News Details

GULFPORT, Miss., April 26, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hancock Holding Company (Nasdaq:HBHC) (the "Company" or "Hancock") today announced financial results for the first quarter of 2012. Operating income for the first quarter of 2012 was $40.5 million or $.47 per diluted common share compared to $45.1 million, or $.53, and $16.4 million, or $.44, in the fourth and first quarters of 2011, respectively. Operating income is defined as net income excluding tax-effected merger costs and securities transactions gains or losses. Included in the financial tables is a reconciliation of net income to operating income.

Hancock's return on average assets, excluding merger-related expenses and securities transactions, was 0.85% for the first quarter of 2012, compared to 0.93% in the fourth quarter of 2011, and 0.81% in the first quarter a year ago.

Net income for the first quarter of 2012 was $18.5 million, or $.21 per diluted common share, compared to $19.0 million, or $.22, and $15.3 million, or $.41, respectively, in the fourth and first quarters of 2011. Included in pre-tax earnings for the first quarter of 2012 were $33.9 million of merger-related costs. Pre-tax merger costs for the fourth quarter of 2011 totaled $40.2 million. Merger costs in the first quarter of 2011 were $1.6 million.

The Company's pre-tax, pre-provision profit for the first quarter of 2012 was $69.2 million compared to $76.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 and $32.4 million in the first quarter of 2011. Pre-tax pre-provision profit is total revenue (TE) less non-interest expense and excludes merger-related costs and securities transactions. Included in the financial tables is a reconciliation of net income to pre-tax, pre-provision profit.

"We are happy to report that we successfully completed the core systems conversion in mid-March and the operational integration of Whitney is now finished," said Hancock's President and Chief Executive Officer Carl J. Chaney. "With the conversion behind us and the fundamentals of the combined company still strong, we are completely focused on achieving the remaining merger efficiencies and growing these two well-known Gulf South brands. While the first quarter's results are down from last quarter, they are basically in line with our expectations and for the most part reflect the typical beginning of the year seasonality for both balance sheet and operating expense."

On June 4, 2011, Hancock completed its acquisition of Whitney Holding Corporation ("Whitney") headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana. The impact of the acquisition is reflected in the Company's financial information from the acquisition date. Under purchase accounting, the Whitney balance sheet was recorded at fair value at acquisition date.          

Highlights & Key Operating Items from Hancock's First Quarter Results

Total assets at March 31, 2012, were $19.3 billion, compared to $19.8 billion at December 31, 2011. 

Loans

Total loans at March 31, 2012 were $11.1 billion, a slight decrease of $47 million, or less than 1%, from December 31, 2011. Adjusting for the $38 million decline in the FDIC covered Peoples First portfolio during the first quarter, total loans were virtually unchanged from year-end 2011. 

During the first quarter seasonal payoffs on commercial and industrial (C&I) credits were offset by growth in construction and land development loans, residential mortgage and consumer loans. Commercial real estate loans continued to decline reflecting ongoing payoffs and scheduled repayments within that portfolio and limited opportunities for new project financing in today's environment. Over $500 million of new loans were funded in markets throughout the company's footprint from both existing and new customers. 

For the first quarter of 2012, average total loans were $11.2 billion, an increase of $50 million, compared to the fourth quarter of 2011. 

Deposits

Total deposits at March 31, 2012 were $15.4 billion, down $281 million, or 2%, from December 31, 2011. Average deposits for the first quarter of 2012 were $15.3 billion, virtually unchanged from the fourth quarter of 2011. 

Noninterest-bearing demand deposits (DDAs) totaled $5.2 billion at March 31, 2012, down $273 million, or 5%, compared to December 31, 2011. Approximately $240 million of DDAs were converted to low-cost interest-bearing transaction deposits during the core systems conversion in order to best match the existing product benefits offered. Interest-bearing transaction deposits increased $385 million during the first quarter of 2012. DDAs comprised 34% of total period-end deposits at March 31, 2012, compared to 35% at year-end 2011. 

Interest bearing public fund deposits totaled $1.5 billion at March 31, 2012, down $76 million, or 5%, from December 31, 2011 reflecting the seasonal nature of these types of deposits. 

Time deposits (CDs) totaled $2.5 billion at March 31, 2012, down $316 million compared to $2.9 billion at December 31, 2011. Included in the decline is approximately $125 million from the anticipated runoff in the Peoples First time deposit portfolio.  During the first quarter, approximately $963 million of time deposits matured at an average rate of 1.19%, of which approximately 60% renewed at an average cost of .32%. There are approximately $1.2 billion of CDs scheduled to mature within the next two quarters at an average rate of 92 basis points. In the current low rate environment management continues to expect customers will be motivated to hold funds in no or low-cost transaction accounts until rates begin to rise.  

