UNITED STATES
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): May 24, 2018

 
HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
 

 
Mississippi
 
001-36872
 
64-0693170
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
 
One Hancock Plaza
2510 14th Street
Gulfport, Mississippi
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
39501
(Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (228) 868-4000
 

 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

     Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

     Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

     Pre-commencement communication pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.12b-2)

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 
 

 
Item 5.03        Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

Effective May 25, 2018, the Board of Directors of Hancock Holding Company (the “Company”) amended its bylaws to change the Company’s name from “Hancock Holding Company” to “Hancock Whitney Corporation.”  A copy of the Company’s amended and restated bylaws is filed as Exhibit 3.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 8.01        Other Events.

On May 24, 2018, at the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders, the Company’s shareholders approved an amendment to the Company’s articles of incorporation to change the Company’s name to Hancock Whitney Corporation, effective May 25, 2018. A copy of the Company’s composite articles of incorporation, as well as the press release announcing the change in the Company’s name, are filed as Exhibits 3.1 and 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01        Financial Statements and Exhibits.

           (d)       Exhibits.        

Exhibit No.
Description
 
3.1
 
 
3.2
 
99.1
 
 
 

 
SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

  HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY  
       
May 24, 2018
By:
/s/ Michael M. Achary  
    Michael M. Achary  
    Chief Financial Officer  
       




