Exhibit 1.2
UNITED FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC.
(a federal stock corporation)
up to 7,848,750 Shares
(subject to increase up to 9,026,063
shares)
COMMON SHARES
($.01 Par Value)
Subscription Price $10.00 Per Share
AGENCY AGREEMENT
, 2005
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
211 Bradenton Drive
Dublin, Ohio 43017-5034
Ladies and Gentlemen:
United Financial Bancorp, Inc., a
federal corporation (the “Company”) and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of United Mutual Holding Company, a federal mutual
holding company (the “MHC”), and the mid-tier holding
company for all of the outstanding capital stock of United Bank, a
federally-chartered stock savings bank located in West Springfield,
Massachusetts, (the “Bank”), deposit accounts in which
are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
(“FDIC”), and the Bank hereby confirm their agreement
with Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. (the “Agent”) as
follows:
Section 1. The
Offering. The Company, in
accordance with a plan of stock issuance adopted by the Board of
Directors, (the “Plan”) will offer and sell up to
7,848,750 shares (subject to increase up to 9,026,063) of its
common stock, $.01 par value per share (the “Shares” or
“Common Shares”), in a subscription offering (the
“Subscription Offering”) to (1) depositors of the Bank
with Qualifying Deposits (as defined in the Plan) as of November
30, 2003 (“Eligible Account Holders”), (2) the employee
stock ownership plan established by either the Bank or the Company
(the “ESOP”), (3) depositors of the Bank with
Qualifying Deposits as of March 31, 2005 (“Supplemental
Eligible Account Holders”), and (4) the Bank’s Other
Depositors as defined in the Plan. Subject to the prior
subscription rights of the above-listed parties, the Company may
offer for sale in a community offering (the “Community
Offering” and when referred to together with or subsequent to
the Subscription Offering, the “Subscription and Community
Offering”) the Shares not subscribed for or ordered in the
Subscription Offering to members of the general public to whom a
copy of the Prospectus (as hereinafter defined) is delivered with a
preference given first to natural persons who are residents of
Hampden and Hampshire Counties, Massachusetts. It is anticipated
that shares not subscribed for in the Subscription and Community
Offering may be offered to certain members of the general
public
on a best efforts basis through a selected
dealers agreement (the “Syndicated Community Offering”)
(the Subscription Offering, Community Offering and Syndicated
Community Offering are collectively referred to as the
“Offering”). It is acknowledged that the purchase of
Shares in the Offering is subject to the maximum and minimum
purchase limitations as described in the Plan and that the Company
may reject, in whole or in part, any orders received in the
Community Offering or Syndicated Community Offering. The Common
Shares offered for sale in the Offering will represent a minority
ownership interest of 44.6% of the Company’s total
outstanding Common Shares.
The Company has filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a
registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-
) (the “Registration Statement”), containing a
prospectus relating to the Offering, for the registration of the
Shares under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933
Act”), and has filed such amendments thereof and such amended
prospectuses as may have been required to the date hereof. The term
“Registration Statement” shall include any documents
incorporated by reference therein and all financial schedules and
exhibits thereto, as amended, including post-effective amendments.
The prospectus, as amended, on file with the Commission at the time
the Registration Statement initially became effective is
hereinafter called the “Prospectus,” except that if any
Prospectus is filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (c)
of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act
(the “1933 Act Regulations”) differing from the
prospectus on file at the time the Registration Statement initially
became effective, the term “Prospectus” shall refer to
the prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (c) from and after
the time said prospectus is filed with the Commission.
In accordance with 12 C.F.R. Part
575 (the “Reorganization Regulations”), the Company has
filed with the OTS a Form MHC-2 Application for Approval of a
Minority Stock Issuance by a Subsidiary of a Mutual Holding Company
(“MHC-2 Application”), including the Prospectus and the
Valuation Appraisal Report prepared by RP Financial, LC. (the
“Appraisal”) and has filed such amendments thereto as
may have been required by the OTS. The MHC-2 Application have been
approved by the OTS and the related Prospectus has been authorized
for use by the OTS.
Section 2. Retention of Agent;
Compensation; Sale and Delivery of the Shares.
Subject to the terms and conditions
herein set forth, the Company and the Bank hereby appoint the Agent
as their exclusive financial advisor and marketing agent (i) to
utilize its best efforts to solicit subscriptions for Common Shares
and to advise and assist the Company and the Bank with respect to
the Company’s sale of the Shares in the Offering and (ii) to
participate in the Offering in the areas of market making, research
coverage and in syndicate formation (if necessary).
