In this task, you're given a passage that represents a legal contract or clause between multiple parties, followed by a question that needs to be answered. Based on the paragraph, you must write unambiguous answers to the questions and your answer must refer a specific phrase from the paragraph. If multiple answers seem to exist, write the answer that is the most plausible.

Input: Consider Input: Exhibit 10.13

COLLABORATION AGREEMENT

THIS COLLABORATION AGREEMENT (the Agreement) is entered into as of November 2, 2012 (the Effective Date) by and between BIOCEPT, INC., a California corporation having an address of 5810 Nancy Ridge Drive, Suite 150, San Diego, CA 92121 (Biocept), and LIFE TECHNOLOGIES  CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation having an address of 5791 Van Allen Way, Carlsbad, California 92008 (Life Technologies).

WHEREAS, Life Technologies, through its Medical Sciences Division, is engaged in the development and commercialization of diagnostic systems, tests and laboratory services, including in oncology;

WHEREAS, Biocept has developed expertise and proprietary technology in enrichment, extraction and analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) for use in laboratory developed tests used for the non-invasive and early stage detection and characterization of primary, metastatic or recurrent cancers; and

WHEREAS, Life Technologies and Biocept desire to collaborate so that Biocept will develop and commercialize one or more Tests, as defined herein, for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), using their respective technologies and expertise, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. Life Technologies and Biocept will both promote the test and perform different components of the test, and Life Technologies will provide test results in the form of reports to physicians.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual covenants contained herein, and intending to be legally bound, the parties hereby agree as follows:   1. DEFINITIONS

1.1 Affiliate shall mean any company or entity controlled by, controlling, or under common control with a party hereto and shall include any company more than 50% of whose voting stock or participating profit interest is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by a party, and any company which owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the voting stock of a party.

1.2 Assay shall mean Biocept's OncoCEE-LU™ (and OncoCEE-LU™ with Mutation Analysis) laboratory developed assay for characterization and profiling of CTCs from NSCLC patients, which shall incorporate, as Phase 1, CTC enumeration by cytokeratin and CD45 (and CEE-Enhanced™ when available), EML4/Alk1 fusions and EGFR amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridization (determined by Biocept); and as Phase 2, the additional detection of mutations for relevant genes, e.g., K-RAS, EGFR and B-RAF, as agreed by the parties, on captured CTCs and/or cell-free circulating DNA, as agreed by the parties, and employing technologies that potentially may include Biocept's Selector technology, and any improvements or enhancements thereto, exclusive of new analytes (which are discussed in Section 3.5(f) under Collaboration Assays) or applications to primary screening.





1.3 Biocept Trademarks shall mean Biocept, Inc., OncoCEE-LU , OncoCEE™, CEE-Sure , CEE- Enhanced™, and/or such other trademarks and trade names owned or licensed, and used, by Biocept and/or its Affiliates in the Territory to identify the Tests, in each case, whether or not registered.

1.4 Life Technologies Trademarks, shall mean Life Technologies , Life Technologies Medical Sciences and/or such other trademarks and trade names owned or licensed and used by Life Technologies to identify the Tests, in each case, whether or not registered.

1.5 CLIA shall mean the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988, as it may be amended from time to time.

1.6 Collaboration shall have the meaning provided Section 3.1.

1.7 Collaboration Assay(s) shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.5(e).

1.8 CPT Code shall mean the American Medical Association's (AMA) Current Procedural Terminology as published in the AMA's CPT Process Manual, Fourth Edition and any such future editions, for procedures used in performance of the Assay, and amounts reimbursed by Medicare for such procedures for location 99, as modified annually.

1.9 Designated Executive Officer shall mean the executive officers of each party designated in writing be each party as being responsible for resolving disputes related to the Collaboration, which shall initially be David Hale on behalf of Biocept and Ronnie Andrews on behalf of Life Technologies.

1.10 FDA shall mean the United States Food and Drug Administration, or any successor federal agency thereto.

1.11 HIPAA shall mean, collectively, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended, and all regulations promulgated thereunder at 45 C.F.R. parts 160 through 164, and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 and related regulations and guidelines.

1.12 Intellectual Property Rights means all now or hereafter existing patents, patent applications, copyrights, trademarks (including service marks), trade secrets, know-how, mask work rights and design rights, whether registered or unregistered, and all rights or forms of protection of a similar nature having equivalent or similar effect to any of the foregoing, which may subsist anywhere in the world.

1.13 Launch shall mean formal commercial availability and offering to physicians of a Test, as mutually agreed upon by the parties.

1.14 Laws shall mean all federal, state and local laws and regulations that apply to this Agreement including, without limitation, (i) the Bayh-Dole Act (ii) the

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Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C § 321 et seq.) (iii) the federal Anti-kickback Statute (42 U.S.C. § 1320a- 7b(b)) (iv) the Stark Law (42 U.S.C. § 1395nn) (v) the Anti-Inducement Law (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7a(a)(5)) (vi) the civil False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. §§ 3729 et seq.) (vii) the administrative False Claims Law (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b(a)) (viii) the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. § 1320d et seq.), (ix) the exclusion laws (x) SSA § 1128 (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7) (xi) Medicare (Title XVIII of the Social Security Act), (xii) Medicaid (Title XIX of the Social Security Act); (xiii) the Clinical Laboratory Improvements Act of 1988 (CLIA); and (xiv) data security, protection and privacy laws in the applicable jurisdictions.

1.15 Professional Component shall mean the performance of the professional component of the steps of the Assay, which is the interpretation of results (generated in the Technical Component) of an Assay by a pathologist, and is covered by CPT codes from the Professional Fee Schedule with the modifier 26.

1.16 Technical Component shall mean the performance of the technical component of the steps of the Assay, which is the physical performance of the Assay procedure up to the interpretation of results, and is covered by CPT codes from the Professional Fee Schedule without the modifier 26, and typically with a modifier TC.

1.17 Term shall have the meaning provided in Section 11.1.

1.18 Test(s) shall mean the Assay, which is a laboratory developed test, and/or any Collaboration Assay which is added to this Agreement pursuant to Section 3.5(e), performed as a clinical reference laboratory test.

1.19 Territory shall mean the United States of America, and other countries of the world, contingent in the latter case on the parties agreeing in writing on an appropriate strategy to access them in accordance with Section 3.2.

1.20 Third Party(ies) shall mean any entity other than Biocept or Life Technologies or an Affiliate of Biocept or Life Technologies.   2. APPOINTMENT; LICENSES

2.1 Appointment. Upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, Biocept hereby grants Life Technologies during the Term the non-exclusive right, as further defined in Section 2.3, to promote the Tests in the Territory and to perform the Professional Component of the Tests sold by the parties in the Territory, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

2.2 Trademark Licenses. The parties hereby grant to each other non-exclusive, fully-paid, royalty-free licenses to utilize the other party's trademarks, as follows:

(a) Biocept Trademarks. To facilitate the promotion and performance of Tests, during the Term Biocept hereby grants Life Technologies a non-exclusive, royalty-free, non-transferable license to use the Biocept Trademarks solely for

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use in connection with the promotion and performance of the Tests in the Territory. All materials associated with the Tests and used by Life Technologies in connection with the promotion of the Tests, including web-based, shall be co-branded with such Biocept Trademarks as approved by Biocept prior to distribution. All use of Biocept Trademarks by Life Technologies hereunder (including all goodwill arising as a result of such use) shall inure to the benefit of Biocept, and these rights, whether registered or not registered, at all times shall remain the sole property of Biocept. Biocept shall provide Life Technologies with copies of the Biocept Trademarks in an appropriate form for the uses contemplated in this Agreement. Life Technologies shall provide Biocept with samples of all proposed use of the Biocept Trademarks in advance of such proposed use and Biocept shall have the right to approve the appearance and placement of Biocept Trademarks by Life Technologies for the purpose of protecting and maintaining the standards of quality maintained by Biocept for products sold under the Biocept Trademarks and for use of the Biocept Trademarks. If Biocept at any time finds that Life Technologies is not in compliance with this Section, then Biocept may notify Life Technologies in writing of such deficiencies, and if Life Technologies fails to correct such deficiencies within thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice, Biocept may, at its election and in addition to any other remedies, terminate the license granted to Life Technologies with respect to the Biocept Trademarks. Life Technologies shall display the ™ or   symbol, as directed by Biocept, in connection with Life Technologies' use of the Biocept Trademarks.

(b) Life Technologies Trademarks. To facilitate the promotion and performance of Tests, during the Term Life Technologies hereby grants Biocept a non-exclusive, royalty-free, non-transferable license to use the Life Technologies Trademarks solely for use in connection with the promotion and performance of the Tests in the Territory. Materials associated with the Tests and used by Biocept in connection with the promotion of Tests, including web-based materials, may be co-branded with such Life Technologies Trademarks as approved by the parties prior to distribution. All use of Life Technologies Trademarks by Biocept hereunder including all goodwill arising as a result of such use) shall inure to the benefit of Life Technologies, and these rights, whether registered or not registered, at all times shall remain the sole property of Life Technologies. Life Technologies shall provide Biocept with copies of the Life Technologies Trademarks in an appropriate form for the uses contemplated in this Agreement. Biocept shall provide Life Technologies with samples of all proposed use of the Life Technologies Trademarks in advance of such proposed use and Life Technologies shall have the right to approve the appearance and placement of Life Technologies Trademarks by Biocept for the purpose of protecting and maintaining the standards of quality maintained by Life Technologies for products sold under the Life Technologies Trademarks and for use of the Life Technologies Trademarks. If Life Technologies at any time finds that Biocept is not in compliance with this Section, then Life Technologies may notify Biocept in writing of such deficiencies, and if Biocept fails to correct such deficiencies within thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice, Life Technologies may, at its election and in addition to any other remedies, terminate the license granted to Biocept with respect to the Life Technologies Trademarks. Biocept shall display the ™ or   symbol, as directed by Life Technologies, in connection with Biocept's use of the Life Technologies Trademarks.

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2.3 Exclusivity. During the Term, the parties will promote and perform Tests for the clinical testing market on a non- exclusive basis in the Territory, except as otherwise provided for below. Biocept will have sole responsibility for performing the Technical Component of all Tests sold by the parties, until and unless Life Technologies obtains the right from Biocept to independently develop its own Tests in accordance with all applicable FDA regulatory requirements, as provided for in Section 7.1. Life Technologies will be authorized to perform the Professional Component of all Tests sold by the parties, although Biocept may engage other groups in promotion, marketing and performance arrangements for the Tests, at the discretion of Biocept. Biocept shall provide thirty (30) days written notice to Life Technologies before entering into any such promotion, marketing and performance arrangement.   3. COLLABORATION

3.1 Purpose. During the Term, the parties agree to cooperate and collaborate to develop, promote and commercialize the Tests for the clinical testing market in the Territory and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (the Collaboration). The principal objective of the parties hereunder is to maximize the commercialization of the Tests in the Territory. The parties shall deploy each of their respective sales forces in accordance with the terms of this Agreement in an effort to promote the Tests in the Territory in the manner as agreed to by the parties, under the direction of the Joint Steering Committee.

3.2 Commercialization of Tests Outside the USA. At any time for up to two (2) years after the Effective Date, should Life Technologies desire to offer for sale any Test outside the USA, it shall first discuss with Biocept an appropriate strategy and plan for such effort. Such strategy and plan may involve the development of, and obtaining all applicable regulatory authorizations for, an in vitro diagnostic kit, instruments or similar systems, in collaboration with Biocept (with funding support, and more fully described in Section 7.2), such strategy and plan to be reduced to writing and approved by the parties. If such written plan is not approved by the parties within two (2) years of the Effective Date, the Territory shall revert to only the USA, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties.

3.3 Life Technologies Responsibilities. Life Technologies shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promote the Tests in the Territory, in accordance with Section 3.2, using sales channels and methods, and adhering to substantially similar standards that it generally employs with respect to its laboratory developed tests. Without limiting the foregoing, Life Technologies' responsibilities with respect to marketing and promotion of the Tests in the Territory during the Term shall include the following:

(a) Life Technologies Customers. Life Technologies shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promote the Tests to the appropriate healthcare professionals.

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(b) Test Performance. Life Technologies shall have the responsibility, subject to its capacity to support in its reasonable discretion (of which capacity Life Technologies shall notify Biocept in writing at least sixty (60) days before launch of the Assay, and use diligent efforts to notify Biocept at least thirty (30) days before discovery of any decreases or increases in such capacity), for performing the Professional Component of the Assays sold by either party in the Territory. In particular, the laboratory director of the Life Technologies CLIA laboratory will be responsible for issuing and signing off on the report.

(c) Sales, Marketing and Customer Service.

(i) Life Technologies shall, at its sole expense and in accordance with Section 2.2, develop and deliver to customers marketing materials for the Tests. Life Technologies shall use, as appropriate, Biocept's OncoCEE-LU , OncoCEE™, CEE-Enhanced™ and CEE-Sure brand and the Biocept corporate name and logo, together with any Life Technologies branding, as part of the marketing materials for the marketing of the Tests and, where appropriate, in its other public presentations and disclosures concerning the Assay or Tests. Biocept shall have the right to review all such materials prior to their initial use.

(ii) Life Technologies shall cause its sales force to use commercially reasonable efforts to promote the Tests.

(iii) Life Technologies shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promote the sale of the Tests by including the Tests in its menu of services and by incorporating marketing materials regarding the Tests into its own marketing materials.

(iv) Life Technologies shall keep Biocept reasonably informed of its planned marketing activities with respect to the Tests to allow Biocept to forecast its needs for reagents, equipment, laboratory space, personnel, computing, and testing reporting capabilities, including at each Joint Steering Committee meeting as indicated in Section 4, and will discuss and consider in good faith Biocept's suggestions for marketing the Tests.

(v) Life Technologies will provide customer service and support for the Professional Component of the Tests using substantially similar methods and adhering to substantially similar standards that it generally employs with respect to its other products and tests.

(d) Samples and Logistics.

(i) Life Technologies will be responsible for the logistics associated with its marketing efforts and performance of the Professional Components of the Tests; provided, however, that Biocept will send the sample collection systems directly to customers identified by Life Technologies who order the Test, at Life Technologies' expense. Biocept will further work with Life Technologies to facilitate transport of collected samples from the customer to Biocept's CLIA laboratory. Life

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Technologies will work collaboratively with Biocept on patient referral, billing and collections in accordance with Section 3.5(c) (iii), reporting of results and reporting quality control, and insurance or patient reimbursement.

(e) Demand Forecast. Within sixty (60) days of the Effective Date, Life Technologies will prepare a draft one-year rolling forecast of Life Technologies' expectation for physician requests for the Assay (the Demand Forecast), broken down into quarterly demand for the Assay (with respect to each quarter, the Quarterly Forecast) which will be attached hereto as Exhibit A, and will be finalized three (3) months before Launch. Beginning on the first day of the second (2 ) full calendar quarter following the date of Launch, the Demand Forecast shall be updated on a quarterly basis. The Demand Forecast and Quarterly Forecasts shall be a good faith but non-binding forecast. In the event the parties develop a Collaboration Assay under the terms of this Agreement, demand for such Collaboration Assay shall be included in the Demand Forecast at all times following the Launch of such Collaboration Assay. A Performance Standard, mutually agreed to in accordance with Section 3.5(i), shall take effect beginning with the second (2 ) full calendar quarter after the launch of any Test.

(f) Technical Developments. Life Technologies shall keep Biocept fully informed as to all discoveries and technical developments (including, without limitations, any inventions) made by Life Technologies during the Term related to the Assay or Tests.

(g) Billing, Reporting, Auditing.

(i) In all cases where Life Technologies performs the Professional Component of the Assay, Life Technologies shall be responsible for billing the patient, the provider and/or the payer for the Test, including both the Technical Component and the Professional Component of the Assay, and the collection of such amounts with respect to each Test performed. Biocept shall bill Life Technologies directly once a month for the Technical Component of each Assay (including the cost for sample collection in accordance with Section 3.5(b)), based on pricing and reimbursement as agreed by the parties through the Joint Steering Committee within sixty (60) days of the Effective Date, generally based on each applicable CPT Code actually used in the performance of such Technical Component, employing the Medicare rates for the applicable year as described on Exhibit B for the initial one (1) year period, and Life Technologies shall pay Biocept within sixty (60) days following the invoice date. The parties shall disclose actual reimbursement for each Test, and shall reconcile or true-up any differences between the amounts actually received by Life Technologies for each billing item or code and amounts paid to Biocept on a quarterly basis. If the allocation of reimbursement is ambiguous with respect to billing codes or a Technical Component/Professional Component split, amounts received by Life Technologies that differ from the amounts agreed by the parties, or Medicare rates, shall be shared by the parties on the same ratio as the Technical Component/Professional Component ratio for Medicare. The Medicare rates used by the parties as the basis for determining the amount Life Technologies will pay Biocept for the Technical Component of the Assay before the quarterly true-up will be adjusted annually at the beginning of the calendar year to reflect

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changes to such Medicare rates. Should Medicare change the basis for reimbursement of the Assay, the parties shall agree to negotiate a structure for revenue sharing that generally accomplishes the result achieved above. Both parties agree to strictly adhere to all applicable Laws with respect to billing practices.

(ii) This Section 3.3(g) shall survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement for at least twelve (12) months following the effective date of such termination or expiration.

3.4 Biocept Responsibilities. Biocept shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promote the sale of the Tests in the Territory, using at least the same sales channels and methods and adhering to at least the same standards that it generally employs with respect to its other clinical tests. Without limiting the foregoing, Biocept's responsibilities during the Term shall include the following:

(a) Biocept Customers. Biocept shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promote the Tests to appropriate healthcare professionals.

(b) Assay Performance. Biocept shall be responsible for performing all Technical Components of all Assays sold by either party unless and until the parties agree to enable Life Technologies to independently develop, validate and perform the Test at Life Technologies' CLIA laboratory, in accordance with all applicable FDA regulatory requirements and Section 7.1. Until such point of transfer, Biocept shall comply with all CLIA requirements, including validation of the Assay.

(c) Sales, Marketing and Customer Service.

(i) Biocept shall cause its sales force to promote the Assay.

(ii) Biocept shall keep Life Technologies reasonably informed of its planned marketing activities with respect to the Assay to allow Life Technologies to forecast its needs for equipment, space, personnel, computing, and test reporting capabilities, including at each Joint Steering Committee meeting as indicated in Section 4, and will discuss and consider in good faith Life Technologies' suggestions for marketing the Assay.

(iii) Biocept will provide customer service and support for the Assay using substantially similar methods and adhering to substantially similar standards that it generally employs with respect to its other tests.

(d) Samples and Logistics. Biocept will be responsible for the logistics associated with its own marketing efforts and performance of the Technical Component of the Assay, including distribution of shipping materials and sample collection systems by its sales representatives, patient referral and customer service.

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(e) Training and Education.

(i) Biocept shall provide sales and technical training and technical support, including assistance with customer education and customer consultations, to Life Technologies' personnel, with the frequency and content of the training to be determined by agreement between Biocept and Life Technologies.

(ii) Biocept will share its service educational materials and scientific publications to utilize in patient education with Life Technologies, and hereby grants Life Technologies rights to use such materials as are reasonably necessary for Life Technologies to carry out its obligations under this Agreement. Life Technologies may not alter or revise these materials without the prior written consent of Biocept.

(f) Regulatory Approval. Biocept has licenses enabling it to perform and obtain reimbursement for the Assay in all states in the Territory except New York, where it is currently seeking such license. Biocept will maintain all such licenses which are reasonably required to perform the Assay during the Term.  For any Collaboration Assay, Biocept will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain or maintain licenses enabling it to perform such Collaboration Assay and obtain reimbursement therefore, in accordance with each amendment to this Agreement entered in accordance with Section 3.5(f). Life Technologies will cooperate with Biocept so that Life Technologies' marketing and sales efforts are conducted only in those states or regions of the Territory in which Biocept has obtained any necessary regulatory licenses to provide Tests.

(g) Technical Developments. Biocept shall keep Life Technologies fully informed as to all discoveries and technical developments (including, without limitations, any inventions) made by Biocept during the Term related to the Tests.

3.5 Joint Responsibilities. The parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate and collaborate to develop the market for the Tests in the Territory. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the parties shall collaborate to provide the following:

(a) Test Development. The parties shall mutually agree on the content and composition of Phase II of the Assay, and any Collaboration Assays as defined in Section 3.5(f), including specific analytes to be included in the Assay. Consideration for selection of analytes shall include medical need, clinical utility, technical feasibility, costs, reimbursement, and intellectual property status, e.g., the need for Third Party licenses to specific analytes. The parties shall agree on the Phase II Assay content at least six (6) months before anticipated Launch.

(b) Test Materials and Shipping. Subject to Section 3.3(c)(i), Life Technologies shall design and order all test materials, including test requisition forms, test reports and collateral sales and marketing (advertising and promotional) materials to be used by Life Technologies, which shall be approved by Biocept prior to use. Biocept shall design, order and provide to Life Technologies the collection systems to be used by Life Technologies, and Life Technologies shall pay for such collection systems used by

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its sales representatives under this Agreement at cost (direct materials and direct labor) plus ten percent (10%), as well as shipping costs of collection systems from ordering physicians to Biocept.

(c) Performance of Tests.

