SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
November 2, 2005
HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Mississippi 0-13089 64-0169065
- ------------------------- -------------------- -----------------------------
(State or other (Commission File (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of Number) Identification Number)
incorporation)
One Hancock Plaza, 2510 14th Street,
Gulfport, Mississippi 39501
------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
(228) 868-4000
------------------------------------------------------------------
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT
Item 8.01. Other Events. On November 2, 2005, Hancock Holding Company
issued a press release announcing that the Company received investment grade
rating from DBRS. 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 November 2, 2005, headed "Hancock Holding Company
receives investment grade rating from DBRS"
SIGNATURE
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: November 2, 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 For More Information
November 2, 2005 George A. Schloegel, Chief Executive Officer
Carl J. Chaney, Chief Financial Officer
Michael A. Achary, Treasurer
Paul D. Guichet, Investor Relations
228.669.8394 or 228.323.6556
===================================================================================================================
Hancock Holding Company receives investment grade rating from DBRS
GULFPORT, MS (November 2, 2005) - George A. Schloegel, Chief Executive Officer of Hancock Holding Company
(NASDAQ: HBHC), today announced that Dominion Bond Rating Service ("DBRS") has assigned investment grade ratings
to the Company and its two bank subsidiaries Hancock Bank (Mississippi) and Hancock Bank of Louisiana.
DBRS assigned ratings of "A" for senior debt and long-term deposits for Hancock Bank (Mississippi) and
Hancock Bank of Louisiana, and "A-low" for senior debt and long-term deposits for Hancock Holding Company.
Commenting on the ratings, George A. Schloegel, Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are very pleased with the
investment grade ratings which reaffirm our founding principals of strength, stability and integrity." The credit
agency noted the ratings take into account Hancock's solid community-based banking franchise, including top-tier
deposit market share, strong liquidity that minimizes dependence on wholesale funding, and well-balanced business
mix that produces strong profitability and stable earnings growth. DBRS further commented "Asset quality is good
and in line with those of banks similarly rated by DBRS; the loan portfolio is sufficiently granular and lacks
material risk concentrations."
Hancock Holding Company subscribes to the highest standards of corporate responsibility with respect to
legal, moral, and regulatory relationships with shareholders, customers, employees, and communities Hancock
serves. Accordingly, these unwavering business principles support a corporate culture of ethical compliance and
accountability that ensures that financial statements are prepared and audited in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). The Company's systems of internal controls
and risk management processes are in place and fully functional.
Hancock Holding Company - parent company of Hancock Bank (Mississippi), Hancock Bank of Louisiana, Hancock
Bank of Florida and Magna Insurance Company - has assets of $4.91 billion at September 30, 2005. Founded in
1899, Hancock Bank stands among the strongest, safest five-star financial institutions in America. Hancock Bank
operates 104 Hancock full-service offices and more than 130 automated teller machines throughout South
Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida as well as subsidiaries Hancock Investment Services, Inc., Hancock Insurance
Agency, and Harrison Finance Company. Investors can access additional corporate information or online 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.
- more -