Asset Quality

The Company's allowance for loan losses was $142.3 million at March 31, 2012, compared to $124.9 million at December 31, 2011.  The ratio of the allowance for loan losses to period-end loans was 1.28% at March 31, 2012, compared to 1.12% at December 31, 2011. Most of the increase in the allowance was related to the Peoples First portfolio which is covered under FDIC loss-sharing agreements.

During the first quarter of 2012, the Company recorded a $32.6 million increase in the allowance for losses related to impairment of certain pools of covered loans, with a related increase of $30.9 million in the Company's FDIC loss share indemnification asset. The net impact on provision expense was only $1.6 million.  

Hancock recorded a total provision for loan losses for the first quarter of 2012 of $10.0 million, down from $11.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. As noted above, the first quarter total provision included $1.6 million, net, related to the Peoples First portfolio, compared to $1.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2011. The provision for non-covered loans declined to $8.4 million in the first quarter of 2012 from $10.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Net charge-offs from the non-covered loan portfolio in the first quarter of 2012 were $7.1 million, or .25% of average total loans on an annualized basis. This compares to net non-covered loan charge-offs of $11.3 million, or .40% of average total loans, for the fourth quarter of 2011. 

The allowance calculated on the portion of the loan portfolio that excludes covered loans and loans acquired at fair value in the Whitney merger totaled $84.6 million, or 1.55% of this portfolio at March 31, 2012 and $83.2 million, or 1.70% at December 31, 2011. This ratio will tend to decline as the proportion of this portfolio representing new business from Whitney's operations grows, other factors held constant.

Non-performing assets (NPAs) totaled $288 million at March 31, 2012, compared to $277 million at year-end 2011. Non-performing assets as a percent of total loans and foreclosed assets was 2.55% at March 31, 2012, compared to 2.44% at December 31, 2011. The overall increase in NPAs reflects the movement to non-accrual status of a few legacy Hancock credits, primarily commercial real estate located in Louisiana, that were previously categorized as potential problems. Non-performing loans exclude loans from Whitney's and Peoples First's acquired credit-impaired loan portfolios that were recorded at estimated fair value at acquisition and are accreting interest income. 

Additional asset quality metrics for the acquired (Whitney), covered (Peoples First) and originated (Hancock legacy plus Whitney non-acquired loans) portfolios are included in the financial tables.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income (TE) for the first quarter of 2012 was $179.2 million, compared to $181.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. The majority of the decline is due to the impact from one less calendar day in the first quarter of 2012.

Average earning assets were $16.2 billion in the first quarter of 2012 compared to $16.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011.

The net interest margin (TE) was 4.43% for the first quarter of 2012, compared to 4.39% for the fourth quarter of 2011. The impact of net purchase accounting adjustments for the Whitney transaction contributed approximately 43bps and 37bps, respectively, to the net interest margins for the first quarter of 2012 and fourth quarter of 2011.

The margin continued to be favorably impacted by a shift in funding sources and a decline in funding costs (6bps), offset by a decline in loan portfolio yields (12bps). Management expects the net interest margin will remain relatively stable over the next couple of quarters.

Non-interest Income

Non-interest income totaled $61.5 million for the first quarter of 2012 compared to $60.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. 

The restrictions on debit card interchange fees mandated by the Durbin amendment were not applied to transactions of Hancock Bank customers during the first quarter of 2012 as previously anticipated. Management currently expects these restrictions to become effective with the third quarter of 2012, resulting in a $2 million per quarter loss of fee income.   Beginning in the second quarter of 2012, the Company began offering products and services designed to offset approximately 40% of the total anticipated fee income loss.

Trust fees totaled $8.7 million for the first quarter of 2012, up $1.3 million from the fourth quarter of 2011. Much of the increase is a one-time event associated with the trust systems conversion at year-end 2011.  The remainder of the increase reflects the impact of new client business. 

Insurance fees were $3.5 million for the first quarter, down $.8 million linked-quarter. The decline reflects the loss of income related to the sale of Magna Insurance Company on December 29, 2011. The sale also eliminated a similar amount of noninterest expense during the first quarter of 2012.

Linked-quarter increases in investment and annuity fees, ATM fees and secondary mortgage income reflect the impact of increased activity.