(i) The parties will work together to develop a plan to implement detailed operation protocols for the Test within ninety (90) days of the Effective Date for each aspect of sample logistics, including ordering, shipping, accessioning, sample handling, testing, data generation, data evaluation and reporting. These sample logistics shall be agreed upon by the parties through the Joint Steering Committee and, once agreed upon by the parties in writing, deemed to be attached hereto as Exhibit C without any additional action required on the part of either party. Information, data and images shall be transferred between the parties as indicated for this purpose, and the parties will seek to make their respective laboratory information management systems and data transfer capabilities compatible. Life Technologies' lab director at the CLIA lab will sign off on the reports for Tests.

(ii) If Life Technologies desires to utilize the Tests in support of any clinical trial or research program for a pharmaceutical or biotechnology company(ies) in the Territory, Life Technologies shall notify Biocept in writing of such desired use. The terms and conditions (including pricing and revenue sharing) of each such use shall be covered by a separate written agreement which the parties agree to negotiate in good faith.

(iii) Each party will use commercially reasonable efforts to support the other in the account to best meet the needs and expectations of each customer.

(d) Communication Plan. Life Technologies and Biocept shall develop a communications plan through the Joint Steering Committee for the announcement and ongoing promotion of the Tests to customers, with all communication plan materials, including test requisition forms, being co-branded with Biocept and Life Technologies corporate names and logos in accordance with Sections 2.2 and 3.3(c)(i).

(e) Data Sharing. Life Technologies and Biocept have entered into this Agreement to, among other things, establish individual databases of results from the Tests performed, which databases will include patient information such as demographic, disease characterization, treatment and outcome information. To that end, to the extent permitted by applicable law and as mutually agreed by the parties, where available each party will share all patient data, Test data and results, and corresponding tissue data with the other party, as well as any follow up or outcome data that may become available or provided by the physician or patient for Tests performed and will cooperate in good faith with the other party to agree upon procedures for sharing such information. Such information may be used only for longitudinal reporting, outcomes correlation and related research, shall be handled in accordance with all applicable Laws, including, without limitation, HIPAA, and applicable institutional review board guidelines, and shall not be used for the purpose of obtaining information about the other party's clients or customers. To the extent feasible, all such information will be properly de-identified.

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(f) Collaboration Assays. During the Term, Biocept shall keep Life Technologies reasonably apprised of its plans to add analytes to the Assay. In addition, Life Technologies may desire for Biocept to develop a specific new analytes for the Assay (for example, the inclusion of additional mutations to the mutation analysis component of the Assay), to be offered by the parties as an additional Test under this Agreement. In either case, the parties shall negotiate in good faith an amendment to this Agreement that will govern the development (as needed) and commercialization of such Tests with new analytes (each a Collaboration Assay), which amendment may include financial support, contributions of and access to each party's technology and/or clinical samples, milestones, timing of the development effort, exclusivity and ownership rights. Any such agreed upon Collaboration Assay development shall be performed by Biocept or jointly as the parties may agree. Once the parties have agreed upon a plan relating to the development of a particular Collaboration Assay, if development is needed (each, a Project), the parties shall reduce such agreement to writing, which shall include a project plan which will set forth each party's obligations with respect to the Project (each, a Project Plan) and thereafter, such Collaboration Assay shall be deemed a Test for all purposes under this Agreement and shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement as amended. Each such Project Plan shall be attached as a part of Exhibit D to this Agreement following written acceptance thereof by both parties without any additional action required on the part of either party. Any amendments or revisions to a Project Plan shall be mutually agreed upon by the parties in writing.

(g) Costs and Expenses. Unless otherwise specified herein or in a Project Plan attached hereto, each party shall perform its activities under this Agreement at its sole cost and expense.

(h) Training and Education.

(i) The parties shall work together to develop and implement a training program for client services and the sales and marketing representatives of each party to ensure that a clear and consistent message is delivered to all prospective customers. Following such implementation, each party agrees to train its client services and sales and marketing representatives in accordance with such training program.

(ii) Representatives of each party, where deployed, shall each educate physicians, clinical and support personnel on the Tests, their applications and benefits, and the procedures for providing samples for the Tests. The Joint Steering Committee will approve all presentation and meeting materials. In addition, the parties will each be responsible for providing customer support related to test logistics, billing and reimbursement, and for establishing a call center to handle inquiries related to the Tests. For purposes of clarity, the parties acknowledge and agree that Life Technologies will not be required to establish a dedicated web portal, but all results of Tests will be made available through an existing Life Technologies portal solution, once commercially available for use, as determined by Life Technologies at its sole discretion. Technical or

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process questions regarding the Tests received by Life Technologies can be referred to Biocept. Each party will cover its own costs related to physician education, customer support, and any travel related thereto and comply with all federal and state regulations regarding the same.

(i) Performance Standards. Each party shall conduct its activities under this Agreement and any Project Plan in a professional and workmanlike manner, and in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of applicable Laws and regulations, to attempt to achieve the objectives of this Agreement efficiently and expeditiously. Each party shall contribute such personnel and resources, and shall maintain such laboratories and other facilities, as are reasonably necessary to carry out the activities to be performed under this Agreement, including any Project Plans. In conformity with standard industry practices and the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each party shall prepare and maintain, or shall cause to be prepared and maintained, complete and accurate written records, accounts, notes, reports and data with respect to activities conducted by such party under this Agreement, including any Project Plans. In addition, the parties shall work together to establish minimum agreed upon performance standards with respect to the promotion, sales and performance of the Tests, including the Demand Forecast, and the timely supply, accuracy, reliability and reporting of the Tests, as well as responsiveness to customer inquiries related to the Tests throughout the Territory (collectively, Performance Standards). In the event that one or more Performance Standards are not met by a party, the parties will work quickly and efficiently to (i) identify the cause of the failure, (ii) develop a plan to remediate the issue, and (iii) implement the remediation plan. If the parties are unable to successfully resolve a Performance Standards issue by this procedure, such failure to maintain Performance Standards shall constitute a material breach by the party failing to maintain such Performance Standards, and the other party may terminate this Agreement in accordance with Section 11.2.

(j) Bundling. Neither party shall bundle its assays (including the Tests) with any assays of the other party, without the prior written approval of that party.   4. JOINT STEERING COMMITTEE

4.1 Purpose and Membership. Promptly following the Effective Date, Biocept and Life Technologies will create a Joint Steering Committee for the purpose of facilitating communications between the parties regarding, and providing direction and leadership to, the Collaboration. The Joint Steering Committee shall be composed of six (6) representatives, three (3) each from Biocept and Life Technologies, each of whom shall have appropriate experience, knowledge and authority within such party's organization to carry out the duties and obligations of the Joint Steering Committee. Each party will designate one of its representatives as the primary contact for that party with respect to Joint Steering Committee-related matters, and such representatives shall serve as co-chairpersons of the Joint Steering Committee. Each party may change its representatives to the Joint Steering Committee or its primary contact from time to time in its sole discretion, effective upon notice to the other party of such change. These representatives shall have appropriate technical credentials, experience and knowledge. A reasonable number of additional representatives of a party may attend meetings of the Joint Steering Committee in a non-voting capacity.

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4.2 Duties. The Joint Steering Committee shall meet in person or by teleconference or videoconference no less than monthly during the Term or as otherwise mutually agreed by the parties from time to time, with attendees other than Joint Steering Committee members permitted to participate in or observe the meetings. The Joint Steering Committee shall be responsible for (a) monitoring the progress of the Collaboration, including discussions relating to Collaboration Assays, (b) physician education with respect to the Tests, (c) marketing, sales and account coordination, (d) any regulatory inquiries or requirements and other issues that affect the availability of the Tests, and (e) reimbursement issues (including annual review of relevant CPT Codes and changes thereto), logistical considerations, and other topics as necessary. The Joint Steering Committee shall serve as the principal forum for each party to (i) keep the other party informed of the results of its Collaboration activities; (ii) to discuss Test commercialization strategies, and (iii) generally to encourage and facilitate ongoing cooperation between the parties with respect to the Collaboration, including the business relationship and/or any other matter relating to the Collaboration and resolving disputes between the parties with respect to Intellectual Property Rights; provided, however, that (A) nothing in this Agreement shall limit either party's right to seek immediate equitable or injunctive relief where appropriate without any obligation to first submit the dispute to the Joint Steering Committee; and (B) any decision concerning medical necessity and patient care with respect to Test sold by or performed on behalf of the parties shall be the responsibility of each party's Medical Director, with the two Medical Directors working together to coordinate efforts and address concerns.

4.3 Decisions; Disputes. Decisions of the Joint Steering Committee shall be made by unanimous vote, with each party's representatives on the Joint Steering Committee collectively having one vote. In the event that the Joint Steering Committee cannot or does not, after good faith efforts, reach agreement on an issue, such issue shall first be referred to the Designated Executive Officers, who shall meet promptly thereafter and shall attempt in good faith to resolve such issue. In the event that the Designated Executive Officers cannot or do not, after good faith efforts, reach agreement on an issue, the issue shall be submitted to voluntary mediation. The Designated Executive Officers of each party shall select a mediator who is an expert with no less than seven years of experience in the subject matter to which the dispute relates. In the event that the Designated Executive Officers of the parties are unable to agree upon a mediator within twenty (20) days, then the Designated Executive Officers shall contact the San Diego County office of JAMS to select a mediator from the JAMS panel. If they are unable to agree, JAMS shall provide a list of three available mediators and each party may strike one. The remaining one will serve as the mediator. The mediation shall be conducted under JAMS rules. The parties agree that they shall share equally the cost of the mediation filing and hearing fees, and the cost of the mediators that constitute the panel. Each party shall bear its own attorneys' and expert fees and all associated costs and expenses.

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5. REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

5.1 Compliance with Laws. Biocept and Life Technologies and their respective Affiliates each agree to perform their respective obligations under this Agreement in compliance with all applicable Laws, in the Territory, including but not limited to applicable regulations, rules, and policies of third party payers that pay for the Assay.

5.2 Privacy. Biocept and Life Technologies and their respective Affiliates agree to protect the privacy and provide for the security of any information that relates to a patient's past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition in accordance with HIPAA, and any other applicable federal and state privacy laws and regulations in the Territory. Each party agrees to execute one or more Business Associate Agreements (as defined under HIPAA) as the other party, or its providers or payers, may from time to time request.

5.3 Licenses and Certifications. Biocept and, to the extent applicable, Life Technologies shall have at all times during the Term, all necessary federal, state and local licenses, qualifications and certifications to operate a laboratory and perform their respective components of the Test(s), including, but not limited to, state laboratory licenses, CLIA certification, CAP (College of American Pathologists) certification, FDA registration, and any other licenses or certification required by state and/or federal law. All Assays performed by Biocept, and, to the extent applicable, Life Technologies, shall be in accordance with applicable state and federal testing requirements for clinical reference laboratories.   6. MATERIALS TRANSFER

In order to facilitate the Collaboration, either party may provide to the other party certain biological materials or chemical compounds including, but not limited to, samples (collectively, Materials) for use by the other party in furtherance of the Collaboration. Except as expressly provided under this Agreement, all such Materials delivered to the other party will remain the sole property of the supplying party, will be used only in furtherance of the Collaboration and solely under the control of the other party, will not be used or delivered to or for the benefit of any Third Party without the prior written consent of the supplying party, and will not be used in research or testing involving human subjects except as permitted by applicable law. The Materials supplied hereunder must be used with prudence and appropriate caution in any experimental work and in accordance with all applicable laws.   7. OPTIONS AND FUTURE DISCUSSIONS

7.1 Option to License Assay. If Biocept does not obtain at least ten million dollars ($10,000,000) in equity financing by December 31, 2012, then Life Technologies shall have the non-exclusive option, exercisable by written notice to Biocept given no later than January 15, 2013, to negotiate with Biocept for a license (unless the parties mutually agree to a different transaction structure) to all necessary Intellectual Property

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Rights and know-how to independently commercialize the Assay in accordance with applicable Laws. Biocept will provide notice to Life Technologies on December 31, 2012 if the conditions for the option apply, and if Life Technologies delivers written notice of exercise of such right of negotiation to Biocept on or before January 15, 2013, the parties will negotiate in good faith to conclude a license agreement no later than February 28, 2013. If such license has not been entered into by the parties by February 28, 2013, there are no further obligations for either party under this Section 7.1.

7.2 Option for System Development. The parties have discussed potential adaptation of the Assay to an in vitro diagnostic format, based on a system concept that could include specially manufactured equipment, consumables and reagents that would be sold to physicians and laboratories, and linked to the informatics engine that Life Technologies is developing. Such systems may be used to commercialize the Assay outside the USA. Biocept grants to Life Technologies a non-exclusive option, exercisable during the two (2) year period beginning on the Effective Date, to develop plans, and negotiate with Biocept, for the co-development with Biocept of such systems for the Assay, employing or based on Biocept technologies. Such agreement is expected to include some or all of the following components: an upfront license fee, R&D funding, development and commercial milestone payments, royalties and/or revenue sharing, and supply/sale to Life Technologies by Biocept of proprietary components and consumables.   8. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

8.1 Existing Technology. Each party acknowledges that the other party owns certain technology and Intellectual Property Rights which have been independently developed by, or at the request of, such other party, whether prior to, during or subsequent to the Term. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, neither this Agreement nor the activities performed hereunder, shall give either party any rights or interest in or to the technology or Intellectual Property Rights of the other party (or of any Materials provided by such party). Each party owns, and shall continue to own, all right, title and interest in and to its respective technology, including, without limitation, all Intellectual Property Rights relating thereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, at all times during and after the Term, Biocept shall own all rights to its CEE™ technology, Selector technology (if utilized) and any improvements related thereto, generated during the performance of this Agreement. Biocept and Life Technologies shall promptly notify the other in writing upon becoming aware of any alleged or threatened third party infringement of any Intellectual Property Rights related to the Tests. Biocept shall have the right to bring and control any action or proceeding with respect to any such infringement at its own expense and by counsel of its own choice. If Biocept elects not to bring any such action or proceeding with respect to such infringement, it shall promptly notify Life Technologies of the same and agrees to consider, in good faith a request by Life Technologies to bring any such action or proceeding. Any agreement allowing Life Technologies to bring such action or proceeding on behalf of Biocept shall be set forth in a separate written agreement between the parties. Except as expressly provided above, the parties shall be under no obligation to enforce any of their Intellectual Property Rights against any actual or threatened Third Party infringements.

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8.2 Biocept Technology. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Biocept owns, and Life Technologies acknowledges Biocept's ownership of, (i) the Assay and the Selector technology, and (ii) all Intellectual Property Rights in the Assay and the Selector technology, and Life Technologies agrees that it shall not do or suffer to be done any act or thing or undertake any action anywhere that in any manner might infringe, or impair the validity, scope, or title of Biocept in the Assay, the Selector technology or Intellectual Property Rights owned by Biocept. Nothing herein shall limit Life Technologies' ability to prosecute fully any and all Intellectual Property Rights owned by Life Technologies with any patent office or related government agency or to respond fully to any government agency inquiry with respect to its Intellectual Property Rights, products, and services.

8.3 New Technology. In the course of the activities conducted by the parties, Biocept and/or Life Technologies may conceive of inventions or discoveries or create works that constitute intellectual property and may be patentable or registerable as a copyright or other intellectual property right (all of the foregoing, including such intellectual property rights therein, collectively, Developments). Inventorship of all inventions and discoveries, whether or not patentable, will be determined in accordance with United States patent laws. Authorship of all copyrightable works will be determined in accordance with United States copyright laws. Subject to Section 8.2, as between the parties, Developments will be owned consistent with such determination of inventorship or authorship. To the extent any Development owned by Life Technologies relates directly to the practice of, or constitutes an improvement to, the Assay, Life Technologies hereby grants to Biocept, during the Term of this Agreement, and, except in the case of termination of this Agreement by Life Technologies for Biocept's uncured material breach, after expiration or termination of this Agreement, a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, fully-paid license, including the right to sublicense, under Life Technologies' Intellectual Property Rights in such Developments, solely to develop, make, have made, use, sell, have sold, offer for sale, import, perform and provide the Assay. To the extent any Development owned by Biocept relates directly to the practice of, or constitutes an improvement to, the Assay, Biocept hereby grants to Life Technologies, during the Term of this Agreement, a non-exclusive license under Biocept's Intellectual Property Rights in such Development, solely to promote the Assay in the Territory and to perform the Professional Component of the Assay sold by the parties in the Territory, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

8.4 Technology Licenses. To the extent that any Third Party Intellectual Property Rights related to the capture and detection of CTCs must be licensed to perform the Assay, such royalty shall be paid by Biocept. To the extent that either party owns Intellectual Property Rights to specific biomarkers, targets, kits, dyes or technology utilized in the Assay other than for the capture and detection of CTCs, it will, to the extent it is able, grant during the Term of the Agreement, a non-exclusive license to the other party to practice these Intellectual Property Rights for the Assay. To the extent that either party has licensed or will license Intellectual Property Rights from Third Parties related to specific biomarkers, targets, kits, dyes or technology utilized in the Assay other than for the capture and detection of CTCs, it will, to the extent it is able, grant, during the Term of the Agreement, a non-exclusive license to the other party, or ensure that the

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other party is covered under its license, to practice these Intellectual Property Rights for the Assay. In the event of the foregoing, then, subject to Section 8.5, the parties agree to negotiate in good faith an allocation of expenses for such Third Party licenses directly associated with the Assay.

8.5 Infringement. If any Third Party claims or brings an action alleging that performance of the Assay or Test by Biocept or Life Technologies or their Affiliates under this Agreement infringe (directly or indirectly) any of such Third Party's patent rights, Biocept shall use commercially reasonable efforts to address such claims. If Biocept determines to seek a license or otherwise obtain the right to use such Third Party intellectual property rights on behalf of Biocept and Life Technologies, then (i) if the Third Party intellectual property rights relate to the capture and detection of CTCs or the Phase I Assay analytes, then Biocept shall bear the costs of such licenses, including the payment of licensing fees, royalties or other payments, or (ii) if the Third Party intellectual property rights relate to specific biomarkers, targets, kits, dyes or technologies for the Phase II Assay, then the parties agree to negotiate in good faith an allocation of costs for such licenses, including payment of licensing fees, royalties or other payments that may be due to such Third Party, unless the parties agree otherwise in writing. If Biocept and Life Technologies determine to seek a license or otherwise obtain rights to use Third Party intellectual property rights for any Collaboration Assay(s), the parties similarly agree to negotiate in good faith an allocation of costs for such licenses, including payment of licensing fees, royalties or other payments that may be due to such Third Party, unless the parties agree otherwise in writing.

8.6 Data and Results. All data and results from performance of a Test on samples provided by Life Technologies shall be used by the parties solely to the extent necessary to perform its obligations under this Agreement and in accordance with Section 3.5(d).

8.7 Trademarks.

(a) Biocept shall be responsible for and bear the expense of any filing, prosecution, maintenance and enforcement of the Biocept Trademarks as it may determine in its sole discretion, without obligation. Life Technologies shall not, during the Term or thereafter, use or seek to register the trademarks or any trademark or trade name similar to or confusing with the Biocept Trademarks, or any translation thereof, in any jurisdiction. Life Technologies agrees that, if Life Technologies at any time obtains, in any jurisdiction, any right, title or interest in any mark, symbol or phrase which shall be identical to, similar to or likely to be confused with any Biocept Trademark or any translation thereof, then Life Technologies shall have acted or shall act as an agent and for the benefit of Biocept for the limited purpose of obtaining such registrations and assigning such registration (and all right, title and interest in such mark, symbol or phrase) to Biocept.

(b) Life Technologies shall be responsible for and bear the expense of any filing, prosecution, maintenance and enforcement of the Life Technologies Trademarks as it may determine in its sole discretion, without obligation. Biocept shall

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not, during the Term or thereafter, use or seek to register the trademarks or any trademark or trade name similar to or confusing with the Life Technologies Trademarks, or any translation thereof, in any jurisdiction. Biocept agrees that, if Biocept at any time obtains, in any jurisdiction, any right, title or interest in any mark, symbol or phrase which shall be identical to, similar to or likely to be confused with any Life Technologies Trademark or any translation thereof, then Biocept shall have acted or shall act as an agent and for the benefit of Life Technologies for the limited purpose of obtaining such registrations and assigning such registration (and all right, title and interest in such mark, symbol or phrase) to Life Technologies.   9. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

9.1 Mutual Representations and Warranties. Each party represents and warrants to the other that: (a) it is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, and has full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the provisions hereof; (b) it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder, and the person or persons executing this Agreement on its behalf has been duly authorized to do so by all requisite corporate action; (c) this Agreement is legally binding upon it, enforceable in accordance with its terms; and (d) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by it does not conflict with any agreement, instrument or understanding, oral or written, to which it is a party or by which it may be bound, nor violate any material law or regulation of any court, governmental body or administrative or other agency having jurisdiction over it.

9.2 Biocept Warranties on Assay.

(a) As of the Effective Date, the Assay employs Biocept's most current CTC-based technology, and will be validated for performing CTC enumeration and the detection of the indicated analytes in the Assay on a timeline as agreed by the parties within sixty (60) days of the Effective Date.

(b) Biocept represents and warrants to Life Technologies that: (1) the Assay constitutes an original work of Biocept; and (2) except as previously disclosed to Life Technologies, Biocept is the lawful owner or licensee of all materials used in connection with the development of the Assay, and Biocept has the rights to make, use and sell the Assay, and to allow Life Technologies to use the results of the Technical Component of the Assay to perform the Professional Component of the Assay, and to sell the Assay.

(c) Biocept has full power and authority and has obtained all Third Party consents, approvals, assignments and/or other authorizations required to enter into this Agreement and to carry out its obligations hereunder.