Exhibit 3.1
COMPOSITE
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
HANCOCK WHITNEY CORPORATION
FIRST:   The name of the corporation is Hancock Whitney Corporation.
SECOND:   The aggregate number of shares which the Corporation is authorized to issue is 400,000,000 divided into two classes.  The designation of each class, the number of shares of each class and the par value, if any, of each class are as follows:
   Number of Shares                                                                          Class                                                     Par Value, if any
     350,000,000                                                                        Common                                                           $3.33
       50,000,000                                                                        Preferred                                                        $20.00
The preferences and relative rights in respect of the shares of each class and the variations in the relative rights and preferences as between the series of any preferred class in the series are as follows:
Each share of Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to full voting rights.  Except as may be determined by the Board of Directors at the time a series is created, holders of Preferred Stock shall have no voting rights as a holder of such stock, except as specifically required by law.
The holders of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive dividends, subject to statutory restrictions, when and as declared by the Board of Directors.  Such dividends shall be payable at such periods as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors at the rate specified in the resolution of the Board of Directors authorizing the issuance of the particular series of Preferred Stock, and no more, before any dividend shall be paid or set apart for payment upon the Common Stock.
Dividends on the Preferred Stock shall be cumulative, so that if for any period the same shall not be paid, the right thereto shall accumulate as against the Common Stock, and all arrears so accumulated shall be paid before any dividend shall be paid upon the Common Stock.
Whenever all accumulated dividends on the outstanding Preferred Stock for all previous periods shall have been declared and shall have become payable, and the Corporation shall have paid such accumulated dividends for such previous periods, or shall have set aside from its legally available funds a sum sufficient therefor, the Board of Directors may declare dividends on the Common Stock, payable then or thereafter out of any remaining legally available funds.
Each class of Preferred Stock shall be divided into and issued from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors in one or more series, each series being so designated as to distinguish the shares thereof from the shares of all other series and classes.  All or any of the series of any such class and the variations and the relative rights and preferences as between different series may be fixed and determined by resolution of the Board of Directors, but all shares of the same class shall be identical except as to the following relative rights and preferences, as to which there may be variations between different series:
(a)
the rate of dividend;
(b)
whether shares may be redeemed and, if so, the redemption price and terms and conditions of redemption;
(c)
the amount payable upon shares in the event of voluntary and involuntary liquidation;
(d)
sinking fund provisions, if any, for the redemption or purchase of shares;
(e)
the terms and conditions, if any, on which shares may be converted; and
(f)
the voting rights of the shares.
Resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors effective June 29, 2001
RESOLVED that 1,658,275 authorized but unissued shares of this Corporation’s Preferred Stock ($20.00 par value) are hereby designated as a series of Preferred Stock called the 8% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A with the following voting powers, rights and preferences:
1.              Definitions.
For the purposes of this resolution, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Capital Stock” means the Capital Stock of any class or series (however designated) of the Corporation.
“Common Stock” means the Common Stock of the Corporation ($3.33 par value) as constituted on the date of this Resolution, or shares of any other class of Capital Stock into which such Common Stock is reclassified after such date.
“Corporation” means Hancock Whitney Corporation.
“Dividends Accrued” means an amount equal to the sum of all dividends required to be paid on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the date of issue of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to the date to which the determination is to be made, whether or not such amount or any part thereof shall have been declared as dividends and whether there shall be or have been any funds out of which such dividends might legally be paid, less the amount of dividends declared and paid and, if any dividends have been declared and set apart for payment but not paid, the amount so set apart for the payment of such dividends.  Accrued Dividends for any period less than a full calendar quarter shall be calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a 360-day year.
“Junior Stock” means any Capital Stock ranking as to dividends and as to rights in liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the affairs of the Corporation junior to the Series A Preferred Stock.
“Parity Stock” means shares of any series of the Corporation’s Preferred Stock and any shares of Capital Stock ranking as to dividends and/or as to the rights in liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the affairs of the Corporation equally with the Series A Preferred Stock.
“Prior Stock” means any Capital Stock ranking as to dividends or as to rights in liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the affairs of the Corporation prior to the Series A Preferred Stock.
“Series A Preferred Stock” means the 8% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A of the Corporation.
“Subsidiary” means any corporation, a majority of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation or by the Corporation and one or more Subsidiaries.
2.              Dividends.
(a)              The holders of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, if, when and as declared by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, out of any funds legally available therefor, cash dividends at the rate and payable on the dates hereinafter set forth.  The rate of dividends payable on Series A Preferred Stock shall be $1.60 per share per annum and no more.  Dividends shall be payable, to the extent practical, in equal quarterly installments on the last day of March, June, September and December of each year, commencing on the last day of the calendar quarter in which the merger of the Corporation and Lamar Capital Corporation occurs.  Dividends shall be cumulative and shall accrue on the Series A Preferred Stock from and after the date of issuance thereof.  Dividends payable on the last day of the calendar quarter in which the merger of the Corporation and Lamar Capital Corporation occurs or on any other date which is not the last day of a full calendar quarter shall be calculated on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day year and the actual number of days elapsed.
(b)              No dividend whatsoever shall be declared or paid upon, or any sum set apart for the payment of dividends upon any shares of Parity Stock for any dividend period unless the same dividend (payable in proportion to the respective annual dividend rates per share set forth in the Articles of Incorporation or the respective Articles of Amendment) shall have been declared and paid upon, or declared and a sufficient sum set apart for the payment of such dividend upon all shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding.
(c)              Unless Dividends Accrued on all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and any outstanding shares of Parity Stock due for all past dividend periods shall have been declared and paid, or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart, and full dividends (to the extent that the amount thereof shall have become determinable) on all outstanding shares of such stock due on the respective next following payment dates shall have been declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart then (i) no dividend (other than a dividend payable solely in “Common Stock”) shall be declared or paid upon, or any sum set apart for the payment of dividends on any shares of Junior Stock; (ii) no other distribution shall be made upon any shares of Junior Stock; (iii) no shares of Junior Stock shall be purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for value by the Corporation or by any Subsidiary; and (iv) no monies shall be paid into or set apart or made available for a sinking or other like fund for the purchase, redemption or other acquisition for value of any shares of Junior Stock by the Corporation or any Subsidiary.
3.              Voting Rights.
In addition to any voting rights afforded by the Mississippi Business Corporation Act to the holders of a series or class of stock voting as a group, the holders of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive notice of, to participate in, and vote on any matter presented to the holders of Common Stock at any meeting of the holders of Common Stock of the Corporation on the following basis: a holder of Series A Preferred Stock shall have a number of votes equal to the number of shares of Common Stock into which the Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder could be converted at the then current Conversion Price.
4.              Liquidation.
In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the affairs of the Corporation, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be entitled to be paid in cash out of the net assets of the Corporation, including its capital, a liquidation price of $20.00 per share, plus Dividends Accrued to the date of payment, and no more, before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of shares of Junior Stock and after payment to the holders of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and to the holders of shares of other classes and series of Parity Stock of the amounts to which they are respectively entitled, the balance of such assets, if any, shall be paid to the holders of the Junior Stock according to their respective rights.  For the purposes of the preceding sentence, neither the consolidation of the Corporation with nor the merger of the Corporation into any other corporation nor the sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s properties and assets shall, without further corporate action, be deemed a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the affairs of the Corporation.  In case the net assets of the Corporation are insufficient to pay the holders of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and other series of Parity Stock the full preferential amounts to which they are respectively entitled, the entire net assets of the Corporation shall be distributed ratably to the holders of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and other series of Parity Stock in proportion to the full preferential amounts to which they are respectively entitled.
5.  Conversion.
(a)              Each holder of any outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have the right, at any time, to convert any of such shares into Common Stock of the Corporation.  Furthermore, as to any shares of Series A Preferred Stock called for redemption, each such holder shall have the right at any time prior to the close of business on the fifth full business day preceding the date fixed for redemption (unless default shall be made by the Corporation in the payment of the redemption price in which case such right of conversion shall continue without interruption), to convert any of such shares into shares of Common Stock of the Corporation.  The number of shares of Common Stock into which each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be convertible shall be equal to the number arrived at by dividing $20.00, without any payment or adjustment for Dividends Accrued, by the conversion price per share of the Common Stock fixed or determined as hereinafter provided.  Such conversion price shall initially be $45.00 per share, subject to the adjustments hereinafter provided (such price as adjusted at any time being hereinafter called the “Conversion Price”).
(b)              The holder of any outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock may exercise the conversion right provided in Paragraph (a) above as to all or any portion of the shares that he holds by delivering to the Corporation during regular business hours, at the principal office of the Corporation’s transfer agent or such other place as may be designated in writing by the Corporation, the certificate or certificates for the shares to be converted, duly endorsed or assigned in blank or endorsed or assigned to the Corporation (if required by it), accompanied by written notice stating that the holder elects to convert such shares and stating the name or names (with address and applicable social security number or other tax identification number) in which the certificate or certificates or shares of Common Stock are to be issued.  Conversion shall be deemed to have been effected on the date (the “Conversion Date”) when such delivery is made.  As promptly as practicable thereafter the Corporation shall issue and deliver to or upon the written order of such holder, at such office or other place designated by the Corporation, a certificate or certificates for the number of full shares of Common Stock to which he is entitled and a payment in cash of any dividends declared and unpaid with respect to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock so surrendered up to the dividend date that immediately precedes the Conversion Date.  The person in whose name the certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock are to be issued shall be deemed to have become a stockholder of record on the Conversion Date, unless the transfer books of the Corporation are closed on that date, in which event he shall be deemed to have become a stockholder of record on the next succeeding date on which the transfer books are open; but the Conversion Price shall be that in effect on the Conversion Date, unless the Conversion Date falls after the date that the Corporation mails a notice of redemption under Section 5(c) and before the date fixed for redemption, in which case the Conversion Price shall be that in effect on the date that such notice of redemption is mailed.
(c)              If, for twenty (20) consecutive trading days beginning on or after the end of the thirtieth (30th) calendar month following the effective date of the merger of the Corporation and Lamar Capital Corporation and ending on or before the sixtieth (60th) calendar month following the effective date of the merger of the Corporation and Lamar Capital Corporation, the last sale price of the Common Stock exceeds $56.25 (which price shall be subject to adjustment on the same basis as the Conversion Price as set forth in Section 5(f) below), then, effective at 5:00 p.m. on the last day in such twenty (20) day period the Corporation shall have the option to require that all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall automatically convert into and become shares of Common Stock, as if each holder of Series A Preferred Stock exercised the conversion right provided in Section 5(a) and all shares of Series A Preferred Stock, whether or not the certificates therefore shall have been surrendered for cancellation, shall be deemed no longer to be outstanding for any purpose and all rights with respect to such shares shall thereupon cease and determine, except the right to receive certificates for shares of Common Stock upon surrender of certificates for shares of Series A Preferred Stock the same manner described in Section 5(b).  If the Corporation elects to require conversion under this Section 5(c) the Corporation shall give written notice of such conversion by first class mail, postage prepaid to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock at the last addresses shown by the Corporation’s stock transfer records.  No delay or imperfection in such notice will affect the conversion of Series A Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Section 5(c).  For purposes of this Section 5(c) and Section 5(f), the last sale price of the Common Stock shall be deemed to be the last sale price reported by NASDAQ or its successor, but if the Common Stock is listed on a national stock exchange, the last sale price on any date shall be deemed to be the last sale price on the exchange on which it generally has the highest trading volume.
(d)              The Corporation shall not issue any fraction of a share upon conversion of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock.  If more than one share of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be surrendered for conversion at any time by the same holder, the number of full shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof shall be computed on the basis of the total number of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock so surrendered.  If any fractional interest in a share of Common Stock would be deliverable upon conversion, the number of shares of Common Stock deliverable shall be rounded up to the nearest full share.
(e)              The issuance of Common Stock on conversion of outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be made by the Corporation without charge for expenses or for any tax in respect of the issuance of such Common Stock, but the Corporation shall not be required to pay any tax or expense which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of shares of Common Stock in any name other than that of the holder of record on the books of the Corporation of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock converted, and the Corporation shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificate for shares of Common Stock unless and until the person requesting the issuance shall have paid to the Corporation the amount of such tax or shall have established to the satisfaction of the Corporation that such tax has been paid.
(f)              The Conversion Price shall be subject to the following adjustments:
