[LETTERHEAD OF TRIDENT SECURITIES, INC.]
March 12, 1996
Board of Directors
First Federal Savings and Loan
Association of Allen Parish
222 South 10th Street
Oakdale, Louisiana 71463
RE: Conversion Stock Marketing Services
Gentlemen:
This letter sets forth the terms of the proposed engagement between Trident
Securities, Inc. ("Trident") and First Federal Savings and Loan Association of
Allen Parish, Oakdale, Louisiana (the "Association") concerning our investment
banking services in connection with the conversion of the Association from a
mutual to a capital stock form of organization.
Trident is prepared to assist the Association in connection with the offering of
its shares of common stock during the subscription offering and community
offering as such terms are defined in the Association's Plan of Conversion. The
specific terms of the services contemplated hereunder shall be set forth in a
definitive sales agency agreement (the "Agreement") between Trident and the
Association to be executed on the date the offering circular/prospectus is
declared effective by the appropriate regulatory authorities. The price of the
shares during subscription offering and community offering will be the price
established by the Association's Board of Directors, based upon an independent
appraisal as approved by the appropriate regulatory authorities, provided such
price is mutually acceptable to Trident and the Association.
In connection with the subscription offering and community offering, Trident
will act as financial advisor and exercise its best efforts to assist the
Association in the sale of its common stock during the subscription offering and
community offering. Additionally, Trident may enter into agreements with other
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., ("NASD") member firms to act
as selected dealers, assisting in the sale of the common stock. Trident and the
Association will determine the selected dealers to assist the Association during
the community offering. At the appropriate time, Trident in conjunction with its
counsel, will conduct an examination of the relevant documents and records of
the Association as Trident deems necessary and appropriate. The Association will
make all documents, records and other information deemed necessary by Trident or
its counsel available to them upon request.
For its services hereunder, Trident will receive the following compensation and
reimbursement from the Association:
1. A management fee in the amount of $75,000.00
Board of Directors
March 12, 1996
Page 2
2. For stock sold by other NASD member firms under selected dealer's
agreements, the commission shall not exceed a fee to be agreed upon
jointly by Trident and the Association to reflect market requirements
at the time of the stock allocation in a Syndicated Community
Offering.
3. The foregoing fees and commissions are to be payable to Trident at
closing as defined in the Agreement to be entered into between the
Association and Trident.
4. Trident shall be reimbursed for allocable expenses incurred by them,
including legal fees, whether or not the Agreement is consummated.
Trident's out-of-pocket expenses will not exceed $10,000 and its legal
fees will not exceed $25,000. The Association will forward to Trident
a check in the amount of $10,000 as an advance payment to defray the
allocable expenses of Trident.
It further is understood that the Association will pay all other expenses of the
conversion including but not limited to its attorneys' fees, NASD filing feed,
and filing and registration fees and fees of either Trident's attorneys or the
attorneys relating to any required state securities law filings, telephone
charges, air freight, rental equipment, supplies, transfer agent charges, fees
relating to auditing and accounting and costs of printing all documents
necessary in connection with the foregoing.
For purposes of Trident's obligation to file certain documents and to make
certain representations to the NASD in connection with the conversion, the
Association warrants that: (a) the Association has not privately placed any
securities within the last 18 months; (b) there have been no material dealings
within the last 12 months between the Association and any NASD member or any
person related to or associated with any such member; (c) none of the officers
or directors of the Association has any affiliation with the NASD; (d) except as
contemplated by this engagement letter with Trident, the Association has no
financial or management consulting contracts outstanding with any other person;
(e) the Association has not granted Trident a right of first refusal with
respect to the underwriting of any future offering of the Association stock; and
(f) there has been no intermediary between Trident and the Association in
connection with the public offering of the Association's shares, and no person
is being compensated in any manner for providing such service.
The Association agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Trident and each person,
if any, who controls the firm against all losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, joint or several and all legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by them in connection with the investigation or defense thereof
(collectively, "Losses"), to which they may become subject under the securities
laws or under the common law, that arise out of or are based upon the conversion
or the engagement hereunder of Trident unless it is determined by final judgment
of a court having jurisdiction over the matter that such Losses are primarily a
result of Trident's willful misconduct or gross negligence. If the foregoing
indemnification is unavailable for any reason, the Association agrees to
contribute to such Losses in the proportion that its financial interest in the
conversion bears to that the indemnified parties. If the Agreement is entered
into with respect to the common stock to be issued in the conversion, the
Agreement will provide for indemnification,
Board of Directors
March 12, 1996
Page 3
which will be in addition to any rights that Trident or any other indemnified
party may have at common law or otherwise. The indemnification provision of this
paragraph will be superseded by the indemnification provisions of the Agreement
entered into by the Association and Trident.
This letter is merely a statement of intent and is not a binding legal agreement
except as to paragraph (4) above with regard to the obligation to reimburse
Trident for allocable expenses to be incurred prior to the execution of the
Agreement and the indemnity described in the preceding paragraph. While Trident
and the Association agree in principle to the contents hereof and propose to
proceed promptly, and in good faith, to work out the arrangements with respect
to the proposed offering, any legal obligations between Trident and the
Association shall be only as set forth in a duly executed Agreement. Such
Agreement shall be in form and content satisfactory to Trident and the
Association, as well as their counsel, and Trident's opinion no material adverse
change in condition or obligations of the Association or not market conditions
which might render the sale of the shares by the Association hereby contemplated
inadvisable.
Please acknowledge your agreement to the foregoing by signing below and
returning to Trident one copy of this letter along with the advance payment of
$10,000. This proposal is open for your acceptance for a period of thirty (30)
days from the date hereof.
Yours very truly,
TRIDENT SECURITIES, INC.
By: /s/ R. Lee Burrows, Jr.
------------------------
R. Lee Burrows, Jr.
Managing Director
Agreed and accepted to this 10th day
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of April, 1996
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FIRST FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION OF ALLEN PARISH
By: /s/ Charles L. Galligan
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Charles L. Galligan
President
RLB:cs
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