(d) There are no existing contracts, agreements, commitments, proposals, offers, or rights with, to, or in any person to acquire any of the rights under the Assay which would prevent or materially and adversely alter the performance of the obligations hereunder.

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9.3 Third Party Infringement. In the event that the Tests, or any part thereof becomes the subject of any claim, suit or proceeding for infringement of the Intellectual Property Rights of any Third Party, or if the Test, or any part thereof, is held or otherwise determined to infringe any Intellectual Property Rights of any Third Party such that Biocept can no longer perform its obligations under this Agreement, Biocept shall in its sole discretion either: (1) secure for itself and Life Technologies the right to continue using the Test in accordance with Section 8.4; (2) replace or modify the Test to make it non-infringing without degrading its performance or utility; or (3) notify Life Technologies that it will perform neither (1) nor (2), in which case either party shall thereafter have the right to terminate this Agreement immediately upon written notice to the other party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to Section 8.5, the indemnification rights of Life Technologies with respect to the Tests as set forth in Section 12.2 shall survive such termination.

9.4 Disclaimer. Except as expressly set forth herein, THE TECHNOLOGY, MATERIALS AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS PROVIDED BY EACH PARTY HEREUNDER ARE PROVIDED AS IS, AND EACH PARTY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF DESIGN, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON- INFRINGEMENT OF THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES, OR ARISING FROM A COURSE OF DEALING, USAGE OR TRADE PRACTICES.

9.5 Limitation of Liability. NEITHER PARTY SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECOVER FROM THE OTHER PARTY ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY LICENSE GRANTED HEREUNDER; provided, however, that this Section shall neither (a) apply to any liability for damages arising from breach of any obligations of confidentiality under Article 10, nor (b) limit the indemnification obligations of the parties arising under Article 12 of this Agreement.   10. CONFIDENTIALITY

10.1 Confidential Information. Except to the extent expressly authorized by this Agreement or otherwise agreed in writing by the parties, each party agrees that, during the Term and for five (5) years thereafter, such party (the Receiving Party) shall keep confidential and shall not publish or otherwise disclose and shall not use for any purpose, other than as expressly provided for in this Agreement, any information furnished to it by or on behalf of the other party (the Disclosing Party) pursuant to this Agreement (collectively, Confidential Information). The Receiving Party may use such Confidential Information only to the extent required to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement. The Receiving Party will use at least the same standard of care as it uses to protect proprietary or confidential information of its own to ensure that its, and its Affiliates', employees, agents, consultants and other representatives do not disclose or make any unauthorized use of the Confidential Information. The Receiving Party will promptly notify the Disclosing Party upon discovery of any unauthorized use or disclosure of the Disclosing Party's Confidential Information.

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10.2 Exceptions. Confidential Information shall not include any information which the Receiving Party can prove by competent evidence: (a) is now, or hereafter becomes, through no act or failure to act on the part of the Receiving Party, generally known or available; (b) is known by the Receiving Party at the time of receiving such information, as evidenced by its written records; (c) is hereafter furnished to the Receiving Party by a Third Party, as a matter of right and without restriction on disclosure; or (d) is independently discovered or developed by the Receiving Party, without the use of Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party, as evidenced by the Receiving Party's written records maintained in the ordinary course of business.

10.3 Authorized Disclosure. Each party may disclose Confidential Information of the other party as expressly permitted by this Agreement, or if and to the extent such disclosure is reasonably necessary in the following instances:

(a) enforcing such party's rights under this Agreement;

(b) prosecuting or defending litigation as permitted by this Agreement;

(c) complying with applicable court orders or governmental regulations;

(d) disclosure to Affiliates, contractors, employees and consultants who need to know such information for the development and commercialization of the Test in accordance with this Agreement, on the condition that any such Third Parties agree to be bound by confidentiality and non-use obligations that are no less stringent than the terms of this Agreement; and

(e) disclosure to Third Parties in connection with due diligence or similar investigations by such Third Parties, and disclosure to potential Third Party investors in confidential financing documents, provided, in each case, that any such Third Party agrees to be bound by reasonable obligations of confidentiality and non-use.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event a party is required to make a disclosure of the other party's Confidential Information pursuant to Section 10.3(b) or Section 10.3(c), it will, except where impracticable, give reasonable advance notice to the other party of such disclosure and use efforts to secure confidential treatment of such information at least as diligent as such party would use to protect its own confidential information, but in no event less than reasonable efforts. In any event, the parties agree to take all reasonable action to avoid disclosure of Confidential Information hereunder.

10.4 Confidentiality of this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 10, each party agrees not to disclose to any Third Party the terms of this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party hereto, except that each party may disclose the terms of this Agreement that are otherwise made public prior to the date of such disclosure or to the extent such disclosure is permitted under Section 10.3.

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10.5 Press Releases; Public Announcements. Neither party shall make a press release or public announcement that includes information relating to the Collaboration without the approval of the other party. At least five (5) days prior to any such press release or public announcement the party proposing to make such press release or public announcement (the Releasing Party) shall provide to the other party a draft copy thereof for its review and approval. The Releasing Party may not distribute such press release or public announcement without obtaining the other party's prior written approval. In addition, the Releasing Party shall, at the other party's request, remove therefrom any Confidential Information of such other party. The contribution of each party shall be noted in all scientific publications or presentations by acknowledgment or co-authorship, whichever is appropriate.   11. TERM AND TERMINATION

11.1 Term. The term of this Agreement will commence on the Effective Date and continue for a period of three (3) years after the Effective Date (the Initial Term). Thereafter, this Agreement can be renewed by mutual written agreement of the parties for successive one (1) year periods (each, a Renewal Term and together with the Initial Term, the Term).

11.2 Termination.

(a) Material Breach. Either party shall have the right to terminate this Agreement before the end of the Term upon written notice to the other party if such other party is in material breach of this Agreement and has not cured such breach within sixty (60) days (the Cure Period) after notice from the terminating party requesting cure of the breach. Any such termination shall become effective at the end of such Cure Period unless the breaching party has cured such breach prior to the end of such Cure Period. Any right to terminate under this Section 11.2(a) shall be stayed and the Cure Period tolled in the event that, during any Cure Period, the party alleged to have been in material breach shall have initiated dispute resolution in accordance with Article 13 with respect to the alleged breach, which stay and tolling shall continue until such dispute resolution procedures have been completed in accordance with Article 13. Nothing herein is intended to prevent either party from seeking immediate equitable or injunctive relief.

(b) Termination for Convenience. Both parties shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time, for any or for no reason, upon one hundred twenty (120) days written notice to the other party. In the event a party undergoes a Change of Control Event as defined in Section 14.5, the other party may terminate the Agreement upon thirty (30) days written notice to the party undergoing the Change of Control.

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11.3 Effect of Termination; Surviving Obligations.

(a) Upon any termination or expiration of this Agreement, all licenses granted hereunder shall automatically terminate and revert to the granting party and all other rights and obligations of the parties under this Agreement shall terminate, except as provided in Sections 11.3(b) and 11.4.

(b) Upon termination or expiration of this Agreement, each party will use their best efforts to return to the other party or destroy all tangible copies of the other party's Confidential Information in such party's possession or control and will erase from its computer systems all electronic copies thereof; provided, however, that each party may retain one archival copy of the other party's Confidential Information solely for purposes of monitoring compliance with its obligations under Article 10 hereof.

11.4 Survival. Expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall not relieve either party of any obligation accruing prior to such expiration or termination. In addition, Sections 3.3(g), 4.3, 5.1, 5.2 (to the extent required by law) 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.5, 11.3 and 11.4, and Articles 1, 8, 10, 12, 13 and 14 will survive any expiration or termination of this Agreement.   12. INDEMNIFICATION

12.1 Indemnification by Life Technologies. Life Technologies hereby agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Biocept, its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees, consultants and agents (the Biocept Indemnitees), from and against any and all losses, damages, liabilities, expenses and costs, including reasonable legal expense and attorneys' fees resulting from any threat, claim, demand, action or other proceeding by any Third Party (Losses) to the extent such Losses arise directly or indirectly out of: (a) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Life Technologies Indemnitee (defined below); (b) the material breach by Life Technologies of any warranty, representation, covenant or agreement made by it in this Agreement; or (c) the performance by Life Technologies of the Professional Component; except, in each case, to the extent such Losses result from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Biocept Indemnitee or the material breach by Biocept of any warranty, representation, covenant or agreement made by it in this Agreement.

12.2 Indemnification by Biocept. Biocept hereby agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Life Technologies, its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees, consultants and agents (the Life Technologies Indemnitees), from and against any and all Losses to the extent such Losses arise directly or indirectly out of: (a) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Biocept Indemnitee; (b) the material breach by Biocept of any warranty, representation, covenant or agreement made by it in this Agreement; or (c) the performance by Biocept of the Technical Component of the Assay or Test; except, in each case, to the extent such Losses result from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Life Technologies Indemnitee or the material breach by Life Technologies of any warranty, representation, covenant or agreement made by it in this Agreement.

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12.3 Procedure. In the event a party seeks indemnification under Section 12.1 or 12.2, it shall inform the other party (the Indemnifying Party) of a claim as soon as reasonably practicable after such party (the Indemnified Party) receives notice of the claim (it being understood and agreed, however, that the failure by an Indemnified Party to give notice of a claim as provided in this Section 12.3 shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligation under this Agreement except and only to the extent that such Indemnifying Party is actually damaged as a result of such failure to give notice), shall permit the Indemnifying Party to assume direction and control of the defense of the claim (including the right to settle the claim solely for monetary consideration), and shall cooperate as requested (at the expense of the Indemnifying Party) in the defense of the claim. The Indemnified Party shall not agree to any settlement of such action, suit, proceeding or claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party. The Indemnifying Party shall not agree to any settlement of such action, suit, proceeding or claim or consent to any judgment in respect thereof that does not include a complete and unconditional release of the Indemnified Party from all liability with respect thereto, that imposes any liability or obligation on the Indemnified Party or that acknowledges fault by the Indemnified Party; in each case, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party.

12.4 Insurance. Each party, at its own expense, shall maintain product liability and other appropriate insurance (or self- insure) in an amount consistent with industry standards during the Term and shall name the other party as an additional insured with respect to such insurance. Each party shall provide a certificate of insurance (or evidence of self-insurance) evidencing such coverage to the other party upon request.   13. DISPUTE RESOLUTION

13.1 Dispute Resolution. The parties recognize that disputes as to certain matters may arise from time to time during the Term. The parties shall first submit the dispute to the Joint Steering Committee for resolution in accordance with Section 4.3 hereof. In the event that the Joint Steering Committee is unable to resolve the dispute, the parties shall be entitled to seek relief in a court of competent jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the full extent allowed by law, either party may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction for injunctive relief (or any other provisional remedy) to protect the parties' rights or enforce the parties' obligations under this Agreement pending resolution of any claims related thereto by the Joint Steering Committee.   14. GENERAL PROVISIONS

14.1 Governing Law. This Agreement and any disputes, claims, or actions related thereto shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, USA, without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof.

14.2 Entire Agreement; Modification. This Agreement, including the Exhibits hereto, is both a final expression of the parties' agreement and a complete and exclusive statement with respect to all of its terms. This Agreement supersedes all prior

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and contemporaneous agreements and communications, whether oral, written or otherwise, concerning any and all matters contained herein. This Agreement may only be amended, modified or supplemented in a writing expressly stated for such purpose and signed by the parties to this Agreement.

14.3 Relationship Between the Parties. The parties' relationship, as established by this Agreement, is solely that of independent contractors. This Agreement does not create any partnership, joint venture or similar business relationship between the parties. Neither party is a legal representative of the other party, and neither party can assume or create any obligation, representation, warranty or guarantee, express or implied, on behalf of the other party for any purpose whatsoever.

14.4 Non-Waiver. The failure of a party to insist upon strict performance of any provision of this Agreement or to exercise any right arising out of this Agreement shall neither impair that provision or right nor constitute a waiver of that provision or right, in whole or in part, in that instance or in any other instance. Any waiver by a party of a particular provision or right shall be in writing, shall be as to a particular matter and, if applicable, for a particular period of time and shall be signed by such party.

14.5 Assignment. Except as expressly provided hereunder, neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned or otherwise transferred by either party without the prior written consent of the other party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld); provided, however, that either party may assign this Agreement and its rights and obligations hereunder without the other party's consent in connection with the transfer or sale of all or substantially all of the business of such party to which this Agreement relates to a Third Party, whether by merger, sale of stock, sale of assets or otherwise (a Change of Control Event). The rights and obligations of the parties under this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns of the parties. Any assignment not in accordance with this Agreement shall be void.

14.6 No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is neither expressly nor impliedly made for the benefit of any party other than those executing it.

14.7 Severability. If, for any reason, any part of this Agreement is adjudicated invalid, unenforceable or illegal by a court of competent jurisdiction, such adjudication shall not affect or impair, in whole or in part, the validity, enforceability or legality of any remaining portions of this Agreement. All remaining portions shall remain in full force and effect as if the original Agreement had been executed without the invalidated, unenforceable or illegal part.

14.8 Notices. Any notice to be given under this Agreement must be in writing and delivered either in person, by any method of mail (postage prepaid) requiring return receipt, or by overnight courier or facsimile confirmed thereafter by any of the foregoing, to the party to be notified at its address(es) given below, or at any address such party has previously designated by prior written notice to the other. Notice shall be deemed sufficiently given for all purposes upon the earlier of: (a) the date of actual receipt; or (b) if mailed, five calendar days after the date of postmark.

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If to Biocept, notices must be addressed to:

Biocept, Inc. 5810 Nancy Ridge Drive, Suite 150 San Diego, CA 92121 Attention: David Hale Executive Chairman Telephone: (858) 320-8200 Facsimile: (858) 320-8225

If to Life Technologies, notices must be addressed to:

Life Technologies Corp. 5791 Van Allen Way Carlsbad, CA 92008 Attention: David Daly Head of Oncology Telephone: (760) 268-5556

14.9 Force Majeure. Each party shall be excused from liability for the failure or delay in performance of any obligation under this Agreement by reason of any event beyond such party's reasonable control, including but not limited to, Acts of God, fire, flood, explosion, earthquake, or other natural forces, war, civil unrest, any strike or labor disturbance. Such excuse from liability shall be effective only to the extent and duration of the event(s) causing the failure or delay in performance and provided that the party has not caused such event(s) to occur. Notice of a party's failure or delay in performance due to force majeure must be given to the other party within five (5) calendar days after its occurrence. All delivery dates under this Agreement that have been affected by force majeure shall be tolled for the duration of such force majeure. In no event shall any party be required to prevent or settle any labor disturbance or dispute. In the event of a force majeure that persists for thirty (30) days or more, then either party may terminate this Agreement upon written notice to the other party.

14.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original document, and all of which, together with this writing, shall be deemed one and the same instrument.

25





IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first set forth above.

  BIOCEPT, INC.   LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

By: /s/ Michael J. Dunn   By: /s/ David J. Daly

Name: Michael Dunn   Name: David J. Daly

Title: Senior Vice President, Corp. Dev.   Title: Head of Oncology

26 
Question: Highlight the parts (if any) of this contract related to Covenant Not To Sue that should be reviewed by a lawyer. Details: Is a party restricted from contesting the validity of the counterparty’s ownership of intellectual property or otherwise bringing a claim against the counterparty for matters unrelated to the contract?

Output: Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Biocept owns, and Life Technologies acknowledges Biocept's ownership of, (i) the Assay and the Selector technology, and (ii) all Intellectual Property Rights in the Assay and the Selector technology, and Life Technologies agrees that it shall not do or suffer to be done any act or thing or undertake any action anywhere that in any manner might infringe, or impair the validity, scope, or title of Biocept in the Assay, the Selector technology or Intellectual Property Rights owned by Biocept.


Input: Consider Input: EXHIBIT 10.28

                               MOVADO GROUP, INC.

                              ENDORSEMENT AGREEMENT

            WHEREAS, Movado Group, Inc. (the Company) and the Trustees of the Grinberg Family Trust (the Trust) entered into a Policy Collateral Assignment And Split Dollar Agreement, dated as of December 5, 1995 (the Split Dollar Agreement); and

            WHEREAS, pursuant to the Split Dollar Agreement, life insurance protection is provided to the beneficiaries of the Trust, upon the of the death of the survivor of Gedalio Grinberg (Executive) and Sonia Grinberg (Executive and Sonia Grinberg are collectively referred to as the Insureds) under a life insurance policy issued to the Trust by the New York Life Insurance Company, Policy No. 45660373 (hereinafter referred to as the Policy); and

            WHEREAS, pursuant to the Split Dollar Agreement, the Policy is owned by the Trust and collaterally assigned by it to the Company in order to secure the repayment of the amounts due to the Company in respect of the Company's loans to the Trust which have been used by the Trust to pay the premiums on the Policy (such loans totaling $5,186,860 on the date hereof and being represented by a Demand Note, dated December 5, 1995, between the Company and the Trust (the Demand Note)); and

            WHEREAS, Section XIII of the Split Dollar Agreement provides that it may be amended at any time and from time to time by a written instrument by the parties thereto; and

            WHEREAS, Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of the 2002 (the Act) prohibits certain public companies (including the Company) from directly or indirectly making or arranging for an extension of credit in the form of a personal loan to its executive officers on or after July 30, 2002; and

            WHEREAS, Executive and a Trustee and a beneficiary of the Trust are executive officers of the Company; and

            WHEREAS, counsel to the Company has advised the Company that the collateral assignment split-dollar life insurance arrangement reflected in the Split Dollar Agreement may violate the aforementioned prohibition on personal loans to executive officers set forth in Section 402 of the Act, in respect of loans made to the Trust on or after July 30, 2002, although there exists no authority on point and reasonable arguments may be made to the contrary; and

            WHEREAS, in order to best ensure that the Company does not violate the aforementioned prohibition on personal loans to executive officers set forth in Section 402 of the Act, the parties hereto wish to (i) amend and restate the Split Dollar Agreement, (ii) rename the amended and restated Split Dollar Agreement the Movado Group, Inc. Endorsement Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the Endorsement Agreement or the Agreement), and (iii) transfer the Policy to the Company in partial repayment of the outstanding $5,186,860 principal balance of the Demand Note, with such repayment being in an amount equal to the cash

                                                                               2

surrender value of the Policy on the date hereof ($4,595,591), and with the remaining principal balance of the Demand Note ($591,269) continuing to be subject to the terms and conditions of the Demand Note.

            NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration for the mutual promises contained herein, the parties hereto agree to amend and restate the Split Dollar Agreement in its entirety as follows:

            1. Transfer of Policy; Partial Repayment of Demand Note. The Trustees of the Trust hereby agree to promptly execute any and all documents required by the New York Life Insurance Company (the Insurer) and the Company to transfer ownership of the Policy from the Trust to the Company in exchange for the Company's agreement to promptly execute any and all documents required to reflect the partial repayment of the outstanding principal balance of the Demand Note, as described in the recitals above.

            2. Ownership of Policy. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Company shall be the sole and exclusive owner of the Policy.

            3. Surrender, Withdrawals, Loans; Etc. Other than as specifically allowed herein, the Company shall not borrow from, hypothecate, withdraw cash value from, surrender in whole or in part, cancel, or in any other manner encumber the Policy without the prior written consent of the Trustees of the Trust. Unless the Company and the Trustees of the Trust otherwise agree, in the event there is a complete or partial surrender or cancellation of the Policy, the proceeds payable as a result of the surrender, cancellation, withdrawal or loan shall be paid to the Company in an amount equal to the aggregate premiums paid under the Policy since inception, and any remaining proceeds shall be payable to the Trust.

            4. Investment of Cash Values. If the Policy provides the policy owner with a choice of investment funds for the Policy cash values, the Company shall select the funds in which to invest such cash values.

            5. Payment of Premiums. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company agrees to pay premiums on the Policy as provided under the Policy. In





the event this Agreement is terminated in accordance with terms of Section 11, the Company shall not be liable for any premiums owed on the Policy after the date of termination.

            6. Payment of Death Benefits. Upon the death of the survivor of the Insureds, the death benefit under the Policy (including any interest payable under the Policy in respect of such death benefit for the period from the date of death of such survivor until the payment of the death benefit) shall be divided as follows:

                  (a) The Company shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to the aggregate premiums paid under the Policy since inception less the amount of the then outstanding principal balance of the Demand Note (the Company Death Benefit). (If the Policy provides for a death benefit equal to the sum of the face amount of the Policy and any cash account or accumulation value, the Company Death Benefit shall first be paid from the cash account or accumulation value portion of the death benefit.)

                                                                               3

                  (b) The Trust shall be entitled to receive the excess, if any, of the Policy's death benefit over the Company Death Benefit.

                  (c) If any interest is payable under the Policy in respect of the death benefit for the period from the date of death of such survivor until the payment of the death benefit, the Company and the Trust shall share in such interest in proportion that their respective share of such death benefit (as determined under Section 6(a) and (b) hereof) bears to the total death benefit, excluding any interest thereon.