On the basis of the representations,
warranties, and agreements herein contained, but subject to the
terms and conditions herein set forth, the Agent accepts such
appointment and agrees to consult with and advise the Company and
the Bank as to the matters set forth in the letter agreement, dated
, between the Company and the Agent (a copy of which is attached
hereto as Exhibit A). It is acknowledged by the Company and the
Bank that the Agent shall not be required to purchase any Shares or
be obligated to take any action which is inconsistent with all
applicable laws, regulations, decisions or orders.
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The obligations of the Agent
pursuant to this Agreement (other than those set forth in Section
2(a) and (c) hereof) shall terminate upon termination of the
Offering, but in no event later than 45 days after the completion
of the Subscription Offering (the “End Date”). All fees
or expenses due to the Agent but unpaid will be payable to the
Agent in next day funds at the earlier of the Closing Date (as
hereinafter defined) or the End Date. In the event the Offering is
extended beyond the End Date, the Company and the Agent may agree
to renew this Agreement under mutually acceptable terms.
In the event the Company is unable
to sell a minimum of 5,801,250 Shares within the period herein
provided, this Agreement shall terminate and the Company shall
refund to any persons who have subscribed for any of the Shares the
full amount which it may have received from them plus accrued
interest, as set forth in the Prospectus; and none of the parties
to this Agreement shall have any obligation to the other parties
hereunder, except as set forth in this Section 2 and in Sections 6,
8 and 9 hereof. In the event the Offering is terminated for any
reason not attributable to the action or inaction of the Agent, the
Agent shall be paid the fees due to the date of such termination
pursuant to subparagraphs (a) and (d) below.
If all conditions precedent to the
sale of all Shares required by the Plan to be sold, are satisfied,
the Company agrees to issue the Shares sold in the Offering and to
release for delivery certificates for such Shares on the Closing
Date (as hereinafter defined) against payment to the Company by any
means authorized by the Plan; provided, however, that no funds
shall be released to the Company until the conditions specified in
Section 7 hereof shall have been complied with to the reasonable
satisfaction of the Agent and its counsel. The release of Shares
against payment therefor shall be made on a date and at a place
acceptable to the Company and the Agent. Certificates for shares
shall be delivered directly to the purchasers in accordance with
their directions. The date upon which the Company shall release or
deliver the Shares sold in the Offering, in accordance with the
terms herein, is called the “Closing Date.”
The Agent shall receive the
following compensation for its services hereunder:
(a) A management fee of $40,000
payable in four consecutive monthly installments of $6,250
commencing with the adoption of the Plan. This fee shall be due as
it is earned and shall be non-refundable.
(b) A success fee upon completion of
the Offering of 1.00% of the aggregate purchase price of the Common
Shares sold in the Subscription Offering and Community Offering
excluding shares purchased by the Bank’s officers, trustees,
directors, or employees (or members of their immediate family) or
the ESOP. The management fee will be applied against the success
fee.
(c) If any of the Common Shares
remain available after the Subscription Offering, at the request of
the Company, the Agent will seek to form a syndicate of registered
broker-dealers (“Selected Dealers”) to assist in the
sale of such Common Shares on a best efforts basis, subject to the
terms and conditions set forth in the selected dealers agreement.
The Agent will endeavor to distribute the Common Shares among the
Selected Dealers in a fashion which best meets the distribution
objectives of the Bank and the Plan. The Agent will be paid a fee
not to exceed 5.5% of the aggregate Purchase Price of the Shares
sold
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by the Selected Dealers. The Agent
will pass onto the Selected Dealers who assist in the Syndicated
Community Offering an amount competitive with gross underwriting
discounts charged at such time for comparable amounts of stock sold
at a comparable price per share in a similar market environment.
Fees with respect to purchases effected with the assistance of
Selected Dealers other than the Agent shall be transmitted by the
Agent to such Selected Dealers. The decision to utilize Selected
Dealers will be made by the Company upon consultation with the
Agent. In the event, with respect to any stock purchases, fees are
paid pursuant to this subparagraph 2(c), such fees shall be in lieu
of, and not in addition to, payment pursuant to paragraph
2(b).
