Document:

Exhibit 10.1

 

EXCHANGE AGREEMENT

 

by and between

 

HANOVER BANCORP, INC.

 

and

 

CASTLE CREEK CAPITAL PARTNERS VIII, LP

 

Dated as of October 28, 2022

 

     

     

    

 

This EXCHANGE AGREEMENT is
made and entered into as of October 28, 2022 (this “Agreement”) by and between Hanover Bancorp, Inc., a New
York corporation (the “Company”), and Castle Creek Capital Partners VIII, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Investor”).

 

RECITALS

 

A.                   The
Investor is, as of the date hereof, the record and beneficial owner of 700,750 shares (the “Investor Common Shares”)
of the Company’s common stock (the “Common Shares”).

 

B.                    The
Investor desires to purchase an additional 150,000 Common Shares in a private secondary market transaction (the “Purchase”);

 

C.                    The
Company and the Investor desire to exchange (the “Exchange”) 150,000 of the Investor Common Shares (the “Exchanged
Shares”) for shares of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series A
Preferred Shares”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration
of the mutual covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and
intending to be legally bound, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

THE CLOSING; CONDITIONS TO THE CLOSING

 

Section 1.1           The
Closing.

 

(a)           The
closing of the Exchange (the “Closing”) will take place remotely via the electronic exchange of documents and signature
pages, as the parties may agree. The Closing shall take place on the date hereof; provided, however, that the conditions set
forth in Sections 1.1(c), (d) and (e) shall have been satisfied or waived, or at such other place, time and date as shall be
agreed between the Company and the Investor. The time and date on which the Closing occurs is referred to in this Agreement as the “Closing
Date.”

 

(b)           Subject
to the fulfillment or waiver of the conditions to the Closing in this Section 1.1, at the Closing (i) the Company will or will
cause the transfer agent for the Series A Preferred Shares (as applicable) to register the Series A Preferred Shares in the
name of the Investor and deliver or cause to be delivered reasonably satisfactory evidence of such registration to the Investor and (ii) the
Investor will deliver the certificate(s) or book-entry shares representing the Exchanged Shares to the Company.

 

(c)           The
respective obligations of each of the Investor and the Company to consummate the Exchange are subject to the fulfillment (or waiver by
the Company and the Investor, as applicable) prior to the Closing of the conditions that (i) any approvals, non-objections or authorizations
of all United States and other governmental, regulatory or judicial authorities (collectively, “Governmental Entities”)
required for the consummation of the Exchange shall have been obtained or made in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to each party
and shall be in full force and effect and all waiting periods required by United States and other applicable law, if any, shall have expired
and (ii) no provision of any applicable United States or other law and no judgment, injunction, order or decree of any Governmental
Entity shall prohibit consummation of the Exchange as contemplated by this Agreement or impose material limits on the ability of any party
to this Agreement to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(d)           The
obligation of the Investor to consummate the Exchange is also subject to the fulfillment (or waiver by the Investor) at or prior to the
Closing of each of the following conditions:

 

(i)                 (A) the
representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Article IV of this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material
respects as though made on and as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date (other than representations and warranties
that by their terms speak as of another date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects
as of such other date) and (B) the Company shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed
by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing;

 

     

     

    

 

(ii)                the
Investor shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by an executive officer certifying to the effect that the conditions
set forth in Section 1.1(d)(i) have been satisfied; and

 

(iii)               the
Company shall have delivered evidence in book-entry form, evidencing the issuance of the Series A Preferred Shares to the Investor.

 

(e)           The
obligation of the Company to consummate the Exchange is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver, at or prior to the Closing, of the
following conditions:

 

(i)                 (A) the
representations and warranties of the Investor set forth in Article V of this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material
respects as though made on and as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date (other than representations and warranties
that by their terms speak as of another date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects
as of such other date) and (B) the Investor shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed
by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing; and

 

(ii)                the
Company shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Investor by an executive officer or principal certifying to the effect
that the conditions set forth in Section 1.1(e)(i) have been satisfied.