(i)              Whenever the Corporation shall (A) pay a dividend on its outstanding shares of Common Stock in shares of its Common Stock or subdivide or otherwise split its outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (B) combine its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the Conversion Price in effect at the effective date of the happening of such event shall be adjusted so that the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, upon conversion of all thereof immediately following such event, would be entitled to receive the same aggregate number of shares of Common Stock as they would have been entitled to receive immediately following such event if such shares of Series A Preferred Stock had been converted immediately prior to such event, or if there is a record date in respect of such event, immediately prior to such record date.
(ii)              In case the Corporation, after the date of this resolution, shall issue rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock, at a price per share less than the lesser of the Conversion Price or Current Market Value (as hereinafter defined) per share of Common Stock and if such rights, warrants, options or securities are exercisable, convertible or exchangeable for a period of more than thirty (30) days after the date of their issuance, the Conversion Price shall be adjusted so that the same shall equal the price determined by multiplying the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to the issuance of such rights, warrants, options or securities by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on the date of issuance of such rights, warrants, options or securities plus the number of shares which the aggregate exercise price of the shares of Common Stock called for by all such rights, warrants, options or securities (excluding any theretofore exercised, converted or exchanged) would purchase at such Current Market Value and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on the date of issuance of such rights, warrants, options or securities plus the number of additional shares of Common Stock called for by all such rights, warrants, options or securities (excluding any theretofore exercised, converted or exchanged).  Such adjustment shall be made on the date that such rights, warrants or options are issued.  For the purposes of this Section 5(f), the “Current Market Value” per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the last sale price on each of the twenty (20) consecutive trading days commencing forty (40) trading days before such date.  A trading day, for the purpose of this resolution, is a day on which securities are traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market or, if the Common Stock is then listed on any national stock exchange, on such exchange.
(iii)              Whenever the Corporation shall make a distribution to holders of Common Stock of evidences of its indebtedness or assets (excluding dividends and distributions paid in cash out of funds available for dividends in accordance with applicable law), the Conversion Price immediately prior to such distribution shall be adjusted by multiplying such Conversion Price by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which shall be the denominator, hereinbelow described, less the fair value (as conclusively determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Corporation) at the time of such distribution of that portion of the evidences of indebtedness or assets distributed which is applicable to one share of Common Stock, and (ii) the denominator of which shall be the Current Market Value per share of Common Stock on the next full business day after the record date fixed for the determination of the holders of the Common Stock entitled to such distribution.  Such adjustment shall be retroactively effective as of immediately after such record date.
(g)              Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this Section 5, no adjustment of the Conversion Price shall be made if the Corporation shall issue rights, warrants or options to purchase Common Stock, or issue Common Stock, pursuant to one or more stock purchase plans, stock option plans, stock purchase contracts, incentive compensation plans, or other remuneration plans for employees (including officers) or any shareholder rights plan of the Corporation or its Subsidiaries adopted or approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation before or after the adoption of this resolution.
(h)              In any case in which this Section 5 provides that an adjustment of the Conversion Price shall become effective retroactively immediately after a record date for an event, the Company may defer until the occurrence of such event issuing to the holder of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock converted after such record date and before the occurrence of such event that number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion that shall be in addition to the number of shares of Common Stock which were issuable upon such conversion immediately before the adjustment in the Conversion Price required in respect of such event.
(i)              Anything in this Section 5 to the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment in the Conversion Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least $.25 in such price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this paragraph (i) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in making subsequent adjustments.  All calculations under this Section 5 shall be made to the nearest cent.
(j)              Whenever the Conversion Price and subsequent changes to be made therein are adjusted pursuant to this Section 5, the Corporation shall (i) promptly place on file at its principal office and at the office of each transfer agent for the Series A Preferred Stock, if any, a statement, signed by the Chairman or President of the Corporation and by its Treasurer, showing in detail the facts requiring such adjustment and a computation of the adjusted Conversion Price, and shall make such statement available for inspection by all shareholders of the Corporation, and (ii) cause a notice to be mailed to each holder of record of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock stating that such adjustment has been made and setting forth the adjusted Conversion Price.  Unless the change in the Conversion Price is caused as a result of action described in subparagraph (i) of paragraph (f) of this Section 5, it shall be accompanied by a letter from the Corporation’s independent public accountants stating that the change has been made in accordance with the provisions of this resolution.
(k)              In the event of any merger, share exchange or similar transaction to which the Corporation is a party, except (i) a merger in which the Corporation is the surviving corporation or (ii) a share exchange in which the Corporation’s shares are issued to shareholders of another corporation, the plan of merger, plan of share exchange or comparable document shall provide that each share of Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be converted into or exchanged for the kind and amount of stock, other securities and property receivable upon such merger, share exchange or similar transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock of the Corporation into which such share of Series A Preferred Stock might have been converted immediately prior thereto.
(1)              Shares of Common Stock issued on conversion of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be issued as fully paid shares and shall be nonassessable by the Corporation.  The Corporation shall, at all times, reserve and keep available for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock such number of its duly authorized shares of Common Stock as shall be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock.
6.              Redemption.
(a)              The Corporation may at its option redeem all or any portion of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock at a redemption price (the “Redemption Price”) of $20.00 per share plus Dividends Accrued to the date fixed for redemption: (i) if, for twenty (20) consecutive trading days beginning on or after the end of the thirtieth (30th) calendar month following the effective date of the merger of the Corporation and Lamar Capital Corporation and ending on or before the sixtieth (60th) calendar month following the effective date of the merger of the Corporation and Lamar Capital Corporation, the last sale price of the Common Stock exceeds $56.25 (which price shall be subject to adjustment on the same basis as the Conversion Price as set forth in Section 6(f) below) or (ii) at any time after the end of the sixtieth (60th) calendar month following the effective date of the merger of the Corporation and Lamar Capital Corporation.
(b)              In the event that the Corporation elects to redeem less than all of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, not more than sixty (60) days prior to the date fixed for redemption the Corporation shall select the shares to be redeemed by prorating the total number of shares to be so redeemed among all holders thereof in proportion, as nearly as may be, to the number of shares registered in their respective names, by lot or in such other equitable manner as the Board of Directors may determine.  The Corporation in its discretion may determine the particular certificates (if there are more than one) representing shares registered in the name of a holder which are to be redeemed.
(c)              Not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the date fixed for any redemption pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 6, notice of redemption shall be given by first class mail, postage prepaid, to the holders of record of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their last addresses as shown by the Corporation’s stock transfer records.  The notice of redemption shall set forth the number of shares to be redeemed, the date fixed for redemption, the Redemption Price (including the amount of Dividends Accrued to the date fixed for redemption), and the place or places where certificates representing shares to be redeemed may be surrendered.  In case less than all outstanding shares are to be redeemed, the notice of redemption shall also set forth the numbers of the certificates representing shares to be redeemed and, in case less than all shares represented by any such certificate are to be redeemed, the number of shares represented by such certificate to be redeemed.
(d)              When a notice of redemption of any outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have been duly mailed as hereinabove provided, on or before the date fixed for redemption the Corporation shall deposit in cash funds sufficient to pay the Redemption Price (including Dividends Accrued to the date fixed for redemption) of such shares in trust for the benefit of the holders of the shares to be redeemed with any bank or trust company, having capital and surplus aggregating at least $25,000,000 as of the date of its most recent report of financial condition and named in such notice, to be applied to the redemption of the shares so called for redemption against surrender of the certificates representing shares so redeemed for cancellation.  Except as set forth in Section 5(a), from and after the time of such deposit all shares for the redemption of which such deposits shall have been so made shall, whether or not the certificates therefor shall have been surrendered for cancellation, be deemed no longer to be outstanding for any purpose and all rights with respect to such shares shall thereupon cease and determine except the right to receive payment of the Redemption Price (including Dividends Accrued to the date fixed for redemption), but without interest.  Any interest accrued on such funds shall be paid to the Corporation from time to time.
(e)              The Corporation shall redeem all of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock at a redemption price (the “Redemption Price”) of $20.00 per share, plus Dividends Accrued thirty (30) years from the date of the issuance thereof.
(f)              The Corporation may at its option redeem all or any portion of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock at a redemption price (the “Redemption Price”) of $20.00 per share plus Dividends Accrued if there is change in the Federal Reserve capital adequacy guidelines that results in the Series A Preferred Stock not qualifying as Tier 1 capital.
(g)              The Corporation shall also have the right to acquire outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock otherwise than by redemption, pursuant to this Section 6, from time to time, for such consideration as may be acceptable to the holders thereof; provided, however, that if all Dividends Accrued on all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart neither the Corporation nor any Subsidiary shall so acquire any shares of such series except in accordance with a purchase offer made on the same terms to all the holders of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock.
THIRD:   The street address of its registered office is 2510 14th Street, Gulfport, Mississippi 39501 and the name of its registered agent at such address is 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101, Flowood, MS 39232.
FOURTH:  (a) The number of directors which shall constitute the whole board of directors shall be fixed from time to time only by a resolution adopted by a majority of the whole board of directors in its discretion, without stockholder approval; provided, however, that such number shall never be less than nine (9) and no decrease in the number of directors constituting the whole board of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.  The directors shall be divided into three classes as nearly as equal in size as is possible, with the term of office of directors of the first class to expire at the first annual meeting of the shareholders after their election, that of the second class to expire at the second annual meeting after their election, and that of the third class to expire at the third annual meeting after their election, and in all cases as to each director until his successor shall be elected and shall qualify.  At each annual meeting, directors to replace those of a class whose terms expire at such annual meeting shall be elected to hold office until the third succeeding annual meeting and until their respective successors shall have been elected and shall qualify.  If the number of directors is hereafter changed, any newly created directorships or decrease in directorships shall be so apportioned among the classes as to make all classes as nearly equal in number as is possible.
(b)              Vacancies occurring on the board of directors for any reason shall be filled only by vote of a majority of the remaining members of the board of directors, although less than a quorum.  The person filling the vacancy shall serve out the remainder of the term of the vacated directorship or, in case the vacancy results from an increase in the number of directors, the term designated of the class of directors of which the directorship is a part.
(c)              Directors may be removed from office only for cause.
(d)              Except as provided otherwise in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (i) a majority of the number of directors that constitutes the whole board of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the board of directors, and (ii) if a quorum is present when a vote is taken, the affirmative vote of a majority of directors present shall be the act of the board of directors.
(e)              Regular meetings of the board of directors may be held without notice of the date, time, place or purpose of the meeting.  Special meetings of the board of directors must be preceded by at least two days notice of the date, time and place of the meeting.
(f)              This Article FOURTH may not be amended or repealed, or any provision adopted which is inconsistent with Article FOURTH, without the approval by vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, notwithstanding anything contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or specified by law to the contrary.
FIFTH:   (a)            (1) In addition to any affirmative vote required by law or under any other provision of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, and except as otherwise expressly provided in this Article FIFTH:
(A)              any merger or consolidation of this corporation or any Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined in paragraph (c)(8) of this Article FIFTH) with or into (i) any Substantial Stockholder (as hereinafter defined in paragraph (c)(2) of this Article FIFTH) or (ii) any other corporation (whether or not itself a Substantial Stockholder) which, after such merger or consolidation, would be an Affiliate (as hereinafter defined in paragraph (c)(7) of this Article FIFTH) of a Substantial Stockholder, or
(B)              any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) to or with any Substantial Stockholder of any substantial part (as hereinafter defined in paragraph (c)(9) of this Article FIFTH) of the assets of this corporation or of any Subsidiary, or
(C)              the issuance or transfer by this corporation or by any Subsidiary (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of any equity securities (as hereinafter defined in paragraph (c)(11) of this Article FIFTH) of this corporation or any Subsidiary to any Substantial Stockholder in exchange for cash, securities or other property (or a combination thereof) having an aggregate fair market value of $5,000,000 or more, or
(D)              the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of this corporation if, as of the record date for the determination of stockholders entitle to notice thereof and to vote thereon, any person shall be a Substantial Stockholder, or
(E)              any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock split) or recapitalization of this corporation, or any reorganization, merger or consolidation of this corporation with any of its Subsidiaries or any similar transaction (whether or not with or into or otherwise involving a Substantial Stockholder), which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding securities of any class of equity securities of this corporation or any Subsidiary which is directly or indirectly beneficially owned (as hereinafter defined in paragraph (c)(3) of this Article FIFTH) by any Substantial Stockholder,