            7. Company Default. In the event of a Company Default (as defined below), the Trust shall have the right to require the Company to cure the Company Default by notifying the Company in writing within sixty (60) days after its receipt of notice of a Company Default, or if later, within thirty (30) days after a Trustee becomes aware of the Company Default. If the Company fails to cure the Company Default within sixty (60) days after being notified by the Trust of the Company Default, the Trust shall have the right to require the Company to transfer its interest in the Policy to the Trust. The Trust may exercise this right by notifying the Company, in writing, within sixty (60) days after the Company Default occurs. Upon receipt of such notice, the Company shall immediately transfer ownership of the Policy to the Trust and the Company shall thereafter have no rights with respect to the Policy. The Trust's failure to exercise its rights under this Section 7 shall not be deemed to release the Company from any of its obligations under this Agreement, and shall not preclude the Trust from seeking other remedies with respect to the Company Default. For purposes of this Agreement, a Company Default shall be deemed to have occurred with respect to the Policy if the Company fails to pay a premium on the Policy as required under the terms of this Agreement within sixty (60) days after the due date for such premium, or if the Company processes or attempts to process a policy loan, or a complete or partial surrender, or a cash value withdrawal without prior written approval from the Trustees of the Trust. The Company shall notify the Trustees of the Trust within five (5) business days of any event which constitutes a Company Default.

            8. Notice. All notices hereunder shall be in writing and sent by certified mail with postage prepaid. Any notice to the Company shall be addressed to the attention of the General Counsel, with a copy to the Chief Executive Officer, at the principal office of the Company at 650 From Road; Paramus, New Jersey 07652. Any notice to the Trustees of the Trust shall be addressed to the Trustees of the Trust, 115 Central Park West, Apt. 4D, New York, New York 10023, with a copy to Andrew W. Regan, Esq. c/o Shearman & Sterling, 599 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022. Any party may change his or its address by giving written notice of such change to the other party pursuant to this Section 8.

            9. Entire Agreement. This Agreement is the entire agreement between the Company and the Trust with respect to the subject matter hereof and contains all of the agreements, whether written, oral, express or implied, between the Company and the Trust and supersedes any other agreement by and between the Company and the Trust except to the extent specifically set forth herein.

            10. Amendment. The Company may amend or modify this Agreement at any time, but any such amendment or modification that would adversely affect the rights of the Trust

                                                                               4

under this Agreement shall not be effective without the prior written consent of the Trustees of the Trust.

            11. Termination. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, this Agreement shall terminate upon the Trust's payment to the Company of the sum of the aggregate amount of the premiums paid under the Policy since inception (which amount includes the outstanding principal balance of the Demand Note). In the event this Agreement is terminated in accordance with this Section 11, the Company shall transfer the Policy to the Trust as soon as is administratively practicable. Payment of the foregoing amounts by the Trust to the Company will be full repayment of the Demand Note.

            12. Governing Law. Except to the extent preempted by Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), all rights hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to its rules governing conflicts of laws, or the rules of any other jurisdiction which would cause the laws of any





jurisdiction other than the State of New York to apply. If this Agreement is determined to be subject to ERISA, it is intended to be exempt from the reporting and disclosure provisions of ERISA pursuant to Section 104(a)(3) of ERISA and Department of Labor Regulation Section 2520.104-24.

            13. Administration. If this Agreement is determined to be subject to ERISA, it shall be administered by the Company, or its designee (the Plan Administrator), which shall be the named fiduciary of this Agreement for purposes of ERISA. The Plan Administrator shall have the authority to make, amend, interpret, and enforce all rules and regulations for the administration of this Agreement and decide or resolve any and all questions, including interpretations of the Agreement, as may arise in connection with this Agreement. In the administration of this Agreement, the Plan Administrator from time to time may employ agents and delegate to them or to others (including executives of the Company) such administrative duties as it sees fit. The Plan Administrator from time to time may consult with counsel, who may be counsel to the Company. The decision or action of the Plan Administrator (or its designee) with respect to any question arising out of or in connection with the administration, interpretation and application of this Agreement shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all persons having any interest in this Agreement. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the Plan Administrator and any Company employee to whom administrative duties under this Agreement are delegated, against any and all claims, loss, damage, expense or liability arising from any action or failure to act with respect to this Agreement, except in the case of gross negligence or willful misconduct by the Plan Administrator or any such employee.

            14. Claims Procedures. If this Agreement is subject to ERISA, any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be filed with the Plan Administrator or its designee which shall make all determinations concerning such claim. Any decision by the Plan Administrator denying such claim shall be in writing and shall be delivered to all parties in interest in accordance with the notice provisions of Section 8 hereof. Such decision shall set forth the reasons for denial in plain language. Pertinent provisions of the Agreement shall be cited and, where appropriate, an explanation as to how the claimant can perfect the claim will be provided. This notice of denial of benefits will be provided within ninety (90) days of the Plan Administrator's receipt of the claim for benefits. If the Plan

                                                                               5

Administrator fails to notify the claimant of its decision regarding the claim, the claim shall be considered denied, and the claimant then shall be permitted to proceed with an appeal as provided for in this Section 14.

            A claimant who has been completely or partially denied a benefit shall be entitled to appeal this denial of his or her claim by filing a written statement of his or her position with the Plan Administrator no later than sixty (60) days after receipt of the written notification of such denial. The Plan Administrator shall schedule an opportunity for a full and fair review of the issue within thirty (30) days of receipt of the appeal. The decision on review shall set forth specific reasons for the decision, and shall cite specific references to the pertinent provisions of the Agreement on which the decision is based.

            Following the review of any additional information submitted by the claimant, either through the hearing process or otherwise, the Plan Administrator shall make its decision regarding the merits of the denied claim within sixty (60) days following receipt of the request for review (or within 120 days after such receipt, in a case where there are special circumstances requiring extension of time for reviewing the appealed claim). The Plan Administrator shall deliver the decision to the claimant in writing. If an extension of time for reviewing the appealed claim is required because of special circumstances, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the claimant prior to the commencement of the extension. If the decision on review is not furnished within the prescribed time, the claim shall be deemed denied on review.

            15. Successors. The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and bind the Company, the Trust and their respective successors, assignees and representatives.

            16. Gender. The masculine pronoun includes the feminine and the singular includes the plural where appropriate for valid construction.

            17. No Contract of Employment. This Agreement shall not be deemed to constitute a contract of employment between Executive and the Company, nor shall any provision restrict the right of the Company to discharge Executive, or to restrict the right of Executive to terminate employment with the Company.

            18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties hereto on any number of separate counterparts and all such counterparts shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument. Each party hereto confirms that any facsimile copy of such party's executed counterpart of this Agreement (or its signature page thereof) shall be deemed to

                                                                               6

be an executed original thereof.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of this 4th day of April, 2003.

                                              MOVADO GROUP, INC.





                                              By: /s/ Timothy F. Michno                                                   ------------------------------                                               Name: Timothy F. Michno                                               Title:  General Counsel

THE GRINBERG FAMILY TRUST

By:  /s/ Efraim Grinberg     ------------------------------------     Efraim Grinberg, Trustee

By: /s/ Miriam G. Phalen     ------------------------------------     Miriam G. Phalen, Trustee

By: /s/ Alexander Grinberg     ------------------------------------     Alexander Grinberg, Trustee 
Question: Highlight the parts (if any) of this contract related to Post-Termination Services that should be reviewed by a lawyer. Details: Is a party subject to obligations after the termination or expiration of a contract, including any post-termination transition, payment, transfer of IP, wind-down, last-buy, or similar commitments?

Output: In the event this Agreement is terminated in accordance with this Section 11, the Company shall transfer the Policy to the Trust as soon as is administratively practicable.


Input: Consider Input: ALAMOGORDO FINANCIAL CORPORATION                                 1,101,643 Shares

                                  COMMON STOCK                            (Par Value $.0l Per Share)

                       Subscription Price $10.00 Per Share

                                AGENCY AGREEMENT

                              ___________ __, 2000

Charles Webb & Company, a Division of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. 211 Bradenton Avenue Dublin, Ohio 43017

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         Alamogordo   Financial   Corporation,   a  federal   corporation   (the Company), AF Mutual Holding Company (the MHC) and Alamogordo Federal Savings and Loan Association,  a federally  chartered stock savings and loan association (the  Bank)  with its  deposit  accounts  insured by the  Savings  Association Insurance  Fund  (SAIF)   administered  by  the  Federal   Deposit   Insurance Corporation  (FDIC),  hereby confirm,  jointly and severally,  their agreement with Charles Webb & Company,  a Division of Keefe,  Bruyette & Woods,  Inc. (the Agent), as follows:

         Section 1. The  Offering.  In accordance  with the Stock  Issuance Plan adopted by its Board of Directors (the Plan),  the Company will offer and sell up to  1,101,643  shares of its common  stock,  par  value,  $.01 per share (the Shares or Common  Stock),  in a  subscription  offering  (the  Subscription Offering) to (1) depositors of the Bank with account balances of $50.00 or more as of September 30, 1998 (Eligible  Account  Holders),  (2) the Employee Stock Ownership Plan of the Bank (the ESOP), (3) depositors of the Bank with account balances  of $50.00 or more as of  December  31,  1999  (Supplemental  Eligible Account Holders), and (4) employees, officers and directors of the Bank. To the extent  Shares  remain  unsold in the  Subscription  Offering,  the  Company  is offering for sale in a community  offering  (the  Community  Offering and when referred to together  with the  Subscription  Offering,  the  Subscription  and Community  Offering)  the  Shares  not  so  subscribed  for or  ordered  in the Subscription Offering to members of the general public, with preference given to natural persons residing in the New Mexico counties of Otero and Lincoln

(Other Subscribers),  (all such offerees being referred to in the aggregate as Eligible  Offerees).  It is anticipated  that shares not subscribed for in the Subscription  and Community  Offering will be offered to certain  members of the general  public on a best efforts basis through a selected  dealers  arrangement (the Syndicated  Community  Offering) (the  Subscription  Offering,  Community Offering and Syndicated  Community Offering are collectively  referred to as the Offering).  It is acknowledged  that the purchase of Shares in the Offering is subject to the maximum and minimum purchase limitations as described in the Plan and that the Company and the Bank may  reject,  in whole or in part,  any orders received in the Community Offering or Syndicated Community Offering. The Company will  issue the Shares at a  purchase  price of $10.00 per share (the  Purchase Price).

         The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the Commission)  a  registration  statement  on Form  S-1  (File  No.  333- ) (the Registration  Statement)  containing a prospectus relating to the Offering for the  registration  of the  Shares  under the  Securities  Act of 1933 (the 1933 Act),  and has filed such amendments  thereof and such amended  prospectuses as may have been  required to the date hereof.  The term  Registration  Statement shall  include  all  exhibits  thereto,  as  amended,  including  post-effective amendments.  The prospectus, as amended, on file with the Commission at the time the Registration  Statement initially became effective is hereinafter called the Prospectus,  except that if any Prospectus is filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (c) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act (the 1933 Act  Regulations)  differing  from the prospectus on file at the time  the  Registration   Statement   initially  becomes  effective,   the  term Prospectus  shall refer to the prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (c) from and after the time said prospectus is filed with the Commission.

         In accordance  with Title 12, Parts 575 and 563b of the Code of Federal Regulations  (the MHC  Regulations),  the Company has filed with the Office of Thrift  Supervision (the OTS) an Application on Form MHC-2 with respect to the stock  issuance  (the  MHC  Application),  including  the  Prospectus  and the Valuation  Appraisal Report prepared by RP Financial,  LC (the  Appraisal) and has filed such amendments  thereto as may have been required by the OTS. The MHC Application  has been  approved by the OTS and the related  Prospectus  has been authorized for use by the OTS.





         Section 2. Retention of Agent;  Compensation;  Sale and Delivery of the Shares.  Subject to the terms and conditions  herein set forth,  the Company and the Bank have retained the Agent to consult with and to advise the Bank, the MHC and the Company,  and to assist the Company,  on a best  efforts  basis,  in the distribution  of the shares of Common Stock in the  Offering.  The services that the  Agent  will  provide  include,  but are not  limited  to (i)  training  the employees  of the Bank who will  perform  certain  ministerial  functions in the Subscription  and Community  Offering  regarding  the  mechanics and  regulatory requirements of the stock offering process,  (ii) managing the Stock Information Center by assisting  interested stock  subscribers and by keeping records of all stock orders and (iii) preparing marketing materials.

                                        2

         On the basis of the representations,  warranties, and agreements herein contained,  but subject to the terms and conditions  herein set forth, the Agent accepts such appointment and agrees to consult with and advise the Company,  the MHC and the Bank as to the  matters set forth in the letter  agreement  (Letter Agreement),  dated  November 29, 1999 between the Company and the Agent (a copy of which is attached  hereto as Exhibit A). It is  acknowledged  by the Company, the MHC and the Bank that the Agent  shall not be  required  to take or purchase any Shares or be  obligated to take any action  which is  inconsistent  with all applicable laws, regulations, decisions or orders.

         The  obligations of the Agent  pursuant to this  Agreement  (other than those set forth in  Sections  2(d),  8 and 9 hereof)  shall  terminate  upon the completion  or  termination  or  abandonment  of the Plan by the Company or upon termination  of the  Offering,  but in no event  later  than the date  (the End Date) which is 45 days after the Closing  Date (as  hereinafter  defined).  All fees or  expenses  due to the Agent but  unpaid  will be payable to the Agent in next day funds at the earlier of the Closing  Date (as  hereinafter  defined) or the End Date.  In the event the  Offering is extended  beyond the End Date,  the Company, the MHC, the Bank and the Agent may agree to renew this Agreement under mutually acceptable terms.

         In the event the Company is unable to sell a minimum of 708,050  Shares within the period  herein  provided,  this  Agreement  shall  terminate  and the Company shall refund to any persons who have  subscribed  for any of the Shares, the full amount which it may have  received  from them plus accrued  interest as set forth in the  Prospectus;  and none of the parties to this  Agreement  shall have any obligation to the other parties hereunder,  except as set forth in this Section 2 and in Sections 6, 8 and 9 hereof.

         In the event the Offering is terminated,  the Agent shall be reimbursed for its actual accountable out-of-pocket expenses.

         If all  conditions  precedent  to  the  consummation  of the  Offering, including, without limitation, the sale of all Shares required by the Plan to be sold, are satisfied,  the Company  agrees to issue,  or have issued,  the Shares sold in the Offering and to release for delivery certificates for such Shares on the Closing Date (as hereinafter  defined) against payment to the Company by any means authorized by the Plan; provided, however, that no funds shall be released to the Company  until the  conditions  specified  in Section 7 hereof shall have been  complied  with to the  reasonable  satisfaction  of the  Agent  and  their counsel.  The release of Shares against payment therefor shall be made on a date and at a place  acceptable  to the  Company,  the MHC,  the Bank and the  Agent. Certificates  for  shares  shall be  delivered  directly  to the  purchasers  in accordance with their directions.  The date upon which the Company shall release or deliver the Shares sold in the Offering, in accordance with the terms herein, is called the Closing Date.

         The Agent shall  receive the  following  compensation  for its services hereunder:

                                        3

          (a)  A  management  fee of $25,000,  payable in four  installments  of                $6,250 on  November 29 and  December  29, 1999 and January 29 and                February 29,  2000.  Should the  Offering be  terminated  for any                reason not  attributable  to the action or inaction of the Agent,                the Agent  shall  have  earned  and be  entitled  to be paid fees                accruing through the stage at which the termination occurred.

          (b)  A Success Fee of $75,000.

          (c)  If any of the shares remain  available after the Subscription and                Community  Offerings,  at the request of the Bank, the Agent will                seek to form a syndicate of registered  broker-dealers  to assist                in the sale of such Common Stock on a best efforts basis, subject                to the terms and  conditions  set forth in the  selected  dealers                agreement. the Agent will endeavor to distribute the Common Stock                among  dealers in a fashion  which  best  meets the  distribution                objectives of the Bank and the Plan. the Agent will be paid a fee                not to exceed 5.5% of the aggregate  Purchase Price of the Shares                sold by them.  the Agent will pass onto selected  broker-dealers,





               who assist in the  syndicated  community,  an amount  competitive                with  gross  underwriting  discounts  changed  at such  time  for                comparable  amounts of stock sold at a comparable price per share                in a similar market  environment.  Fees with respect to purchases                affected with the  assistance of a  broker/dealer  other than the                Agent shall be  transmitted  by the Agent to such  broker/dealer.                The decision to utilize selected  broker-dealers  will be made by                the Bank upon  consultation  with the Agent.  In the event,  with                respect to any  purchases  of Shares,  fees are paid  pursuant to                this subparagraph 2(c), such fees shall be in lieu of, and not in                addition to, payment pursuant to subparagraph 2(a) and 2(b).

          (d)  The Company  will bear those  expenses of the  proposed  offering                customarily  borne by  issuers,  including,  without  limitation,                regulatory   filing  fees,   Blue  Sky,  and  NASD  filing  and                registration  fees;  the  fees  of  the  Company's   accountants,                attorneys,  appraiser,  transfer agent and  registrar,  printing,                mailing and marketing and syndicate expenses  associated with the                Offering;  the fees set  forth in  Section  2; and fees for Blue                Sky legal work.  If the Agent  incurs  expenses on behalf of the                Company, the Company will reimburse the Agent for such expenses.

               The  Agent  shall  be  reimbursed  for  reasonable  out-of-pocket                expenses,   including   costs  of  travel,   meals  and  lodging,                photocopying,  telephone, facsimile and couriers. The Agent shall                also  be  reimbursed  for  its  fees  of  underwriter's   counsel                (including  counsel's   out-of-pocket  expenses)  not  to  exceed                $35,000. The selection of such counsel will be done by the Agent,                after consultation with the Bank.

         Section 3. Prospectus; Offering. The Shares are to be initially offered in the Offering at the Purchase Price as defined and set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus.

                                        4

         Section 4.  Representations and Warranties of the Company,  the MHC and the Bank. The Company,  the MHC and the Bank jointly and severally represent and warrant to and agree with the Agent as follows:

          (a)  The Registration Statement which was prepared by the Company, the                MHC and the  Bank and  filed  with the  Commission  was  declared                effective by the  Commission on __________  __, 2000. At the time                the Registration  Statement,  including the Prospectus  contained                therein   (including   any  amendment  or   supplement),   became                effective,  the Registration  Statement  contained all statements                that were required to be stated  therein in  accordance  with the                1933 Act and the 1933 Act  Regulations,  complied in all material                respects with the  requirements  of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act                Regulations  and  the  Registration   Statement,   including  the                Prospectus   contained   therein   (including  any  amendment  or                supplement thereto), and any information regarding the Company or                the MHC or the Bank contained in Sales  Information (as such term                is defined in Section 8 hereof)  authorized  by the Company,  the                MHC or the Bank for use in connection with the Offering,  did not                contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a                material fact required to be stated  therein or necessary to make                the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which                they were made, not  misleading,  and at the time any Rule 424(b)                or (c)  Prospectus  was  filed  with  the  Commission  and at the                Closing  Date   referred  to  in  Section  2,  the   Registration                Statement,  including the Prospectus contained therein (including                any  amendment  or  supplement  thereto),   and  any  information                regarding  the  Company,  the MHC or the Bank  contained in Sales                Information  (as  such  term is  defined  in  Section  8  hereof)                authorized  by  the  Company,  the  MHC or the  Bank  for  use in                connection with the Offering will contain all statements that are                required to be stated therein in accordance with the 1933 Act and                the 1933 Act Regulations and will not contain an untrue statement                of a material fact or omit to state a material fact  necessary in                order  to  make  the   statements   therein,   in  light  of  the                circumstances   under  which  they  were  made,  not  misleading;                provided,  however,  that the  representations  and warranties in                this Section 4(a) shall not apply to statements or omissions made                in  reliance  upon and in  conformity  with  written  information                furnished to the Company, the MHC or the Bank by the Agent or its                counsel  expressly  regarding the Agent for use in the Prospectus                or  statements  in or  omissions  from any Sales  Information  or                information  filed pursuant to state  securities or blue sky laws                or regulations regarding the Agent.

          (b)  The MHC  Application  which was prepared by the Company,  the MHC                and the Bank and filed  with the OTS was  approved  by the OTS on                ___________  ___,  2000,  and the  related  Prospectus  has  been                authorized for use by the OTS. At the time of the approval of the                MHC Application, including the

                                        5





               Prospectus  (including any amendment or supplement  thereto),  by                the OTS and at all times  subsequent  thereto  until the  Closing                Date, the MHC  Application,  including the Prospectus  (including                any amendment or supplement thereto), will comply in all material                respects with the MHC Regulations, except to the extent waived in                writing by the OTS. The MHC Application, including the Prospectus                (including any amendment or supplement thereto), does not include                any  untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or  omit to  state a                material fact required to be stated  therein or necessary to make                the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which                they were  made,  not  misleading;  provided,  however,  that the                representations  and  warranties  in this  Section 4(b) shall not                apply to  statements  or omissions  made in reliance  upon and in                conformity with written information furnished to the Company, the                MHC or the Bank by the Agent or its counsel  expressly  regarding                the  Agent  for  use  in the  Prospectus  contained  in  the  MHC                Application   or  statements  in  or  omissions  from  any  sales                information.

          (c)  The Company and the MHC have  registered  with the OTS as savings                and loan  holding  companies  under the Home Owners' Loan Act, as                amended (HOLA).

          (d)  No order has been issued by the OTS or the FDIC  (hereinafter any                reference  to the FDIC  shall  include  the SAIF)  preventing  or                suspending the use of the Prospectus,  and no action by or before                any such government entity to revoke any approval,  authorization                or order of effectiveness related to the Offering is, to the best                knowledge  of  the  Company,  the  MHC or the  Bank,  pending  or                threatened.