 

Section 1.2            Interpretation.
When a reference is made in this Agreement to “Recitals,” “Articles,” “Sections,” “Schedules”
such reference shall be to a Recital, Article or Section of, or Schedule to, this Agreement, unless otherwise indicated.. The
terms defined in the singular have a comparable meaning when used in the plural, and vice versa. References to “herein,” “hereof,”
 “hereunder” and the like refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section or provision, unless the context
requires otherwise. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and are not part of this Agreement. Whenever
the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed followed
by the words “without limitation.” No rule of construction against the draftsperson shall be applied in connection with
the interpretation or enforcement of this Agreement, as this Agreement is the product of negotiation between sophisticated parties advised
by counsel. All references to “$” or “dollars” mean the lawful currency of the United States of America. Except
as expressly stated in this Agreement, all references to any statute, rule or regulation are to the statute, rule or regulation
as amended, modified, supplemented or replaced from time to time (and, in the case of statutes, include any rules and regulations
promulgated under the statute) and to any section of any statute, rule or regulation include any successor to the section. References
to a “business day” shall mean any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day on which banking institutions in the State of New
York generally are authorized or required by law or other governmental actions to close.

 

ARTICLE II

 

EXCHANGE

 

Section 2.1            Exchange.
On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, upon the Closing (i) the Company agrees to issue to the Investor,
in exchange for the 150,000 Exchanged Shares, 150,000 Series A Preferred Shares, and (ii) the Investor agrees to deliver to
the Company certificate(s) or book-entry shares representing the Exchanged Shares.

 

Section 2.2            Exchange
Documentation. Settlement of the Exchange will take place on the Closing Date, at which time the Investor will cause delivery
of the Exchanged Shares to the Company or its designated agent and the Company will cause delivery of the Series A Preferred Shares
to the Investor.

 

Section 2.3            Status
of Preferred Shares after Closing. The Exchanged Shares exchanged for the Series A Preferred Shares pursuant to this Article II
are being reacquired by the Company and shall have the status of authorized but unissued Common Shares and may be issued or reissued.

 

     

     

    

 

Section 2.4            Securities
Act Exemption. The Exchange is being effected pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, including but
not limited to Section 3(a)(9) thereof.

 

ARTICLE III

 

Right
of first OFFER

 

Section 3.1            Definitions.
With respect to this Article III, the following capitalized terms shall have the meaning therein set forth:

 

		(a)	“Company Notice” means written notice from the Company notifying the selling Investor
that the Company intends to exercise its Right of First Offer as to some or all of the Subject Shares with respect to any Proposed Transfer.

 

		(b)	“Proposed Transfer” means any assignment, sale, offer to sell, pledge, mortgage, hypothecation,
encumbrance, disposition of or any other like transfer or encumbering of any Subject Shares (or any interest therein) proposed by the
Investor.

 

		(c)	“Proposed Transfer Notice” means written notice from the Investor setting forth the
terms and conditions of a Proposed Transfer.

 

		(d)	“Right of First Offer” means the right, but not an obligation, of the Company, or its
permitted transferees or assigns, to purchase some or all of the Subject Shares with respect to a Proposed Transfer, at the price set
forth in the Proposed Transfer Notice.

 

		(e)	“Subject Shares” means the Series A Preferred Shares and the Common Shares into which they may be converted
pursuant to their terms.

 

Section 3.2           Grant.
Subject to the terms set forth herein, in the event the Investor proposes to undertake a Proposed Transfer, the Investor must comply with
the terms of Section 3.2 hereof.

