EXHIBIT 99.1
RP FINANCIAL, LC.
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Financial Services Industry Consultants
April 2, 1998
Mr. Eugene G. Stone
President and Chief Executive Officer
Summit Bank
81 Main Street
Medway, Massachusetts 02053-1867
Dear Mr. Stone:
This letter sets forth the agreement between Summit Bank, Medway,
Massachusetts ("Summit" or the "Bank"), and RP Financial, LC. ("RP Financial")
for the independent appraisal services pertaining to the Bank's minority stock
offering in conjunction with the mutual holding company reorganization. The
specific appraisal services to be rendered by RP Financial are described below.
These appraisal services will be rendered by a team of two to three senior
consultants on staff and will be directed by the undersigned.
Description of Conversion Appraisal Services
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Prior to preparing the valuation report, RP Financial will conduct a
financial due diligence, including on-site interviews of senior management and
reviews of financial and other documents and records, to gain insight into the
Bank's operations, financial condition, profitability, market area, risks and
various internal and external factors which impact the pro forma value of the
Bank. RP Financial will prepare a written detailed valuation report of Summit
which will be fully consistent with applicable regulatory guidelines and
standard pro forma valuation practices. The appraisal report will include an
in-depth analysis of the Bank's financial condition and operating results, as
well as an assessment of the Bank's interest rate risk, credit risk and
liquidity risk. The appraisal report will describe the Bank's business
strategies, market area, prospects for the future and the intended use of
proceeds both in the short term and over the longer term. A peer group analysis
relative to publicly-traded savings institutions will be conducted for the
purpose of determining appropriate valuation adjustments relative to the group.
We will review pertinent sections of the applications and offering documents to
obtain necessary data and information for the appraisal, including the impact of
key deal elements on the appraised value, such as dividend policy, use of
proceeds and reinvestment rate, tax rate, conversion expenses and
characteristics of stock plans. The appraisal report will conclude with a
midpoint pro forma value which will establish the range of value, and reflect
the minority stock offering size determined by the Bank's Board of Trustees. The
appraisal report may be periodically updated throughout the conversion process
and there will be at least one updated valuation prepared at the time of the
closing of the stock offering.
RP Financial agrees to deliver the valuation appraisal and subsequent
updates, in writing, to Summit at the above address in conjunction with the
filing of the regulatory application. Subsequent updates will be filed promptly
as certain events occur which would warrant the preparation and filing of such
valuation updates. Further, RP Financial agrees to perform such other services
as are necessary or required in connection with the regulatory review of the
appraisal and respond to the regulatory comments, if any, regarding the
valuation appraisal and subsequent updates.
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Washington Headquarters
Rosslyn Center
1700 North Moore Street, Suite 2210 Telephone: (703) 528-1700
Arlington, VA 22209 Fax No.: (703) 528-1788
RP Financial, LC.
Mr. Eugene G. Stone
April 2, 1998
Page 2
Fee Structure and Payment Schedule
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Summit agrees to pay RP Financial a fixed fee of $20,000 for these
appraisal services, plus reimbursable expenses. Payment of these fees shall be
made according to the following schedule:
o $5,000 upon execution of the letter of agreement engaging RP
Financial's appraisal services;
o $12,500 upon delivery of the completed original appraisal report; and
o $2,500 upon completion of the conversion to cover all subsequent
valuation updates that may be required, provided that the transaction
is not delayed for reasons described below.
The Bank will reimburse RP Financial for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in
the preparation of the appraisal report. Such out-of-pocket expenses, which are
not expected to exceed $5,000 inclusive of expenses for the business plan and
appraisal, will include travel, telephone, facsimile, copying, shipping,
computer and data. RP Financial will make all attempts to keep out-of-pocket
expenses to a minimum.
In the event Summit shall, for any reason, discontinue the proposed
conversion prior to delivery of the completed documents set forth above and
payment of the respective progress payment fees, Summit agrees to compensate RP
Financial according to RP Financial's standard billing rates for consulting
services based on accumulated and verifiable time expenses, not to exceed the
respective fee caps noted above, after giving full credit to the initial
retainer fee. RP Financial's standard billing rates range from $75 per hour for
research associates to $250 per hour for managing directors.
If during the course of the proposed transaction, unforeseen events occur
so as to materially change the nature or the work content of the services
described in this contract, the terms of said contract shall be subject to
renegotiation by Summit and RP Financial. Such unforeseen events shall include,
but not be limited to, major changes in the conversion regulations, appraisal
guidelines or processing procedures as they relate to appraisals, major changes
in management or procedures, operating policies or philosophies, and excessive
delays or suspension of processing of conversion applications by the regulators
such that completion of the transaction requires the preparation by RP Financial
of a new appraisal or financial projections.
