SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 14)
Filed by Registrant [X]
Filed by Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as
permitted by Rule 14-6(e)(2)
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Sec. 240.14a-11
(c) or 240.14a-12
Hancock Holding Company
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pur-
suant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11(Set forth the amount on which the filing
fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total fee paid:
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing by registration for which the
offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by
registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of
its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
(3) Filing Party:
(4) Date Filed:
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Hancock Holding Company
P.O. Box 4019
Gulfport, MS 39502
January 20, 1998
Dear Shareholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the Company's annual meeting on
February 19, 1998. The meeting will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. at Hancock Bank,
One Hancock Plaza, Gulfport, MS 39501.
The official Notice of Meeting, proxy statement and form of proxy are
included with this letter. The matters listed in the Notice of Meeting are
described in detail in the proxy statement.
If you are unable to attend the Company's annual meeting in Gulfport,
the Company would like to invite you to attend one of the Regional Shareholders
Meetings. All matters to be voted upon will be voted at the annual meeting of
shareholders. No voting will take place at the regional shareholder meetings. A
schedule of the Regional Shareholders Meetings is included in your proxy
materials.
The vote of every shareholder is important. Regardless of whether or
not you plan to attend the annual meeting in Gulfport, please sign, date and
promptly mail your proxy. The Board of Directors and management look forward to
greeting those shareholders who are able to attend.
Sincerely,
/s/
Leo W. Seal, Jr.
President & CEO
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[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
Hancock Holding Company
One Hancock Plaza
2510 14th Street
Gulfport, MS 39501
(228)868-5069
January 20, 1998
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
The annual meeting of shareholders of Hancock Holding Company will be
held at Hancock Bank, One Hancock Plaza, 2510 14th Street, Gulfport, MS 39501,
on February 19, 1998, at 5:30 p.m., for the following purposes:
1. To elect three (3) Directors to hold office for a term of three
(3) years or until their successors are elected and qualified.
2. To approve the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP, as the Independent
Public Accountants for the Company.
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
or any adjournments thereof.
Only those shareholders of record at the close of business on December
31, 1997, shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting or any
adjournments thereof.
WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING, PLEASE DATE,
SIGN AND RETURN PROMPTLY THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY. IF YOU DO ATTEND THE MEETING,
YOU MAY REVOKE YOUR PROXY AND VOTE IN PERSON.
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/
Leo W. Seal, Jr.
President & CEO
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Hancock Holding Company
One Hancock Plaza
2510 14th Street
Gulfport, Mississippi 39501
Proxy Statement
January 20, 1998
This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation
of proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors of Hancock Holding Company (the
"Company" or "HHC") for the annual meeting of shareholders to be held on
February 19, 1998, 5:30 p.m., local time, at Hancock Bank, One Hancock Plaza,
2510 14th Street, Gulfport, Mississippi. Only shareholders of record at the
close of business on December 31, 1997 are entitled to notice of and to vote at
the meeting. It is expected the Proxy Materials will be first mailed on January
20, 1998.
This proxy solicitation is made by the Board of Directors of HHC.
Nominees are advised prior to record date to submit their request for proxy
solicitation materials, and they are shipped same day to nominees or their
designated agent to process to non-objecting beneficial owners (nobo) and
objecting beneficial owners (obo) holders. Corporate Communications is con-
tracted by the Company to solicit proxy requests. The contact at Corporate
Communications is Mr. Roy Alley, P. O. Box 101190, Nashville, TN 37224.
He can be reached at telephone number (615) 254-3376. All nominees and
brokers will be reimbursed the allowable charges as per S.E.C. regulations.
The Company will bear the cost of the solicitation of proxy materials. All
requests for payment should be directed to: Hancock Holding Company, Investor
Relations, P. O. Box 4019, Gulfport, MS 39502.
Pursuant to Mississippi Law and the Company's Bylaws, action on a
matter (other than the election of Directors) is approved if the votes cast
favoring the action exceed the votes cast opposing the action, unless the
Company's Articles of Incorporation or Mississippi Law specifically requires a
greater number of affirmative votes on a particular matter. Broker non-votes and
shareholder abstentions are not counted in determining whether or not a matter
has been approved by shareholders.
Holders of record of the Company's Common Stock, par value $3.33 per
share (The "Common Stock"), as of December 31, 1997 (the "Record Date") are
entitled to vote at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. Each share of Common
Stock entitles the holder thereof to one (1) vote on each matter presented at
the Annual Meeting for shareholder approval. On December 31, 1997, there were
10,916,770 shares of Common Stock entitled to vote. Of this total, 1,052,183.2
shares of the Common Stock were held in various trust accounts by the Trust
Department of the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Hancock Bank, in a
fiduciary capacity as trustee under terms that permit the Trust Department to
vote the shares (either by itself or jointly with others). It is expected that
these 1,052,183.2 shares will be voted in favor of the election of the nominees
listed on page 4, and the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
Shareholders of the Company do not have cumulative voting rights with
respect to the election of directors at the Annual Meeting. A shareholder has
the right to vote the number of shares owned by him in the election of each
director. With respect to the election of three (3) directors to hold office for
a term of three (3) years, the nominees receiving the most votes, up to three
(3), will be elected. If the Proxy is marked to vote for the three (3) directors
as a group, one vote will be cast for each director for each share entitled to
vote. If any shareholder wishes to vote for fewer than three (3) directors, he
may line through or otherwise strike out the name of any nominee.