(d) The Company and the Bank shall
reimburse the Agent for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses,
including costs of travel, meals and lodging, photocopying,
telephone, facsimile, couriers and legal fees and expenses up to
$60,000 (which do not include legal fees to complete the
qualification of the Common Shares under the various state
securities “Blue Sky” laws). The Company will bear the
expenses of the Offering customarily borne by issuers including,
without limitation, regulatory filing fees, SEC, “Blue
Sky,” and NASD filing and registration fees; the fees of the
Company’s accountants, attorneys, appraiser, transfer agent
and registrar, printing, mailing and marketing expenses associated
with the reorganization; and the fees set forth under this Section
2. The Company will reimburse the Agent for any such expenses
incurred by the Agent on its behalf, if such expenses are
communicated by the Agent to the Company prior to being
incurred.
Additional Services
. Agent further agrees to provide
general financial advisory assistance to the Company and the Bank
for a period of five years following completion of the Offering,
including formation of a dividend policy and share repurchase
program, assistance with shareholder reporting and shareholder
relations matters, general advice on mergers and acquistions and
other related financial matters, without the payment by the Company
and the Bank of any fees in addition to those set forth in this
Section 2 hereof. If, however, a specific buy side assignment were
to develop, Agent would look to develop a separate and specific
engagement letter tailored to such a transaction, while
simultaneously maintaining the elements of this agreement in good
standing.
As part of the post Offering
financial advisory services, Agent will specifically conduct the
following:
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I.
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Build a
proprietary financial model of the Company’s financials that
forecasts the balance sheet and income statement for a five-year
period. This model will be an interactive model whereby management
and Agent will be able to run real time scenarios that illustrate
various ways to enhance shareholder value. Some of these strategies
would include:
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Share
repurchase to enhance earnings per share and return on average
equity (“ROAE”)
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Providing cash
dividends to the existing shareholder base to enhance return on
average equity (“ROAE”)
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Deploying
excess capital into various loan and security classes to increase
yields while maintaining adequate credit quality
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Increasing core
deposits to enhance the existing funding mix and the intrinsic
value such a mix can achieve
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Creating cost
reduction strategies to decrease the efficiency ratio while
simultaneously enhancing return on average equity
(“ROAE”) and return on average assets
(“ROAA”)
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II.
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Build a
discounted free capital model that serves to arrive at a
theoretical valuation of the Company on both a stand-alone and
take-out basis. This model will be derived from the forecast
produced from the aforementioned financial forecast model (see
above) and will serve to continually focus the Company on enhancing
shareholder value.
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III.
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Continually
update the Company on the merger & acquisition market with
specific attention being paid to comparable transactions in terms
of charter, size, region, capital levels and profitability. Such
updates will serve as a benchmark for understanding how merger and
acquisition pricing is influenced by various profitability and
efficiency metrics and will serve to keep the Company focused on
continuing to achieve further franchise value.
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Full payment of Agent’s actual
and accountable expenses, advisory fees and compensation shall be
made in next day funds on the earlier of the Closing Date or a
determination by the Bank to terminate or abandon the
Offering.
Section 3. Sale and Delivery of
Shares. If all conditions
precedent to the sale of all Shares required by the Plan to be
sold, are satisfied, the Company agrees to issue, or have issued,
the Shares sold in the Offering and to release for delivery
certificates for such Shares on the Closing Date against payment to
the Company by any means authorized by the Plan; provided, however,
that no funds shall be released to the Company until the conditions
specified in Section 7 hereof shall have been complied with to the
reasonable satisfaction of the Agent and its counsel. The release
of Shares against payment therefor shall be made on a date and at a
place acceptable to the MHC and the Company and the Agent.
Certificates for shares shall be delivered directly to the
purchasers in accordance with their directions.
Section 4. Representations and
Warranties of the MHC and the Company. The Company and the Bank jointly and severally
represent and warrant to and agree with the Agent as
follows:
(a) The Registration Statement which
was prepared by the Company and the Bank and filed with the
Commission has been declared effective by the Commission, no stop
order has been issued with respect thereto and no proceedings
therefor have been initiated or, to the knowledge of the MHC, the
Company and the Bank, threatened by the Commission. At the time the
Registration Statement, including the Prospectus contained therein
(including any amendment or supplement), became effective and at
the Closing Date, the Registration Statement complied and will
comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933
Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and the Registration Statement,
including the Prospectus contained therein (including any amendment
or supplement thereto), and any information regarding the Company
contained in Sales
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Information (as such term is defined
in Section 8 hereof) authorized by the Company for use in
connection with the Offering, did not contain an untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, and at the time any Rule 424(b) or (c) Prospectus is
filed with the Commission and at the Closing Date referred to in
Section 2, the Prospectus (including any amendment or supplement
thereto) and any information regarding the Company contained in
Sales Information (as such term is defined in Section 8 hereof)
authorized by the Company for use in connection with the Offering
will contain all statements that are required to be stated therein
in accordance with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and
will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading; provided, however, that the representations and
warranties in this Section 4(a) shall not apply to statements or
omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by the Agent or its counsel
expressly regarding the Agent for use in the Prospectus under the
caption “The Offering— Plan of Distribution and
Marketing Arrangements” or statements in or omissions from
any Sales Information or information filed pursuant to state
securities or blue sky laws or regulations regarding the
Agent.