shall (except as otherwise expressly provided in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation) require the affirmative vote of the holders of then outstanding Voting Shares (as hereinafter defined in paragraph (c)(10) of this Article FIFTH) entitled to cast at least 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of all of the then outstanding Voting Shares; provided that such affirmative vote must also include the affirmative vote of the holders of Voting Shares entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of all then outstanding Voting Shares not beneficially owned by any Substantial Stockholder.  Each such affirmative vote shall be required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required, or that some lesser percentage may be specified, by law or in any agreement with any national securities exchange or otherwise.
     (2)              The term “business combination” as used in this Article FIFTH shall mean any transaction which is described in any one or more of clauses (A) through (E) of paragraph (a)(1) of this Article FIFTH.
(b)              The provisions of this Article FIFTH shall not be applicable to any business combination, the terms of which shall be approved, prior to the date the Substantial Stockholder which is a party thereto or whose proportionate share of the outstanding securities of any class of equity securities of this corporation or any Subsidiary is increased by reason thereof, or, in the case of a business combination described in clause (D) of paragraph (a)(1) of this article FIFTH, prior to the date any Substantial Stockholder affected by such business combination, became a Substantial Stockholder, by two-thirds of the whole board (as hereinafter defined in paragraph (c)(6) of this Article FIFTH), but only if a majority of the members of the board of directors rendering such approval shall be continuing directors (as hereinafter defined in paragraph (c)(5) of this Article FIFTH).
(c)              For the purposes of this Article FIFTH:
    (1)              A “person” shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or other entity.
    (2)              “Substantial Stockholder” shall mean any person (other than this corporation or any Subsidiary) who or which, as of the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote on any business combination, or immediately prior to the consummation of any such business combination (other than a business combination referred to in paragraph (a)(1)(D) of this Article FIFTH):
(A)              is the beneficial owner (as hereinafter defined in subparagraph (3) of this paragraph (c)), directly or indirectly, of more than 10% of the Voting Shares (determined solely on the basis of the total number of Voting Shares so beneficially owned [and without giving effect to the number or percentage of votes entitled to be cast in respect of such shares] in relation to the total number of Voting Shares issued and outstanding), or
(B)              is an Affiliate of this Corporation and at any time within three years prior thereto was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 10% of the then outstanding Voting Shares (determined as aforesaid), or
(C)              is an assignee of or has otherwise succeeded to any shares of capital stock of this corporation which were at any time within three years prior thereto beneficially owned by any Substantial Stockholder, and such assignment or succession shall have occurred in the course of a transaction or series of transactions not involving a public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933.
      (3)              “Beneficial ownership” shall be determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (or any successor rule or statutory provision) or, if said Rule 13d-3 shall be rescinded and there shall be no successor rule or statutory provision thereto, pursuant to said Rule 13d-3 as in effect on January 1, 1989; provided, however, that a person shall, in any event, also be deemed to be the “beneficial owner” of any Voting Shares:
(A)              which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates [as hereinafter defined in subparagraph (7) of this paragraph (c)] beneficially own, directly or indirectly, or
(B)              which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has (i) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (but shall not be deemed to be the beneficial owner of any Voting Shares solely by reason of an agreement, arrangement or understanding with this corporation to effect a business combination) or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants, or options, or otherwise, or (ii) sole or shared voting or investment power with respect thereto pursuant to any agreement, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise (but shall not be deemed to be the beneficial owner of  any Voting Shares solely by reason of a revocable proxy granted for a particular meeting of stockholders, pursuant to a public solicitation of proxies for such meeting, with respect to shares of which neither such person nor any such Affiliate or Associate is otherwise deemed the beneficial owner), or
(C)              which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other person with which such first mentioned person or any of its Affiliates or Associates acts as a partnership, limited partnership, syndicate or other group pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any shares of capital stock of this corporation;
and provided further, however, that (i) no director or officer of this corporation, nor any Associate or Affiliate of any such director or officer, shall, solely by reason of any or all of such directors and officers acting in their capacities as such, be deemed, for any purposes hereof, to beneficially own any Voting Shares beneficially owned by any other such director or officer (or any Associate or Affiliate thereof), and (ii) no pension, employee stock purchase, employee stock ownership or similar plan of this corporation or any Subsidiary nor any trustee with respect thereto, nor any Associate or Affiliate of any such trustee, shall, solely by reason of such capacity of such trustee, be deemed, for any purposes hereof, to beneficially own any Voting Shares held under any such plan.
      (4)              For purposes of computing the percentage beneficial ownership of Voting Shares of a person in order to determine whether such person is a Substantial Stockholder, the outstanding Voting Shares shall include shares deemed owned by such person through application of subparagraph (3) of this paragraph (c) but shall not include any other Voting Shares which may be issuable by this corporation pursuant to any agreement, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.  For all other purposes, the outstanding Voting Shares shall include only Voting Shares then outstanding and shall not include any Voting Shares which may be issuable by this corporation pursuant to any agreement, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.
      (5)              “Continuing director” shall mean a person who was a member of the board of directors of this corporation as of January 1, 1989 or thereafter elected by the stockholders or appointed by the board of directors of this corporation prior to the date as of which the Substantial Stockholder (or Substantial Stockholders) in question became a Substantial Stockholder (or Substantial Stockholders), or a person designated (before his initial election or appointment as a director) as a continuing director by a majority of the whole board, but only if a majority of the whole board shall then consist of continuing directors, or, if a majority of the whole board shall not then consist of continuing directors, by a majority of the then continuing directors.
      (6)              “Whole board” shall mean the total number of directors which this corporation would have if there were no vacancies.
      (7)              An Affiliate” of a specified person is a person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the person specified.  The term “Associate” used to indicate a relationship with any person shall mean (i) any corporation or organization (other than this corporation or a Subsidiary) of which such person is an officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of 10% or more of any class of equity securities, (ii) any trust or other estate in which such person has a substantial beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity, and (iii) any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same home as such person, or is an officer or director of any corporation controlling or controlled by such person.
      (8)              “Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation of which a majority of any class of equity security is owned, directly or indirectly, by this corporation; provided, however, that for the purposes of the definition of Substantial Stockholder set forth in subparagraph (2) of this paragraph (c), the term Subsidiary” shall mean only a corporation of which a majority of each class of equity security is owned, directly or indirectly, by this corporation.
      (9)              “Substantial part” shall mean assets having a book value (determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) in excess of 10% of the book value of the total consolidated assets of this corporation, at the end of its most recent fiscal year ending prior to the time the determination is made.
      (10)              “Voting Shares” shall mean any shares of capital stock of this corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.
      (11)              “Equity security” shall have the meaning given to such term by Rule 3a11-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on January 1, 1989.
(d)              A majority of the whole board shall have the power to determine, but only if a majority of the whole board shall then consist of continuing directors, or if a majority of the whole board shall not then consist of continuing directors, a majority of the then continuing directors shall have the power to determine, for the purposes of this Article FIFTH, on the basis of information known to them, (i) the number of Voting Shares beneficially owned by any person, (ii) whether a person is an Affiliate or Associate of another, (iii) whether a person has an agreement, arrangement or understanding with another as to any matter referred to in subparagraph (3)(C) of paragraph (c) of this Article FIFTH, (iv) whether the assets subject to any business combination constitute a substantial part of the assets of the corporation in question, and (v) any other factual matter relating to the applicability or effect of this Article FIFTH.
(e)              A majority of the whole board shall have the right to demand, but only if a majority of the whole board shall then consist of continuing directors, or, if a majority of the whole board shall not then consist of continuing directors, a majority of the then continuing directors shall have the right to demand, that any person who it is reasonably believed is a Substantial Stockholder (or holds of record Voting Shares beneficially owned by any Substantial Stockholder) supply this corporation with complete information as to (i) the record owner(s) of all shares beneficially owned by such person who it is reasonably believed is a Substantial Stockholder, (ii) the number of, and class or series of, shares beneficially owned by such person who it is reasonably believed is a Substantial Stockholder and held of record by each such record owner and the number(s) of the stock certificates(s) evidencing such shares, and (iii) any other factual matter relating to the applicability or effect of this Article FIFTH, as may be reasonably requested of such person, and such person shall furnish such information within 10 days after receipt of such demand.
(f)              Any determinations made by the board of directors, or by the continuing directors, as the case may be, pursuant to this Article FIFTH in good faith and on the basis of such information and assistance as was then reasonably available for such purpose shall be conclusive and binding upon this corporation and its stockholders, including any Substantial Stockholder.
(g)              Any amendment, alteration, change or repeal of this Article FIFTH shall, in addition to any other vote or approval required by law or by these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, require the affirmative vote of the holders of then outstanding Voting Shares entitled to cast at least 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of all of the then outstanding Voting Shares (and such affirmative vote must also include the affirmative vote of the holders of Voting Shares entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of all Voting Shares not beneficially owned by any Substantial Stockholder); provided, however, that this paragraph (g) shall not apply to, and such 80% vote (and such further majority vote) shall not be required for, any amendment, alteration, change or repeal declared advisable by the board of directors by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the whole board and submitted to the stockholders for their consideration, but only if a majority of the members of the board of directors voting in favor of such declaration of advisability shall be continuing directors.
(h)              Nothing contained in this Article FIFTH shall be construed to relieve any Substantial Stockholder from any fiduciary obligation imposed by law.
(i)              In the event any paragraph (or portion thereof) of this Article FIFTH shall be found to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable for any reason, the remaining provisions (or portions thereof) of this Article FIFTH shall be deemed to remain in full force and effect, and shall be construed as if such invalid, prohibited or unenforceable provision had been stricken herefrom or otherwise rendered inapplicable, it being the intent of this corporation and its stockholders that each such remaining provision (or portion thereof) of this Article FIFTH remain, to the fullest extent permitted by law, applicable and enforceable as to all stockholders, including Substantial Stockholders, notwithstanding any such finding.
SIXTH:   A director shall not be liable to the Corporation or its shareholders for money damages for any action taken, or any failure to take any action, as a director, except liability for: (i) the amount of financial benefit received by a director to which he is not entitled; (ii) an intentional infliction of harm on the Corporation or its shareholders; (iii) a violation of Mississippi Code Annotated Section 79-4-8.33(1972), as amended; or (iv) an intentional violation of criminal law.  The Corporation shall indemnify any person (or the heirs, executors and administrators of any person) who was or is a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or otherwise, formal or informal (a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against any obligation to pay a judgment, settlement, penalty, fine (including an excise tax assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan) or reasonable expenses (including legal fees) incurred with respect to the Proceeding: (A) to the fullest extent permitted by the Mississippi Business Corporation Act in effect from time to time (the “Act”) and (B) despite the fact that such person has failed to meet the standard of conduct set forth in the Act, or would be disqualified for indemnification under the Act for any reason, if a determination is made by one of the following determining bodies (Collectively, the “Determining Bodies”): (i) the board of directors by majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors not at the time parties to the Proceeding, (ii) if a quorum cannot be obtained under (i), by majority vote of a committee duly designated by the board of directors (in which designation directors who are parties may participate), consisting of two or more directors not at the time parties to the Proceeding, (iii) by special legal counsel (a) selected by the board of directors or its committee in the manner prescribed in (i) or (ii) or (b) if a quorum of the board of directors cannot be obtained under (i) and a committee cannot be designated under (ii), selected by majority vote of the full board of directors (in which selection directors who are parties may participate, (iv) by the shareholders (but shares owned by or voted under the control of directors who are at the time parties to the Proceeding may not be voted on the determination) or (v) by a court, that the acts or omissions of the director, officer, employee or agent did not constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct.  However the Corporation shall not indemnify a person for: (i) an intentional infliction of harm on the Corporation or its shareholders; (ii) a violation of Mississippi Code Annotated Section 79-4-8.33 (1972), as amended; or for (iii) an intentional violation of criminal law, and the Corporation shall not indemnify a person for receipt of a financial benefit to which he is not entitled unless ordered by a court under Mississippi Code Annotated, Section 79-4-8.54(9)(3).  The Corporation shall indemnify a person in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the Proceeding if such acts or omissions do not constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct, and shall make further indemnification in connection with the Proceeding if so ordered by a court under Mississippi Code Annotated, Section 79-4-8.54(9)(3).  The Corporation upon request shall pay or reimburse such person for his reasonable expenses (including legal fees) in advance of final disposition of the Proceeding as long as:  (i) such person furnishes the Corporation a written undertaking, executed personally or on his behalf, to repay the advance if he is not entitled to mandatory indemnification under Mississippi Code Annotated, Section 79-4-8.52 and it is ultimately determined by a judgment or other final adjudication that his acts or omissions did constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct, which undertaking must be an unlimited general obligation of such person, and which shall be accepted by the Corporation without reference to the financial ability of the person to make repayment or to collateral; (ii) such person furnishes a written affirmation of his good faith that his acts or omissions did not constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct; and (iii) a determination is made by any of the Determining Bodies that the facts then known to those making the determination would not preclude indemnification under this Article SIXTH.
Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article SIXTH, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Corporation’s bylaws or these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation inconsistent with this Article SIXTH, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding paragraph with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.
SEVENTH:   The stockholders of the corporation shall not be entitled to cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.