Pursuant to Mississippi Law and the Company's Bylaws, directors are
elected by a plurality of the votes cast in the election of directors. A
"plurality" means that the individuals with the largest number of favorable
votes are elected as directors, up to the maximum number of directors to be
chosen at the meeting.
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The selection of Deloitte & Touch LLP, as the Company's Auditors for
the fiscal year ending December 31, 1998 will be ratified if more votes are cast
at the Annual Meeting favoring the appointment than opposing it.
Any person giving a Proxy has the right to revoke it at any time before
it is exercised. A shareholder may revoke his Proxy: (1) by personally appearing
at the Annual Meeting; (2) by written notification to the Company which is
received prior to the exercise of the Proxy; or (3) by a subsequent Proxy
executed by the person executing the prior Proxy and presented at the Annual
Meeting. All properly executed Proxies, if not revoked, will be voted as
directed on all matters proposed by the Board of Directors, and, if the
shareholder does not direct to the contrary, the shares will be voted "FOR" each
of the proposals described below. Solicitation of proxies will be primarily by
mail. Officers, directors, and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries,
Hancock Bank and Hancock Bank of Louisiana, (hereinafter referred to
collectively as the "Banks") also may solicit Proxies personally.
The presence at the Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, of a
majority of the shares of Common Stock outstanding on December 31, 1997 and
entitled to vote will constitute a quorum.
PROPOSAL NO. 1 -- ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors, by a vote of a majority of the full Board, has
nominated the persons named below for election to serve as Directors. The term
of each of the three (3) newly-elected directors will expire at the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders in 2001 and when his successor has been elected and
qualified.
The Company's Articles of Incorporation provide for a Board of at least
nine (9) directors classified into three (3) classes of directors. At each
annual meeting each class of directors whose term has expired will be elected to
hold office until the third succeeding annual meeting and until their successors
has been elected and qualified. These staggered terms of service by directors of
the Company will make it more difficult for the Company's shareholders to effect
a change in the majority of the Company's directors since replacement of a
majority of the Board of Directors will normally require two (2) annual meetings
of shareholders. Accordingly, this provision may have the effect of discouraging
hostile attempts to gain control of the Company, but is applicable to all
elections of directors.
It is the intent of the persons named in the Proxy to vote such Proxy
"FOR" the election of the nominees listed below, unless otherwise specified in
the Proxy. In the event that any such nominee should be unable to accept the
office of director, which is not anticipated, it is intended that the persons
named in the Proxy will vote for the election of such person in the place of
such nominee as the Board of Directors may recommend.
Nominations for the election to the Board of Directors, other than
those made by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, may be made by a
shareholder by delivering written notice to the Company's secretary not less
than fifty (50) nor more than ninety (90) days prior to the meeting at which
directors are to be elected, provided that the Company has mailed the first
notice of the meeting at least sixty (60) days prior to the meeting date. If the
Company has not given such notice, shareholder nominations must be submitted
within ten (10) days following the earlier of: (i) the date that notice of the
date of the meeting was first mailed to the shareholders, or (ii) the date on
which public disclosure of such date was made. The shareholder's notice must set
forth as to each nominee: (i) the name, age, business address and residence
address of such nominee; (ii) the principal occupation or employment of such
nominee; (iii) the class and number of shares of the Company's Common Stock
which are beneficially owned by such nominee; and (iv) any other information
relating to such nominee that may be required under federal securities laws to
be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the election of Directors. The
shareholder's notice must also set forth as to the shareholder giving notice:
(i) the name and address of such shareholder; and (ii) the class and amount of
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such shareholder's beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock. If the
information supplied by the shareholder is deficient in any material aspect or
if the foregoing procedure is not followed, the chairman of the annual meeting
may determine that such shareholder's nomination should not be brought before
the meeting that such nominee shall not be eligible for election as Director of
the Company.
Nominees For Director
James G. Estabrook, Jr. - currently a Director
Additional information for James G. Estabrook, Jr. can be found in the
section describing directors of the Company.
Victor Mavar - currently a Director
Additional information for Victor Mavar can be found in the section
describing directors of the Company.
Leo W. Seal, Jr. - currently a Director
Additional information for Leo W. Seal, Jr. can be found in the section
describing directors of the Company.
PROPOSAL NO. 2 -- APPROVAL OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Board of Directors has appointed Deloitte & Touche LLP, a firm of
independent certified public accountants, as auditors for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 1998, and until their successors are selected. Deloitte & Touche
LLP and its predecessor, Touche Ross & Company, have been auditors for the
Company since it commenced business in 1984, for Hancock Bank since 1981 and
Hancock Bank of Louisiana since 1990.
The Company has been advised that neither the firm nor any of its
partners has any direct or any material indirect financial interest in the
securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except as auditors and
consultants on accounting procedures and tax matters. The Board does not
anticipate that representatives of Deloitte & Touche LLP will be in attendance
at the Annual Meeting, be present to make a statement or be available to respond
to appropriate questions.
Although not required to do so, the Board of Directors has chosen to
submit its appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP for ratification by the
Company's shareholders. It is the intention of the persons named in the Proxy to
vote such Proxy FOR the ratification of this appointment. If this proposal does
not pass, the Board of Directors will reconsider the matter. The proposal will
be ratified if the votes cast favoring the appointment exceed the votes cast
opposing it.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
The following table sets forth information concerning the number of shares
of common stock of the Company held as of December 13, 1997 by the only
shareholders who are known to management to be the beneficial owners of more
than five percent (5%) of the Company's outstanding shares:
Name and Address Amount and
Title of Class of Beneficial Owner Nature of Percent
Beneficial Owner(1) of Class
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock Leo W Seal Jr. 1,272,757.7(2) 11.6%
408 North Beach Blvd.
Bay St Louis, MS 39520
Common Stock Hancock Bank Trust Dept 1,076,086.9(3) 9.9%
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(1) Constitutes sole ownership unless otherwise indicated.