 

Section 3.2           Notice
and Exercise. The Investor, upon proposing to make a Proposed Transfer must deliver a Proposed Transfer Notice to the Company
not later than thirty (30) days prior to the commencement of such Proposed Transfer. Such Proposed Transfer Notice shall contain the price
at which the Investor is willing to undertake the Proposed Transfer and the number of Subject Shares the Investor is willing to sell as
part of the Proposed Transfer. The Company shall then have the right, but not the obligation, to purchase some or all of the Subject Shares
that are the subject of the Proposed Transfer Notice. To exercise its Right of First Offer and purchase all or any part of the Subject
Shares listed in the Proposed Transfer Notice, the Company must deliver a Company Notice to the Investor within ten (10) days after
delivery of the Proposed Transfer Notice stating the number of Subject Shares the Company is willing to purchase. If the Company does
not exercise its Right of First Offer within the time allowed under this Subsection for such exercise, elects to purchase some, but not
all, of the Subject Shares which are the subject of the Proposed Transfer Notice, or fails to purchase the Subject Shares which are the
subject of the Company Notice in accordance with this subsection, the Investor shall be free, following the expiration of such time for
exercise or such failure to purchase pursuant to any exercise, to sell the Subject Shares specified in such Proposed Transfer Notice,
or those Subject Shares specified in the Proposed Transfer Notice which are not accepted for purchase by the Company in the Company Notice,
on terms no less favorable to the Investor than the terms specified in such Proposed Transfer Notice. Investor shall promptly disclose
in writing to the Company the price at which any such Subject Shares were ultimately sold. Any Proposed Transfer by the Investor that
would be on terms less favorable to the Investor than the terms specified in the Proposed Transfer Notice shall be subject to Section 3.2
and require a new Proposed Transfer Notice before the Proposed Transfer can be undertaken.

 

Section 3.3           Consideration;
Closing. If the consideration proposed to be paid for the Subject Shares is in property, services or other non-cash consideration,
the fair market value of the consideration shall be as determined reasonably and in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors
and as set forth in the Company Notice. If the Company cannot for any reason pay for the Subject Shares in the same form of non-cash consideration,
the Company may pay the cash value equivalent thereof, as determined reasonably and in good faith by the Board of Directors and as set
forth in the Company Notice. The closing of the purchase of Subject Shares by the Company shall take place, and all payments from the
Company shall have been delivered to the Investor, by the later of (i) the date specified in the Proposed Transfer Notice as the
intended date of the Proposed Transfer and (ii) thirty (30) days after delivery of the Proposed Transfer Notice.

 

     

     

    

 

Section 3.4            Effect
of Failure to Comply.

 

(a)            Transfer
Void; Equitable Relief. Any Proposed Transfer not made in compliance with the requirements of this Article III shall be null
and void ab initio, shall not be recorded on the books of the Company or its transfer agent and shall not be recognized by the Company.
Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that any breach of this Article III would result in substantial harm to the other party
hereto for which monetary damages alone could not adequately compensate. Therefore, the parties hereto unconditionally and irrevocably
agree that any non-breaching party hereto shall be entitled to seek protective orders, injunctive relief and other remedies available
at law or in equity (including, without limitation, seeking specific performance or the rescission of purchases, sales and other transfers
of Subject Shares not made in strict compliance with this Agreement).

 

(b)            Violation
of First Offer Right. If the Investor becomes obligated to sell any Subject Shares to the Company under this Agreement and fails to
deliver such Subject Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Company may, at its option, in addition to all other remedies
it may have, send to the Investor the purchase price for such Subject Shares as is herein specified and transfer to the name of the Company
on the Company’s books any certificates, instruments, or book entry representing the Subject Shares to be sold.

 

Section 3.5            Prohibited
Transferees.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Holder shall not transfer any Exchange
Shares to any entity which, in the reasonable determination of the Company’s Board of Directors, directly or indirectly competes
with the Company or its subsidiaries.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

 

The Company represents and warrants to the Investor
as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date:

 

Section 4.1            Existence
and Power.

 

(a)            Organization,
Authority and Significant Subsidiaries. The Company is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
State of New York and has all necessary power and authority to own, operate and lease its properties and to carry on its business in all
material respects as it is being currently conducted, and except as has not and would not in the reasonable judgment of the Company be
expected to be material to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction
of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business
so as to require such qualification. Each subsidiary of the Company that is a “significant subsidiary” within the meaning
of Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (each, a “Subsidiary”), including,
without limitation, Hanover Community Bank, has been duly organized and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction
of organization. The certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Company, copies of which have been available to the Investor prior
to the date hereof, are true, complete and correct copies of such documents as in full force and effect as of the date hereof.