(b) The MHC-2 Application, which was
prepared by the Company and the Bank and filed with the OTS, has
been approved by the OTS and the related Prospectus to be delivered
to members of the Bank has been authorized for use by the OTS and
the MHC-2 Application complied in all material respects with the
Reorganization Regulations. No order has been issued by the OTS or
the FDIC preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus, and no
action by or before any such government entity to revoke any
approval, authorization or order of effectiveness related to the
Offering is, to the best knowledge of the Company or the Bank,
pending or threatened. At the time of the approval of the MHC-2
Application, including the Prospectus (including any amendment or
supplement thereto) by the OTS and at all times subsequent thereto
until the Closing Date, the MHC-2 Application, including the
Prospectus (including any amendment or supplement thereto), will
comply in all material respects with the Reorganization
Regulations, except to the extent waived in writing or otherwise
approved by the OTS. The MHC-2 Application, including the
Prospectus (including any amendment or supplement thereto), does
not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the
representations and warranties in this Section 4(b) shall not apply
to statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to the Company by the Agent or
its counsel expressly regarding the Agent for use in the Prospectus
contained in the MHC-2 Application under the caption “The
Offering—Plan of Distribution and Marketing
Arrangements” or statements in or omissions from any sales
information or information filed pursuant to state securities or
blue sky laws or regulations regarding the Agent.
(c) The offer and sale of the Shares
will have been conducted in all material respects in accordance
with the Plan, the Reorganization Regulations except to the extent
waived
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in writing or otherwise approved by
the OTS, and all other applicable laws, regulations, decisions and
orders, including all terms, conditions, requirements and
provisions precedent to the Offering imposed upon the MHC, the
Company and the Bank by the OTS, the Commission, or any other
regulatory authority and in the manner described in the Prospectus.
To the best knowledge of the MHC, the Company and the Bank, no
person has sought to obtain review of the final action of the OTS
in approving the Offering pursuant to the HOLA or any other statute
or regulation.
(d) The Company is a duly organized
and validly existing federally-chartered corporation; and the Bank
is a duly organized and validly existing federally-chartered
savings bank in permanent capital stock form of organization. Each
of the Company and the Bank is duly authorized to conduct its
business and own its property as described in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus; Each of the Company and the Bank has
obtained all licenses, permits and other governmental
authorizations currently required for the conduct of its business,
except those that individually or in the aggregate would not
materially adversely affect the financial condition, results of
operations or business of the MHC, the Company and the Bank, taken
as a whole; all such licenses, permits and governmental
authorizations are in full force and effect, and each of the
Company and the Bank is in compliance with all material laws,
rules, regulations and orders applicable to the operation of its
business, except where failure to be in compliance would not
materially adversely affect the financial condition, results of
operations or business of the MHC, the Company and the Bank, taken
as a whole; each of the Company and the Bank is duly qualified as a
foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in
each jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or leasing of
property or the conduct of its business requires such
qualification, unless the failure to be so qualified in one or more
of such jurisdictions would not have a material adverse effect on
the financial condition, results of operations or business of the
MHC, the Company and the Bank, taken as a whole. Each of the
Company and the Bank does not own equity securities or any equity
interest in any other business enterprise except as described in
the Prospectus or as would not be material to the operations of the
Company or the Bank, as the case may be. Upon completion of the
sale by the Company of the Shares contemplated by the Prospectus,
(i) all of the authorized and outstanding capital stock of the Bank
will be owned by the Company and (ii) the Company will have no
direct subsidiaries other than the Bank. The Offering will be
effected in all material respects in accordance with all applicable
statutes, regulations, decisions and orders; and, except with
respect to the filing of certain post-sale, reports, and documents
in compliance with the 1933 Act Regulations, the Reorganization
Regulations or letters of approval at the time of the Closing all
terms, conditions, requirements and provisions with respect to the
Offering imposed by the Commission, the OTS and the FDIC, if any,
will have been complied with by the Company in all material
respects or appropriate waivers will have been obtained and all
material notice and waiting periods will have been satisfied,
waived or elapsed.