(2) Includes 2,393.9 shares owned by Mr. Seal's wife, 17.8 shares held by Mr.
Seal's children, 100,000 shares held in a Charitable trust, of which Mr.
Seal has voting rights but no dispositive powers, and excludes 434,823
shares in three (3) trusts held by the Hancock Bank Trust Department (not
included in the 1,076,086.9 shares shown above as beneficially owned by the
Trust Department) as to which Mr. Seal has sole voting rights, but no power
of disposition. Mr. Seal's sister and her children are the beneficiaries of
these trusts. It also includes 16,000 options and 4,000 Restricted stock
shares which were granted to Mr. Seal in the 1996 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
(3) Consists of shares held and voted by the Hancock Bank Trust Department as
trustee for 176 different accounts. Within these 176 accounts, the Trust
Department has sole voting rights on 1,076,086.9 shares, shared voting
rights on zero shares and no power to vote 289,527.5 shares. The Trust
Department has the sole right to dispose of 1,000,549.9 shares, shared right
to dispose of zero shares and no authority to dispose of 365,064.5 shares.
Directors of HHC
Joseph F. Boardman, Jr.
Director since 1984, Chairman of the Board since 1987. Retired
Director of Coast Materials Company (Ready Mixed Concrete Business),
Gulfport, Mississippi
Term of Office: For a three year period to expire in 1999
Age: 68
James B. Estabrook, Jr.
Director since 1995. President of Estabrook Motor Co., Inc.; President
of Weaver Motor Co., Inc. (Automobile Dealerships); President of Auto
Credit Inc. (Auto Finance Business); General Partner, Estabrook
Properties, LP (Real Estate business ) ;Vice President, Falcon
Leasing and Rental, Inc., (Daily Rental Automobile Business) Pasca-
goula, Mississippi; Advisory Director, Hancock Bank since 1985
Term of Office: For a three year term to expire in 1998 - Nominee for
election
Age: 53
Charles H. Johnson
Director since 1987. President of Charles H. Johnson, Inc.
(Residential General Contracting Business), Waveland, Mississippi;
President, Universal Warehouse, Inc., (Mini-Storage Business), Wave-
land, Mississippi.
Term of Office: For a three year period to expire in 1999
Age: 64
L. A. Koenenn, Jr.
Director since 1988. Public Accountant, Gulfport, Mississippi
Term of Office: For a three year term to expire in 2000
Age: 78
Victor Mavar
Director since 1993. President of Mavar, Inc. (Real Estate Firm),
Biloxi, Mississippi; Vice President G & R Radio Inc., Biloxi, Miss-
issippi
Term of Office: For a three year term to expire in 1998- Nominee for
election
Age: 71
Thomas W. Milner, Jr.
Director since 1984. Retired Vice Chairman of the Board,
Hancock Bank, Gulfport, Mississippi Term of Office:
For a three year period to expire in 1999
Age: 84
Dr. Homer C. Moody, Jr.
Director since 1984. Retired Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Poplar
ville, MS
Term of Office: For a three year period to expire in 2000
Age: 73
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George A. Schloegel
Director of Company since 1984. President, Hancock Bank, Gulfport since
1990, Vice Chairman of the Board of Hancock Holding Company since 1984
Director of Hancock Bank of La, since 1990. Director of Mississ-
ippi Power Company, Gulfport, Mississippi . Mr. Schloegel was
employed part-time with Hancock Bank from 1956-1959 and began full-
time employment in 1962. He served in various capacities until being
named President in 1990.
Term of Office: For a three year term to expire in 2000
Age: 57
Leo W. Seal, Jr.
Director of the Company since 1984. Chief Executive Officer, Hancock
Bank, Gulfport, Mississippi since 1977; President and Chief Executive
Officer, Hancock Holding Company, since 1984; Advisory Director,
Hancock Bank of Louisiana since 1993. Mr. Seal was employed by
Hancock Bank in 1947. He was elected to the Board of Directors of
Hancock Bank in 1961 and named President in 1963. In 1977, he was named
President and Chief Executive Officer of Hancock Bank.
Term of Office: For a three year period to expire in 1998 - Nominee for
election
Age: 73
George A. Schloegel is a director of Mississippi Power Company,
Gulfport, Mississippi. None of the other Directors of the Company are directors
of another company with a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or subject to the reporting requirements
of Section 15(d) of the Act, or registered as an investment company under the
Investment Company act of 1940.
Security Ownership of Management
(As of December 13, 1997)
Amount and
Title of Class Name of Director Nature of Percent
Beneficial Ownership(1) of Class
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock Joseph F. Boardman, Jr. 10,284.5(2) 0.09%
Common Stock James B. Estabrook, Jr. 1,583 (3) 0.01%
Common Stock Charles H. Johnson 7,374 (4) 0.06%
Common Stock L. A. Koenenn, Jr. 4,080 (5) 0.03%
Common Stock Victor Mavar 15,950 0.15%
Common Stock Thomas W. Milner, Jr. 2,815 0.02%
Common Stock Dr. Homer C. Moody, Jr. 11,308 (6) 0.10%
Common Stock George A. Schloegel 121,582.7(7) 1.11%
Common Stock Leo W. Seal, Jr. 1,272,739.7(8) 11.60%
Name of Amount and
Title of Class Executive Officer Nature of Percent
Beneficial Ownership(1) of Class
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock C Stanley Bailey 5,599 (9) 0.05%
Common Stock Theresa Johnson 1,600 (10) 0.01%
Common Stock A. Hartie Spence 6,570.5(11) 0.06%
Common Stock Charles A. Webb, Jr. 10,251.9(12) 0.09%
Common Stock Directors & Exec Officers 1,906,561.3(13) 17.46%
as a group
____________________
(1) Constitutes sole ownership unless otherwise indicated.
