Mississippi 0-13089 64-0169065
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(State or other (Commission File (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of Number) Identification Number)
incorporation)
One Hancock Plaza, 2510 14th Street,
Gulfport, Mississippi 39501
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
(228) 868-4000
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(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Item 5. Other Events.
On February 23, 2004 Hancock Holding Company issued a press release
reporting that it approved a regular first quarter 2004 common stock cash dividend
of $0.25 per share an increase of $.02 per common share, or 9 percent. A copy of
the press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.
Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits.
99.1 Press Release issued by Hancock Holding Company
dated February 23, 2004, headed "Hancock Holding
Company announces 9 percent increase in quarterly
dividend"
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: February 24, 2004
HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY
(Registrant)
By: /s/ Paul D. Guichet
--------------------------------
Paul D. Guichet
Vice President
Investor Relations
Exhibit 99.1 to Hancock Holding Company Form 8-K
For Immediate Release For More Information
February 23, 2004 George A. Schloegel, Chief Executive Officer
Carl J. Chaney, Chief Financial Officer
Paul D. Guichet, Vice President, Investor Relations
800.522.6542 or 228.214.5242
www.hancockbank.com
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Hancock Holding Company announces 9 percent increase in quarterly dividend
GULFPORT, MS (February 23, 2004) - Hancock Holding Company (NASDAQ: HBHC) today announced that the
company's board of directors approved a regular first quarter 2004 common stock cash dividend of $0.25 per share -
an increase of $.02 per common share, or 9 percent.
Approved during a special February meeting of the company's board of directors, the regular quarterly common
stock cash dividend is payable March 15, 2004, to shareholders of record as of March 5, 2004.
In commenting on Hancock's increased level of common dividends, Hancock Holding Company Chief Executive
Officer George A. Schloegel stated, "Hancock is pleased to announce this increase in the company's common
dividend because it continues our record of enhancing shareholder value."
Hancock increased its common dividend per share twice in 2003. The first increase on February 27, 2003, was
$0.01, or 5 percent, from $0.20 to $0.21. The common dividend was also increased on August 14, 2003 by $0.02, or
10 percent, from $0.21 to $0.23.
Hancock Holding Company - the parent company of Hancock Bank Mississippi and Hancock Bank of Louisiana - has
assets of $4.2 billion. One-hundred-five-year-old Hancock Bank ranks among the top 4.6 percent of America's
financial institutions for financial strength and stability, according to Veribanc, Inc., and has received a
BauerFinancial, Inc., five-star superior rating (the highest rating possible) for the past 36 consecutive
quarters. Hancock Bank operates 102 full-service offices and more than 140 automated teller machines throughout
South Mississippi and Louisiana as well as subsidiaries Hancock Investment Services, Inc., Hancock Insurance
Agency, Hancock Mortgage Corporation, Magna Insurance Company, and Harrison Finance Company.
Investors can access additional corporate information or on-line banking and bill pay services at
www.hancockbank.com.
"SAFE HARBOR" STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995: Congress passed the Private
Securities Litigation Act of 1995 in an effort to encourage corporations to provide information about companies'
anticipated future financial performance. This act provides a safe harbor for such disclosure, which protects
the companies from unwarranted litigation if actual results are different from management expectations. This
release contains forward-looking statements and reflects management's current views and estimates of future
economic circumstances, industry conditions, Company performance, and financial results. These forward-looking
statements are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties which could cause the Company's actual results
and experience to differ from the anticipated results and expectations expressed in such forward-looking
statements.
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