(e) The MHC is duly incorporated and
validly existing as a corporation under the laws of the United
States of America with corporate power and authority to own, lease
and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and is qualified
to do business as a foreign corporation in
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each jurisdiction in which the
conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where
the failure to so qualify would not have a material adverse effect
on the financial condition, results of operations or business of
the MHC, the Company and the Bank, taken as a whole. The MHC has
all licenses, permits and other governmental authorizations
currently required for the conduct of its business except those
that individually or in the aggregate would not materially
adversely affect the financial condition, results of operations or
business of the MHC, the Company and the Bank, taken as a whole;
all such licenses, permits and governmental authorizations are in
full force and effect, and the MHC in all material respects
complies with all laws, rules, regulations and orders applicable to
the operation of its business.
(f) The MHC and the Company are
registered and in good standing as savings association holding
companies under the Home Owners’ Loan Act of 1933.
(g) The Bank is a member of the
Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (“FHLB-Boston”). The
deposit accounts of the Bank are insured by the FDIC up to the
applicable limits, and no proceedings for the termination or
revocation of such insurance are pending or, to the best knowledge
of the MHC, the Company or the Bank, threatened. The Bank is a
“qualified thrift lender” within the meaning of 12
U.S.C. §l467(a)(m). Upon consummation of the Offering, the
liquidation account for the benefit of Eligible Account Holders and
Supplemental Eligible Account Holders will be duly established in
accordance with the requirements of the Reorganization
Regulations.
(h) Each of the MHC, the Company and
the Bank, has good and marketable title to all real property and
good title to all other assets material to the business of the MHC,
the Company and the Bank, taken as a whole, and to those properties
and assets described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus
as owned by it, free and clear of all liens, charges, encumbrances
or restrictions, except such as are described in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus, or are not material to the business of
the MHC, the Company and the Bank, taken as a whole; and all of the
leases and subleases material to the business of the MHC, the
Company and the Bank, taken as a whole, under which, the Company or
the Bank hold properties, including those described in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus, are in full force and
effect.
(i) The Company has received an
opinion of its special counsel, Luse Gorman Pomerenk & Schick,
with respect to the federal income tax consequences of the
Offering, and an opinion of Grant Thornton LLP with respect to the
Massachusetts income tax consequences of the Offering; all material
aspects of such opinions are accurately summarized in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The Company and the Bank
represent and warrant that the facts upon which such opinions are
based are truthful, accurate and complete. None of the Company, the
Bank or the MHC will take any action inconsistent
therewith.
(j) Each of the Company and the Bank
has all such power, authority, authorizations, approvals and orders
as may be required to enter into this Agreement, to carry out the
provisions and conditions hereof and, with respect to the Company,
to issue and sell the Shares to be sold by it as provided herein
and as described in the Prospectus, subject to
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approval or confirmation by the OTS
of the final appraisal of the Company including the Bank. The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement have been
duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on
the part of the Company and the Bank; and the Offering has been
duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on
the part of the Company. This Agreement has been validly executed
and delivered by the Company and the Bank and is the valid, legal
and binding agreement each of the Company and the Bank enforceable
in accordance with its terms (except as the enforceability thereof
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium,
reorganization or similar laws relating to or affecting the
enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or the rights of
creditors of savings and loan holding companies or savings banks,
as the case may be, the accounts of whose subsidiaries or of which
are insured by the FDIC, or by general equity principles,
regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law, and except to the extent, if any,
that the provisions of Sections 8 and 9 hereof may be unenforceable
as against public policy). The Company has all such power,
authority, authorizations, approvals and orders as may be required
to enter into this Agreement, to carry out the provisions and
conditions hereof and to issue and sell the Shares to be sold by it
as provided herein and as described in the Prospectus, subject to
approval or confirmation by the OTS of the final appraisal of the
Company including the Bank. This Agreement has been validly
executed and delivered by each of the Company and the Bank and is
the valid, legal and binding agreement of each of the Company and
the Bank enforceable in accordance with its terms (except as the
enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
moratorium, reorganization or similar laws relating to or affecting
the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or the rights
of creditors of savings and loan holding companies or savings
banks, as the case may be, the accounts of whose subsidiaries or of
which are insured by the FDIC, or by general equity principles,
regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law, and except to the extent, if any,
that the provisions of Sections 8 and 9 hereof may be unenforceable
as against public policy).