(2) Includes 467.5 shares owned by Mr. Boardman's wife.
(3) Includes 883 shares owned by Mr. Estabrook's minor children.
(4) Includes 683 shares owned by Mr. Johnson's wife and children.
(5) Represents 4,080 shares held in the L. A. Koenenn, Jr. and Mae D. Koenenn
Revocable Trust, Mr. Koenenn has the sole power to vote and dispose of these
shares.
(6) Includes 699 shares owned jointly with Dr. Moody's children; 702 shares
owned jointly by his wife and children, and 4,907 shares owned by Dr. Moody's
wife.
(7) Includes 37,679 shares owned jointly by Mr. Schloegel and his wife; 106.9
shares owned by Mr. Schloegel's child; 1158.6 shares held for Mr. Schloegel's
account in the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan; 2755.5 shares held in
accounts for Mr. Schloegel's retirement, 199.5 shares held in a self directed
IRA for his wife, 11,000 options and 3,000 Restricted Stock Awards granted
to Mr. Schloegel in the 1996 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
(8)Includes 2,393.9 shares owned by Mr. Seal's wife, 17.8 shares owned by his
children, 100,000 shares held in a charitable trust of which Mr. Seal has
voting rights but no dispositive powers, and excludes 434,823 shares held in
a fiduciary capacity by Hancock Bank's Trust Department as to which Mr. Seal
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has sole voting rights but no power of disposition. Mr. Seal's sister and her
children are beneficiaries of these trusts. Mr. Seal disclaims beneficial
ownership of these 434,823 shares. It also includes 16,000 options and 4,000
Restricted Stock Awards granted to Mr. Seal in the 1996 Long-Term Incentive
Plan.
(9) Includes 2,097 shares held in Mr. Bailey's IRA, and 2,800 options and 700
Restricted Stock Awards granted to Mr. Bailey in the 1996 Long-Term Incentive
Plan.
(10) Includes 350 Restricted Stock Awards granted to Ms. Johnson in the 1996
Long-Term Incentive Plan.
(11) Includes 466 shares held in an I.R.A. for Mr. Spence, 5,700 options and
3,330 Restricted Stock Awards granted Mr. Spence in the 1996 Long-Term
Incentive Plan.
(12) Includes 9,217.9 shares owned jointly with Mr. Webb's wife and 350
Restricted Stock Awards granted Mr. Webb in the 1996 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
(13) All of the Directors, Executive Officers and Nominees of the Company
as a group (consisting of thirteen (13) persons) beneficially owned, in
aggregate 1,906,561.3 shares (17.46%) of Common Stock of the Company, including
the shares as to which beneficial ownership has been disclaimed above and
stock options granted under the 1996 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
Executive Officers of HHC
C. Stanley Bailey
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Hancock Holding
Company since 1995; Executive Vice President of Hancock Bank since 1995. Prior
to that he served as Vice Chairman of the Board of AmSouth Bancorporation and
AmSouth Bank of Alabama; and Chairman of the Board of AmSouth Mortgage Co., Inc.
from August 1993 to October 1994; Senior Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of AmSouth Bancorporation and AmSouth Bank of Alabama from
1991 to 1993. Mr. Bailey has rendered his resignation effective December 31,
1997. He has left the Company to become Chief Executive Officer of another
financial institution in the Midwest.
Age: 48
Theresa Johnson
Executive Vice President, Hancock Bank since 1985, Advisory Director,
Hancock Bank since 1985; Executive Vice President, Hancock Holding Company since
1992; Treasurer Hancock Holding Company since 1995. Ms. Johnson joined Hancock
Bank following the acquisition of Pascagoula Moss Point Bank.
Age: 70
George A. Schloegel
Refer to the section describing Directors of the Company.
Leo W. Seal, Jr.
Refer to the section describing Directors of the Company.
A. Hartie Spence
Chairman of the Board, Hancock Bank of Louisiana since 1996; President
of Hancock Bank of Louisiana since 1997. Prior to that Mr. Spence served as
President of the Calcasieu Marine National Bank, Calcasieu, Louisiana from 1987
to 1996.
Age: 57
Charles A. Webb, Jr.
Executive Vice President, and Secretary, Hancock Holding Company since
1992; Director Hancock Bank since 1995; Executive Vice President, Hancock Bank
since 1977; Director, Hancock Bank of Louisiana since 1990. Mr. Webb was
employed by Hancock Bank in 1948. He served as Vice President and Secretary of
the Company from 1984 until 1992.
Age: 67
No family relationship exists among the executive officers of the Company.