Representations and Warranties
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Summit and RP Financial agree to the following:
1. The Bank agrees to make available or to supply to RP Financial such
information with respect to its business and financial condition as RP Financial
may reasonably request in order to provide the aforesaid valuation. Such
information heretofore or hereafter supplied or made available to RP Financial
shall include: annual financial statements, periodic regulatory filings and
material agreements, debt instruments, off balance sheet assets or liabilities,
RP Financial, LC.
Mr. Eugene G. Stone
April 2, 1998
Page 3
commitments and contingencies, unrealized gains or losses and corporate books
and records. All information provided by the Bank to RP Financial shall remain
strictly confidential (unless such information is otherwise made available to
the public), and if conversion is not consummated or the services of RP
Financial are terminated hereunder, RP Financial shall upon request promptly
return to the Bank the original and any copies of such information.
2. The Bank hereby represents and warrants to RP Financial that any
information provided to RP Financial does not and will not, to the best of the
Bank's knowledge, at the times it is provided to RP Financial, contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or fail to state a material fact necessary
to make the statements therein not false or misleading in light of the
circumstances under which they were made.
3. (a) The Bank agrees that it will indemnify and hold harmless RP
Financial, any affiliates of RP Financial, the respective directors, officers,
agents and employees of RP Financial or their successors and assigns who act for
or on behalf of RP Financial in connection with the services called for under
this agreement (hereinafter referred to as "RP Financial"), from and against any
and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, but not limited to,
all losses and expenses in connection with claims under the federal securities
laws) attributable to (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the financial statements or other information
furnished or otherwise provided by the Bank to RP Financial, either orally or in
writing; (ii) the omission or alleged omission of a material fact from the
financial statements or other information furnished or otherwise made available
by the Bank to RP Financial; or (iii) any action or omission to act by the Bank,
or the Bank's respective officers, directors, employees or agents which action
or omission is in bad faith or negligent. The Bank will be under no obligation
to indemnify RP Financial hereunder if a court determines that RP Financial was
negligent or acted in bad faith with respect to any actions or omissions of RP
Financial related to a matter for which indemnification is sought hereunder. Any
time devoted by employees of RP Financial to situations for which
indemnification is provided hereunder, shall be an indemnifiable cost payable by
the Bank at the normal hourly professional rate chargeable by such employee.
(b) RP Financial shall give written notice to the Bank of such claim
or facts within thirty days of the assertion of any claim or discovery of
material facts upon which the RP Financial intends to base a claim for
indemnification hereunder. In the event the Bank elects, within seven days
of the receipt of the original notice thereof, to contest such claim by
written notice to RP Financial, RP Financial will be entitled to be paid
any amounts payable by the Bank hereunder within five days after the final
determination of such contest either by written acknowledgement of the Bank
or a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. If the Bank does
not so elect, RP Financial shall be paid promptly and in any event within
thirty days after receipt by the Bank of the notice of the claim.
(c) The Bank shall pay for or reimburse the reasonable expenses,
including attorneys' fees, incurred by RP Financial in advance of the final
disposition of any proceeding within thirty days of the receipt of such
request if RP Financial furnishes the Bank: (1)ya written statement of RP
Financial's good faith belief that it is entitled to indemnification
hereunder; and (2)ya written undertaking to repay the advance if it
ultimately is determined in a final adjudication of such proceeding that it
or he is not entitled to such indemnification.
RP Financial, LC.
Mr. Eugene G. Stone
April 2, 1998
Page 4
(d) In the event the Bank does not pay any indemnified loss or make
advance reimbursements of expenses in accordance with the terms of this
agreement, RP Financial shall have all remedies available at law or in
equity to enforce such obligation.
It is understood that, in connection with RP Financial's above-mentioned
engagement, RP Financial may also be engaged to act for the Bank in one or more
additional capacities, and that the terms of the original engagement may be
embodied in one or more separate agreements. The provisions of Paragraph 3
herein shall apply to the original engagement, any such additional engagement,
any modification of the original engagement or such additional engagement and
shall remain in full force and effect following the completion or termination of
RP Financial's engagement(s). This agreement constitutes the entire
understanding of the Bank and RP Financial concerning the subject matter
addressed herein, and such contract shall be governed and construed in
accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. This agreement may not
be modified, supplemented or amended except by written agreement executed by
both parties.
Summit and RP Financial are not affiliated, and neither Summit nor RP
Financial has an economic interest in, or is held in common with, the other and
has not derived a significant portion of its gross revenues, receipts or net
income for any period from transactions with the other.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Please acknowledge your agreement to the foregoing by signing as indicated
below and returning to RP Financial a signed copy of this letter, together with
the initial retainer fee of $5,000.
Sincerely,
/s/ William E. Pommerening
William E. Pommerening
Chief Executive Officer
and Managing Director
Agreed To and Accepted By: Eugene G. Stone /s/ Eugene G. Stone
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President and Chief Executive Officer
Upon Authorization by the Board of Trustees: Summit Bank
Medway, Massachusetts
Date Executed: April 24, 1998
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