Company: MCHB
Filing Date: 2025-07-03
Form Type: S-4
Source: 0001140361-25-024872
Chunk: 222

Company: Mechanics Bancorp
Filing Date: 2025-07-03
Form: S-4
Chunk 222
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 therefore, should be read in light of the future factors discussed in the section entitled “ Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

For the reasons set forth above, the Mechanics board of directors unanimously recommends that Mechanics shareholders execute and deliver a written consent to approve the Mechanics merger proposal. Opinion of HomeStreet’s Financial Advisor HomeStreet engaged Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. (“KBW”) to render financial advisory and investment banking services to HomeStreet, including an opinion to the HomeStreet board of directors as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, to HomeStreet of the consideration to be paid to holders of Mechanics common stock in the merger. HomeStreet selected KBW because KBW is a nationally recognized investment banking firm with substantial experience in transactions similar to the merger. As part of its investment banking business, KBW is continually engaged in the valuation of financial services businesses and their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions. As part of its engagement, representatives of KBW attended the meeting of the HomeStreet board held on March 27, 2025 at which the HomeStreet board evaluated the merger. At this meeting, KBW reviewed the financial aspects of the merger and subsequently, on March 28, 2025, at a meeting of the HomeStreet Board, rendered an opinion, which was initially rendered verbally and subsequently confirmed in a written opinion issued by KBW on such date, to the HomeStreet board of directors to the effect that, as of such date and subject to the procedures followed, assumptions made, matters considered, and qualifications and limitations on the review undertaken by KBW as set forth in such opinion, the consideration to be paid to holders of Mechanics common stock in the merger was fair, from a financial point of view, to HomeStreet. On March 28, 2025 the HomeStreet board approved the merger agreement. The description of the opinion set forth herein is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the opinion, which is attached as Annex Eto this document and is incorporated herein by reference, and describes the procedures followed, assumptions made, matters considered, and qualifications and limitations on the review undertaken by KBW in preparing the opinion. KBW’s opinion speaks only as of the date of the opinion. The opinion was for the information of, and was directed to, the HomeStreet board (in its capacity as such) in connection with its consideration of the financial terms of the merger. The opinion addressed only the fairness, from