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) September 13, 2019

MidSouth Bancorp, Inc.

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Louisiana	1-11826	72-1020809
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

102 Versailles Boulevard, Lafayette, Louisiana	70501
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code 337-237-8343

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, par value $0.10 per share	MSL	The New York Stock Exchange

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 (See General Instruction A.2. below):

x 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))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rile 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

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 8.01. Other Events.

As of September 13, 2019, Hancock Whitney Corporation (“Hancock Whitney”) had received regulatory approval from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance to complete its previously announced proposed acquisition of MidSouth Bancorp, Inc. (“MidSouth”), parent company of MidSouth Bank N.A. The proposed acquisition was announced on April 30, 2019, is expected to close on or about September 20, 2019, and remains subject to approval by MidSouth’s shareholders at a special meeting scheduled for September 18, 2019 and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

Important Cautionary Statement about Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements that we may make include statements regarding our expectations regarding the business combination, of MidSouth with Hancock Whitney. Also, any statement that does not describe historical or current facts is a forward-looking statement. These statements often include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “forecast,” “goals,” “targets,” “initiatives,” “focus,” “potentially,” “probably,” “projects,” “outlook”, or similar expressions or future conditional verbs such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” and “could.” Forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of management and on information currently available to management. Our statements speak as of the date hereof, and we do not assume any obligation to update these statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those contained in such statements in light of new information or future events. Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including among others: the possibility that expected benefits of the proposed transaction may not materialize in the timeframe expected or at all, or may be more costly to achieve; the proposed transaction may not be timely completed, if at all; that prior to the completion of the proposed transaction or thereafter, Hancock Whitney’s and MidSouth’s respective businesses may not perform as expected due to transaction-related uncertainty or other factors; that the parties are unable to successfully implement integration strategies related to the proposed transaction; that required regulatory, shareholder or other approvals for the merger or related transactions are not obtained or the conditions to the parties’ obligations to complete the merger are not satisfied in a timely manner or at all; reputational risks and the reaction of the companies’ shareholders, customers, employees or other constituents to the proposed transaction; and diversion of management time on merger-related matters. These risks, as well as other risks relating to the parties and the proposed transaction, are more fully discussed in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus that is included in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 that has been filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. While the list of factors presented here is, and the list of factors presented in the Registration Statement is, considered representative, no such lists should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made in this report is subject to the safe harbor protections set forth in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned against placing undue reliance on such statements. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and in other periodic reports that we file with the SEC.

Important Additional Information and Where to Find It

This report is being made in respect of the proposed merger transaction between Hancock Whitney and MidSouth. In connection with the proposed merger, Hancock Whitney has filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-232716) that includes the Proxy Statement of MidSouth and a Prospectus of Hancock Whitney, as well as other relevant documents regarding the proposed transaction. A definitive Proxy Statement dated as of August 13, 2019 was sent to MidSouth shareholders beginning on August 14, 2019. This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. MidSouth shareholders are urged to read the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement in its entirety, along with any other documents filed by Hancock Whitney and MidSouth with the SEC, and any amendments or supplements to these documents, because they will contain important information regarding the merger and the parties to the merger. A free copy of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about Hancock Whitney and MidSouth, may be obtained at the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). You are also able to obtain these documents, free of charge, from Hancock Whitney at www.hancockwhitney.com under the heading “SEC Filings” or from MidSouth at www.midsouthbank.com under the heading “SEC Filings”. Copies of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus can also be obtained, free of charge, by directing a request to Hancock Whitney Corporation, Hancock Whitney Plaza, 2510 14th Street, Gulfport, Mississippi 39501, Attention: Investor Relations, by calling 504.299.5208, or by sending an e-mail to trisha.carlson@hancockwhitney.com, or by directing a request to MidSouth Bancorp, Inc., 102 Versailles Boulevard, Lafayette, Louisiana 70501, Attention: Investor Relations, by calling 337.593.3143, or by sending an e-mail to lorraine.miller@midsouthbank.com.

Participants in the Solicitation

Hancock Whitney, MidSouth, and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information regarding Hancock Whitney’s directors and executive officers is available in its definitive proxy statement, which was filed with the SEC on March 12, 2019. Information regarding MidSouth’s directors and executive officers is available in its definitive proxy statement, which was filed with the SEC on April 17, 2018, and certain of its Current Reports on Form 8-K. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other relevant materials filed with the SEC. Free copies of this document may be obtained as described above under “Important Additional Information and Where to Find It.”

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.

		MIDSOUTH BANCORP, INC.
		Registrant
Date:	September 13, 2019	By:	/s/ James R. McLemore
			James R. McLemore
			President and Chief Executive Officer