 

(b)           Capitalization.
The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 32,000,000 shares, of which (i) 17,000,000 shares are designated as Common
Shares, of which 7,285,648 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date hereof (the “Capitalization Date”) and
(ii) 15,000,000 shares are designated as preferred shares, of which (A) 150,000 were designated as the “SERIES A CONVERTIBLE
PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK” and none of which were issued and outstanding as of the Capitalization Date. The outstanding shares of
capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and are validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable, and subject
to no preemptive rights (and were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights), and have been issued in compliance with applicable
securities laws. As of the date hereof, the Company does not have outstanding any securities or other obligations providing the holder
the right to acquire Common Shares or Series A Preferred Shares that are not reserved for issuance, and the Company has not made
any other commitment to authorize, issue or sell any Common Shares or Series A Preferred Shares except pursuant to this Agreement
or pursuant to equity awards outstanding.

 

     

     

    

 

Section 4.2           Authorization
and Enforceability.

 

(a)           The
Company has the corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to carry out its obligations hereunder, which
includes the issuance of the Series A Preferred Shares .

 

(b)           The
execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have
been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, and no further approval or authorization is required
on the part of the Company. This Agreement is a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance
with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights
and remedies generally, and to general principles of equity, including principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing
(regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity) (the “Bankruptcy Exceptions”).

 

Section 4.3            Series A
Preferred Shares . The Series A Preferred Shares have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary action, and, when
issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement, such Series A Preferred Shares will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and
non-assessable free and clear of any liens or encumbrances, will not be issued in violation of any preemptive rights, and will not subject
the holder thereof to personal liability.

 

Section 4.4            Non-Contravention.

 

(a)           The
execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and
compliance by the Company with the provisions hereof, will not (i) violate, conflict with, or result in a breach of any provision
of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in
the termination of, or accelerate the performance required by, or result in a right of termination or acceleration of, or result in the
creation of, any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Company Subsidiary
under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of (A) its organizational documents or (B) any note, bond, mortgage, indenture,
deed of trust, license, lease, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party or
by which it or any Company Subsidiary may be bound, or to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any of the properties or assets
of the Company or any Company Subsidiary may be subject, or (ii) subject to compliance with the statutes and regulations referred
to in the next paragraph, violate any statute, rule or regulation or any judgment, ruling, order, writ, injunction or decree applicable
to the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any of their respective properties or assets except, in the case of clauses (i)(B) and
(ii), for those occurrences that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(b)           Other
than the filing of any current report on Form 8-K required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”),
such filings and approvals as are required to be made or obtained under any state “blue sky” laws, and such consents and approvals
that have been made or obtained, no notice to, filing with or review by, or authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental Entity
is required to be made or obtained by the Company in connection with the consummation by the Company of the Exchange except for any such
notices, filings, reviews, authorizations, consents and approvals the failure of which to make or obtain would not, individually or in
the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company.

 

Section 4.5            Anti-Takeover
Provisions. The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not be subject to any “moratorium,”
 “control share,” “fair price,” “interested stockholder” or other anti- takeover laws and regulations
of the State of New York.

 

     

     

    

 

Section 4.6            No
Material Adverse Effect. With the exception of any impacts that may result from the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, since
August 12, 2022, no fact, circumstance, event, change, occurrence, condition or development has occurred that, individually or in
the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect upon the Company, its results of operations or
prospects.

 

 

Section 4.7            Offering
of Securities. Neither the Company nor any person acting on its behalf has taken any action (including any offering of any securities
of the Company under circumstances which would require the integration of such offering with the issuance of the Series A Preferred
Shares under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder), which would reasonably be expected
to subject the issuance of the Series A Preferred Shares to the Investor pursuant to this Agreement to the registration requirements
of the Securities Act.

