8-K

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 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): March 1, 2006

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland	0-2525	31-0724920
_____________________ (State or other jurisdiction	_____________ (Commission	______________ (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)
41 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio		43287
_________________________________ (Address of principal executive offices)		___________ (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 614-480-8300

Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report

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

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On March 1, 2006, Huntington Bancshares Incorporated issued a news release announcing that its acquisition of Canton, Ohio based Unizan Financial Corp. had been completed. The merger, which was originally announced January 27, 2004, became effective on March 1, 2006. A copy of the news release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report, and is incorporated herein by reference.

SIGNATURES

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.

	Huntington Bancshares Incorporated
March 1, 2006	By:	/s/ Richard A. Cheap
		Name: Richard A. Cheap
		Title: Secetary

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	News release of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated, dated March 1, 2006

EX-99.1

NEWSRELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2006

Contacts:

Investors & Analysts Jay Gould Susan Stuart	(614) 480-4060 (614) 480-3878	Media Jeri Grier-Ball Maureen Brown	(614) 480-5413 (614) 480-4588
Investors & Analysts Roger Mann	(330) 438-1118	Media Sandy Upperman	(330) 438-4858

HUNTINGTON BANCSHARES AND UNIZAN FINANCIAL CORP.
COMPLETE MERGER

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (NASDAQ: HBAN; www.huntington.com) and Canton, Ohio-based Unizan Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: UNIZ) today announced that their merger, originally announced January 27, 2004, has been completed.

Under the terms of the amended merger agreement announced November 11, 2004, Unizan shareholders of record as of the close of trading on February 28, 2006, will receive 1.1424 shares of Huntington common stock for each share of Unizan. Based on the $24.05 closing price of Huntington’s common stock on February 28, 2006, this represents a price of $27.47 per Unizan share, and values the transaction at $610 million.

“We are very pleased to announce the completion of this merger,” said Thomas E. Hoaglin, chairman, president, and chief executive officer. “We look forward to a smooth transition for all Unizan customers. System conversions are scheduled for late April, which is also when signs on the Unizan banking offices will be changed to Huntington. Unizan customers can immediately access more than 900 Huntington ATMS free of charge. We also welcome the former Unizan associates to the Huntington family and are looking forward to their continued local leadership.”

Forward-looking Statement

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including certain plans, expectations, goals, and projections, which are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties. A number of factors, including but not limited to those set forth in Huntington’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, and other factors described from time to time in Huntington’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause actual conditions, events, or results to differ significantly from those described in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements included in this news release are based on information available at the time of the release. Huntington assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

About Huntington

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is a $35 billion regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Through its affiliated companies, Huntington has more than 140 years of serving the financial needs of its customers. Huntington provides innovative retail and commercial financial products and services through more than 380 regional banking offices in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. Huntington also offers retail and commercial financial services online at huntington.com; through its technologically advanced, 24-hour telephone bank; and through its network of almost 1,000 ATMs. Selected financial service activities are also conducted in other states including: Dealer Sales offices in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Tennessee; Private Financial and Capital Markets Group offices in Florida; and Mortgage Banking offices in Maryland and New Jersey. International banking services are made available through the headquarters office in Columbus and an office located in the Cayman Islands and an office located in Hong Kong.

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