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SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
All Directors, Executive Officers, and Nominees of the Company have
filed all required insider reporting forms with the U. S. Securities & Exchange
Commission in a timely manner, with the exception of Mr. Easterly who filed a
Form 4 late, which reported the sale of 274 shares held in Trust wherein he is
Trustee in September 1997.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
SUMMARY MANAGEMENT COMPENSATION TABLE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long-Term Compensation
Annual Compensation Awards Payouts
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Other
Name Annual Restricted Employee All
and Compen- Stock Stock Other
Principal sation Award(s) Options Compensation
Position Year Salary($) Bonus($) ($) ($)(1) (#) ($)(2)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leo W Seal, Jr 1997 100,000 1,083(3) 204,000 8,000 2,312
CEO, Hancock 18,000(4) (7)
Bank, President & 460(5)
CEO, HHC 8,119(6)
1996 100,000 984(3) 8,000 2,700
18,000(4)
1,048(5)
8,332(6)
1995 92,500 15,000 981(3) 2,538
18,000(4)
2,174(5)
8,325(6)
George A. Schloegel 1997 265,500 50,000 1,208(3) 162,000 7,000 6,671
President, Hancock 3,081(4) (8)
Bank, Vice 1,919(5)
Chairman, HHC 2,562(6)
1996 247,231 50,000 1,659(3) 4,000 7,019
3,954(4)
1,046(5)
2,700(6)
1995 216,915 50,000 947(3) 8,454
3,750(4)
1,295(5)
2,700(6)
C. Stanley Bailey 1997 183,000 18,000 637(3) 29,400 3,307
Exec. V.P. & 2,850(4) (9)
C.F.O., HHC 2,150(5)
439(6)
1996 179,435 18,000 841(3) 2,800 3,857
3,350(4)
1,650(5)
444(6)
Charles A. Webb Jr 1997 150,000 25,000 1,263(3) 19,000 3,410
Exec. VP, CCO & 5,000(4) (10)
Secretary HHC 7,173(6)
1996 142,269 25,000 1,498(3) 3,983
31(4)
4,969(5)
7,560(6)
1995 133,300 23,000 1,332(3) 3,425
5,000(4)
7,560(6)
Theresa Johnson 1997 130,000 11,000 441(3) 19,000 2,972
Exec. VP & 7,757(6) (11)
Treasurer HHC
1996 126,308 11,000 495(3) 3,471
7,560(6)
1995 123,600 10,000 540(3) 3,110
7,560(6)
</TABLE>
- ----------------------
(1) Dividends on the restricted stock shares are payable to the grantee at the
same rate as the Company's unrestricted stock .
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(2) Includes stock purchase plan contribution and profit sharing plan contri-
bution.
(3) Automobile compensation.
(4) Deferred compensation.
(5) Executive Supplemental plan.
(6) Cost of excess life insurance.
(7) Represents fair market value on the date of grant (1/11/97) of 2,000
restricted stock shares which were awarded for the calendar year 1996 and the
fair market value on the date of grant (12/11/97) of 2,000 restricted stock
shares which were awarded for the calendar year 1997. On December 31, 1997,
Mr. Seal held 4,000 restricted shares in the aggregate, valued at $242,000
on such date.
(8) Represents fair market value on the date of grant (1/17/97) of 1,000 res-
tricted stock shares which were awarded for the calendar year 1996 and the fair
market value on the date of the grant (12/11/97) of 2,000 restricted stock
shares which were awarded for the calendar year 1997. On December 31, 1997,
Mr. Schloegel held 3,000 restricted shares in the aggregate, valued at $181,500
on such date.
(9) Represents fair market value on the date of grant(1/17/97) of 700 restricted
stock shares which were awarded for the calendar year 1996. On December 31,1997,
Mr. Bailey held 700 restricted shares in the aggregate, valued at $42,350 on
such date.
(10) Represents fair market value on the date of grant (1/17/97) of 100
restricted stock shares which were awarded for the calendar year 1996 and
the fair market value on the date of the grant (12/11/97)of 250 restricted stock
shares which were awarded for the calendar year 1997. On December 31, 1997, Mr.
Webb held 350 restricted shares in the aggregate, valued at $21,175 on such date
(11) Represents fair market value on the date of grant (1/17/97)of 100
restricted stock shares which were awarded for the calendar year 1996 and the
fair market value on the date of the grant (12/11/97)of 250 restricted stock
shares which were awarded for the calendar year 1997. On December 31, 1997, Ms.
Johnson held 350 restricted shares in the aggregate, valued at $21,175 on such
date.
Option Grants
Shown below is information on grants of stock options pursuant to the
Company's incentive plan during 1997 to the named executives. Restricted Stock
Awards are disclosed under the Executive Compensation Table.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Stock Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
Individual Grants Potential Realizable Value
Percent
Options of Total Option Expiration
Name Granted Granted Price($) Date 5% 10%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <C> <C> <C> <S> <C> <C>
George A Schloegel 5,334 8.6% 60.00(1) 12-11-2007 $202,268 $510,059
1,666 2.6% 60.00(1) 12-11-2007 $ 62,863 $159,310
Leo W Seal Jr 6,485 10,39% 60.00(1) 12-11-2007 $244,701 $620,124
1,515 2.42% 66.00(2) 12-11-2002 $ 62,882 $159,358
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) Stock Options were issued at the fair market value on the date of grant,
12/11/97.
(2) Stock Options granted were issued at 110% of the fair market value on the
date of grant, 12/11/97.
Option Exercises
The following Table sets forth certain information regarding
individual exercises of stock options during 1997 and unexercised options
granted to each of the named executives and held by them at the end of 1997.