(k) None the MHC, the Company or the
Bank is in violation of any directive received from the OTS, the
FDIC, or any other agency to make any material change in the method
of conducting its business so as to comply in all material respects
with all applicable statutes and regulations (including, without
limitation, regulations, decisions, directives and orders of the
OTS and the FDIC) and, except as may be set forth in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there is no suit or
proceeding or charge or action before or by any court, regulatory
authority or governmental agency or body, pending or, to the
knowledge of the MHC, the Company or the Bank, threatened, which
might materially and adversely affect the Offering, as described in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or which might result
in any material adverse change in the financial condition, results
of operations or business of the MHC, the Company and the Bank,
taken as a whole, or which would materially affect their properties
and assets.
(l) The financial statements,
schedules and notes related thereto which are included in the
Prospectus fairly present the balance sheet, income statement,
statement of changes in equity capital and statement of cash flows
of the Company on a consolidated basis with the Bank (except as
otherwise stated therein) at the respective dates indicated and for
the respective periods covered thereby and comply as to form in all
material respects
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with the applicable accounting
requirements of Title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Such
financial statements, schedules and notes related thereto have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles (“GAAP”) consistently applied through the
periods involved, present fairly in all material respects the
information required to be stated therein and are consistent with
the most recent financial statements and other reports filed by the
Company and the Bank with the OTS, except that accounting
principles employed in such regulatory filings conform to the
requirements of the OTS and not necessarily to GAAP. The other
financial, statistical and pro forma information and related notes
included in the Prospectus present fairly the information shown
therein on a basis consistent with the audited and unaudited
financial statements of the Company on a consolidated basis with
the Bank (except as otherwise stated therein) included in the
Prospectus, and as to the pro forma adjustments, the adjustments
made therein have been properly applied on the basis described
therein.
(m) Since the respective dates as of
which information is given in the Registration Statement including
the Prospectus: (i) there has not been any material adverse change,
financial or otherwise, in the condition of the MHC, the Company
and the Bank and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, or
in the earnings, capital properties or business of the MHC, the
Company and the Bank, whether or not arising in the ordinary course
of business; (ii) there has not been any material increase in the
long-term debt of the Company or the Bank or in the principal
amount of the Company’s or the Bank’s assets which are
classified by the Company or the Bank as substandard, doubtful or
loss or in loans past due 90 days or more or real estate acquired
by foreclosure, by deed-in-lieu of foreclosure or deemed
in-substance foreclosure or any material decrease in equity capital
or total assets of the Company on a consolidated basis with the
Bank; nor has the MHC, the Company or the Bank issued any
securities (other than in connection with the incorporation of the
Company and the reorganization of the Bank into a mutual holding
company structure) or incurred any liability or obligation for
borrowing other than in the ordinary course of business; (iii)
there have not been any material transactions entered into by the
MHC, the Company or the Bank; (iv) there has not been any material
adverse change in the aggregate dollar amount (on a consolidated
basis with the Bank) of the Company’s deposits or its net
worth; (v) there has been no material adverse change in the
MHC’s, the Company’s or the Bank’s relationship
with its insurance carriers, including, without limitation,
cancellation or other termination of the MHC’s, the
Company’s or the Bank’s fidelity bond or any other type
of insurance coverage; (vi) except as disclosed in the Prospectus,
there has been no material change in management of the MHC, the
Company or the Bank; (vii) none of the MHC, the Company or the Bank
has sustained any material loss or interference with its respective
business or properties from fire, flood, windstorm, earthquake,
accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance;
(viii) none of the MHC, the Company or the Bank has defaulted in
the payment of principal or interest on any outstanding debt
obligations; (ix) the capitalization, liabilities, assets,
properties and business of the MHC, the Company and the Bank
conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof
contained in the Prospectus; and (x) none of the MHC, the Company
or the Bank has any material contingent liabilities, except as set
forth in the Prospectus.
10
(n) None of the MHC, the Company or
the Bank is (i) in violation of its charter or articles of
incorporation, as the case may be, or bylaws, or (ii) in default in
the performance or observance of any material obligation,
agreement, covenant, or condition contained in any material
contract, lease, loan agreement, indenture or other instrument to
which it is a party or by which it or any of its property may be
bound. The execution and delivery of the Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions herein contemplated will not: (i)
conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default under, or
result in the creation of any material lien, charge or encumbrance
(with the exception of the liquidation account established in
connection with the Offering) upon any of the assets of the MHC,
the Company or the Bank pursuant to the Charter or Articles of
Incorporation, as the case may be, and Bylaws of the Company, the
MHC or the Bank or any material contract, lease or other instrument
in which the MHC, the Company or the Bank has a beneficial
interest, or any applicable law, rule, regulation or order; (ii)
violate any authorization, approval, judgment, decree, order,
statute, rule or regulation applicable to the MHC, the Company or
the Bank, except for such violations which would not have a
material adverse effect on the financial condition and results of
operations of the MHC, the Company and the Bank on a consolidated
basis; or (iii) result in the creation of any material lien, charge
or encumbrance upon any property of the MHC, the Company or the
Bank.