          (e)  The MHC is and, as of the Closing Date,  will continue to be duly                organized and validly  existing as a federally  chartered  mutual                holding  company  under  the  laws  of the  United  States,  duly                authorized  to  conduct  its  business  and own its  property  as                described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; as of                the  Closing  Date,  the MHC will  have  obtained  all  licenses,                permits and other  governmental  authorizations  required for the                conduct of its business except those that  individually or in the                aggregate  would not  materially  adversely  affect the financial                condition,   earnings,  capital,  assets  or  properties  of  the                Company,  MHC and Bank taken as a whole;  as of the Closing Date,                all such licenses,  permits and governmental  authorizations will                be in full  force and  effect  and the MHC will be in  compliance                therewith in all material  respects;  as of the Closing Date, the                MHC will be duly  qualified as a foreign  corporation to transact                business  in each  jurisdiction  in which  the  failure  to be so                qualified  in one or  more  of such  jurisdictions  would  have a                material  adverse  effect on the financial  condition,  earnings,                capital,  assets,  properties or business of the Company, MHC and                Bank considered as one enterprise.

                                        6

          (f)  The MHC does not own any equity securities or any equity interest                in any business enterprise except as described in the Prospectus.

          (g)  The MHC is not authorized to issue any shares of capital stock.

          (h)  At the  Closing  Date,  the Plan will have  been  adopted  by the                Boards  of  Directors  of the  Company,  the MHC and the Bank and                approved  by the  members of the Bank,  and the offer and sale of                the Shares will have been  conducted in all material  respects in                accordance  with the  Plan,  the MHC  Regulations,  and all other                applicable laws, regulations, decisions and orders, including all                terms,  conditions,  requirements and provisions precedent to the                Offering  imposed  upon the  Company,  the MHC or the Bank by the                OTS, the Commission, or any other regulatory authority and in the                manner  described  in the  Prospectus.  No person  has  sought to                obtain  review of the final  action of the OTS in  approving  the                Plan or in approving the MHC Application, or any other statute or                regulation.

          (i)  The Bank has been organized and is a validly  existing  federally                chartered  savings and loan  association in capital stock form of                organization, duly authorized to conduct its business and own its                property  as  described  in the  Registration  Statement  and the                Prospectus;  the Bank has obtained all material licenses, permits                and other governmental  authorizations currently required for the                conduct  of  its  business;   all  such  licenses,   permits  and                governmental authorizations are in full force and effect, and the                Bank is in all material respects  complying with all laws, rules,                regulations  and  orders  applicable  to  the  operation  of  its                business;  the Bank is  existing  under  the  laws of the  United                States and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact                business and is in good  standing in each  jurisdiction  in which                its  ownership  of property or leasing of property or the conduct                of its business requires such  qualification,  unless the failure                to be so qualified in one or more of such jurisdictions would not                have a material  adverse  effect on the  condition,  financial or                otherwise, or the business, operations or income of the Bank. The





               Bank does not own equity securities or any equity interest in any                other business  enterprise  except as described in the Prospectus                or as would not be material to the  operations of the Bank.  Upon                completion of the sale by the Company of the Shares  contemplated                by the Prospectus,  (i) all of the issued and outstanding capital                stock of the Bank will be owned by the Company,  (ii) the Company                will have no direct  subsidiaries  other than the Bank, and (iii)                the Company will be a  majority-owned  subsidiary of the MHC. The                Offering  will have been  effected  in all  material  respects in                accordance with all applicable statutes,  regulations,  decisions                and orders;  and,  except  with  respect to the filing of certain                post-sale,  post-Offering  reports,  and  documents in compliance                with the 1933 Act Regulations, the OTS' resolutions or letters of

                                        7

               approval, all terms, conditions, requirements and provisions with                respect to the Offering  imposed by the Commission,  the OTS, and                the FDIC,  if any,  will have been  complied with by the Company,                the MHC and the  Bank in all  material  respects  or  appropriate                waivers  will have been  obtained  and all  material  notice  and                waiting periods will have been satisfied, waived or elapsed.

          (j)  The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as                a  corporation  in good  standing  under  the laws of the  United                States  with  corporate  power and  authority  to own,  lease and                operate its  properties  and to conduct its business as described                in the  Registration  Statement  and the  Prospectus,  and at the                Closing  Date the Company  will be  qualified to do business as a                foreign  corporation in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of                its  business  requires  such  qualification,  except  where  the                failure to so qualify would not have a material adverse effect on                the   condition,   financial  or  otherwise,   or  the  business,                operations or income of the Company. The Company has obtained all                material licenses, permits and other governmental  authorizations                currently  required  for the  conduct of its  business;  all such                licenses,  permits and  governmental  authorizations  are in full                force and  effect,  and the Company is in all  material  respects                complying with all laws, rules, regulations and orders applicable                to the operation of its business.

          (k)  The Bank is a member  of the  Federal  Home  Loan  Bank of Dallas                (FHLB- Dallas). The deposit accounts of the Bank are insured by                the FDIC up to the applicable  limits; and no proceedings for the                termination  or revocation  of such  insurance are pending or, to                the best knowledge of the Company or the Bank, threatened.

          (l)  The Company,  the MHC and the Bank have good and marketable title                to all real property and good title to all other assets  material                to the business of the Company,  the MHC and the Bank, taken as a                whole,  and to  those  properties  and  assets  described  in the                Registration  Statement and Prospectus as owned by them, free and                clear of all liens, charges, encumbrances or restrictions, except                such  as  are  described  in  the   Registration   Statement  and                Prospectus,  or are not  material to the business of the Company,                the MHC and the Bank, taken as a whole; and all of the leases and                subleases  material to the business of the  Company,  the MHC and                the Bank, taken as a whole,  under which the Company,  the MHC or                the  Bank  hold  properties,  including  those  described  in the                Registration  Statement  and  Prospectus,  are in full  force and                effect.

          (m)  The  Company  and the Bank  have  received  an  opinion  of their                special  counsel,  Luse  Lehman  Gorman  Pomerenk  & Schick  with                respect to the federal  income tax  consequences  of the Offering                and the opinions of

                                        8

               ____________________  with  respect  to  New  Mexico  income  tax                consequences  of  the  Offering;  all  material  aspects  of  the                opinions   of  Luse   Lehman   Gorman   Pomerenk   &  Schick  and                _____________________    are   accurately   summarized   in   the                Registration  Statement and will be accurately  summarized in the                Prospectus; and further represent and warrant that the facts upon                which  such  opinions  are  based  are  truthful,   accurate  and                complete.

          (n)  The Company, the MHC and the Bank have all such power, authority,                authorizations,  approvals and orders as may be required to enter                into this  Agreement,  to carry out the provisions and conditions                hereof  and to  issue  and  sell  the  Shares  to be  sold by the                Company,  as provided  herein and as described in the  Prospectus                except approval or confirmation by the OTS of the final appraisal                of the Company. The consummation of the Offering,  the execution,                delivery and  performance of this Agreement and the  consummation                of the  transactions  herein  contemplated  have  been  duly  and                validly authorized by all necessary  corporate action on the part





               of the Company,  the MHC and the Bank and this Agreement has been                validly  executed and  delivered by the Company,  the MHC and the                Bank  and  is the  valid,  legal  and  binding  agreement  of the                Company,  the MHC and the Bank enforceable in accordance with its                terms  (except as the  enforceability  thereof  may be limited by                bankruptcy,  insolvency,  moratorium,  reorganization  or similar                laws  relating to or  affecting  the  enforcement  of  creditors'                rights  generally  or the rights of creditors of savings and loan                holding companies, the accounts of whose subsidiaries are insured                by the FDIC or by general equity principles regardless of whether                such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at                law,  and except to the  extent if any,  that the  provisions  of                Sections 8 and 9 hereof may be  unenforceable  as against  public                policy).

          (o)  The  Company,  the MHC and the Bank are not in  violation  of any                directive received from the OTS, the FDIC, or any other agency to                make any  material  change  in the  method  of  conducting  their                businesses  so as to comply  in all  material  respects  with all                applicable   statutes   and   regulations   (including,   without                limitation,  regulations, decisions, directives and orders of the                OTS,  and  the  FDIC)  and,  except  as may be set  forth  in the                Registration  Statement and the  Prospectus,  there is no suit or                proceeding or charge or action before or by any court, regulatory                authority  or  governmental  agency or body,  pending  or, to the                knowledge of the Company, the MHC or the Bank, threatened,  which                might   materially  and  adversely   affect  the  Offering,   the                performance  of  this  Agreement  or  the   consummation  of  the                transactions  contemplated  in the Plan and as  described  in the                Registration  Statement and the  Prospectus or which might result                in any material  adverse  change in the  condition  (financial or                otherwise), earnings, capital or properties of the

                                        9

               Company,  the MHC and the Bank, or which would materially  affect                their properties and assets.

          (p)  The financial  statements,  schedules  and notes related  thereto                which  are  included  in  the   Prospectus   fairly  present  the                consolidated  balance  sheet,  income  statement,   statement  of                changes in equity  and cash  flows of the Bank at the  respective                dates  indicated and for the respective  periods  covered thereby                and  comply  as  to  form  in  all  material  respects  with  the                applicable  accounting  requirements  of  Title 12 of the Code of                Federal Regulations and generally accepted accounting  principles                (including  those  requiring the  recording of certain  assets at                their current market value). Such financial statements, schedules                and notes related  thereto have been prepared in accordance  with                generally accepted  accounting  principles  consistently  applied                through  the periods  involved,  present  fairly in all  material                respects the  information  required to be stated  therein and are                consistent  with the most recent  financial  statements and other                reports  filed by the Bank  with the OTS.  The  other  financial,                statistical and pro forma  information and related notes included                in the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein on                a basis  consistent  with the  audited  and  unaudited  financial                statements of the Bank included in the Prospectus,  and as to the                pro forma  adjustments,  the adjustments  described  therein have                been properly applied on the basis described therein.

          (q)  Since the  respective  dates as of which  information is given in                the Registration  Statement  including the Prospectus:  (i) there                has not been any material adverse change, financial or otherwise,                in the condition of the Company,  the MHC or the Bank  considered                as one enterprise,  or in the earnings,  capital or properties of                the Company,  the MHC or the Bank,  whether or not arising in the                ordinary course of business; (ii) there has not been any material                increase in the  long-term  debt of the Bank or in the  principal                amount of the Bank's  assets which are  classified by the Bank as                substandard,  doubtful  or loss or in  loans  past due 90 days or                more or real estate acquired by  foreclosure,  by deed-in-lieu of                foreclosure  or deemed  in-substance  foreclosure or any material                decrease in retained earnings or total assets of the Bank nor has                the  Company,  the MHC or the Bank issued any  securities  (other                than in  connection  with the  incorporation  of the  Company) or                incurred any liability or obligation for borrowing  other than in                the ordinary  course of  business;  (iii) there have not been any                material transactions entered into by the Company, the MHC or the                Bank; (iv) there has not been any material  adverse change in the                aggregate   dollar   amount  of  the  Bank's   deposits   or  its                consolidated  net worth;  (v) there has been no material  adverse                change in the  Company's,  the MHC's or the  Bank's  relationship                with  its  insurance  carriers,  including,  without  limitation,                cancellation or other termination of the Company's, the

                                       10





               MHC's or the Bank's  fidelity bond or any other type of insurance                coverage;  (vi) except as disclosed in the  Prospectus  there has                been no material change in management of the Company,  the MHC or                the Bank, neither of which has any material undisclosed liability                of any kind, contingent or otherwise;  (vii) the Company, the MHC                or the Bank has not sustained  any material loss or  interference                with its  respective  business or  properties  from fire,  flood,                windstorm, earthquake, accident or other calamity, whether or not                covered by insurance;  (viii) the Company, the MHC or the Bank is                not in default in the  payment of  principal  or  interest on any                outstanding   debt   obligations;    (ix)   the   capitalization,                liabilities,  assets, properties and business of the Company, the                MHC  and  the  Bank  conform  in  all  material  respects  to the                descriptions thereof contained in the Prospectus; and (x) neither                the  Company,  the MHC nor the Bank has any  material  contingent                liabilities, except as set forth in the Prospectus. All documents                made  available  to or  delivered  or to be made  available to or                delivered  by  the  Bank,   the  MHC  or  the  Company  or  their                representatives  in connection  with the issuance and sale of the                Shares,  including  records of account  holders,  depositors  and                other  members of the Bank,  or in  connection  with the  Agent's                exercise of due diligence,  except for those documents which were                prepared by parties other than the Bank,  the MHC, the Company or                their representatives, to the best knowledge of the Bank, the MHC                and the Company,  were on the dates on which they were delivered,                or will be on the dates on which they are to be delivered,  true,                complete and correct in all material respects.

          (r)  As of the date  hereof and as of the  Closing  Date,  neither the                Company, the MHC nor the Bank is (i) in violation of its articles                of incorporation or charter or bylaws,  respectively,  or (ii) in                default  in  the   performance  or  observance  of  any  material                obligation,  agreement,  covenant,  or condition contained in any                material  contract,  lease,  loan  agreement,  indenture or other                instrument  to  which  it is a party or by which it or any of its                property may be bound;  the  consummation  of the  Offering,  the                execution,  delivery and  performance  of this  Agreement and the                consummation of the transactions  herein  contemplated  have been                duly and validly authorized by all necessary  corporate action on                the part of the Company,  the MHC and the Bank and this Agreement                has been validly  executed and delivered by the Company,  the MHC                and the Bank and is a valid,  legal and binding  Agreement of the                Company,  the MHC and the Bank enforceable in accordance with its                terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by (i)                bankruptcy,     insolvency,      reorganization,      moratorium,                conservatorship,  receivership  or  other  similar  laws  now  or                hereafter in effect  relating to or affecting the  enforcement of                creditors' rights generally or the rights of creditors of federal                savings institutions,  (ii) general equitable  principles,  (iii)                laws relating to the safety and  soundness of insured  depository                institutions, and (iv) applicable

                                       11

               law or public policy with respect to the  indemnification  and/or                contribution  provisions  contained  herein,  and except  that no                representation  or  warranty  need be made  as to the  effect  or                availability   of  equitable   remedies  or   injunctive   relief                (regardless  of whether such  enforceability  is  considered in a                proceeding  in  equity  or  at  law).  The  consummation  of  the                transactions  herein  contemplated will not: (i) conflict with or                constitute  a breach  of,  or  default  under,  or  result in the                creation of any material lien,  charge or encumbrance upon any of                the assets of the  Company,  the MHC or the Bank  pursuant to the                articles  of  incorporation  of the  Company or the  charter  and                bylaws of the Bank and the MHC, or any material  contract,  lease                or other instrument to which the Company, the MHC or the Bank has                a beneficial interest, or any applicable law, rule, regulation or                order;  (ii)  violate  any  authorization,  approval,  judgement,                decree,  order,  statute,  rule or  regulation  applicable to the                Company,  the MHC or the Bank,  except for such violations  which                would  not  have a  material  adverse  effect  on  the  financial                condition and results of  operations of the Company,  the MHC and                the Bank on a consolidated basis; or (iii) result in the creation                of any material lien,  charge or encumbrance upon any property of                the Company, the MHC or the Bank.

          (s)  No default exists, and no event has occurred which with notice or                lapse of time, or both, would  constitute a default,  on the part                of the Company,  the MHC or the Bank in the due  performance  and                observance of any term,  covenant or condition of any  indenture,                mortgage,  deed of trust,  note, bank loan or credit agreement or                any other  instrument or agreement to which the Company,  the MHC                or the Bank is a party  or by  which  any of them or any of their                property is bound or affected,  except such defaults  which would                not have a material adverse affect on the financial  condition or                results of operations  of the Company,  the MHC and the Bank on a                consolidated basis; such agreements are in full force and effect;                and no other party to any such  agreements  has instituted or, to                the  best  knowledge  of the  Company,  the  MHC  and  the  Bank,                threatened any action or proceeding wherein the Company,  the MHC                or  the  Bank  would  or  might  be  alleged  to  be  in  default





               thereunder.

          (t)  Upon  consummation of the Offering,  the  authorized,  issued and                outstanding  equity  capital  of the  Company  will be within the                range   set   forth  in  the   Prospectus   under   the   caption                Capitalization,  and no Shares  have been or will be issued and                outstanding  prior to the Closing Date (other than Shares held by                the MHC);  the Shares will have been duly and validly  authorized                for  issuance  and,  when  issued and  delivered  by the  Company                pursuant  to  the  Plan  against  payment  of  the  consideration                calculated as set forth in the Plan and in the  Prospectus,  will                be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, except                for shares purchased by the ESOP with funds

                                       12

               borrowed from the Company to the extent payment  therefor in cash                has not been  received by the Company;  except to the extent that                subscription   rights  and  priorities   pursuant  thereto  exist                pursuant to the Plan, no preemptive  rights exist with respect to                the  Shares;  and the terms and  provisions  of the  Shares  will                conform  in all  material  respects  to the  description  thereof                contained in the  Registration  Statement and the Prospectus.  To                the best knowledge of the Company, the MHC and the Bank, upon the                issuance  of the  Shares,  good  title  to  the  Shares  will  be                transferred  from the Company to the purchasers  thereof  against                payment  therefor,  subject  to such  claims  as may be  asserted                against the purchasers thereof by third-party claimants.

          (u)  No approval of any  regulatory  or  supervisory  or other  public                authority  is  required  in  connection  with the  execution  and                delivery of this Agreement or the issuance of the Shares,  except                for the  approval of the  Commission,  the OTS and any  necessary                qualification,  notification, registration or exemption under the                securities  or blue sky laws of the  various  states in which the                Shares are to be offered, and except as may be required under the                rules and regulations of the NASD.

          (v)  The Accounting & Consulting Group L.L.P.  which has certified the                consolidated  audited  financial  statements and schedules of the                Bank included in the Prospectus, has advised the Company, the MHC                and the Bank in  writing  that  they  are,  with  respect  to the                Company,  the MHC and the Bank,  independent  public  accountants                within  the  meaning  of the Code of  Professional  Ethics of the                American  Institute of Certified Public  Accountants and Title 12                of the Code of Federal Regulations and Section 571.2(c)(3).

          (w)  RP  Financial  LC, which has  prepared  the  Valuation  Appraisal                Report as of December ___, 1999 (as amended or  supplemented,  if                so amended or supplemented)  (the  Appraisal),  has advised the                Company in writing that it is independent of the Company, the MHC                and the Bank within the meaning of the MHC Regulations.

          (x)  The Company,  the MHC and the Bank have timely filed all required                federal,  state and local tax returns;  the Company,  the MHC and                the Bank have paid all taxes that have  become due and payable in                respect of such returns,  except where  permitted to be extended,                have made adequate  reserves for similar  future tax  liabilities                and no deficiency  has been asserted with respect  thereto by any                taxing authority.

          (y)  The  Bank is in  compliance  in all  material  respects  with the                applicable financial record-keeping and reporting requirements of                the Currency and

                                       13

               Foreign  Transactions  Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, and the                regulations and rules thereunder.

          (z)  To the  knowledge of the Company,  the MHC and the Bank,  neither                the Company,  the MHC, the Bank nor employees of the Company, the                MHC or the Bank have made any  payment  of funds of the MHC,  the                Company or the Bank as a loan for the  purchase  of the Shares or                made any other  payment of funds  prohibited by law, and no funds                have been set aside to be used for any payment prohibited by law.

          (aa) Prior to the Offering,  neither the Company, the MHC nor the Bank                has: (i) issued any securities  within the last 18 months (except                for notes to  evidence  other bank loans and  reverse  repurchase                agreements  or  other  liabilities  in  the  ordinary  course  of                business or as  described in the  Prospectus,  and except for any                shares  issued  in  connection  with  the  incorporation  of  the                Company);  (ii) had any  material  dealings  within the 12 months                prior to the date  hereof  with any  member of the  NASD,  or any                person  related to or  associated  with such  member,  other than                discussions  and meetings  relating to the proposed  Offering and                routine  purchases  and sales of  United  States  government  and





               agency  securities;  (iii) entered into a financial or management                consulting agreement except as contemplated  hereunder;  and (iv)                engaged any intermediary  between the Agent and the Company,  the                MHC and the Bank in  connection  with the offering of the Shares,                and no  person  is  being  compensated  in any  manner  for  such                service.  Appropriate arrangements have been made for placing the                funds  received  from  subscriptions  for  Shares  in  a  special                interest-bearing  account with the Bank until all Shares are sold                and paid for, with  provision for refund to the purchasers in the                event that the Offering is not completed  for whatever  reason or                for delivery to the Company if all Shares are sold.

          (bb) The Company,  the MHC and the Bank have not relied upon the Agent                or its legal  counsel or other  advisors  for any  legal,  tax or                accounting advice in connection with the Offering.

          (cc) The Company is not required to be registered under the Investment                Company Act of 1940, as amended.

          (dd) Any certificates signed by an officer of the Company,  the MHC or                the  Bank  pursuant  to the  conditions  of  this  Agreement  and                delivered  to the  Agent or their  counsel  that  refers  to this                Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation  and warranty by                the  Company,  the MHC or the Bank to the Agent as to the matters                covered  thereby  with the same effect as if such  representation                and warranty were set forth herein.

                                       14

         Section 5. Representations and Warranties of the Agent.

         The Agent represents and warrants to the Company,  the MHC and the Bank that:

               (i) it is a corporation and is validly  existing in good standing           under the laws of the State of Ohio and  licensed to conduct  business           in the  State of Ohio  and it has the  full  power  and  authority  to           provide the  services  to be  furnished  to the Bank,  the MHC and the           Company hereunder.

               (ii)  The  execution  and  delivery  of  this  Agreement  and the           consummation of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby have been duly           and  validly  authorized  by all  necessary  action on the part of the           Agent,  and this  Agreement  has been duly and  validly  executed  and           delivered by the Agent and is a legal,  valid and binding agreement of           the Agent, enforceable in accordance with its terms.