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
AND FISCAL YEAR END OPTION VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of Value of
Shares Underlying Unexercised
Unexercised In-the-money
Options 12/31/96 Options 12/31/97
Acquired on Value Exer- Not Exer- Exer- Not Exer-
Name Exercise Realized cisable(#) cisable(#) cisable($) cisable($)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
C Stanley Bailey 0 $0.00 2,500(1) none 51,250 none
300(2) none 6,150
George A Schloegel 0 $0.00 2,500(1) 1,666(1) 51,250 833
1,500(2) 5,334(2) 30,750 2,667
Leo W Seal Jr 0 $0.00 2,272(1) 1,515(1) 37,488 757
$0.00 5,728(2) 6,485(2) 117,424 3,243
</TABLE>
- --------------------------
11
<PAGE>
(1) Stock Options granted are exercisable one year after the date of the grant.
(2) Exercisable six months after the date of grant.
(3) Based on closing price on the NASDAQ National System of $60.50 on December
31, 1997.
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Company has an Audit Committee currently composed of J. F.
Boardman, Jr., L. A. Koenenn, Jr., and H. C. Moody, Jr. The Audit Committee
was formed in October 1991 in connection with the listing of the Company's
Common Stock on the NASDAQ National Market System. The Audit Committee oversees
the operation of the Company's Audit Department and makes recommendations to the
Board of Directors concerning the independent accountants for the Company and
its subsidiaries. The Audit Committee met six (6) times during 1997.
The Company has a Loan Review Committee which meets monthly and is
currently composed of the following members: Joseph F. Boardman, Jr., James B.
Estabrook, Jr., Charles A. Webb, Jr., Leo W. Seal, Jr., Douglass F. Fontaine,
T.W. Milner, Jr., William R. Powers, and Robert Occhi. It met twelve (12) times
during 1997.
The Company has a Compensation Committee which determines the salary
of the executive officers of the Company. It met two (2) times during 1997 and
is composed of J. F. Boardman, Jr., James B. Estabrook, Jr., Charles H. Johnson,
L. A. Koenenn, Jr., Victor Mavar, T. W. Milner, Jr., Dr. H. C. Moody, Jr., and
A. F. Dantzler, Jr.
The Company also has an Executive Committee composed of the following
members: A. F. Dantzler, Jr., Chairman; Leo W. Seal, Jr., George A. Schloegel,
and Joseph F. Boardman, Jr. The Executive Committee met six (6) times in 1997.
The Company does not have a Nominating Committee.
Hancock Bank has, among other committees, an Investment Committee which
meets monthly, an Insurance Committee which meets annually and a Salary
Committee. The Salary Committee is composed of 11 members who determine wages
and compensation for the Bank's officers and other employees. George A.
Schloegel and Leo W. Seal, Jr., both of whom are Directors of the Company, are
two of the 11 members. The Salary Committee of Hancock Bank met five (5) times
during the year ended December 31, 1997.
The Board of Directors of the Company met a total of twelve (12) times
during the year ended December 31, 1997. During 1997, all Directors attended 75%
or more of the aggregate of the total number of meetings of the Board of
Directors and the total number of meeting held by committees on which they
served.
Director's Fees
Directors of the Company who are not also full-time employees of
Hancock Bank or Hancock Bank of Louisiana (i.e. all Directors except Messrs.
Seal and Schloegel) receive $275 for each regular Board Meeting attended and
$200 for each Special Board Meeting attended. Directors may elect to defer the
receipt of their director's fees for a specified period of time. Directors who
choose such deferral also receive a $20,000 term life insurance policy. During
1997, Messrs. Milner and Johnson participated in this deferral program.
Directors of the Company who are not full-time employees of Hancock Bank or
Hancock Bank of Louisiana and are also Directors of one of the Banks, receive an
additional $275 for each meeting of the Bank's Board of Directors attended,
provided that such meetings are not held on
12
<PAGE>
the same day as meetings of the Company. Directors of the Company who are not
full-time employees of Hancock Bank or Hancock Bank of Louisiana and are
members of a Bank Committee, also receive $225 for each committee meeting
attended and $100 for each loan committee meeting attended that is held in
Gulfport, Mississippi.
Pension Plan
Hancock Bank, along with some of its affiliated companies, maintains a
noncontributory integrated pension plan and trust agreement (the "Pension Plan")
covering all full-time salaried employees (including executive officers of the
Company who are also employees of the Banks) who have completed one (1) year of
service and have attained 21 years of age. Employees become participants in the
Pension Plan on January 1 or July 1 following the satisfaction of the
eligibility requirements.
The benefit formula was modified by an amendment and restatement of the
Pension Plan dated December 31, 1992. Under this formula, a participant accrues
his benefit under the Pension Plan on the basis of his years of service with the
Bank and its affiliated companies, his years of participation in the Pension
Plan, his average annual compensation (calculated by using his base compensation
for the five consecutive years of service that produce the highest average), and
Social Security laws and amounts. His benefit accrues in increments based on his
years of participation at any time of determination and the number of years of
participation he would have at his normal retirement age [that is, the date on
which the participant has attained age 65 but not earlier than the fifth
anniversary of the first day of the Pension Plan year (January 1 - December 31)
during which the participant commenced participation in the Pension Plan].
A participant's normal retirement date is the first day of the month
coincident with or immediately proceeding his normal retirement age. A
participant is eligible to elect early retirement after he has either (1)
completed fifteen years of service and attained age 55 or (2) completed twelve
years of service and attained age 62.
A participant becomes vested in his accrued benefit under the Pension
Plan upon the earlier of attainment of his normal retirement age or the
completion of five years of service. A participant with a vested accrued benefit
will be entitled to receive a retirement benefit upon termination of his
employment. In some situations, distributions may be delayed until the
participant attains his normal or early retirement date. The spouse or other
beneficiary of a vested participant who dies while employed will be eligible for
a survivor benefit.