(o) All documents made available to
or delivered or to be made available to or delivered by the MHC,
the Company and the Bank or their representatives in connection
with the issuance and sale of the Shares, including records of
account holders, depositors and borrowers of the Bank, or in
connection with the Agent’s exercise of due diligence, except
for those documents which were prepared by parties other than the
MHC, the Company or the Bank or their representatives, to the best
knowledge of the MHC, the Company and the Bank, were on the dates
on which they were delivered, or will be on the dates on which they
are to be delivered, true, complete and correct in all material
respects.
(p) No default exists, and no event
has occurred which with notice or lapse of time, or both, would
constitute a default on the part of the MHC, the Company or the
Bank in the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or
condition of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, bank
loan or credit agreement or any other instrument or agreement to
which the MHC, the Company or the Bank is a party or by which any
of them or any of their property is bound or affected, except such
defaults which would not have a material adverse affect on the
financial condition or results of operations of the MHC, the
Company and the Bank, taken as a whole; such agreements are in full
force and effect; and no other party to any such agreements has
instituted or, to the best knowledge of the MHC, the Company and
the Bank, threatened any action or proceeding wherein the MHC, the
Company or the Bank would or might be alleged to be in default
thereunder, where such action or proceeding, if determined
adversely to the MHC, the Company or the Bank, would have a
material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of
operations, or business of the MHC, the Company or the Bank, taken
as a whole.
11
(q) Upon consummation of the
Offering, the authorized, issued and outstanding equity capital of
the Company will be within the range set forth in the Prospectus
under the caption “Capitalization,” and no Shares
(other than Shares issued to the MHC) have been or will be issued
and outstanding prior to the Closing Date; the Shares (including
shares issued or to be issued to the MHC) have been duly and
validly authorized for issuance and, when issued and delivered by
the Company pursuant to the Plan against payment of the
consideration calculated as set forth in the Plan and in the
Prospectus, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable, except for shares purchased by the ESOP with funds
borrowed from the ESOP lending subsidiary to the extent payment
therefor in cash has not been received by the Company; except to
the extent that subscription rights and priorities pursuant thereto
exist pursuant to the Plan, no preemptive rights exist with respect
to the Shares; and the terms and provisions of the Shares will
conform in all material respects to the description thereof
contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Upon
the issuance of the Shares, good title to the Shares will be
transferred from the Company to the purchasers thereof against
payment therefor, subject to such claims as may be asserted against
the purchasers thereof by third-party claimants.
(r) No approval of any regulatory or
supervisory or other public authority is required in connection
with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance
of the Shares, except for the approval of the Commission and the
OTS, and any necessary qualification, notification, registration or
exemption under the securities or blue sky laws of the various
states in which the Shares are to be offered, and except as may be
required under the rules and regulations of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
(“NASD”).
(s) Grant Thornton LLP, which has
certified the audited financial statements and schedules of the
Company or the Bank included in the Prospectus, has advised the
MHC, the Company and the Bank in writing that they are, with
respect to the MHC, the Company and the Bank, independent
registered public accountants within the applicable rules of the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United
States).
(t) RP Financial, LC., which has
prepared the Valuation Appraisal Report (as amended or
supplemented, if so amended or supplemented) of the Company
including the Bank, has advised the Company in writing that it is
independent of the MHC, the Company and the Bank within the meaning
of the Reorganization Regulations.
(u) The Company, the MHC and the
Bank have timely filed all required federal, state and local tax
returns; the Company, the MHC and the Bank have paid all taxes that
have become due and payable in respect of such returns, except
where permitted to be extended, have made adequate reserves for
similar future tax liabilities and no deficiency has been asserted
with respect thereto by any taxing authority.
(v) Each of the Company, the MHC and
the Bank, is in compliance in all material respects with the
applicable financial record-keeping and reporting requirements of
the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as
amended, and the regulations and rules thereunder.
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(w) To the knowledge of the MHC, the
Company and the Bank, neither the MHC, the Company, the Bank or
employees of the MHC, the Company or the Bank has made any payment
of funds of the MHC, the Company or the Bank as a loan for the
purchase of the Shares or made any other payment of funds
prohibited by law, and no funds have been set aside to be used for
any payment prohibited by law.