 

Section 4.8           Brokers
and Finders. No broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any financial advisory, brokerage, finder’s or other
fee or commission in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by or on behalf
of the Company or any Subsidiary for which the Investor could have any liability.

 

ARTICLE V

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF INVESTOR

 

The Investor represents and warrants to the Company
as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date:

 

Section 5.1            Organization;
Authority. The Investor is an entity, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction
of its organization with the requisite power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder. The execution, delivery and performance by the Investor of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Investor, and
no further approval or authorization is required on the part of the Investor. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered
by the Investor. Assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Company, this Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Investor, enforceable against the Investor in accordance with its terms and conditions, except as enforceability may
be limited by the Bankruptcy Exception.

 

Section 5.2            Non
Contravention.

 

(a)           The
execution, delivery and performance by the Investor of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and
compliance by the Investor with the provisions hereof, will not (i) violate, conflict with, or result in a breach of any provision
of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in
the termination of, or accelerate the performance required by, or result in a right of termination or acceleration of, or result in the
creation of, any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of the Investor under any of the
terms, conditions or provisions of (A) its organizational documents or (B) any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust,
license, lease, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which the Investor is a party or by which it may be bound, or to which
the Investor or any of the properties or assets of the Investor may be subject, or (ii) violate any statute, rule or regulation
or any judgment, ruling, order, writ, injunction or decree applicable to the Investor or any of its properties or assets except, in the
case of clauses (i)(B) and (ii), for those occurrences that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably
be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Investor to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b)           Other
than such consents and approvals that have been made or obtained, no notice to, filing with or review by, or authorization, consent or
approval of, any governmental entity is required to be made or obtained by the Investor in connection with the consummation by the Investor
of the Exchange.

 

     

     

    

 

ARTICLE VI

 

COVENANTS

 

Section 6.1            Commercially
Reasonable Efforts. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each of the parties will use its commercially reasonable
efforts in good faith to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or desirable,
or advisable under applicable law, so as to permit consummation of the Exchange, as promptly as practicable and otherwise to enable consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the other party to that end.

 

Section 6.2           Certain
Notifications Until Closing. From the date hereof until the Closing, the Company shall promptly notify the Investor of (a) any
fact, event or circumstance of which it is aware and which would reasonably be likely to cause any representation or warranty of the Company
contained in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any material respect or to cause any covenant or agreement of the Company contained
in this Agreement not to be complied with or satisfied in any material respect, (b) any action or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge
of such party, threatened against such party that questions or might question the validity of this Agreement or seeks to enjoin or otherwise
restrain the transactions contemplated hereby, and (c) with respect to the Company, any fact, circumstance, event, change, occurrence,
condition or development of which the Company is aware and which, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected
to have a material adverse effect; provided, however, that delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section 6.2 shall not limit or
affect any rights of or remedies available to the Investor.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

 

Section 7.1            Unregistered
Series A Preferred Shares . The Investor acknowledges that the Series A Preferred Shares have not been registered under
the Securities Act or under any state securities laws. The Investor is acquiring the Series A Preferred Shares pursuant to an exemption
from registration under the Securities Act, including but not limited to Section 3(a)(9) thereof.

 

Section 7.2            Legend.
The Investor and the Company agree that all certificates or other instruments representing the Series A Preferred Shares will not
bear a legend other than a legend referencing the provisions of Article III hereof.

 

Section 7.3            Certain
Transactions. The Company will not merge or consolidate with, or sell, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its property
or assets to, any other party unless the successor, transferee or lessee party (or its ultimate parent entity), as the case may be (if
not the Company), assumes the due and punctual performance and observance of each and every covenant, agreement and condition of this
Agreement to be performed and observed by the Company.