The normal form of benefit under the Pension Plan (1) for unmarried
participants generally is a ten year certain and life annuity, and (2) for
married participants generally is a joint and 50% survivor annuity which is the
actuarial equivalent of the unmarried participant's normal form. A participant
may elect certain specified optional forms of distribution.
The Pension Plan provides for the Banks and other participating
companies to make all contributions to the Pension Plan in amounts sufficient to
fund benefit payments and to satisfy legal funding requirements. All
contributions are held in a trust fund of which Hancock Bank is the trustee.
Pension costs were $1,567,726 for 1997.
The table set forth below shows the estimated annual base payments
payable under the present benefit formula to persons retiring upon attainment of
age 65 in 1997 in the indicated earnings classifications and with the indicated
number of years of service for purposes of computing retirement benefits.
13
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Pension Plan Table (1) (2) (3)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Renumeration($) 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50,000 11,813 16,050 20,288 24,525 28,763 33,000 36,250
100,000 24,413 33,150 41,888 50,625 59,363 68,100 74,600
150,000 37,013 50,250 63,488 76,725 89,963 103,200 112,950
200,000 49,613 67,350 85,088 102,825 120,563 (4)138,300 (4)151,300
250,000 52,651 71,473 90,296 109,118 (4)127,941 (4)146,763 (4)160,547
</TABLE>
(1) Assuming continued employment, the years of service at age 65 for Mr.
Schloegel will be 46 years; for Mr. Seal was 42; for Ms. Johnson was
45; for Mr. Webb was 47.
(2) Earnings covered by the Pension Plan consist of base salary and
not include bonuses. The benefit amounts are not subject to reduction
for social security benefits, but social security amounts were taken into
account under the benefit formula.
(3) This table reflects the normal form of benefit under the Pension Plan
which is a life only annuity.
(4) The annual amount exceeds the IRC Section 415 limit of $125,000 for a ten
year certain and life annuity. The Section 415 is indexed, so that these
amounts may eventually be paid.
Compensation covered by the Pension Plan is found in the salary column of
the Summary Management Compensation Table for the named executive offices of the
Company. It covers the three years listed in the Table and 1993 and 1994.
Covered compensation for named executive officers as of the end of the last
calendar year is: Seal $91,000; Schloegel $178,000; Bailey $162,000; Webb
$132,320; and Johnson $122,400.
Executive Supplemental Reimbursement Plan
Hancock Bank maintains an Executive Supplemental Reimbursement ("ESR
Plan") for members of the Banks' Management Committee. Currently, Leo W. Seal,
Jr., George A. Schloegel, Charles A. Webb, Jr., C. Stanley Bailey and Theresa
Johnson are five (5) of the 12 members of the Management Committee. Under the
ESR Plan, Hancock Bank will pay or reimburse each participating committee member
up to $5,000 of expenses that the committee members incurs during each calendar
year for life insurance, education, residential security systems and club dues.
If the amount paid or reimbursed for a committee member is less than $5,000 for
a calendar year, the unused portion will be contributed to a deferred
compensation account for all members except Leo W. Seal, Jr. An administrative
committee of at least three persons appointed by the Board of Directors of
Hancock Bank administers and interprets the plan and has sole discretion to
award any benefit to committee members.
Stock Purchase Plan
The Company maintains an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP") that
is designed to provide the employees of the Company, the banks and certain
subsidiaries of Hancock Bank, a convenient means of purchasing Common Stock of
the Company. All employees (except Leo W. Seal, Jr.) of the Company, the Banks,
and other participating subsidiaries, who have completed one year of continuous
employment with the Company, the Banks, or the participating subsidiaries, and
are 21 years of age, are eligible to participate in the ESPP.
14
<PAGE>
Each employee of the Company, the Banks, or a participating subsidiary
who qualifies and does participate in the ESPP (a "Participant") is permitted to
authorize payroll deductions, which may not exceed 5% of the Participant's base
salary for the pay period. At the end of each plan year (January 1 through
December 31) the participating company employing a Participant who is still
employed at that time, contributes an amount equal to 25% of such Participant's
payroll deductions for that plan year.
Employee and Company contributions are forwarded to Hancock Bank's
Trust Department, which uses the funds to purchase shares of the Company's
Common Stock through brokers or dealers or directly from individuals (including
officers, directors or employees of the Company, the Banks or the participating
subsidiaries) at the prevailing market price on the NASDAQ National Market on
the date of such purchase. Brokerage commissions, service charges and other
transactional costs associated with the purchase of shares by the ESPP, if any,
are paid by the ESPP from its assets (and therefore are borne indirectly by the
ESPP Participants). Administrative fees and expenses are paid by the Company.
Purchases are made in the name of the ESPP at such times and in such amounts as
Hancock Bank's Trust Department deems appropriate, and shares are allocated to
each Participant as of June 30 and December 31 of each year. A Participant may
withdraw the Common Stock and cash held in his Hancock Bank account after each
allocation period (but only once in a plan year without penalty).
For 1997, Hancock Bank contributed $3,290.00 under the ESPP Plan
on behalf of George A. Schloegel. This is the only executive officer of the
Company who participates in the ESPP.
Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation
This report reflects the Company's compensation philosophy for all
executive offices, as endorsed by the Board of Directors and the Compensation
Committee. The Committee, comprised of the Company Directors, excluding Messrs.
Seal and Schloegel, named below, determines annual base salary adjustments and
annual bonus awards.
In determining the compensation to be paid to the Company's executive
officers in 1997, the Compensation Committee employed the compensation policies
designed to align the compensation with the Company's overall business strategy,
values, and management initiatives. These policies are intended to reward
executives for long-term strategic management and the enhancement of shareholder
value and support a performance-oriented environment that rewards achievement of
internal goals.