Non-interest Expense & Taxes

Operating expense for the first quarter of 2012 totaled $171.6 million, up $6.1 million from the fourth quarter of 2011. Operating expense excludes merger-related expenses. Amortization of intangibles totaled $8.3 million during the first quarter, a $1.1 million increase from the fourth quarter of 2011. The increase reflects purchase accounting valuation adjustments made on certain intangible assets at year-end 2011.

Total personnel expense was $91.9 million in the first quarter of 2012, an increase of $3.4 million from the fourth quarter of 2011. The linked-quarter increase is primarily due to an increase in benefit expense. Approximately $2.0 million of the increase is related to the normal higher level of payroll taxes at the beginning of each year. A revised healthcare plan for the combined company added approximately $.8 million linked-quarter to benefit expense. An additional $.6 million of benefit expense during the first quarter reflected the impact of annual retirement plan revaluations noted in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Other operating expense totaled $51.1 million, up $1.1 million during the first quarter of 2012. The increase primarily reflects $2.3 million of increased ORE expense.

Merger-related expenses for the first quarter of 2012 totaled $33.9 million pre-tax. Merger-related expenses incurred to-date total approximately $121 million. Management expects to book the remainder of the merger expenses for the Whitney transaction during the second quarter of 2012.  Total merger expenses for the Whitney transaction are expected to approximate $125 million.

Additional merger-related cost savings were not expected during the first quarter of 2012. Management expects additional cost savings will be generated beginning in the second quarter of 2012 as a result of completing the core systems conversion and closing branches at the end of the first quarter. Management expects total noninterest expense for the fourth quarter of 2012, excluding amortization of intangibles, to be in the range of $149 million to $153 million. The range assumes continued realization of targeted merger-related cost savings, a modest level of normal annual expense growth as well as costs associated with new strategic initiatives.

The effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2012 was 17%.  The effective income tax rate on operating income (net income adjusted for tax-effected merger costs and securities gains or losses) was 28% for the first quarter.  Management expects the full year 2012 reported tax rate to approximate 24%.  The effective income tax rate continues to be less than the statutory rate of 35%, due primarily to tax-exempt income and tax credits. 

Capital

Common shareholders' equity totaled $2.4 billion at March 31, 2012. The Company remained well-capitalized and improved its tangible common equity ratio to 8.27% at March 31, 2012 from 7.96% at December 31, 2011. Additional capital ratios are included in the financial tables.

Conference Call

Management will host a conference call for analysts and investors at 9:00 a.m. Central Time Friday, April 27, 2012 to review the results. A live listen-only webcast of the call will be available under the Investor Relations section of Hancock's website at www.hancockbank.com.

To participate in the Q&A portion of the call, dial (877) 564-1219 or (973) 638-3429. An audio archive of the conference call will be available under the Investor Relations section of Hancock's website. A replay of the call will also be available through May 4, 2012, by dialing (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406, passcode 68568490.

About Hancock Holding Company

Hancock Holding Company, the parent company of Hancock Bank and Whitney Bank, operates a combined total of almost 260 full-service bank branches and more than 350 ATMs across a Gulf south corridor comprising South Mississippi; southern and central Alabama; southern Louisiana; the northern, central, and Panhandle regions of Florida; and Houston, Texas.

The Hancock Holding Company family of financial services companies also includes Hancock Investment Services, Inc.; Hancock Insurance Agency and Whitney Insurance Agency, Inc.; and corporate trust offices in Gulfport and Jackson, Miss., New Orleans and Baton Rouge, La., and Orlando, Fla.; and Harrison Finance Company. 

Additional information is available at www.hancockbank.com and www.whitneybank.com.

The Hancock Holding Company logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2758

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and we intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions therein and are including this statement for purposes of invoking these safe-harbor provisions.  Forward-looking statements provide projections of results of operations or of financial condition or state other forward-looking information, such as expectations about future conditions and descriptions of plans and strategies for the future.  

Forward-looking statements that we may make include, but may not be limited to, comments with respect to loan growth, deposit trends, credit quality trends, net interest margin trends, future expense levels (including merger costs and cost synergies), projected tax rates, economic conditions in our markets, future profitability, purchase accounting impacts such as accretion levels, and the financial impact of regulatory requirements such as the Durbin amendment.

Hancock's ability to accurately project results or predict the effects of future plans or strategies is inherently limited.  Although Hancock believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, actual results and performance could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in Hancock's forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those risk factors outlined in Hancock's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at the SEC's internet site (http://www.sec.gov).

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.  Hancock does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of differences in actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting such statements, except as required by law.

CONTACT: Trisha Voltz Carlson
         SVP, Investor Relations Manager
         504.299.5208
         trisha.carlson@hancockbank.com