 

Section 7.4             Transfer
of Series A Preferred Shares . Subject to Article III and compliance with applicable securities laws, the Investor shall
be permitted to transfer, sell, assign or otherwise dispose of (“Transfer”) all or a portion of the Series A Preferred
Shares at any time, and the Company shall take all steps as may be reasonably requested by the Investor to facilitate the Transfer of
the Series A Preferred Shares .

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 8.1            Termination.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:

 

(a)            by
either the Investor or the Company if the Closing shall not have occurred by December 31, 2022; provided, however, that in the event
the Closing has not occurred by such date, the parties will consult in good faith to determine whether to extend the term of this Agreement,
it being understood that the parties shall be required to consult only until the fifth day after such date and not be under any obligation
to extend the term of this Agreement thereafter; provided, further, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(a) shall
not be available to any party whose breach of any representation or warranty or failure to perform any obligation under this Agreement
shall have caused or resulted in the failure of the Closing to occur on or prior to such date;

 

     

     

    

 

(b)           by
either the Investor or the Company in the event that any governmental entity shall have issued an order, decree or ruling or taken any
other action restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (or if any such governmental
entity informs the Investor or the Company that it intends to disapprove any notice or application required to be filed by such party
in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) and such order, decree, ruling or other action shall have become
final and non-appealable; or

 

(c)            by
the mutual written consent of the Investor and the Company.

 

In the event of termination of this Agreement
as provided in this Section 8.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and there shall be no liability on the part of either
party hereto except that nothing herein shall relieve either party from liability for fraud, willful misconduct or any breach of this
Agreement.

 

Section 8.2            Survival
of Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company and the Investor made herein or in any certificates
delivered in connection with the Closing shall not survive the Closing.

 

Section 8.3           Amendment.
No amendment of any provision of this Agreement will be effective unless made in writing and signed by an officer or a duly authorized
representative of each of the Company and the Investor. No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder
shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any other
right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative of any rights or remedies provided by law.

 

Section 8.4            Waiver
of Conditions. The conditions to each party’s obligation to consummate the Exchange are for the sole benefit of such party
and may be waived by such party in whole or in part to the extent permitted by applicable Law. No waiver will be effective unless it is
in a writing signed by a duly authorized officer of the waiving party that makes express reference to the provision or provisions subject
to such waiver.

 

Section 8.5            Governing
Law; Submission to Jurisdiction, etc. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation
of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts
made and to be performed entirely within such State. Each party agrees that all proceedings concerning the interpretation, enforcement
and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective affiliates, employees
or agents) shall be resolved in the New York courts. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of
the New York courts for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby
or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of this Agreement), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert
in any proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such New York court, or that such proceeding
has been commenced in an improper or inconvenient forum. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents
to process being served in any such proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with
evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall
constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any
right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED
BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

     

     

    

 

Section 8.6            Notices.
Any notice, request, instruction or other document to be given hereunder by any party to the other will be in writing and will be deemed
to have been duly given and effective on the earliest of (a) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered
via facsimile or e-mail (provided the sender receives a machine-generated confirmation of successful facsimile transmission or e-mail
notification or confirmation of receipt of an e-mail transmission) at the facsimile number or e-mail address specified in this Section 8.6
prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on a Business Day, (b) the next Business Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or
communication is delivered via facsimile or e-mail at the facsimile number or e-mail address specified in this Section 8.6 on a day
that is not a Business Day or later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on any Business Day, (c) if sent by U.S. nationally recognized
overnight courier service with next day delivery specified (receipt requested) the Business Day following delivery to such courier service,
or (d) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. All notices hereunder shall be delivered as
set forth below or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice.

 

If to the Company:

 

Hanover Bancorp, Inc.

