Company: MCHB
Filing Date: 2025-07-15
Form Type: S-4/A
Source: 0001140361-25-025920
Chunk: 690

Company: Mechanics Bancorp
Filing Date: 2025-07-15
Form: S-4/A
Chunk 690
---
 any of their respective affiliates. In addition, as a market maker in securities, we and our affiliates may from time to time have a long or short position in, and buy or sell, debt or equity securities of HomeStreet, Mechanics Bank or any of their respective affiliates for our and their own respective accounts and for the accounts of our and their respective customers and clients. We have acted exclusively for the board of directors of HomeStreet (the “Board”) in rendering this opinion and will receive a fee from HomeStreet for our services. A portion of our fee is payable upon the rendering of this opinion, and a significant portion is contingent upon the successful completion of the Transaction. In addition, HomeStreet has agreed to indemnify us for certain liabilities arising out of our engagement.

Other than in connection with this present engagement, in the past two years, KBW has not provided investment banking or financial advisory services to HomeStreet. In the past two years, KBW has not provided investment banking

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#### TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Board of Directors – HomeStreet, Inc.

March 28, 2025

Page 2 of 5

or financial advisory services to Mechanics Bank. We may in the future provide investment banking and financial advisory services to HomeStreet, Mechanics Bank or their respective affiliates and receive compensation for such services.

In connection with this opinion, we have reviewed, analyzed and relied upon material bearing upon the financial and operating condition of HomeStreet and Mechanics Bank and bearing upon the Transaction, including among other things, the following: (i) an execution version of the Agreement dated March 28, 2025; (ii) the audited financial statements and Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the three fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 of HomeStreet; (iii) the audited financial statements for the three fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 of Mechanics Bank; (iv) certain regulatory filings of HomeStreet and Mechanics Bank and their respective subsidiaries, including as applicable, the quarterly or semi-annual reports on Form FR Y-9C or Form FR Y-9SP and the quarterly call reports required to be filed (as the case may be) with respect to each quarter during the three-year period ended December 31, 2024; (v) certain other interim reports and other communications of HomeStreet and Mechanics Bank to their respective shareholders; and (vi) other financial information concerning the businesses and operations of HomeStreet and Mechanics Bank