to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities (“Subscription Rights”); (v) debt securities of the Company (“Debt Securities”), in one or more series, which may be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities, and may be convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Stock or Common Stock; (vi) depositary shares representing fractional interests in shares of Preferred Stock of any series (“Depositary Shares”); (vii) purchase contracts for the purchase or sale of Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities (“Purchase Contracts”); (viii) purchase units, consisting of Purchase Contracts and a security (of the Company or another issuer) securing the holder’s obligation to purchase the Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities under the Purchase Contract (“Purchase Units”); and (ix) units that include Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants, Subscription Rights, Debt Securities, Depositary Shares, Purchase Contracts, Purchase Units or any combination thereof (“Units”), having an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $150,000,000, and each on terms to be determined at the time of its offering. The Company Stock, Warrants, Subscription Rights, Debt Securities, Depositary Shares, Purchase Contracts, Purchase Units and Units are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.”

We also have participated in the preparation of the Prospectus (the “Prospectus”) contained in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) to which this letter is an exhibit. The Securities will be offered in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined in light of market conditions at the time of sale and to be set forth in supplements to the Prospectus (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”) contained in the Registration Statement. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this letter shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Prospectus.

The Debt Securities are to be issued under a senior indenture, to be entered into by and between the Company and the trustee named therein (in the case of senior Debt Securities) (the “Senior Indenture”), or a subordinated indenture, to be entered into by and between the Company and

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the trustee named therein (in the case of subordinated Debt Securities) (the “Subordinated Indenture” and together with the Senior Indenture, the “Indentures”).

In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have examined and relied upon: (i) the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus; (ii) the Company’s Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Formation (the “Certificate of Formation”), (iii) the Company’s Third Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”); (iv) resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company relating to the Registration Statement; and (v) such certificates, statutes and other instruments and documents as we considered appropriate for purposes of the opinions expressed in this letter. In addition, we reviewed such questions of law as we considered appropriate to enable us to render the opinions expressed in this letter. As to matters of fact relevant to the opinions expressed below and as to factual matters arising in connection with our review of corporate documents, records, and other documents and writings, we have made no independent investigation of such facts, and we have relied in certain cases upon certificates and other communications of officers and employees of the Company without further investigation as to the facts set forth in such certificates and communications.

In connection with rendering the opinions expressed in this letter, we have assumed that:

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Based on the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

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Our opinions in each of the paragraphs above are subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfer or conveyance), reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity or public policy (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law), including, without limitation, (a) the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or any other equitable remedy, and (b) concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and we express no opinion herein with respect to provisions relating to severability or separability. The opinions expressed above are also subject to possible judicial action giving effect to governmental actions or foreign laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights.

We express no opinions concerning (a) any provision that relates to severability or separability or purports to require that all amendments, supplements or waivers be in writing; or (b) the enforceability of indemnification provisions to the extent they purport to relate to liabilities resulting from or based upon negligence or any violation of federal or state securities or blue sky laws.

The foregoing opinions are limited in all respects to the laws of the State of Texas and the State of New York, and no opinion is expressed with respect to the laws of any other jurisdiction or any effect that such laws may have on the opinions expressed herein; provided, however, that the opinion in paragraph 5 above is limited to the laws of the State of New York that, in our professional judgment, are normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Indentures, and, with respect to the opinion in paragraph 5 above, we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other laws.

We express no opinion as to any matter other than as set forth in this letter, and no other opinion may be inferred or implied. Our opinion is given as of the date of this letter, and we undertake no, and disclaim any, obligation to advise you of any change in any matter set forth in this letter.

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We hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. By giving such consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP

 

Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP

 

 

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CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Guaranty Bancshares, Inc., of our report dated March 14, 2024, relating to our audit of the consolidated financial statements of Guaranty Bancshares, Inc., which appears in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Guaranty Bancshares, Inc. as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in this Registration Statement on Form S-3.

