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 8.01. Other Events. On July 7, 2005, Hancock Holding Company
issued a press release announcing its and Hancock Bank's ratings to A3 and A2.
The press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits.
99.1 Press Release issued by Hancock Holding Company
dated July 7, 2005, headed "Hancock Holding
Company, Hancock Bank earn Moody's upgrades"
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: July 8, 2005
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
July 7, 2005
For More Information
Carl J. Chaney, EVP & Chief Financial Officer
Paul D. Guichet, VP, Investor Relations
800.522.6542 or 228.214.5242
===================================================================================================================
Hancock Holding Company, Hancock Bank earn Moody's upgrades
GULFPORT, MS (July 7, 2005) - Moody's Investors Service - one of the world's most respected and widely used
independent credit rating, research, and risk analysis resources - has upgraded the issuer rating for Gulfport
based Hancock Holding Company to A3 and, at the same time, increased ratings for bank subsidiaries Hancock Bank
(Mississippi) and Hancock Bank of Louisiana to A2 for long-term deposits.
Additionally, the rating agency affirmed the banks' short-term deposit ratings at Prime 1, Moody's highest
ranking.
Independent credit ratings and research help investors evaluate a company's stability based on vulnerability
to credit risks. According to this week's announcement from Moody's, Hancock's upgraded ratings stem from a
review of Hancock's ongoing ability to generate healthy financial results while expanding its banking presence in
Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida. Hancock's performance in areas of profitability, asset quality, and
capital is superior to the respective peer medians for similarly rated banks; and the company's liquidity remains
sound, supported by its stable core deposit base.
"We are very pleased with these upgraded ratings and attribute our success to the expertise and commitment
of the members of our Hancock team who have helped preserve and grow the strength, stability, integrity, and
service that have distinguished the Hancock organization since 1899," said George A. Schloegel, Hancock president
and chief executive officer.
Moody's acknowledged Hancock's ability to minimize the 106-year-old company's sensitivity to interest rate
changes tied to a comparatively high level of fixed-rate loans - roughly 60 percent of the loan portfolio - by
maintaining a stable base of core deposits that inelastically re-price and by implementing an asset/liability
model that enables Hancock to monitor and manage interest rate risk sensitivity more effectively. Moody's also
explored Hancock's proprietary annuity business and gained comfort that the associated risks of the business are
at a manageable level.
Hancock Holding Company - the parent company of Hancock Bank (Mississippi), Hancock Bank of Louisiana,
Hancock Bank of Florida, and Magna Insurance Company - has assets of $4.8 billion. Hancock Bank operates 103
offices and more than 130 automated teller machines in South Mississippi, Louisiana, and the Florida Panhandle as
well as subsidiaries Hancock Investment Services, Inc., Hancock Insurance Agency, and Harrison Finance Company.
Hancock also has corporate trust offices in Gulfport, Jackson, MS, Baton Rouge, LA, and downtown New Orleans, LA,
and a business financial center in Alabama's port city of Mobile. Additional corporate information and online
banking and bill-pay services are available at www.hancockbank.com.
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