               (iii)   Each  of  the  Agent  and  its   employees,   agents  and           representatives  who shall perform any of the services hereunder shall           be duly  authorized  and  empowered,  and  shall  have  all  licenses,           approvals and permits necessary to perform such services.

               (iv) The execution  and delivery of this  Agreement by the Agent,           the   consummation  of  the  transactions   contemplated   hereby  and           compliance  with the terms and  provisions  hereof  will not  conflict           with,  or result  in a breach  of,  any of the  terms,  provisions  or           conditions  of, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice           or  lapse of time or both  would  constitute  a  default)  under,  the           articles of incorporation of the Agent or any agreement,  indenture or           other  instrument  to which the Agent is a party or by which it or its           property is bound.

               (v) No approval of any  regulatory or supervisory or other public           authority is required in  connection  with the Agent's  execution  and           delivery of this Agreement, except as may have been received.

               (vi) There is no suit or proceeding or charge or action before or           by any court, regulatory authority or government agency or body or, to           the  knowledge  of the  Agent,  pending  or  threatened,  which  might           materially adversely affect the Agent's performance of this Agreement.

         Section  5.l  Covenants  of the  Company,  the MHC and  the  Bank.  The Company,  the MHC and the Bank hereby  jointly and  severally  covenant with the Agent as follows:

          (a)  The Company will not, at any time after the date the Registration                Statement is declared effective, file any amendment or supplement                to the Registration Statement without providing the Agent and its                counsel an opportunity to

                                       15

               review such  amendment  or  supplement  or file any  amendment or                supplement  to which  amendment  or  supplement  the Agent or its                counsel shall reasonably object.

          (b)  The MHC and Bank will not, at any time after the MHC  Application                is approved by the OTS,  file any amendment or supplement to such





               MHC  Application  without  providing the Agent and its counsel an                opportunity  to review such  amendment or  supplement or file any                amendment or  supplement  to which  amendment or  supplement  the                Agent or its counsel shall reasonably object.

          (c)  The Company,  the MHC and the Bank will use their best efforts to                cause any post-effective  amendment to the Registration Statement                to be declared effective by the Commission and any post-effective                amendment  to the MHC  Application  to be approved by the OTS and                will immediately  upon receipt of any information  concerning the                events listed below notify the Agent:  (i) when the  Registration                Statement,  as amended,  has become effective;  (ii) when the MHC                Application,  as amended has been approved by the OTS;  (iii) any                comments from the Commission,  the OTS or any other  governmental                entity  with  respect  to  the   Offering  or  the   transactions                contemplated  by  this  Agreement;  (iv)  of the  request  by the                Commission,  the OTS or any  other  governmental  entity  for any                amendment or supplement to the  Registration  Statement,  the MHC                Application or for additional information; (v) of the issuance by                the Commission,  the OTS or any other governmental  entity of any                order or other action  suspending  the Offering or the use of the                Registration  Statement or the  Prospectus or any other filing of                the Company,  the MHC or the Bank under the MHC  Regulations,  or                other applicable law, or the threat of any such action;  (vi) the                issuance by the Commission,  the OTS or any authority of any stop                order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration  Statement                or of the  initiation  or threat of  initiation  or threat of any                proceedings  for that purpose;  or (vii) of the occurrence of any                event mentioned in paragraph (g) below. The Company,  the MHC and                the Bank will make every  reasonable  effort  (i) to prevent  the                issuance by the Commission, the OTS or any state authority of any                such  order and,  if any such order  shall at any time be issued,                (ii) to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible time.

          (d)  The  Company,  the MHC and the Bank will deliver to the Agent and                to its counsel two conformed copies of the Registration Statement                and  the  MHC  Application,  as  originally  filed  and  of  each                amendment or supplement thereto, including all exhibits. Further,                the Company,  the MHC and the Bank will  deliver such  additional                copies of the foregoing  documents to counsel to the Agent as may                be required for any NASD and blue sky filings.

                                       16

          (e)  The Company, the MHC and the Bank will furnish to the Agent, from                time to time during the period when the  Prospectus (or any later                prospectus  related to this offering) is required to be delivered                under the 1933 Act or the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 (the                1934 Act), such number of copies of such Prospectus (as amended                or  supplemented)  as the Agent may  reasonably  request  for the                purposes  contemplated by the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations,                the 1934 Act or the rules and regulations  promulgated  under the                1934 Act (the 1934 Act Regulations). The Company authorizes the                Agent to use the  Prospectus  (as  amended  or  supplemented,  if                amended or supplemented) in any lawful manner contemplated by the                Plan in connection with the sale of the Shares by the Agent.

          (f)  The  Company,  the MHC and the Bank will  comply with any and all                material  terms,  conditions,  requirements  and provisions  with                respect  to  the  Offering,  and  the  transactions  contemplated                thereby,   imposed  by  the  Commission,   the  OTS  or  the  MHC                Regulations,  and by the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations,  the                1934 Act and the 1934 Act  Regulations  to be complied with prior                to or subsequent  to the Closing Date and when the  Prospectus is                required  to be  delivered,  and  during  such  time  period  the                Company,  the MHC and the Bank will comply, at their own expense,                with  all  material   requirements   imposed  upon  them  by  the                Commission, the OTS or the MHC Regulations,  and by the 1933 Act,                the  1933  Act  Regulations,  the  1934  Act  and  the  1934  Act                Regulations,  including, without limitation, Rule 10b-5 under the                1934 Act,  in each case as from time to time in force,  so far as                necessary  to permit the  continuance  of sales or dealing in the                Common Stock during such period in accordance with the provisions                hereof and the Prospectus.

          (g)  If, at any time during the period when the Prospectus relating to                the Shares is required to be delivered,  any event relating to or                affecting  the  Company,  the MHC or the Bank shall  occur,  as a                result of which it is necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of                counsel  for  the  Company,  the  MHC  and  the  Bank  or in  the                reasonable opinion of the Agent's counsel, to amend or supplement                the  Registration  Statement or  Prospectus  in order to make the                Registration  Statement or Prospectus  not misleading in light of                the  circumstances   existing  at  the  time  the  Prospectus  is                delivered to a purchaser,  the Company, the MHC and the Bank will                immediately  so inform the Agent and prepare  and file,  at their                own expense,  with the  Commission and the OTS and furnish to the                Agent a reasonable number of copies of an amendment or amendments                of, or a supplement or supplements to, the Registration Statement                or Prospectus (in form and substance  reasonably  satisfactory to                the Agent and its  counsel  after a  reasonable  time for review)                which will amend or  supplement  the  Registration  Statement  or





               Prospectus so that as amended

                                       17

               or  supplemented  it will not  contain an untrue  statement  of a                material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order                to make the  statements  therein,  in light of the  circumstances                existing at the time the  Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser,                not misleading.  For the purpose of this Agreement,  the Company,                the MHC and the Bank each will  timely  furnish to the Agent such                information  with respect to itself as the Agent may from time to                time reasonably request.

          (h)  The  Company,  the MHC and  the  Bank  will  take  all  necessary                actions,  in cooperating  with the Agent, and furnish to whomever                the Agent may  direct,  such  information  as may be  required to                qualify  or  register  the Shares  for  offering  and sale by the                Company or to exempt such Shares from registration,  or to exempt                the Company as a  broker-dealer  and its officers,  directors and                employees  as  broker-dealers  or  agents  under  the  applicable                securities  or blue sky laws of such  jurisdictions  in which the                Shares are required  under the MHC  Regulations  to be sold or as                the Agent and the  Company,  the MHC and the Bank may  reasonably                agree upon;  provided,  however,  that the  Company  shall not be                obligated to file any general  consent to service of process,  to                qualify to do business in any  jurisdiction in which it is not so                qualified,  or to register its  directors or officers as brokers,                dealers,  salesmen  or  agents  in  any  jurisdiction.   In  each                jurisdiction where any of the Shares shall have been qualified or                registered as above provided, the Company will make and file such                statements  and  reports in each  fiscal  period as are or may be                required by the laws of such jurisdiction.

          (i)  The  Company,  the MHC and  the  Bank  will  not  sell or  issue,                contract to sell or otherwise dispose of, for a period of 90 days                after  the  Closing  Date,  without  the  Agent's  prior  written                consent,  any Common Stock other than the Shares or other than in                connection  with  any  plan  or  arrangement   described  in  the                Prospectus, including existing stock benefit plans.

          (j)  The Company  shall  register its Common Stock under Section 12(g)                of the 1934 Act on or prior to the Closing  Date  pursuant to the                Plan and shall request that such  registration be effective prior                to or upon completion of the Offering. The Company shall maintain                the  effectiveness  of such  registration for not less than three                years or such shorter period as may be required by the OTS.

          (k)  During the period  during  which the  Company's  Common  Stock is                registered  under the 1934 Act or for  three  (3) years  from the                date  hereof,  whichever  period is  greater,  the  Company  will                furnish to its shareholders as soon as practicable  after the end                of each fiscal year an annual report of the Company  (including a                consolidated balance sheet and statements of consolidated

                                       18

               income,  shareholders'  equity and cash flows of the  Company and                its subsidiaries as at the end of and for such year, certified by                independent  public accountants in accordance with Regulation S-X                under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act).

          (l)  During  the  period  of three  years  from the date  hereof,  the                Company  will  furnish to the Agent:  (i) as soon as  practicable                after such  information  is  publicly  available,  a copy of each                report of the Company  furnished to or filed with the  Commission                under the 1934 Act or any national  securities exchange or system                on which  any class of  securities  of the  Company  is listed or                quoted  (including,  but not limited  to,  reports on Forms 10-K,                10-Q and 8-K and all  proxy  statements  and  annual  reports  to                stockholders),  (ii) a copy of each other non-confidential report                of the  Company  mailed  to its  stockholders  or filed  with the                Commission,  the  OTS  or any  other  supervisory  or  regulatory                authority or any national  securities exchange or system on which                any class of securities of the Company is listed or quoted,  each                press  release and material news items and  additional  documents                and information  with respect to the Company,  MHC or the Bank as                the Agent may  reasonably  request;  and (iii) from time to time,                such other  nonconfidential  information  concerning the Company,                the MHC or the Bank as the Agent may reasonably request.

          (m)  The Company,  the MHC and the Bank will use the net proceeds from                the sale of the Shares in the manner set forth in the  Prospectus                under the caption Use of Proceeds.

          (n)  Other than as permitted  by the MHC  Regulations,  the HOLA,  the                1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations,  and the laws of any state in                which the Shares are  registered  or qualified for sale or exempt                from registration, neither the Company, the MHC nor the Bank will





               distribute any  prospectus,  offering  circular or other offering                material in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares.

          (o)  The Company will use its best efforts to (i) encourage and assist                a market maker to establish  and maintain a market for the Shares                and (ii) list and maintain  quotation of the Shares on a national                or regional  securities  exchange or on the Nasdaq  Stock  Market                (Nasdaq) effective on or prior to the Closing Date.

          (p)  The Bank will maintain  appropriate  arrangements  for depositing                all funds  received  from persons  mailing  subscriptions  for or                orders to purchase Shares in the Offering on an  interest-bearing                basis at the rate described in the  Prospectus  until the Closing                Date and satisfaction of all conditions  precedent to the release                of the Bank's obligation to refund payments received from

                                       19

               persons  subscribing  for or ordering  Shares in the  Offering in                accordance  with the Plan and as described in the  Prospectus  or                until  refunds  of such  funds  have  been  made  to the  persons                entitled  thereto  or  withdrawal   authorizations   canceled  in                accordance with the Plan and as described in the Prospectus.  The                Bank will maintain  such records of all funds  received to permit                the funds of each subscriber to be separately insured by the FDIC                (to the maximum extent  allowable) and to enable the Bank to make                the  appropriate  refunds  of such  funds in the event  that such                refunds are required to be made in  accordance  with the Plan and                as described in the Prospectus.

          (q)  The  Company,  the MHC and the Bank will take  such  actions  and                furnish such information as are reasonably requested by the Agent                in order  for the  Agent to  ensure  compliance  with the  NASD's                Interpretation Relating to Free Riding and Withholding.

          (r)  Neither  the  Company,  the MHC nor the Bank will  amend the Plan                without notifying the Agent prior thereto.

          (s)  The Company shall assist the Agent,  if necessary,  in connection                with  the   allocation   of  the   Shares  in  the  event  of  an                oversubscription and shall provide the Agent with any information                necessary to assist the Company in allocating  the Shares in such                event and such information  shall be accurate and reliable in all                material respects.

          (t)  Prior to the Closing Date, the Company, the MHC and the Bank will                inform  the  Agent of any event or  circumstances  of which it is                aware as a result  of which  the  Registration  Statement  and/or                Prospectus,  as then amended or  supplemented,  would  contain an                untrue  statement of a material  fact or omit to state a material                fact  necessary  in  order  to make the  statements  therein  not                misleading.

          (u)  Subsequent  to the date the  Registration  Statement  is declared                effective by the Commission and prior to the Closing Date, except                as  otherwise  may be indicated  or  contemplated  therein or set                forth in an amendment or supplement thereto, neither the Company,                the MHC nor the Bank will  have:  (i) issued  any  securities  or                incurred any liability or obligation,  direct or contingent,  for                borrowed  money,  except  borrowings  from  the  same or  similar                sources indicated in the Prospectus in the ordinary course of its                business,  or (ii) entered into any transaction which is material                in light of the  business and  properties  of the Company and the                Bank, taken as a whole.

          (v)  The facts and  representations  provided  to Luse  Lehman  Gorman                Pomerenk & Schick by the Bank,  the MHC and the  Company and upon                which Luse

                                       20

               Lehman  Gorman  Pomerenk  & Schick  will base its  opinion  under                Section 7(c)(1) are and will be truthful, accurate and complete.

         Section  6.  Payment  of  Expenses.  Whether  or not  the  Offering  is completed or the sale of the Shares by the Company is consummated,  the Company, the MHC and the Bank jointly and  severally  agree to pay or reimburse the Agent for the Company, the MHC and the Bank have agreed to reimburse the Agent for its out-of-pocket  expenses,  and its legal fees (as  specified in Section 2) and to indemnify the Agent against  certain claims or  liabilities,  including  certain liabilities  under the Securities Act, and will contribute to payments the Agent may be required to make in connection with any such claims or  liabilities;  and the fees set forth under Section 2. In the event the Company is unable to sell a minimum of 708,050  Shares,  the  Company,  the MHC and the Bank shall  promptly reimburse the Agent in accordance with Section 2 hereof.

         Section 7.  Conditions to the Agent's  Obligations.  The obligations of the Agent  hereunder,  as to the Shares to be delivered at the Closing Date, are





subject, to the extent not waived in writing by the Agent, to the condition that all representations  and warranties of the Company,  the MHC and the Bank herein are, at and as of the  commencement of the Offering and at and as of the Closing Date, true and correct in all material respects, the condition that the Company, the MHC and the Bank shall have performed all of their obligations  hereunder to be performed on or before such dates, and to the following further conditions:

          (a)  At the Closing Date, the Company, the MHC and the Bank shall have                conducted  the  Offering in all material  respects in  accordance                with the Plan,  the MHC  Regulations,  and all  other  applicable                laws,  regulations,  decisions  and orders,  including all terms,                conditions, requirements and provisions precedent to the Offering                imposed upon them by the OTS.

          (b)  The Registration  Statement shall have been declared effective by                the  Commission and the MHC  Application  and MHC Notice shall be                approved  by the OTS not later than 5:30 p.m. on the date of this                Agreement,  or with the Agent's consent at a later time and date;                and  at  the  Closing   Date,  no  stop  order   suspending   the                effectiveness  of the  Registration  Statement  shall  have  been                issued under the 1933 Act or proceedings  therefore  initiated or                threatened by the Commission or any state authority, and no order                or other action suspending the authorization of the Prospectus or                the  consummation  of the  Conversion  shall have been  issued or                proceedings  therefore initiated or, to the Company's,  the MHC's                or the Bank's knowledge,  threatened by the Commission,  the OTS,                the FDIC, or any state authority.

          (c)  At the Closing Date, the Agent shall have received:

                                       21

               (1) The  favorable  opinion,  dated  as of the  Closing  Date and                addressed to the Agent and for its benefit, of Luse Lehman Gorman                Pomerenk & Schick,  special counsel for the Company,  the MHC and                the Bank, in form and substance to the effect that:

                    (i) The  Company has been duly  incorporated  and is validly                existing as a corporation under the laws of the United States.

                    (ii) The Company has  corporate  power and authority to own,                lease and operate its  properties  and to conduct its business as                described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

                    (iii) The Bank has been organized and is a validly  existing                federally chartered savings and loan association in capital stock                form of organization,  authorized to conduct its business and own                its property as described in the  Registration  Statement and the                Prospectus. All of the outstanding capital stock of the Bank upon                completion  of the Offering  will be duly  authorized  and,  upon                payment  therefor,   will  be  validly  issued,  fully  paid  and                non-assessable  and will be owned by the Company,  free and clear                of any liens, encumbrances, claims or other restrictions.

                    (iv) The Bank is a member of the  FHLB-Dallas.  The  deposit                accounts  of the Bank are  insured by the FDIC up to the  maximum                amount allowed under law and no proceedings  for the  termination                or revocation of such insurance are pending or, to such counsel's                Actual Knowledge, threatened; to the extent that such information                constitutes  matters  of law  and  legal  conclusions,  has  been                reviewed  by such  counsel  and is  accurately  described  in all                material respects.

                    (v) The MHC has been duly organized and is validly  existing                as a federally chartered mutual holding company,  duly authorized                to conduct its  business and own its  properties  as described in                the Registration Statement and Prospectus.

                    (vi) Upon  consummation  of the Offering,  immediately  upon                completion  thereof  subject to  compliance  with all  conditions                imposed by the OTS under the terms of the OTS' approval order, in                an amount as described in the Prospectus, the authorized,  issued                and  outstanding  capital stock of the Company will be within the                range   set   forth  in  the   Prospectus   under   the   caption                Capitalization,  and no shares of Common Stock have been issued                prior  to the  Closing  Date;  at the time of the  Offering,  the                Shares  subscribed  for pursuant to the  Offering  will have been                duly and validly  authorized  for  issuance,  and when issued and                delivered by the Company  pursuant to the Plan against payment of                the consideration calculated as set forth in the Plan and

                                       22

               Prospectus,  will be duly and  validly  issued and fully paid and                non-assessable;  the  issuance  of the  Shares is not  subject to                preemptive  rights  and the terms and  provisions  of the  Shares                conform  in all  material  respects  to the  description  thereof





               contained in the Prospectus.  To such counsel's Actual Knowledge,                upon the issuance of the Shares, good title to the Shares will be                transferred  by the  Company to the  purchasers  thereof  against                payment  therefor,  subject  to such  claims  as may be  asserted                against the purchasers thereof by third-party claimants.

                    (vii) The execution  and delivery of this  Agreement and the                consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby, have been                duly and validly  authorized by all necessary  action on the part                of the  Company,  the MHC and the Bank;  and this  Agreement is a                valid and  binding  obligation  of the  Company,  the MHC and the                Bank,  enforceable  in accordance  with its terms,  except as the                enforceability   thereof  may  be  limited  by  (i)   bankruptcy,                insolvency,    reorganization,    moratorium,    conservatorship,                receivership  or other  similar  laws now or  hereafter in effect                relating to or affecting the  enforcement  of  creditors'  rights                generally or the rights of creditors of savings institutions, the                deposits  of which  are  insured  by the FDIC and  their  holding                companies, (ii) general equitable principles, (iii) laws relating                to the safety and  soundness of insured  depository  institutions                and their holding  companies,  and (iv)  applicable law or public                policy with respect to the  indemnification  and/or  contribution                provisions  contained herein,  including  without  limitation the                provisions of Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act and                except  that no  opinion  need be  expressed  as to the effect or                availability   of  equitable   remedies  or   injunctive   relief                (regardless  of whether such  enforceability  is  considered in a                proceeding in equity or at law).

                    (viii) The MHC  Application has been approved by the OTS and                the  Prospectus  has been  authorized  for use by the OTS, and no                action has been taken,  and to such  counsel's  Actual  Knowledge                none is pending or threatened,  to revoke any such  authorization                or approval.

                    (ix) The Plan has been duly adopted by the required  vote of                the  directors  of the Company,  the MHC and the Bank,  and based                upon the certificate of the inspector of election, by the members                of the Bank.

                    (x) Subject to the  satisfaction  of the  conditions  to the                OTS' approval of the Offering, no further approval, registration,                authorization,  consent or other order of any federal  regulatory                agency is required in connection  with the execution and delivery                of  this   Agreement,   the   issuance  of  the  Shares  and  the                consummation of the Offering, except as may be required under the                securities or blue sky laws of various jurisdictions (as to which                no opinion need be

                                       23

               rendered)  and  except  as may be  required  under  the rules and                regulations  of the NASD  and/or the NYSE (as to which no opinion                need  be  rendered).  To such  counsel's  Actual  Knowledge,  the                Offering  has  been  consummated  in  all  material  respects  in                accordance  with  MHC  Regulations,  except  that no  opinion  is                rendered  with  respect  to (a)  the  Registration  Statement  or                Prospectus,  which are covered by other  clauses of this opinion,                (b) the satisfaction of the  post-Offering  conditions in the OTS                Regulations or in the OTS approvals of the MHC  Application,  (c)                the securities or blue sky laws of various  jurisdictions,  and                (d) the rules and regulations of the NASD.