/s/ Whitley Penn LLP

Plano, Texas

November 21, 2024

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CALCULATION OF FILING FEE TABLES

Form S-3

(Form Type)

Guaranty Bancshares, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities

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	Security Type	Security Class Title	Fee Calculation or Carry Forward Rule	Amount Registered	Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit	Maximum Aggregate Offering Price	Fee Rate	Amount of Registration Fee	Carry Forward Form Type	Carry Forward File Number	Carry Forward Initial Effective Date	Filing Fee Previously Paid in Connection with Unsold Securities to be Carried Forward
Newly Registered Securities
Fees to be Paid	--	--	--	--	--	--		--
Fees Previously Paid	--	--	--	--	--	--		--
Carry Forward Securities
Carry Forward Securities	Equity	Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share	Rule 415(a)(6)	(1)	(2)	(2)
Carry Forward Securities	Equity	Preferred Stock, par value $5.00 per share	Rule 415(a)(6)	(1)	(2)	(2)
Carry Forward Securities	Other	Warrants	Rule 415(a)(6)	(1)	(2)	(2)
Carry Forward Securities	Other	Subscription Rights	Rule 415(a)(6)	(1)	(2)	(2)
Carry Forward Securities	Debt	Debt Securities	Rule 415(a)(6)	(1)	(2)	(2)
Carry Forward Securities	Equity	Depositary Shares	Rule 415(a)(6)	(1)	(2)	(2)
Carry Forward Securities	Other	Purchase Contracts	Rule 415(a)(6)	(1)	(2)	(2)
Carry Forward Securities	Other	Purchase Units	Rule 415(a)(6)	(1)	(2)	(2)
Carry Forward Securities	Other	Units	Rule 415(a)(6)	(1)	(2)	(2)
Carry Forward Securities	Unallocated (Universal) Shelf	(3)	Rule 415(a)(6)	(3)		$150,000,000			Form S-3	333-261266	November 30, 2021	$13,905
	Total Offering Amounts					$150,000,000		$13,905
	Total Fees Previously Paid							$13,905
	Total Fee Offsets							N/A
	Net Fee Due							$0

(1) An indeterminate amount or number of the securities of each identified class, including an indeterminate number or amount of securities that may be issued upon the conversion, exercise, settlement or exchange of securities offered hereunder, described in this registration statement as may from time to time be issued as indeterminate prices in U.S. Dollars. Subject to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, in no event will the aggregate maximum offering price of all securities sold by the Registrant pursuant to this registration statement exceed $150,000,000.

(2) The proposed maximum per security and aggregate offering prices per class of securities will be determined from time to time by the Registrant in connection with the issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of security. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities, or that are issued in units.

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(3) Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act, the Registrant is carrying forward to this registration statement $150,000,000 of unsold securities (the “Unsold Securities”) that have previously been registered under the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-261266) filed on November 22, 2021, and declared effective on November 30, 2021 (the “Prior Registration Statement”), and the registration fee of $13,905 will continue to be applied to the Unsold Securities that are being carried forward to this registration statement. Pursuant to Rule 457(p), the registration fee of $13,905 for the Prior Registration Statement (calculated at the then-current rate of 0.0000927) was fully offset by the registration fee of $18,180 previously paid in connection with the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-228764) filed on December 12, 2018, and declared effective on December 18, 2018 registering up to $150,000,000 of securities that could have been issued under such registration statement, all of which remained unsold at the time of the filing of the Prior Registration Statement. No additional filing fee is due with respect to the Unsold Securities carried forward in this registration statement. To the extent that, after the filing date hereof and prior to the effectiveness of this registration statement, the Registrant sells any Unsold Securities pursuant to the Prior Registration Statement, the Registrant will identify in a pre-effective amendment to this registration statement the updated number of Unsold Securities from the Prior Registration Statement to be included in this registration statement pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6). Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6), the offering of the Unsold Securities under the Prior Registration Statement will be deemed terminated as of the date of effectiveness of this registration statement.

 

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