Fortegra Financial Expands Relationship With Hancock Holding Company

JACKSONVILLE, FL, Jan 05, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) –
Fortegra Financial Corporation


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-2.68%



today announced that the
company has expanded its relationship with Hancock Holding Company



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+1.38%



. Fortegra has extended its marketing agreement with
Harrison Finance, a subsidiary of Hancock Holding, for three
additional years.

In addition, Fortegra has acquired Magna Insurance Company from
Hancock Holding Company. Fortegra’s Payment Protection subsidiary,
Life of the South Insurance Co., has assumed the entire business
underwritten by Magna, including its credit, annuity and mortgage
life business, pursuant to a reinsurance transaction that closed
effective December 1, 2011. The purchase of Magna Insurance Company
closed on December 29, 2011. The terms of this transaction were not
disclosed. Fortegra intends to sell Magna and its twelve State
Certificates of Authority, which are redundant with Life of the
South’s certificates, in 2012.

“We are thrilled to broaden our long standing relationship with
Hancock, a premier financial services company,” commented Richard S.
Kahlbaugh, Fortegra’s Chairman, President and CEO. “This transaction
further allows us to expand our administration business to include
annuity and mortgage life products in our Business Process
Outsourcing (BPO) segment, Consecta.”

“Fortegra is a company that we have respected and conducted business
with for several years. This mutually beneficial transaction
involving the sale of Magna Insurance Company to Fortegra is an
indication of the comfort and trust our respective companies have in
each other,” said Clifton Saik, Executive Vice President of Hancock
Holding Company.

About Fortegra
Fortegra Financial Corporation is an insurance
services company that provides distribution and administration
services and insurance-related products to insurance companies,
insurance brokers and agents and other financial services companies
in the United States. It sells services and products directly to
businesses rather than directly to consumers. Fortegra’s brands
include Life of the South, Consecta, Bliss Glennon, eReinsure,
Motor Clubs, and Pacific Benefits Group.

About Hancock
Hancock Holding Company, the parent company of
Hancock Bank and Whitney Bank, has assets of approximately $20
billion and operates almost 300 branches and nearly 400 ATMs across
Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, and Texas. The Hancock
Holding Company family of financial services companies also includes
Hancock Investment Services, Inc.; Hancock Insurance Agency and
Whitney Insurance Agency, Inc.; corporate trust offices in Gulfport
and Jackson, Miss., New Orleans and Baton Rouge, La., and Orlando,
Fla; and Harrison Finance Company. Additional information is
available at
www.hancockbank.com or
www.whitneybank.com .

        Contacts:
        Stephanie Gannon
        904-352-2759
        investor.relations@fortegra.com

        Stephanie Marks
        212-867-1762
        smarks@lazarpartners.com

SOURCE: Fortegra Financial

        mailto:investor.relations@fortegra.com
        mailto:smarks@lazarpartners.com

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