Exhibit 3.2
HANCOCK WHITNEY CORPORATION
GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
ARTICLE I.


OFFICES
Section 1.                             Principal Office .  The principal office shall be at Gulfport, Harrison County, Mississippi.  The corporation may have such other offices as are allowable by the laws of the State of Mississippi and as the Board of Directors may designate or the business of the corporation may require from time to time.
Section 2.                             Registered Office .  The registered office of the corporation required by the Mississippi Business Corporation Act to he maintained in the State of Mississippi may be, but need not be identical with, the principal office in the State of Mississippi, and the address of the registered office may be changed from time to time by the Board of Directors as provided by law.
ARTICLE II.


STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1.                             Annual Meeting .  The annual meeting of the stockholders for the purpose of electing directors and for the transaction of such other businesses may come before the meeting shall be held on such date and at such time as the Board of Directors shall each year fix, which date shall be no later than 13 months subsequent to the last annual meeting of stockholders.  The date fixed for the annual meeting may not be a legal holiday in the State of Mississippi.  The annual meeting of stockholders may be held conjointly with the annual meeting of the Board of Directors.
Section 2.                             Special Meetings .  Special meetings of the stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute, may be called by the president or by the Board of Directors, and shall be called by the President at the request of the holders of not less than one-tenth of all the votes entitled to be cast on any issue proposed to be considered at the meeting.  Such request shall be signed and dated, shall state the purposes of the proposed meeting, and shall be delivered to the Corporation’s Secretary, all in accordance with the requirements set forth in Section 12 of this Article II.  Business transacted at all special meetings shall be confined to the subjects stated in the notice thereof.
Section 3.                             Place of Meeting .  The Board of Directors may designated any place, either within or without the State of Mississippi, as the place of meeting for any annual meeting or for any special meeting of the stockholders.  If no designation is made, the place of meeting shall be at the principal office of the corporation in Gulfport, Harrison County, Mississippi.
Section 4.                             Notice of Meeting .  Written or printed notice stating the place, day and hour of the meeting, and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting, either personally or by first-class mail, by or at the direction of the President or the Secretary, or the officer or persons calling the meeting, to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting (or the beneficial owner of shares to the extent of the rights by a nominee certificate on file with the corporation).  If notice is mailed at least 30 days before the date of the meeting, it may be done by a class of United States mail other than first class.  If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail, addressed to the stockholder at his address as it appears on the stock transfer books of the corporation with postage thereon prepaid.
Section 5.                             Fixing of Record Date .  For the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or in order to make a determination of stockholders for any other proper purpose, the Board of Directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for any such determination of stockholders, such date to be not more than 70 days and in case of a meeting of stockholders, not less than 10 days, prior to the date on which the particular action, requiring such determination of stockholders, is to be taken.  If no record date is fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders, or stockholders entitled to receive payment of a dividend, the day before the date on which the first notice of the meeting is mailed or the date on which the resolution of the Board of Directors declaring such dividend is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of stockholders.  When a determination of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders has been made as provided in this section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof unless the Board of Directors fixes a new record date.
Section 6.                             Presiding Officer and the Secretary .  The President, or, in his absence, an officer designated by the Board of Directors shall preside at all stockholder meetings, and the Secretary shall serve as secretary.  Otherwise, a chairman or secretary shall be elected by the stockholders present to act in the absence of those officers.
Section 7.                             Voting Lists .  The officer or agent having charge of the stock transfer books for shares of the corporation shall make, after the record date for a meeting of stockholders is fixed, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting, or any adjournment thereof, arranged in alphabetical order, with the address of and the number of shares held by each.  Such list shall be kept on file at the principal office of the corporation and shall be subject to inspection by any stockholder at any time during usual business hours, beginning two business days after notice of the meeting is given and continuing through the meeting.  Such list shall also he produced and kept open at the time and place of the meeting and shall be subject to the inspection of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting.
Section 8.                             Quorum and Manner of Acting .  A majority of the outstanding shares of the corporation entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders.  If less than a majority of the shares entitled to vote are represented at a meeting, a majority of the shares so represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without further notice if the new date, time and place for the meeting are announced at the meeting before adjournment, unless a new record date is fixed.  At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.  Once a share is represented for any purpose at a meeting, it is deemed present for quorum purposes for the remainder of the meeting and for any adjournment of that meeting unless a new record date is or must be set for that adjourned meeting.  If a quorum exists, 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 articles of incorporation or law requires a greater number of affirmative votes.
Section 9.                             Proxies .  At all meetings of stockholders, a stockholder may vote by proxy executed in writing by the stockholder or by his duly authorized attorney in fact.  Such proxy shall be filed with the Secretary of the corporation before or at the time of meeting.  No proxy shall be valid after 11 months from the date of its execution, unless otherwise provided in the proxy.
Section 10.                             Action by Stockholders Without a Meeting .  Any action required to be taken at a meeting of the stockholders of the corporation, or any action which may be taken at a meeting of the stockholders, may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the stockholders entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof.
Section 11.                             Order of Business .
(A)              Annual Meetings of Stockholders .  At any annual meeting of the stockholders, only such nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors shall be made, and only such other business shall be conducted or considered, as shall have been properly brought before the meeting.  For nominations to be properly made at an annual meeting, and proposals of other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting, nominations and proposals of other business must be:  (a) specified in the corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (b) otherwise properly made at the annual meeting, by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (c) otherwise properly requested to be brought before the annual meeting by a stockholder of the corporation in accordance with these bylaws.  For nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors or proposals of other business to be properly requested by a stockholder to be made at an annual meeting, a stockholder must (i) be a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice of such annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors and at the time of the annual meeting, (ii) be entitled to vote at such annual meeting and (iii) comply with the procedures set forth in these bylaws as to such business or nomination.  The immediately preceding sentence shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or other business proposals (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and included in the corporation’s notice of meeting) before an annual meeting of stockholders.
(B)              Special Meetings of Stockholders .  At any special meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted or considered as shall have been properly brought before the meeting pursuant to the corporation’s notice of meeting.  To be properly brought before a special meeting, proposals of business must be (a) specified in the corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (b) otherwise properly brought before the special meeting, by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (c) specified in the corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by the corporation pursuant to a valid stockholder request delivered pursuant to Section 2 of this Article II; provided , however , that nothing herein shall prohibit the Board of Directors from submitting additional matters to stockholders at any such special meeting.
Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the corporation’s notice of meeting (a) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (b) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the corporation who (i) is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice of such special meeting and at the time of the special meeting, (ii) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (iii) complies with the procedures set forth in these bylaws as to such nomination.  This Section 11(B) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or other business proposals (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and included in the corporation’s notice of meeting) before a special meeting of stockholders.
(C)              General .  Except as otherwise provided by law, the articles of incorporation or these bylaws, the chairman of any annual or special meeting shall have the power to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with these bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or other business is not in compliance with these bylaws, to declare that no action shall be taken on such nomination or other proposal and such nomination or other proposal shall be disregarded.
Section 12.                             Advance Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations .
(A)              Annual Meeting of Stockholders .  Without qualification or limitation, subject to Section 12 of these bylaws, for any nominations or any other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to Section 11(A) of these bylaws, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof (including, in the case of nominations, the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 13 of these bylaws), and timely updates and supplements thereof, in each case in proper form, in writing to the Secretary, and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action.
To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day and not later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided , however , that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder must be so delivered (i) not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of such annual meeting or, (ii) if the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the corporation.  In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting, or the public announcement thereof, commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
Notwithstanding anything in the immediately preceding paragraph to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased by the Board of Directors, and there is no public announcement by the corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 12(A) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the corporation.
In addition, to be considered timely, a stockholder’s notice shall further be updated and supplemented, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for the meeting in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date, and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.  For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this paragraph or any other Section of these bylaws shall not limit the Company’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or under any other provision of the bylaws or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder or under any other provision of the bylaws to amend or update any proposal or to submit any new proposal, including by changing or adding nominees, matters, business and or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of the stockholders.
(B)              Special Meetings of Stockholders .
(1)              Without qualification or limitation, subject to Section 12(C)(4) of these bylaws, for any business to be properly requested to be brought before a special meeting by a stockholder pursuant to Section 11(B) of these bylaws, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof and timely updates and supplements thereof in each case in proper form, in writing to the Secretary and such business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action.
(2)              Each written request to call a special meeting pursuant to Section 2 of this Article II shall include the following and shall be delivered to the Secretary of the corporation at the time of the request pursuant to such Section 2:  (1) the signature of the record stockholder(s) submitting such request and the date such request was signed, (2) the text of each business proposal desired to be submitted for stockholder approval at the special meeting, and (3) as to the beneficial owner(s), if any, directing such record stockholder to sign the written request to call a special meeting and as to such record stockholder(s) (other than any such record stockholder acting solely as a nominee for a beneficial owner) (each such beneficial owner and each record stockholder who is not acting solely as a nominee, a “Disclosing Party”):  all of the information required to be disclosed pursuant to Section 12(C)(1) of these bylaws (which information shall be supplemented (by delivery to the Secretary) by each Disclosing Party, (i) not later than 10 days after the record date for determining the record stockholders entitled to notice of the special meeting (such record date, the “Meeting Record Date”), to disclose the foregoing information as of the Meeting Record Date and (ii) not later than the 5th day before the special meeting, to disclose the foregoing information as of the date that is 10 days prior to the special meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof; with respect to each business proposal to be submitted for stockholder approval at the special meeting, a statement whether or not any Disclosing Party will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of voting power of all of the shares of common stock and preferred stock, if any, entitled to vote on the proposal that would be required under applicable law to carry such proposal (such statement, a “Solicitation Statement”); and any additional information reasonably requested by the Board of Directors to verify the ownership of the Disclosing Party(ies).
(3)              Subject to Section 12(C)(4) of these bylaws, in the event the corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any stockholder may nominate an individual or individuals (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the corporation’s notice of meeting, provided that the stockholder gives timely notice thereof (including the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 13 of these bylaws), and timely updates and supplements thereof in each case in proper form, in writing, to the Secretary.
(4)              To be timely, such stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of such special meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such special meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such special meeting, the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and, if applicable, of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting.  In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of a special meeting of stockholders, or the public announcement thereof, commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
In addition, to be considered timely, a stockholder’s notice shall further be updated and supplemented, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for the meeting in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date, and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting, any adjournment or postponement thereof in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
(C)              Disclosure Requirements .
(1)              To be in proper form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must include the following, as applicable.
(a)              As to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal, as applicable, is made, a stockholder’s notice must set forth:  (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the corporation’s books, of such beneficial owner, if any, and of their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, (ii) (A) the class or series and number of shares of the corporation which are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, (B) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the corporation, or any derivative or synthetic arrangement having the characteristics of a long position in any class or series of shares of the corporation, or any contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions designed to produce economic benefits and risks that correspond substantially to the ownership of any class or series of shares of the corporation, including due to the fact that the value of such contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions is determined by reference to the price, value or volatility of any class or series of shares of the corporation, whether or not such instrument, contract or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of shares of the corporation, through the delivery of cash or other property, or otherwise, and without regard to whether the stockholder of record, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, may have entered into transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effect of such instrument, contract or right, or any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the corporation (any of the foregoing, a “Derivative Instrument”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, (C) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith have any right to vote any class or series of shares of the corporation, (D) any agreement, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, including any repurchase or similar so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, involving such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, directly or indirectly, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of any class or series of the shares of the corporation by, manage the risk of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith with respect to any class or series of the shares of the corporation, or which provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the price or value of any class or series of the shares of the corporation (any of the foregoing, a “Short Interest”), (E) any rights to dividends on the shares of the corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the corporation, (F) any proportionate interest in shares of the corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner of such general or limited partnership, (G) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith are entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, including without limitation any such interests held by members of the immediate family sharing the same household of such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, (H) any significant equity interests or any Derivative Instruments or Short Interests in any principal competitor of the corporation held by such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith and (I) any direct or indirect interest of such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith in any contract with the corporation, any affiliate of the corporation or any principal competitor of the corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement), (iii) all information that would be required to be set forth in a Schedule 13D filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(a) or an amendment pursuant to Rule 13d-2(a) if such a statement were required to be filed under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, if any, and (iv) any other information relating to such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement and form or proxy or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;
(b)              If the notice relates to any business other than a nomination of a director or directors that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a stockholder’s notice must, in addition to the matters set forth in paragraph (a) above, also set forth:  (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest of such stockholder, such beneficial owner and each of their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, if any, in such business, (ii) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, in the event that such proposal or business includes a proposal to amend the by-laws of the corporation, the text of the proposed amendment), and (iii) a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such stockholder, such beneficial owner and any of their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, if any, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder;
(c)              As to each individual, if any, whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection to the Board of Directors, a stockholder’s notice must, in addition to the matters set forth in paragraph (a) above, also set forth:  (i) all information relating to such individual that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such individual’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected) and (ii) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including, without limitation all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, if any, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant; and
(d)              With respect to each individual, if any, whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection to the Board of Directors, a stockholder’s notice must, in addition to the matters set forth in paragraphs (a) and (c) above, also include a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 14 of these bylaws.  The corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in these bylaws, including without limitation Sections 11, 12 and 13 hereof, shall be eligible for election as directors.
(2)              For purposes of these bylaws, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(3)              Notwithstanding the provisions of these bylaws, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this bylaw; provided , however , that any references in these bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the separate and additional requirements set forth in these bylaws with respect to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered.
(4)              Nothing in these bylaws shall be deemed to affect any rights (i) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (ii) of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock if and to the extent provided for under law, the articles of incorporation or these bylaws.  Subject to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, nothing in these bylaws shall be construed to permit any stockholder, or give any stockholder the right, to include or have disseminated or described in the corporation’s proxy statement any nomination of director or directors or any other business proposal.
Section 13.                             Submission of Questionnaire, Representation and Agreement .  To be eligible to be a nominee of any stockholder for election or reelection as a director of the corporation, a person must deliver (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under Section 12 of these bylaws) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such individual and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf, directly or indirectly, the nomination is being made (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request), and a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that such individual (A) is not and will not become a party to (1) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the corporation, and (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such individual’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the corporation, with such individual’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (B) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed therein, (C) in such individual’s personal capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf, directly or indirectly, the nomination is being made, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the corporation, and will comply, with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the corporation publicly disclosed from time to time, (D) consents to being named as a nominee in the corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-4(d) under the Exchange Act and any associated proxy card of the corporation and agrees to serve if elected as a director, and (E) will abide by the requirements of Section 9 of the corporation’s corporate governance guidelines or any successors thereto.
ARTICLE III.


BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1.                             Election of Directors .  Directors of the corporation shall be elected annually by the stockholders at the annual meeting of the stockholders.  If the election of directors shall not be held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as conveniently may be.  Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the shares entitled to vote in the election at a meeting at which a quorum is present.
Section 2.                             Number and Term .  The number of directors which shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be fixed from time to time only by a resolution adopted by a majority of the whole Board of Directors in its discretion, without stockholder approval; provided, however, that such number shall never be less than nine and no decrease in the number of directors constituting the whole Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.  The directors shall be divided into three classes as nearly as equal in size as is possible, with the term of office of directors of the first class to expire at the first annual meeting of the stockholders after their election, that of the second class to expire at the second annual meeting after their election, and that of the third class to expire at the third annual meeting after their election, and in all cases as to each director until his successor shall be elected and shall qualify.  At each annual meeting, directors to replace those of a class whose terms expire at such annual meeting shall be elected to hold office until the third succeeding annual meeting and until their respective successors shall have been elected and shall qualify.  If the number of directors is changed, any newly created directorships or decrease in directorships shall be so apportioned among the classes as to make all classes as nearly equal in number as is possible.
Section 3.                             Regular Meetings .  A regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held without other notice than this bylaw, immediately after or conjointly with, and at the same place as, the annual meeting of stockholders.  The Board of Directors shall provide, by resolution, the time end place, either within or without the State of Mississippi, for the holding of additional meetings without other notice than such resolution.
Section 4.                             Special Meetings .  Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the President, Chairman of the Board of Directors or by a majority of the Board of Di rectors.  The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix any place, either within or without the State of Mississippi, as the place for holding any special meeting of the Board of Directors called by them.
Section 5.                             Action by Directors Without a Meeting .  Any action required to be taken at a meeting of the directors of the corporation, or any action which may be taken at a meeting of the directors, maybe taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the directors.
Section 6.                             Notice .  Notice of any special meeting shall be given by oral or written notice delivered personally or mailed to each director at his business address (as shown on the corporation’s records), or by telephone or telegram.  If notice is by personal delivery, the delivery shall be at least two days prior to the special meeting.  If notice is given by mail, such notice shall be deposited in the United States mail and addressed to each director at his business address with postage thereon prepaid, at least seven days prior to any special meeting.  If notice is given by telegram, such notice must be received by the director at least two days prior to any special meeting.  If notice is given by telephone, such notice shall be made at least two days prior to any special meeting.  Any director may waive notice of any meeting.  Except as provided in the next sentence, the waiver must be in writing.  The attendance of a director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, unless the director at the beginning of the meeting (or promptly upon his arrival) objects to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting and does not thereafter vote for or assent to action taken at the meeting.  Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.
Section 7.                             Organization and Committees .  The Board of Directors shall elect one of its members Chairman, who shall preside at all meetings of the Board.  By resolution the directors may designate from among its members an Executive Committee and other committees, each of which shall have all the authority of the Board of Directors except as limited in such resolution and except as provided by law.  All such committees shall keep regular minutes of their meetings and Shall report their actions to the Board of Directors at its next meeting.
Section 8.                             Quorum and Manner of Acting .  Except as provided otherwise in the articles of incorporation or these bylaws, (i) a majority of the number of directors that constitutes the whole Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, and (ii) it a quorum is present when a vote is taken, the affirmative vote of a majority of directors present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
Section 9.                             Vacancies .  Vacancies occurring on the board of directors for any reason shall be filled only by vote of a majority of the remaining members of the Board of Directors, although less than a quorum.  The person filling the vacancy shall serve out the remainder of the term of the vacated directorship or, in case the vacancy results from an increase in the number of directors, the term designated for the class of directors of which the directorship is a part.
Section 10.                             Removal .  Directors may be removed only for cause.
Section 11.                             Compensation .  The Board of Directors may fix the compensation of directors, including for serving on committees.
Section 12.                             Presumption of Assent .  A director of the corporation who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors at which action on any corporate matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless (i) his dissent or abstention to such action shall be entered in the minutes p£ the meeting, (ii) he objects at the beginning of the meeting (or promptly upon his arrival) to holding it or transacting business at the meeting or (iii) he delivers written notice of his dissent or abstention to such action to the presiding officer of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or to the Secretary of the corporation immediately after adjournment of the meeting.  Such right to dissent or abstain shall not apply to a director who voted in favor of such action.
ARTICLE IV.