                    (xi) The Registration  Statement is effective under the 1933                Act,  and no stop order  suspending  the  effectiveness  has been                issued under the 1933 Act or proceedings  therefor  initiated or,                to such counsel's Actual Knowledge, threatened by the Commission.

                    (xii)  At  the  time  the  MHC  Application,  including  the                Prospectus  contained  therein,  was approved by the OTS, the MHC                Application, including the Prospectus contained therein, complied                as to form in all material  respects with the requirements of the                MHC  Regulations,  federal  law  and  all  applicable  rules  and                regulations  promulgated  thereunder  (other  than the  financial                statements,  the notes  thereto,  and other  tabular,  financial,                statistical and appraisal data included  therein,  as to which no                opinion need be rendered).

                    (xiii) At the time that the  Registration  Statement  became                effective,   (i)  the  Registration   Statement  (as  amended  or                supplemented,  if so amended  or  supplemented)  (other  than the                financial  statements,  the notes  thereto,  and  other  tabular,                financial, statistical and appraisal data included therein, as to                which no opinion  need be  rendered),  complied as to form in all                material  respects with the  requirements of the 1933 Act and the                1933 Act  Regulations,  and (ii) the  Prospectus  (other than the                financial  statements,  the notes  thereto,  and  other  tabular,                financial, statistical and appraisal data included therein, as to                which no opinion  need be  rendered)  complied  as to form in all                material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1933                Act Regulations, the MHC Regulations and federal law.





                    (xiv) The terms and  provisions of the Shares of the Company                conform,  in all material  respects,  to the description  thereof                contained in the Registration  Statement and Prospectus,  and the                form of  certificate  used to  evidence  the Shares is in due and                proper form.

                    (xv) There are no legal or governmental  proceedings pending                or  threatened   which  are  required  to  be  disclosed  in  the                Registration Statement and Prospectus, other than those disclosed                therein, and to such counsel's

                                       24

               Actual Knowledge,  all pending legal and governmental proceedings                to which the Company,  the MHC or the Bank is a party or of which                any of their property is the subject,  which are not described in                the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including ordinary                routine litigation incidental to the Company's,  the MHC's or the                Bank's business, are, considered in the aggregate, not material.

                    (xvi)  To such  counsel's  Actual  Knowledge,  there  are no                material  contracts,  indentures,   mortgages,  loan  agreements,                notes,  leases or other  instruments  required to be described or                referred to in the MHC Application, the Registration Statement or                the Prospectus or required to be filed as exhibits  thereto other                than those  described or referred to therein or filed as exhibits                thereto in the MHC Application, the Registration Statement or the                Prospectus.   The  description  in  the  MHC   Application,   the                Registration  Statement and the  Prospectus of such documents and                exhibits is accurate in all material respects and fairly presents                the information required to be shown.

                    (xvii) To such counsel's Actual Knowledge,  the Company, the                MHC and the Bank have  conducted  the  Offering,  in all material                respects,  in accordance with all applicable  requirements of the                Plan and  applicable  federal  law,  except  that no  opinion  is                rendered   with   respect  to  (a)  the  MHC   Application,   the                Registration Statement or Prospectus,  which are covered by other                clauses   of  this   opinion,   (b)  the   satisfaction   of  the                post-Offering  conditions  in the OTS  Regulations  or in the OTS                approval of the MHC Application, (c) the securities or blue sky                laws of various jurisdictions,  and (d) the rules and regulations                of the NASD. The Plan complies in all material  respects with all                applicable federal laws, rules, regulations, decisions and orders                including, but not limited to, the MHC Regulations;  no order has                been issued by the OTS, the  Commission,  the FDIC,  or any state                authority to suspend the  Offering or the use of the  Prospectus,                and no action for such purposes has been  instituted  or, to such                counsel's   Actual   Knowledge,   threatened   by  the  OTS,  the                Commission,  the FDIC,  or any state  authority and no person has                sought  to  obtain  regulatory  or  judicial  review of the final                action of the OTS, approving the Plan, the MHC Application or the                Prospectus.

                    (xviii) To such counsel's Actual Knowledge, the Company, the                MHC and the Bank have obtained all material licenses, permits and                other  governmental  authorizations  currently  required  for the                conduct of their  businesses and all such  licenses,  permits and                other  governmental  authorizations are in full force and effect,                and  the  Company,  the  MHC and  the  Bank  are in all  material                respects  complying  therewith,  except where the failure to have                such licenses,  permits and other governmental  authorizations or                the  failure  to be in  compliance  therewith  would  not  have a                material adverse effect on the

                                       25

               business  or  operations  of the Bank,  the MHC and the  Company,                taken as a whole.

                    (xix)  To  such  counsel's  Actual  Knowledge,  neither  the                Company,  the MHC nor the Bank is in violation of its articles of                incorporation   and  bylaws  or  its  Charter   and  bylaws,   as                appropriate or, to such counsel's Actual Knowledge, in default or                violation  of any  obligation,  agreement,  covenant or condition                contained in any contract,  indenture,  mortgage, loan agreement,                note,  lease  or  other  instrument  to which it is a party or by                which it or its property may be bound,  except for such  defaults                or violations  which would not have a material  adverse impact on                the financial  condition or results of operations of the Company,                the MHC and the Bank on a consolidated  basis;  to such counsel's                Actual  Knowledge,  the execution and delivery of this Agreement,                the  occurrence  of the  obligations  herein  set  forth  and the                consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  herein will not                conflict  with or  constitute a breach of, or default  under,  or                result in the  creation  or  imposition  of any  lien,  charge or                encumbrance  upon any property or assets of the Company,  the MHC                or  the  Bank  pursuant  to  any  material  contract,  indenture,





               mortgage,  loan  agreement,  note,  lease or other  instrument to                which the Company, the MHC or the Bank is a party or by which any                of them may be bound,  or to which any of the  property or assets                of the Company, the MHC or the Bank are subject; and, such action                will  not  result  in  any  violation  of the  provisions  of the                certificate  of  incorporation  or bylaws of the  Company  or the                Charter  or bylaws  of the MHC or the Bank or, to such  counsel's                Actual  Knowledge,  result  in any  violation  of any  applicable                federal law, act, regulation (except that no opinion with respect                to the securities and blue sky laws of various  jurisdictions  or                the rules or  regulations  of the NASD need be rendered) or order                or court order, writ, injunction or decree.

                    (xx) The  Company's  articles  of  incorporation  and bylaws                comply in all material  respects with the regulations of the OTS.                The Bank's and MHC's  charter and bylaws  comply in all  material                respects with the rules and regulations of the OTS.

                    (xxi)  To  such  counsel's  Actual  Knowledge,  neither  the                Company,  the MHC nor the Bank is in violation  of any  directive                from  the OTS or the  FDIC to make  any  material  change  in the                method of conducting its respective business.

                    (xxii) The information in the Prospectus  under the captions                Regulation, The Stock Offering,  Restrictions on Acquisition                of  the  Alamogordo   Financial  and   Alamogordo   Federal  and                Description  of Capital Stock of the  Alamogordo  Financial, to                the extent that such information constitutes

                                       26

               matters  of  law,  summaries  of  legal  matters,   documents  or                proceedings,  or legal  conclusions,  has been  reviewed  by such                counsel and is correct in all material  respects.  The discussion                of  statutes  or  regulations  described  or  referred  to in the                Prospectus   are  accurate   summaries  and  fairly  present  the                information   required  to  be  shown.  The  information  in  the                Prospectus relating to the tax consequences of the stock offering                has been  reviewed  by such  counsel  and  fairly  describes  the                opinions  rendered  by Luse Lehman  Gorman  Pomerenk & Schick and                _____________________  to the Company,  the MHC and the Bank with                respect to such matters.

                    (xxiii) The  Company  and the MHC have been duly  registered                and are in good  standing as savings and loan  holding  companies                under the HOLA.

                    (xxiv) In addition, such counsel shall state that during the                preparation of the MHC Application,  the  Registration  Statement                and the Prospectus, they participated in conferences with certain                officers of, the independent public and internal accountants for,                and other  representatives of the Company,  the MHC and the Bank,                at which  conferences  the contents of the MHC  Application,  the                Registration  Statement and the  Prospectus  and related  matters                were  discussed  and,  while such counsel have not  confirmed the                accuracy or completeness of or otherwise verified the information                contained in the MHC Application,  the Registration  Statement or                the  Prospectus,  and do not assume any  responsibility  for such                information,   based  upon  such  conferences  and  a  review  of                documents deemed relevant for the purpose of rendering their view                (relying as to materiality as to factual  matters on certificates                of officers and other factual representations by the Company, the                MHC and the Bank), nothing has come to their attention that would                lead them to believe that the MHC  Application,  the Registration                Statement, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto                (other than the  financial  statements,  the notes  thereto,  and                other tabular, financial, statistical and appraisal data included                therein as to which no view need be rendered) contained an untrue                statement of a material  fact or omitted to state a material fact                required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements                therein,  in light of the  circumstances  under  which  they were                made, not misleading.

         In giving such opinion, such counsel may rely as to all matters of fact on  certificates  of officers or directors of the Company,  the MHC and the Bank and certificates of public officials. The opinion of Luse Lehman Gorman Pomerenk & Schick  shall be  governed  by the  Legal  Opinion  Accord  (Accord)  of the American  Bar  Association  Section of  Business  Law (1991).  The term  Actual Knowledge  as used herein  shall have the meaning set forth in the Accord.  For purposes of such opinion, no proceedings shall be deemed to be pending, no order or stop order shall be deemed to be issued,  and no action shall be deemed to be instituted unless, in each case, a director or executive officer of the Company, the MHC or the Bank shall have received a copy of such

                                       27

proceedings,  order,  stop order or action.  In  addition,  such  opinion may be limited to present  statutes,  regulations and judicial  interpretations  and to





facts as they  presently  exist;  in rendering  such opinion,  such counsel need assume no  obligation  to revise or  supplement  it should the  present  laws be changed by legislative or regulatory action, judicial decision or otherwise; and such counsel need express no view, opinion or belief with respect to whether any proposed  or  pending  legislation,  if  enacted,  or any  proposed  or  pending regulations or policy statements issued by any regulatory agency, whether or not promulgated  pursuant to any such legislation,  would affect the validity of the Offering or any aspect  thereof.  Such counsel may assume that any  agreement is the valid and binding obligation of any parties to such agreement other than the Company, the MHC or the Bank.

         The  favorable  opinion,  dated as of the Closing Date and addressed to the  Agent and for their  benefit,  of the  Bank's  local  counsel,  in form and substance to the effect that, to the best of such counsel's  knowledge,  (i) the Company,  the MHC and the Bank have good and marketable  title to all properties and assets which are  material to the  business of the Company,  the MHC and the Bank and to those properties and assets described in the Registration  Statement and  Prospectus,  as owned  by them,  free  and  clear  of all  liens,  charges, encumbrances or  restrictions,  except such as are described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, or are not material in relation to the business of the Company,  the MHC and the Bank  considered  as one  enterprise;  (ii) all of the leases and  subleases  material to the business of the Company,  the MHC and the Bank under which the Company, the MHC and the Bank hold properties, as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus,  are in full force and effect; and (iii) the Bank is duly qualified as a foreign  corporation to transact  business and is in good standing in each  jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or  leasing  of  property  or  the  conduct  of  its  business   requires   such qualification,  unless  the  failure to be so  qualified  in one or more of such jurisdictions  would  not  have a  material  adverse  effect  on the  condition, financial or otherwise, or the business, operations or income of the Bank.

          (d)  At the Closing Date,  the Agent shall have received the favorable                opinion,  dated as of the  Closing  Date,  of Silver,  Freedman &                Taff, L.L.P.,  the Agent's counsel,  with respect to such matters                as the Agent may reasonably  require.  Such opinion may rely upon                the opinions of counsel to the Company, the MHC and the Bank, and                as  to  matters  of  fact,  upon  certificates  of  officers  and                directors of the Company, the MHC and the Bank delivered pursuant                hereto or as such counsel shall reasonably request.

          (e)  At the Closing Date, the Agent shall receive a certificate of the                Chief  Executive  Officer  and  the  Principal  Financial  and/or                Accounting  Officer of the Company,  the MHC and the Bank in form                and substance  reasonably  satisfactory  to the Agent's  Counsel,                dated as of such Closing Date, to the effect that:  (i) they have                carefully  reviewed the Prospectus and, in their opinion,  at the                time  the  Prospectus   became  authorized  for  final  use,  the                Prospectus  did not  contain any untrue  statement  of a material                fact or omit to state a material fact  necessary in order to make                the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which                they were made, not misleading; (ii) since

                                       28

               the date the Prospectus became authorized for final use, no event                has occurred  which should have been set forth in an amendment or                supplement  to the  Prospectus  which has not been so set  forth,                including  specifically,  but without  limitation,  any  material                adverse  change in the condition,  financial or otherwise,  or in                the earnings, capital, properties or business of the Company, the                MHC or the Bank,  and the  conditions set forth in this Section 7                have been satisfied; (iii) since the respective dates as of which                information  is  given  in the  Registration  Statement  and  the                Prospectus,  there  has been no  material  adverse  change in the                condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, capital or                properties of the Company, the MHC or the Bank, independently, or                of  the  Company,  the  MHC  and  the  Bank,  considered  as  one                enterprise,  whether  or not  arising in the  ordinary  course of                business;  (iv) the  representations  and warranties in Section 4                are true and  correct  with the same  force and  effect as though                expressly  made at and as of the Closing  Date;  (v) the Company,                MHC and the Bank have complied in all material  respects with all                agreements  and  satisfied  all  conditions  on their  part to be                performed  or  satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date and will                comply  in all  material  respects  with  all  obligations  to be                satisfied  by  them  after  the  Offering;  (vi)  no  stop  order                suspending the  effectiveness of the  Registration  Statement has                been initiated or, to the best knowledge of the Company,  the MHC                or the Bank, threatened by the Commission or any state authority;                (vii) no order  suspending the Offering or the  effectiveness  of                the  Prospectus  has  been  issued  and no  proceedings  for that                purpose are pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, the                MHC or the Bank, threatened by the OTS, the Commission, the FDIC,                or any state  authority;  and (viii) to the best knowledge of the                Company,  the MHC or the  Bank,  no person  has  sought to obtain                review of the final action of the OTS approving the Plan.

          (f)  Prior to and at the Closing Date: (i) in the  reasonable  opinion                of the Agent, there shall have been no material adverse change in                the  condition,  financial  or  otherwise,  or in the earnings or                business of the Company, the MHC or the Bank independently, or of                the Company, the MHC and the Bank,  considered as one enterprise,





               from that as of the latest  dates as of which such  condition  is                set forth in the Prospectus other than  transactions  referred to                or contemplated  therein;  (ii) the Company,  the MHC or the Bank                shall not have  received  from the OTS or the FDIC any  direction                (oral or  written) to make any  material  change in the method of                conducting  their business with which it has not complied  (which                direction,  if any,  shall have been  disclosed  to the Agent) or                which   materially  and  adversely  would  affect  the  business,                operations or financial  condition or income of the Company,  the                MHC and the Bank taken as a whole; (iii) the Company, the MHC and                the Bank shall not have been in default  (nor shall an event have                occurred  which,  with  notice  or lapse  of time or both,  would                constitute a default) under any provision of

                                       29

               any   agreement  or  instrument   relating  to  any   outstanding                indebtedness;  (iv) no action,  suit or proceeding,  at law or in                equity or before or by any federal or state commission,  board or                other  administrative   agency,  shall  be  pending  or,  to  the                knowledge of the Company, the MHC or the Bank, threatened against                the  Company,  the MHC or the  Bank  or  affecting  any of  their                properties  wherein an  unfavorable  decision,  ruling or finding                would materially and adversely  affect the business,  operations,                financial  condition  or income of the  Company,  the MHC and the                Bank taken as a whole;  and (v) the Shares have been qualified or                registered for offering and sale or exempted  therefrom under the                securities  or blue sky laws of the  jurisdictions  as the  Agent                shall have reasonably  requested and as agreed to by the Company,                the MHC and the Bank.

          (g)  Concurrently  with the  execution  of this  Agreement,  the Agent                shall  receive a letter from The  Accounting &  Consulting  Group                L.L.P.  dated as of the date of the  Prospectus  and addressed to                the Agent:  (i) confirming that The Accounting & Consulting Group                L.L.P.  is a firm  of  independent  public  accounts  within  the                meaning  of Rule 101 of the Code of  Professional  Ethics  of the                American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and applicable                regulations  of the OTS and stating in effect that in its opinion                the  consolidated  financial  statements,  schedules  and related                notes of the Bank as of September  30, 1999 and 1998 and for each                of the three years in the period ended September 30, 1998, as are                included in the Prospectus and covered by their opinion  included                therein,  comply  as to form in all  material  respects  with the                applicable  accounting  requirements and related  published rules                and  regulations  of the OTS and the 1933 Act;  (ii)  stating  in                effect that, on the basis of certain agreed upon  procedures (but                not an audit  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  auditing                standards)  consisting  of a  reading  of  the  latest  available                unaudited interim  consolidated  financial statements of the Bank                prepared by the Bank, a reading of the minutes of the meetings of                the Board of Directors and members of the Bank and  consultations                with  officers  of  the  Bank   responsible   for  financial  and                accounting matters,  nothing came to their attention which caused                them to believe  that:  (A) the  unaudited  financial  statements                included in the  Prospectus  are not in conformity  with the 1933                Act, applicable accounting  requirements of the OTS and generally                accepted  accounting  principles applied on a basis substantially                consistent with that of the audited financial statements included                in the Prospectus;  or (b) during the period from the date of the                latest unaudited  consolidated  financial  statements included in                the  Prospectus to a specified  date not more than three business                days  prior to the  date of the  Prospectus,  except  as has been                described   in  the   Prospectus,   there  was  any  increase  in                borrowings, other than normal deposit fluctuations,  by the Bank;                or (c) there was any decrease in the  consolidated  net assets of                the Bank at the date of such letter as compared with amounts

                                       30

               shown in the latest unaudited consolidated statement of condition                included in the  Prospectus;  and (iii) stating that, in addition                to  the  audit  referred  to in  their  opinion  included  in the                Prospectus and the  performance of the procedures  referred to in                clause (ii) of this  subsection  (f), they have compared with the                general  accounting records of the Bank, which are subject to the                internal  controls of the Bank, the  accounting  system and other                data prepared by the Bank, directly from such accounting records,                to the extent  specified  in such  letter,  such  amounts  and/or                percentages  set  forth  in  the  Prospectus  as  the  Agent  may                reasonably request; and they have reported on the results of such                comparisons.

          (h)  At the Closing  Date,  the Agent shall receive a letter dated the                Closing Date,  addressed to the Agent,  confirming the statements                made by The  Accounting & Consulting  Group L.L.P.  in the letter                delivered by it pursuant to subsection (f) of this Section 7, the                specified  date  referred to in clause (ii) of  subsection  (f)





               thereof to be a date specified in such letter, which shall not be                more than three business days prior to the Closing Date.

          (i)  At the Closing  Date,  the Agent  shall  receive a letter from RP                Financial LC, dated the date thereof and addressed to counsel for                the Agent (i)  confirming  that said firm is  independent  of the                Company,  the MHC and the Bank and is  experienced  and expert in                the area of corporate  appraisals  within the meaning of Title 12                of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 563b.7(f)(1)(i), (ii)                stating  in  effect  that the  Appraisal  prepared  by such  firm                complies   in  all   material   respects   with  the   applicable                requirements of Title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations,  and                (iii)  further  stating that their  opinion of the  aggregate pro                forma market value of the Company, the MHC and the Bank expressed                in  their  Appraisal  dated as of  December  __,  1999,  and most                recently updated, remains in effect.

          (j)  The Company,  the MHC and the Bank shall not have sustained since                the  date of the  latest  financial  statements  included  in the                Prospectus  any material loss or  interference  with its business                from fire,  explosion,  flood or other  calamity,  whether or not                covered  by  insurance,  or from any  labor  dispute  or court or                governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth                or contemplated in the Registration  Statement and Prospectus and                since the  respective  dates as of which  information is given in                the Registration  Statement and Prospectus,  there shall not have                been any change in the long- term debt of the Company, the MHC or                the Bank other than debt  incurred in relation to the purchase of                Shares  by the  Bank's  Eligible  Plans,  or any  change,  or any                development  involving a prospective  change, in or affecting the                general affairs,  management,  financial position,  stockholders'                equity or  results  of  operations  of the  Company  or the Bank,                otherwise than as set forth or

                                       31

               contemplated in the  Registration  Statement and Prospectus,  the                effect of  which,  in any such case  described  above,  is in the                Agent's reasonable judgment  sufficiently material and adverse as                to make it  impracticable  or  inadvisable  to  proceed  with the                Subscription  Offering or the delivery of the Shares on the terms                and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

          (k)  At or prior to the Closing Date, the Agent shall  receive:  (i) a                copy of the letters from the OTS  approving  the MHC  Application                and  authorizing  the use of the  Prospectus;  (ii) a copy of the                order from the Commission  declaring the  Registration  Statement                effective;  (iii)  certificate  of  good  standing  from  the OTS                evidencing  the good standing of the Company;  (iv) a certificate                from the FDIC evidencing the Bank's insurance of accounts;  (v) a                certificate of the FHLB-Dallas  evidencing the Bank's  membership                thereof; (vi) a certificate from the OTS evidencing the Company's                and the MHC's  standing as  registered  savings and loan  holding                companies;  (vii) a copy of the Bank's federal stock charter; and                (viii) a copy of the Company's federal charter; and (viii) a copy                of the MHC's federal charter.