(x) Prior to the Offering, none of
the MHC, the Company or the Bank has: (i) issued any securities
within the last 18 months (except for notes to evidence bank loans
and reverse repurchase agreements or other liabilities in the
ordinary course of business or as described in the Prospectus and
except in connection with the Bank’s reorganization into the
mutual holding company structure); (ii) had any material dealings
within the 12 months prior to the date hereof with any member of
the NASD, or any person related to or associated with such member,
other than discussions and meetings relating to the proposed
Offering and routine purchases and sales of United States
government and agency and other securities in the ordinary course
of business; (iii) entered into a financial or management
consulting agreement except as contemplated hereunder; and (iv)
engaged any intermediary between the Agent and the MHC, the Company
or the Bank in connection with the offering of the Shares, and no
person is being compensated in any manner for such service.
Appropriate arrangements have been made for placing the funds
received from subscriptions for Shares in a special
interest-bearing account with the Bank until all Shares are sold
and paid for, with provision for refund to the purchasers in the
event that the Offering is not completed for whatever reason or for
delivery to the Company if all Shares are sold.
(y) The Company, the MHC and the
Bank have not relied upon the Agent or its legal counsel for any
legal, tax or accounting advice in connection with the
Offering.
(z) The records used by the MHC, the
Company and the Bank to determine the identity of Eligible Account
Holders and Supplemental Eligible Account Holders and Other
Depositors are accurate and complete in all material
respects.
(aa) The Company and the MHC are not
required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended.
(bb) None of the Company, the Bank
or the MHC or any properties owned or operated by the Company, the
Bank or the MHC, is in violation of or liable under any
Environmental Law (as defined below), except for such violations or
liabilities that, individually or in the aggregate, would not have
a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of
operations or business of the Company, the Bank and the MHC, taken
as a whole. There are no actions, suits or proceedings, or demands,
claims, notices or investigations (including, without limitation,
notices, demand letters or requests for information from any
environmental agency) instituted or pending or, to the knowledge of
the Company, the Bank or the MHC, threatened relating to the
liability of any property owned or operated by the Company, the
Bank or the MHC under any Environmental Law. For purposes of this
subsection, the term “Environmental Law” means any
federal, state, local or foreign law, statute, ordinance, rule,
regulation, code, license, permit, authorization, approval,
consent, order, judgment, decree, injunction or agreement
with
13
any regulatory authority relating to
(i) the protection, preservation or restoration of the environment
(including, without limitation, air, water, vapor, surface water,
groundwater, drinking water supply, surface soil, subsurface soil,
plant and animal life or any other natural resource), and/or (ii)
the use, storage, recycling, treatment, generation, transportation,
processing, handling, labeling, production, release or disposal of
any substance presently listed, defined, designated or classified
as hazardous, toxic, radioactive or dangerous, or otherwise
regulated, whether by type or by quantity, including any material
containing any such substance as a component.
(cc) The Company will file a
registration statement for the Common Shares under Section 12(g) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act Registration Statement”).
(dd) The Company and its
subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls
sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions
are executed in accordance with management’s general or
specific authorizations, (B) transactions are recorded as necessary
to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain
accountability for assets, (C) access to assets is permitted only
in accordance with management’s general or specific
authorization, and (D) the recorded accounts or assets is compared
with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate
action is taken with respect thereto. The books, records and
accounts and systems of internal accounting control of the Company
and its subsidiaries comply in all material respects with the
requirements of Section 13(b)(2) of the 1934 Act. The Company
maintains “disclosure controls and procedures” (as
defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that are
effective in ensuring that the information it will be required to
disclose in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act
is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management
(including the Company’s chief executive officer and chief
financial officer) in a timely manner and recorded, processed,
summarized and reported within the periods specified in the
Commission’s rules and forms.
(ee) All of the loans represented as
assets of the Company or the Bank in the Prospectus meet or are
exempt from all requirements of federal, state and local law
pertaining to lending, including, without limitation, truth in
lending (including the requirements of Regulation Z and 12 C.F.R.
Part 226), real estate settlement procedures, consumer credit
protection, equal credit opportunity and all disclosure laws
applicable to such loans, except for violations which, if asserted,
would not have a material adverse effect on the financial
condition, results of operations, or business of the MHC, the
Company and the Bank, taken as a whole.
(ff) The Company has taken all
actions necessary to obtain at Closing a Blue Sky Memorandum from
Luse Gorman Pomerenk & Schick.
(gg) Any c