OFFICERS
Section 1.                             Generally .  The officers of the corporation shall consist of a Chairman of the Board, President, a Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer.  Officers shall be elected by the Board of Directors, which shall consider that subject at its first meeting after every annual meeting of stockholders.  Each officer shall hold his office until his successor is elected and qualified or until his earlier resignation or removal.  Any one or more offices may be held by the same person, except the offices of President and Secretary.  Officers do not have to be stockholders.
Section 2.                             Chairman of the Board .  The Board of Directors shall appoint, from one of its members, a Chairman of the Board to serve in said capacity at the pleasure of the Board.  He or the President shall preside at all meetings of the Board and shall supervise the carrying out of the policies adopted or approved by the Board of Directors.  He shall have, and may exercise, any other powers and duties as may, from time to time, be conferred upon him by the Board of Directors.
Section 3.                             President .  The Board of Directors shall appoint a President of the corporation to serve at the pleasure of the Board.  The President shall supervise the carrying out of the policies adopted or approved by the Board and shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the corporation.  He shall have general executive powers, as well as the specific powers conferred by these bylaws.  He shall also have and may exercise such further powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred upon, or assigned to, him by the Board of Directors.  A Vice President shall be designated by the Board of Directors, in the absence of the President, to perform all the duties of the President.
Section 4.                             Vice Presidents .  The Board of Directors may appoint one or more Vice Presidents and shall have the authority to designate different classes of Vice Presidents, including Executive Vice Presidents.  Senior Vice Presidents, Assistant Vice Presidents, and such other classes as from time to time may appear to the Board of Directors to be required or desirable to transact the business of the corporation.  Each Vice President shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors.
Section 5.                             Secretary .  The Board of Directors shall appoint a Secretary, who shall:  (i) keep the minutes of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors meetings in one or more books provided for that purpose; (ii) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws and as required by law; (iii) be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the corporation and see that the seal of the corporation is affixed to all documents, the execution of which on behalf of the corporation under its seal is duly authorized; (iv) keep a register of the post office address of each stockholder which shall be furnished to the Secretary by each stockholder; (v) sign stock certificates of the corporation; (vi) have general charge of the stock transfer books of the corporation; and (vii) in general perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the President or by the Board of Directors.
Section 6.                             Treasurer .  The Board of Directors shall appoint a Treasurer, who shall:  (i) have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the corporation; (ii) receive and give receipts for monies due and payable to the corporation from any source whatsoever, and deposit all such monies in the name of the corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as shall be selected in accordance with the provisions of Article VI of these bylaws; and (iii) in general perform all of the duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the President or by the Board of Directors.  If required by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall give a bond for the faithful discharge of his duties in such sum and with such surety or sureties as the Board of Directors shall determine.
Section 7.                             Other Officers .  The Board of Directors may appoint one or more such other officers as from time to time may appear to the Board of Directors to be required or desirable to transact the business of the corporation.  Such officers shall respectively exercise such powers and perform such duties as pertain to their several offices, or as may be conferred upon, or assigned to, them by the Board of Directors or the President.
Section 8.                             Removal .  Any officer or agent elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed with or without cause by the Board of Directors whenever in its judgment the best interests of the corporation would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed, and the election of another person to an office shall automatically remove the incumbent from such office.
Section 9.                             Vacancies .  The Board of Directors shall have authority to fill any vacancy occurring in the offices of the corporation or any office to be created.  An officer elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of his predecessor in office.
Section 10.                             Salaries .  The salaries of the officers shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors or a designated committee thereof and no officer shall be prevented from receiving a salary merely be reason of the fact that he is also a director or employee of the corporation.  The President may fix the salaries of the employees who are not officers.
ARTICLE V.