          (l)  Subsequent to the date hereof,  there shall not have occurred any                of the  following:  (i) a suspension  or limitation in trading in                securities  generally  on the New York Stock  Exchange  or in the                over-the-counter  market,  or quotations  halted generally on the                Nasdaq, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed,                or maximum ranges for prices for securities have been required by                either  of  such  exchanges  or  the  NASD  or by  order  of  the                Commission or any other  governmental  authority;  (ii) a general                moratorium on the operations of commercial banks, federal savings                institutions  or  a  general  moratorium  on  the  withdrawal  of                deposits from commercial  banks or federal  savings  institutions                declared  by federal  authorities;  (iii) the  engagement  by the                United  States  in   hostilities   which  have  resulted  in  the                declaration, on or after the date hereof, of a national emergency                or war; or (iv) a material decline in the price of equity or debt                securities if the effect of such a declaration or decline, in the                Agent's   reasonable   judgement,   makes  it   impracticable  or                inadvisable  to proceed  with the Offering or the delivery of the                shares  on  the  terms  and  in the  manner  contemplated  in the                Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

          (m)  At or prior to the Closing Date,  counsel to the Agent shall have                been  furnished  with such  documents  and  opinions  as they may                reasonably  require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon                the  sale  of the  Shares  as  herein  contemplated  and  related                proceedings   or  in  order  to  evidence   the   occurrence   or                completeness of any of the representations or warranties,  or the                fulfillment of any of the conditions,  herein contained;  and all                proceedings  taken  by  the  Company,  the  MHC or  the  Bank  in                connection with the Offering and the sale

                                       32





               of the Shares as herein  contemplated  shall be  satisfactory  in                form and substance to the Agent and its counsel.

         Section 8. Indemnification.

          (a)  The Company,  the MHC and the Bank jointly and severally agree to                indemnify and hold harmless the Agent,  its  respective  officers                and directors, employees and agents, and each person, if any, who                controls  the Agent  within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933                Act or Section  20(a) of the 1934 Act,  against any and all loss,                liability, claim, damage or expense whatsoever (including but not                limited to settlement expenses), joint or several, that the Agent                or any of them may  suffer  or to which  the  Agent  and any such                persons may become subject under all applicable  federal or state                laws or  otherwise,  and to promptly  reimburse the Agent and any                such  persons  upon  written  demand for any  expense  (including                reasonable  fees and  disbursements  of counsel)  incurred by the                Agent or any of them in connection with investigating,  preparing                or  defending  any  actions,   proceedings  or  claims   (whether                commenced  or  threatened)  to the extent  such  losses,  claims,                damages,  liabilities  or actions:  (i) arise out of or are based                upon any  untrue  statement  or  alleged  untrue  statement  of a                material  fact  contained in the  Registration  Statement (or any                amendment or supplement thereto), preliminary or final Prospectus                (or any amendment or supplement thereto), the MHC Application (or                any  amendment  or  supplement  thereto),  or any  instrument  or                document  executed by the  Company,  the MHC or the Bank or based                upon written information  supplied by the Company, the MHC or the                Bank filed in any state or  jurisdiction  to  register or qualify                any or all of the Shares or to claim an exemption  therefrom,  or                provided to any state or  jurisdiction to exempt the Company as a                broker-dealer  or  its  officers,   directors  and  employees  as                broker-dealers  or  agent,  under  the  securities  laws  thereof                (collectively,  the Blue  Sky  Application),  or any  document,                advertisement,    oral   statement   or   communication   (Sales                Information)  prepared,  made or executed by or on behalf of the                Company,  the MHC or the Bank with  their  consent  or based upon                written  or oral  information  furnished  by or on  behalf of the                Company,  the  MHC or the  Bank,  whether  or  not  filed  in any                jurisdiction,  in order to qualify or  register  the Shares or to                claim an exemption  therefrom  under the securities laws thereof;                (ii)  arise  out of or are based  upon the  omission  or  alleged                omission  to  state  in  any  of  the   foregoing   documents  or                information,  a material  fact  required to be stated  therein or                necessary  to  make  the  statements  therein,  in  light  of the                circumstances  under  which they were made,  not  misleading;  or                (iii) arise from any theory of liability  whatsoever  relating to                or arising from or based upon the Registration  Statement (or any                amendment or supplement thereto), preliminary or final Prospectus                (or any amendment or supplement thereto), the MHC Application

                                       33

               (or  any   amendment  or  supplement   thereto),   any  Blue  Sky                Application   or  Sales   Information   or  other   documentation                distributed in connection with the Offering;  provided,  however,                that no  indemnification  is required under this paragraph (a) to                the extent such losses, claims,  damages,  liabilities or actions                arise out of or are based upon any untrue  material  statement or                alleged  untrue  material  statement in, or material  omission or                alleged material  omission from, the  Registration  Statement (or                any  amendment  or  supplement  thereto),  preliminary  or  final                Prospectus  (or any  amendment or  supplement  thereto),  the MHC                Application  (or any amendment or supplement  thereto),  any Blue                Sky Application or Sales Information made in reliance upon and in                conformity with information  furnished in writing to the Company,                the MHC or the Bank by the  Agent or its  counsel  regarding  the                Agent  provided,  that it is agreed and understood  that the only                information  furnished in writing to the Company,  the MHC or the                Bank  by the  Agent  regarding  the  Agent  is set  forth  in the                Prospectus;  and,  provided  further,  that such  indemnification                shall be to the extent  permitted by the  Commissioner,  the OTS,                the FDIC and the Board of Governors of the Federal  Reserve.  The                indemnification  provided for in this  paragraph (a) shall not be                applicable with respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage, or                expense  whatsoever if it is  determined  by final  judgment of a                court  having  jurisdiction  over  the  matter  that  such  loss,                liability, claim, damage or expense was primarily a result of the                Agent's willful misconduct or gross negligence.

          (b)  The Agent agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company,  the                MHC and the Bank,  their  directors and officers and each person,                if any, who controls the Company,  the MHC or the Bank within the                meaning of  Section  15 of the 1933 Act or  Section  20(a) of the                1934 Act against any and all loss,  liability,  claim,  damage or                expense  whatsoever  (including  but not  limited  to  settlement                expenses),  joint or  several,  which they,  or any of them,  may                suffer or to which they, or any of them may become  subject under                all  applicable  federal  and  state  laws or  otherwise,  and to                promptly  reimburse the Company,  the MHC, the Bank, and any such                persons   upon  written   demand  for  any  expenses   (including





               reasonable fees and  disbursements of counsel)  incurred by them,                or any of them, in connection  with  investigating,  preparing or                defending any actions,  proceedings or claims (whether  commenced                or  threatened)  to the  extent  such  losses,  claims,  damages,                liabilities  or  actions:  (i) arise out of or are based upon any                untrue  statement or alleged untrue  statement of a material fact                contained  in the  Registration  Statement  (or any  amendment or                supplement  thereto),  the MHC  Application  (or any amendment or                supplement thereto),  the preliminary or final Prospectus (or any                amendment or supplement  thereto),  any Blue Sky  Application  or                Sales  Information,  (ii) are based upon the  omission or alleged                omission  to state in any of the  foregoing  documents a material                fact required to be stated therein

                                       34

               or necessary to make the statements  therein, in the light of the                circumstances  under  which they were made,  not  misleading,  or                (iii) arise from any theory of liability  whatsoever  relating to                or arising from or based upon the Registration  Statement (or any                amendment or supplement thereto), preliminary or final Prospectus                (or any amendment or supplement thereto), the MHC Application (or                any amendment or supplement  thereto),or any Blue Sky Application                or  Sales  Information  or  other  documentation  distributed  in                connection with the Offering; provided, however, that the Agent's                obligations  under this Section 8(b) shall exist only if and only                to the extent (i) that such untrue  statement  or alleged  untrue                statement was made in, or such material fact or alleged  material                fact  was  omitted  from,  the  Registration  Statement  (or  any                amendment  or  supplement  thereto),  the  preliminary  or  final                Prospectus  (or any  amendment or  supplement  thereto),  the MHC                Application (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or any Blue                Sky  Application  or Sales  Information  in reliance  upon and in                conformity with information  furnished in writing to the Company,                the MHC or the Bank by the  Agent or its  counsel  regarding  the                Agent,  provided,  that it is agreed and understood that the only                information  furnished in writing to the Company,  the MHC or the                Bank  by the  Agent  regarding  the  Agent  is set  forth  in the                Prospectus.  The  indemnification  provided for in this Section 8                (b) shall not be applicable with respect to any loss,  liability,                claim, damage, or expense whatsoever if it is determined by final                judgment of a court having jurisdiction over the matter that such                loss, liability,  claim, damage or expense was primarily a result                of the Company's,  the MHC's or the Bank's willful  misconduct or                gross negligence.

          (c)  Each  indemnified  party shall give prompt written notice to each                indemnifying  party of any  action,  proceeding,  claim  (whether                commenced  or  threatened),  or  suit  instituted  against  it in                respect of which indemnity may be sought  hereunder,  but failure                to so notify an indemnifying  party shall not relieve it from any                liability  which  it may have on  account  of this  Section  8 or                otherwise.  An  indemnifying  party  may  participate  at its own                expense in the  defense of such  action.  In  addition,  if it so                elects within a reasonable time after receipt of such notice,  an                indemnifying party,  jointly with any other indemnifying  parties                receiving  such  notice,  may assume  defense of such action with                counsel chosen by it and approved by the indemnified parties that                are defendants in such action,  unless such  indemnified  parties                reasonably object to such assumption on the ground that there may                be legal defenses available to them that are different from or in                addition to those  available to such  indemnifying  party.  If an                indemnifying  party  assumes  the  defense  of such  action,  the                indemnifying  parties  shall  not be  liable  for  any  fees  and                expenses  of  counsel  for  the  indemnified   parties   incurred                thereafter in connection  with such action,  proceeding or claim,                other than reasonable costs

                                       35

               of investigation.  In no event shall the indemnifying  parties be                liable for the fees and expenses of more than one  separate  firm                of attorneys (and any special  counsel that said firm may retain)                for each  indemnified  party in  connection  with any one action,                proceeding  or claim or separate but similar or related  actions,                proceedings or claims in the same jurisdiction arising out of the                same general allegations or circumstances.

          (d)  The  agreements  contained  in this  Section  8 and in  Section 9                hereof and the representations and warranties of the Company, the                MHC  and the  Bank  set  forth  in this  Agreement  shall  remain                operative  and in full  force and effect  regardless  of: (i) any                investigation  made by or on behalf  of agent or their  officers,                directors or controlling persons,  agent or employees or by or on                behalf  of the  Company,  the MHC or the  Bank  or any  officers,                directors  or  controlling  persons,  agent or  employees  of the                Company,  the  MHC or the  Bank;  (ii)  delivery  of and  payment                hereunder  for the  Shares;  or  (iii)  any  termination  of this





               Agreement.

         Section 9.  Contribution.  In order to provide  for just and  equitable contribution  in  circumstances  in which the  indemnification  provided  for in Section 8 is due in  accordance  with its terms but is for any reason  held by a court to be unavailable  from the Company,  the MHC, the Bank or the Agent,  the Company,  the MHC,  the Bank and the Agent  shall  contribute  to the  aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including any investigation,  legal and other  expenses  incurred in connection  with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action,  suit or proceeding of any claims asserted,  but after deducting any  contribution  received by the Company,  the MHC, the Bank or the Agent from persons  other  than  the  other  party  thereto,  who may  also be  liable  for contribution)  in such  proportion  so that the  Agent is  responsible  for that portion  represented by the percentage  that the fees paid to the Agent pursuant to  Section 2 of this  Agreement  (not  including  expenses)  bears to the gross proceeds  received by the Company  from the sale of the Shares in the  Offering, and the Company,  the MHC and the Bank shall be responsible for the balance. If, however,  the allocation provided above is not permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified  party failed to give the notice required under Section 8 above, then each indemnifying  party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified  party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative fault of the Company, the MHC and the Bank on the one hand and the Agent on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,  claims,  damages or  liabilities  (or actions,  proceedings  or claims in respect  thereto),  but also the  relative  benefits  received  by the Company,  the MHC and the Bank on the one hand and the Agent on the  other  from the Offering (before deducting expenses). The relative fault shall be determined by  reference  to,  among other  things,  whether  the untrue or alleged  untrue statement  of a material  fact or the  omission  or alleged  omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, the MHC and/or the Bank on the one hand or the Agent on the other and the parties' relative intent, good faith,  knowledge,  access to  information  and  opportunity  to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company, the MHC, the Bank and the Agent agree that it would not be just and equitable if  contribution  pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro-rata allocation or by any other

                                       36

method  of   allocation   which  does  not  take  into  account  the   equitable considerations  referred to above in this  Section 9. The amount paid or payable by  an  indemnified  party  as a  result  of  the  losses,  claims,  damages  or liabilities (or actions,  proceedings or claims in respect thereof)  referred to above in this  Section 9 shall be deemed to include any legal or other  expenses reasonably  incurred by such indemnified party in connection with  investigating or defending any such action,  proceeding or claim. It is expressly  agreed that the Agent shall not be liable for any loss, liability,  claim, damage or expense or be required  to  contribute  any amount  which in the  aggregate  exceeds the amount paid (excluding reimbursable expenses) to the Agent under this Agreement. It is understood  that the above stated  limitation on the Agent's  liability is essential  to the  Agent and that the Agent  would  not have  entered  into this Agreement  if such  limitation  had not been  agreed to by the  parties  to this Agreement.  No person found guilty of any fraudulent  misrepresentation  (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to  contribution from any person who was not found guilty of such  fraudulent  misrepresentation. The  obligations  of the Company,  the MHC and the Bank under this Section 9 and under Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability  which the Company and the Bank may  otherwise  have.  For purposes of this Section 9, each of the Agent's, the Company's,  the MHC or the Bank's officers and directors and each person, if any,  who  controls  the Agent or the  Company or the MHC or the Bank within the meaning  of the  1933  Act and the  1934 Act  shall  have  the  same  rights  to contribution as the Agent, the Company,  the MHC or the Bank. Any party entitled to contribution, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action, suit,  claim or  proceeding  against  such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made against another party under this Section 9, will notify such party from whom  contribution may be sought,  but the omission to so notify such party shall not relieve the party from whom contribution may be sought from any other  obligation it may have hereunder or otherwise than under this Section 9.

         Section 10. Survival of Agreements,  Representations  and  Indemnities. The respective  indemnities of the Company,  the MHC, the Bank and the Agent and the representations and warranties and other statements of the Company, the MHC, the Bank and the Agent set forth in or made  pursuant  to this  Agreement  shall remain in full force and effect,  regardless of any  termination or cancellation of this Agreement or any  investigation  made by or on behalf of the Agent,  the Company,  the MHC, the Bank or any  controlling  person referred to in Section 8 hereof,  and shall  survive the  issuance of the Shares,  and any  successor  or assign of the Agent,  the Company,  the MHC, the Bank, and any such  controlling person  shall  be  entitled  to  the  benefit  of  the  respective   agreements, indemnities, warranties and representations.

         Section 11.  Termination.  The Agent may  terminate  this  Agreement by giving  the  notice  indicated  below in this  Section 11 at any time after this Agreement becomes effective as follows:

          (a)  In the  event  the  Company  fails to sell the  required  minimum                number of the Shares by _________,  2000, and in accordance  with                the provisions of the Plan or as required by the MHC Regulations,                and applicable law, this Agreement shall terminate upon refund by                the Company to each person who has  subscribed for or ordered any                of the Shares the full amount which it may





                                       37

               have  received  from  such  person,  together  with  interest  as                provided in the Prospectus,  and no party to this Agreement shall                have any obligation to the other hereunder, except for payment by                the  Company,  the MHC and/or  the Bank as set forth in  Sections                2(a), 6, 8 and 9 hereof.

          (b)  If any of the  conditions  specified  in Section 7 shall not have                been  fulfilled  when and as  required by this  Agreement  unless                waived in writing, or by the Closing Date, this Agreement and all                of the Agent's  obligations  hereunder  may be  cancelled  by the                Agent  by  notifying  the  Company,  the MHC and the Bank of such                cancellation in writing or by telegram at any time at or prior to                the  Closing  Date,  and any such  cancellation  shall be without                liability  of any party to any other  party  except as  otherwise                provided in Sections 2(a), 6, 8 and 9 hereof.

          (c)  If the Agent  elects to terminate  this  Agreement as provided in                this Section, the Company, the MHC and the Bank shall be notified                promptly by telephone or telegram, confirmed by letter.

         The Company,  the MHC and the Bank may terminate  this Agreement in the event the Agent is in material breach of the  representations  and warranties or covenants  contained  in Section 5 and such  breach has not been cured after the Company,  the MHC and the Bank  have  provided  the  Agent  with  notice of such breach.

         This Agreement may also be terminated by mutual written  consent of the parties hereto.

         Section 12. Notices.  All  communications  hereunder,  except as herein otherwise specifically  provided,  shall be mailed in writing and if sent to the Agent shall be mailed,  delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to Charles Webb & Company,  a Division of Keefe,  Bruyette & Woods,  Inc., 211 Bradenton,  Dublin, Ohio 43017-3514,  Attention: Patricia A. McJoynt, Executive Vice President (with a copy to Silver, Freedman & Taff, L.L.P., Attention: Martin L. Meyrowitz, P.C.) and, if sent to the Company, the MHC and the Bank, shall be mailed, delivered or telegraphed  and  confirmed  to the  Company,  the MHC and the  Bank at 500 10th Street, Alamogordo, New Mexico 88310-0690, Attention: Miles Ledgewood, President (with a copy to Luse Lehman Gorman Pomerenk & Schick, Attention: Eric Luse).

         Section  13.  Parties.  The  Company,  the MHC and the  Bank  shall  be entitled to act and rely on any request,  notice,  consent,  waiver or agreement purportedly  given on behalf of the Agent when the same shall have been given by the  undersigned.  The Agent shall be  entitled to act and rely on any  request, notice, consent, waiver or agreement purportedly given on behalf of the Company, the MHC or the Bank,  when the same shall have been given by the  undersigned or any other  officer of the Company,  the MHC or the Bank.  This  Agreement  shall inure  solely to the  benefit  of, and shall be  binding  upon,  the Agent,  the Company, the MHC, the Bank, and their respective  successors and assigns, and no other person  shall have or be  construed to have any legal or equitable  right, remedy

                                       38

or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this  Agreement or any provision herein  contained.  It is  understood  and  agreed  that this  Agreement  is the exclusive agreement among the parties hereto, and supersedes any prior agreement among the  parties  and may not be varied  except in  writing  signed by all the parties.

         Section 14. Closing.  The closing for the sale of the Shares shall take place on the Closing Date at such location as mutually  agreed upon by the Agent and the Company,  the MHC and the Bank. At the closing, the Company, the MHC and the Bank shall deliver to the Agent in next day funds the commissions,  fees and expenses  due and owing to the Agent as set forth in Sections 2 and 6 hereof and the  opinions  and  certificates  required  hereby  and other  documents  deemed reasonably  necessary by the Agent shall be executed and delivered to effect the sale of the  Shares as  contemplated  hereby  and  pursuant  to the terms of the Prospectus.

         Section 15. Partial Invalidity.  In the event that any term,  provision or covenant herein or the application  thereof to any  circumstance or situation shall be invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remainder hereof and the application of said term,  provision or covenant to any other  circumstances or situation shall not be affected thereby, and each term, provision or covenant herein shall be valid and enforceable to the full extent permitted by law.

         Section  16.  Construction.   This  Agreement  shall  be  construed  in accordance with the laws of the State of Kansas.

         Section 17.  Counterparts.  This  Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts,  each of which so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

         If the  foregoing  correctly  sets  forth  the  arrangement  among  the Company,  the MHC, the Bank and the Agent, please indicate acceptance thereof in





the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter and the Agent's acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement.

         Section 18. Entire Agreement.  This Agreement,  including schedules and exhibits hereto,  which are integral parts hereof and incorporated as though set forth in full,  constitutes the entire agreement between the parties  pertaining to the subject matter hereof  superseding  any and all prior or  contemporaneous oral  or  prior   written   agreements,   proposals,   letters   of  intent  and understandings,  and cannot be modified, changed, waived or terminated except by a writing  which  expressly  states  that it is an  amendment,  modification  or waiver, refers to this Agreement and is signed by the party

                                       39

to be charged.  No course of conduct or dealing  shall be  construed  to modify, amend or otherwise affect any of the provisions hereof.

                                               Very truly yours,

ALAMOGORDO FINANCIAL                           ALAMOGORDO FEDERAL SAVINGS AND CORPORATION                                    LOAN ASSOCIATION

By Its Authorized                              By Its Authorized Representative:                                Representative:

- ----------------------------                   --------------------------------- Miles Ledgerwood                               Miles Ledgerwood Chairman                                       Chairman

AF MUTUAL HOLDING COMPANY

By Its Authorized Representative:

- ---------------------------- Miles Ledgerwood Chairman

Accepted as of the date first above written

Charles Webb & Company, a Division Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.

By Its Authorized Representative:

- ----------------------------- Patricia A. McJoynt Executive Vice President

                                       40 
Question: Highlight the parts (if any) of this contract related to Insurance that should be reviewed by a lawyer. Details: Is there a requirement for insurance that must be maintained by one party for the benefit of the counterparty?


Output: The deposit accounts of the Bank are insured by                the FDIC up to the applicable  limits; and no proceedings for the                termination  or revocation  of such  insurance are pending or, to                the best knowledge of the Company or the Bank, threatened.