Additionally, the Company subscribes to and participates in the Wyatt
Data Services/Cole Survey for Financial Institutions Compensation and the
Mississippi and Louisiana Bankers Associations' surveys, which provide the
Committee with comparative compensation data from the Company's market areas and
its peer groups. In addition to this, in 1995 we retained Towers Perrin, a
Consulting Firm, to review Hancock Bank's Compensation and Benefits Programs.
This information is used by the Committee to ensure that it is providing
compensation opportunities comparable to its peer group, thereby allowing the
Company to retain talented executive officers who contribute to the Company's
overall and long-term success.
For personal reasons, as well as a long time philosophy of Mr. Seal and
his father who served before him, Mr. Seal's compensation is relatively low in
comparison to other chief executive officers of comparable institutions. His
compensation is the result of Mr. Seal's express wishes, and is in no way
reflective of his performance, ability as CEO, or his value to the Company.
Submitted by the Company's Compensation Committee:
J. F. Boardman, Jr. Victor Mavar
James B. Estabrook, Jr. T. W. Milner, Jr.
Charles H. Johnson Dr. H. C. Moody, Jr.
L. A. Koenenn, Jr.
15
<PAGE>
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS
Directors, Officers, and Principal Shareholders of the Company and
their associates have been customers of the Banks from time to time in the
ordinary course of business and additional transactions may be expected to take
place in the future. All loans to such persons were made on substantially the
same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the
time for comparable transactions with other persons and did not involve more
than the normal risk of collectibility or embody other unfavorable features. At
December 31, 1997, the aggregate amount of such loans and extensions of credit
outstanding was approximately $5.2 million.
Leo W. Seal, Jr. serves as President of Hancock Insurance Agency
("Hancock Insurance"), for which he receives no fees or other compensation. For
the year ended December 31, 1997, the Company paid Hancock Insurance $880,083 in
premiums for general insurance products which sum constituted approximately 34%
of the gross consolidated revenues of Hancock Insurance for the year ended
December 31, 1997. Some of the directors of the Company may be associated with
businesses that from time to time engage in business transactions with the
Company. Management believes that the terms of the insurance transactions
between the Company and Hancock Insurance and the transactions with director
affiliated companies were no less favorable to the Company than if the
transactions had been made with nonaffiliates.
FIVE YEAR SHAREHOLDER RETURN COMPARISON
The Securities and Exchange Commission requires that the Company
include in its Proxy Statement a line graph presentation comparing cumulative,
five-year shareholder returns on an indexed basis with a performance indicator
of the overall stock market and either a nationally recognized industry standard
or an index of peer companies selected by the Company. The broad market index
used in the graph is the NASDAQ Market Index. The peer group index is the Media
General Financial Services Industry Group 045-East South Central Banks and a
list of the Companies included in the index follows the graph.
COMPARE 5-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN AMONG
HANCOCK HOLDING CO., NASDAQ MARKET INDEX, AND MG GROUP INDEX
- -------------------FISCAL YEAR ENDING----------------------------------------
COMPANY 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
HANCOCK HLDG 100 116.06 108.90 140.15 178.63 272.56
INDUSTRY INDEX 100 105.70 106.13 142.61 184.25 326.12
BROAD MARKET 100 119.95 125.94 163.35 202.99 248.30
ASSUMES $100 INVESTED ON JAN. 1, 1993
ASSUMES DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT
FISCAL YEAR ENDING DEC., 31, 1997
16
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Alabama National Bancorp Compass Bancshares, Inc. Peoples First Corporation
AmSouth Bancorporation Deposit Guaranty Corporation Peoples Holding Company
Area Bancshares Corporation Eufaula Bancorp, Inc. Premier Financial Corporation
Banco Central Hispano, S.A. Farmers Capital Bank Corp. Regions Financial Corporation
Banco Rio De La Planta S.A. First American Corp., Tenn. S. Y. Bancorp, Inc.
Bancorpsouth, Inc. First M & F Corporation South Alabama Bancorp
Britton & Koontz Capital Corp First Tennessee National Corp SouthTrust Corporation
CBT Corporation Hancock Holding Company Trans Financial Inc.
Colonial Bancgroup Class A Mid America Bancorp Trustmark Corporation
Community Financial Group National Commerce Bancorp. Union Planters Corporation
Community Trust Bank Corp Inc Peoples Banctrust Company
</TABLE>
OTHER MATTERS
The Board does not anticipate that representatives of Deloitte &
Touche LLP will be in attendance at the Annual Meeting, be present to make a
statement, or be available to respond to appropriate questions.
The Annual Report of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1997 is enclosed. The Annual Report is not to be regarded as proxy soliciting
material. Any shareholder who has not received an Annual Report may obtain one
from the Company. The Company also will provide, without charge, copies of its
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. Shareholders wishing to receive a copy
of the Annual Report on Form 10-K are directed to write George A. Schloegel,
Vice Chairman, at the address of the Company.
PROPOSALS FOR 1999 ANNUAL MEETING
Any shareholder who wishes to present a proposal at the Company's
next Annual Meeting and who wishes to have the proposal included in the
Company's Proxy Statement and form of Proxy for the meeting, must submit the
proposal to the undersigned at the address of the Company not later than
September 20, 1998.
THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MAY
BE REVOKED PRIOR TO EXERCISE.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Dated: January 20, 1998 /S/
Leo W. Seal, Jr.
President and C.E.O.