STOCK CERTIFICATES AND THEIR TRANSFER
Section 1.                             Certificate for Shares .  Shares of the corporation may but need not be represented by certificates.  When shares are issued or transferred without certificates, within a reasonable time following such issuance or transfer, the corporation shall send the shareholder a written statement of the information which would otherwise be required on certificates representing shares.  Certificates representing shares of the corporation shall be in such form as shall be determined by the Board of Directors.  Such certificates shall be signed by the Chairman, Vice Chairman, President, Vice President and by the Treasurer, Secretary, Assistant Secretary or Assistant Vice President or they may be executed by facsimile and shall be attested by the corporate seal.  All certificates for shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified.  The name and address of the person to whom the shares represented thereby are issued and the number of shares and date of issue shall be entered on the stock transfer books of the corporation.  All certificates surrendered to the corporation for transfer shall be cancelled, and no new certificates shall be issued until the former certificate for alike number of shares shall have been surrendered and cancelled, except that in case of a lost, destroyed or mutilated certificate a new one may be issued therefore upon such terms and indemnity to the corporation as the Board of Directors may prescribe.
Section 2.                             Transfer of Shares .  Transfer of shares of the corporation shall be made only on the stock transfer books of the corporation by the holder of record thereof or by his legal representative, who shall furnish proper evidence of authority duly executed and filed with the Secretary of the corporation, and on surrender for cancellation of the certificate for such shares.  The corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares of stock as the holder in fact thereof and accordingly shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, save as may be expressly provided by the laws of Mississippi or these bylaws.
ARTICLE VI.


CONTRACTS, LOANS, CHECKS, DEPOSITS AND INVESTMENTS
Section 1.                             Contracts .  The Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
Section 2.                             Loans .  No loans shall be contracted on behalf of the corporation and no evidences of indebtedness shall be issued in its name unless authorized by a resolution of the Board of Directors.  Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.  Loans may be made by the corporation to its officers or directors subject to the rules imposed by law.
Section 3.                             Checks, Drafts, etc .  All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the corporation, shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents of the corporation and in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 4.                             Deposits .  All funds of the corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Board of Directors may select.
ARTICLE VII.


YEAR
The corporation’s tax and accounting year shall be a fiscal year ending December 31 of each year.
ARTICLE VIII.


SEAL
The Board of Directors shall provide a corporate seal which shall be circular in form and shall have inscribed thereon the name of the corporation, state of incorporation and the words “Corporate Seal.”
ARTICLE IX.


AMENDMENTS
These bylaws may be amended as provided by law.

Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2018



For more information
Trisha Voltz Carlson, EVP, Investor Relations Manager
504.299.5208 or trisha.carlson@hancockwhitney.com



Hancock Holding Company to become Hancock Whitney Corporation
Company’s name change effective May 25, 2018; common stock ticker changing to “HWC”

GULFPORT, Miss. (May 24, 2018)—Today, Hancock Holding Company’s (Nasdaq: HBHC) shareholders overwhelmingly approved the company’s proposal to change the name of the organization from “Hancock Holding Company” to “Hancock Whitney Corporation.” Related to the name change, the company will also change its common stock ticker from “HBHC” to “HWC.” Both changes will become effective May 25, 2018.

Hancock Whitney publicly debuted its new brand earlier this month on its website, on new signs, on the mobile app and online banking, and at special events throughout the footprint. On May 25, as the company celebrates the 100 th anniversary of the first transaction between Hancock and Whitney, the name change of the organization’s legal entities becomes official. 

“Both Hancock and Whitney were founded in the 1800s to help the Gulf South grow,” said Hancock Whitney President and CEO John M. Hairston. “We shared several early leaders and transacted the first business between the two banks on May 25, 1918, when Hancock sold the Bank of Orleans to Whitney. Now, 100 years to the day since that deal, we’ll celebrate our longstanding legacy together with a brand that honors our history and looks optimistically toward our future.”

Additional corporate changes effective May 25, 2018 are as follows:
“Whitney Bank” will become “Hancock Whitney Bank.”
“Hancock Investment Services, Inc.” will become “Hancock Whitney Investment Services, Inc.”
The company’s ticker for its exchange-traded debt (subordinated notes) will change from “HBHCL” to “HWCPL.”

Executives from Hancock Whitney will highlight the name and ticker change by participating in NASDAQ’s Opening Bell Ceremony tomorrow morning (May 25) at 8:30 a.m. Central/9:30 a.m. Eastern. Viewers can watch the opening ceremony on Facebook at http://Facebook.com/Nasdaq or via the Nasdaq Marketsite Webcam at https://new.livestream.com/nasdaq/live. Additional coverage of the bell-ringing will be available on Hancock Whitney’s social media channels.

Shareholders also approved proposals related to directors, compensation, and auditors at today’s annual shareholder meeting.



About Hancock Whitney

Since the late 1800s, Hancock Whitney has embodied core values of Honor & Integrity, Strength & Stability , Commitment to Service , Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility . Hancock Whitney offices and financial centers in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas offer comprehensive financial products and services, including traditional and online banking; commercial and small business banking; private banking; trust and investment services; healthcare banking; certain insurance services; and mortgage services. The company also operates a loan production office in Nashville, Tennessee. BauerFinancial, Inc., the nation’s leading independent bank rating and analysis firm, consistently recommends Hancock Whitney as one of America’s most financially sound banks. More information is available at www.hancockwhitney.com .

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