exv10w5






Exhibit 10.5




PLAN OF MERGER




     THIS PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of June 11, 2010, (the “Plan”) is made and entered into by and
among SIGNATURE GROUP HOLDINGS, INC., a Nevada corporation (“MergerCo”), 175 N. Riverview Drive,
Anaheim Hills, CA 92808 and FREMONT GENERAL CREDIT CORPORATION, a California corporation (“FGCC”),
2727 East Imperial Highway, Brea, CA 92821. MergerCo is sometimes referred to as the “Surviving
Corporation.” MergerCo and FGCC are sometimes hereinafter collectively referred to as the
“Constituent Corporations.” IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants and agreements herein
contained and for the purpose of setting forth the terms and conditions of said merger and such
other provisions as are deemed necessary or desirable, the parties hereto have agreed and do hereby
agree as follows:



ARTICLE I

MERGER AND NAME OF SURVIVING CORPORATION




     On the effective date of the merger, FGCC and MergerCo shall cease to exist separately and
FGCC shall be merged with and into MergerCo, which is hereby designated as the Surviving
Corporation, the name of which on and after the effective date of the merger shall remain
“Signature Group Holdings, Inc.”.



ARTICLE II

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF MERGER




     The terms and conditions of the merger are (in addition to those set forth elsewhere in this
Plan) as follows:



     (a) On the effective date of the merger:



          (1) FGCC shall be merged into MergerCo to form a single corporation, and MergerCo shall be and
is designated herein as the Surviving Corporation.




          (2) The separate existence of FGCC shall cease.




          (3) The Surviving Corporation shall have all the rights, privileges, immunities and powers,
and shall be subject to all duties and liabilities of a corporation organized under the laws of the
state of Nevada.




          (4) The Surviving Corporation shall thereupon and thereafter possess all the rights,
privileges, immunities and franchises of a public, as well as of a private, nature of FGCC, and all
property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due of whatever account, including subscriptions
to shares and all other choses in action, and all and every other interest of or belonging to or
due to FGCC shall be taken and deemed to be transferred to and vested in the Surviving Corporation
without further act or deed. The title to any real estate or any interest herein vested in FGCC
shall not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of the merger. The Surviving Corporation shall
thenceforth be responsible and liable for all the liabilities and obligations of FGCC. Any claim
existing or action or proceeding pending by or against FGCC may be prosecuted as if the merger had
not taken place, or the Surviving Corporation may be substituted in place of FGCC. Neither the
rights of creditors nor any liens on the property of FGCC shall be impaired by the merger.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, all intercompany claims




 









 




and obligations of MergerCo and FGCC shall be eliminated upon the effective date of the
merger.




     (b) On the effective date of the merger, the board of directors of the Surviving Corporation
and the members thereof shall be and consist of the members of the board of directors of MergerCo
as of even date therewith, to serve thereafter in accordance with the bylaws of the Surviving
Corporation and until their respective successors shall have been duly elected and qualified in
accordance with such bylaws and the laws of the state of Nevada.



     (c) On the effective date of the merger, the officers of the Surviving Corporation shall be
and consist of the officers of MergerCo as of even date therewith, such officers to serve
thereafter in accordance with the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation and until their respective
successors shall have been duly elected and qualified in accordance with such bylaws and the laws
of the state of Nevada. If, on the effective date of the merger, a vacancy shall exist in the board
of directors or in any of the offices of the Surviving Corporation, such vacancy may be filled in
the manner provided in the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation and the laws of the state of Nevada.



ARTICLE III




MANNER AND BASIS OF CONVERTING SHARES OF STOCK



     The shares of FGCC shall be surrendered to and cancelled by the Surviving Corporation upon the
effective date of the merger. The shares of MergerCo common stock issued and outstanding shall
remain issued and outstanding as shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation.



ARTICLE IV




ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS



     (a) The articles of incorporation of MergerCo, shall, on the merger becoming effective,
constitute the articles of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation, unless and until amended in
the manner provided by law.



     (b) The bylaws of MergerCo shall, on the merger becoming effective, be and constitute the
bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until amended in the manner provided by law.



ARTICLE V




OTHER PROVISIONS WITH RESPECT TO MERGER



          This Plan shall be submitted to the board of directors and shareholders of FGCC and to the
board of directors of MergerCo to the extent required by the laws of the states of Nevada and
California, as applicable. After the approval or adoption of this Plan in accordance with the
requirements of the laws of the states of Nevada and California, as applicable, all required
documents shall be executed, acknowledged, certified, filed and recorded in accordance with all
requirements of the states of Nevada and California, as applicable.



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ARTICLE VI

APPROVAL AND EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE MERGER;

MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS




     (a) In order to aid the parties in establishing a date certain for effectiveness of the merger
for accounting and other purposes, the merger shall be deemed to have become effective on filing of
articles of merger, setting forth the information required by and executed and certified in
accordance with the laws of the states of Nevada and California with the Secretary of State of the
State of Nevada and with the Secretary of State of the State of California, and each such office
shall have issued a certified copy reflecting such filing.



     (b) If, at any time, the Surviving Corporation shall deem or be advised that any further
grants, assignments, confirmations or assurances are necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or
confirm title in the Surviving Corporation, of record or otherwise, to any property of FGCC
acquired or to be acquired by, or as a result of, the merger, the officers and directors of FGCC or
any of them shall be severally and fully authorized to execute and deliver any and all such deeds,
assignments, confirmations and assurances and to do all things necessary or proper, so as to best
prove, confirm and ratify title to such property in the Surviving Corporation and otherwise carry
out the purposes of the merger and the terms of this Plan.



     (c) For the convenience of the parties and to facilitate the filing and recording of this
Plan, any number of counterparts hereof may be executed, and each such counterpart shall be deemed
to be an original instrument and all such counterparts together shall be considered one instrument.



     (d) This Plan cannot be altered or amended except pursuant to an instrument in writing signed
on behalf of the parties hereto.



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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Constituent Corporation has caused this Plan to be executed, all as
of the date first above written.



	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

	 	 	SIGNATURE GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	/s/ Richard A. Sanchez	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Name:
	 	Richard A. Sanchez	 	 
	 

	 	Title:
	 	Interim President and	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Interim Chief Executive Officer	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	FREMONT GENERAL CREDIT CORPORATION	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	/s/ Kyle Ross	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Name:
	 	Kyle Ross	 	 
	 

	 	Title:
	 	President