80 East Jericho Turnpike

Mineola, NY 11501

Attention: Michael P. Puorro

Facsimile:

Email: mpuorro@hanoverbank.com

 

With a copy to:

 

Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP

120 Albany Street Plaza FL 6

New Brunswick NJ 08901

Attention: Robert A. Schwartz

Facsimile: (732) 846-8877

Email: rschwartz@windelsmarx.com

 

If to the Investor:

 

Castle Creek Capital Partners VIII, LP

c/o Castle Creek Capital LLC

6051 El Tordo, P.O. Box 1329

Rancho Santa Fe, California 92067

Attention: Tony Scavuzzo, Principal

Telephone: (858) 756-8300

Facsimile: (858) 756-8301

Email: tscavuzzo@castlecreek.com

 

With a copy to:

 

Sidley Austin LLP

1999 Avenue of the Stars, 17th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Attention: Vijay S. Sekhon, Esq.

Telephone: (310) 595-9507

Facsimile: (310) 595-9501

Email: vsekhon@sidley.com

 

Section 8.7            Assignment.
Neither this Agreement nor any right, remedy, obligation nor liability arising hereunder or by reason hereof shall be assignable by any
party hereto without the prior written consent of each other party, and any attempt to assign any right, remedy, obligation or liability
hereunder without such consent shall be void, except an assignment, in the case of a Business Combination, where such party is not the
surviving entity, or a sale of substantially all of its assets, to the entity which is the survivor of such Business Combination or the
purchaser in such sale subject to compliance with Section 7.3. The term “Business Combination” means a merger,
consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar transaction that requires the approval of the Company’s stockholders.

 

     

     

    

 

Section 8.8            Severability.
If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction
to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof, or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances
other than those as to which it has been held invalid or unenforceable, will remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected,
impaired or invalidated thereby, so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in
any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination, the parties shall negotiate in good faith in an effort to agree upon
a suitable and equitable substitute provision to effect the original intent of the parties.

 

Section 8.9            No
Third-Party Beneficiaries. Nothing contained in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any person or
entity other than the Company and the Investor any benefit, right or remedies.

 

Section 8.10          Entire
Agreement, etc.  This Agreement (including the Schedules hereto) constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all
other prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties, both written and oral, between the parties, with respect to the
subject matter hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the Purchase Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, but shall be deemed amended
hereby, and any provisions in this Agreement that supplement, duplicate or contradict any provision of the Purchase Agreement shall be
deemed to supersede the corresponding provision of the Purchase Agreement from and after the effective date hereof.

 

Section 8.11          Counterparts
and Facsimile.  For the convenience of the parties hereto, this Agreement may be executed in any number of separate counterparts,
each such counterpart being deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts will together constitute the same agreement.
Executed signature pages to this Agreement may be delivered by electronic transmission or facsimile and such electronic transmissions
and facsimiles will be deemed as sufficient as if actual signature pages had been delivered.

 

Section 8.12          Specific
Performance.  The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement
were not performed in accordance with their specific terms. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled (without the necessity
of posting a bond) to specific performance of the terms hereof, this being in addition to any other remedies to which they are entitled
at law or equity.

 

Section 8.13          Expenses.
Except as otherwise expressly provided  in  this  Agreement,  all  costs  and expenses incurred in connection
with this Agreement will be borne and paid by the party incurring the expense.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left
Blank]

 

     

     

    

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties
hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

	 	Hanover Bancorp, Inc.
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/  Michael P. Puorro
	 	Name:	Michael P. Puorro
	 	Title:	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	CASTLE CREEK CAPITAL PARTNERS VIII, LP
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Tony Scavuzzo
	 	Name:	Tony Scavuzzo
	 	Title:	Principal

 

[Signature Page to Exchange Agreement}Exhibit 10.2

 

BOARD OBSERVATION AGREEMENT

 

This Board
Observation Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated October 28, 2022, is entered into by and between Castle
Creek CAPITAL PARTNERS VIII, L.P. (the “Holder”), and Hanover
Bancorp, Inc. a New York corporation (the “Company”). Each of the Holder and the Company are referred
to in this Agreement individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.” Capitalized terms
used but not defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning given to such terms in the Exchange Agreement (as defined below).

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to
applicable bank regulatory limitations, Castle Creek may not exceed 9.9% ownership of the Company’s voting securities (the “Threshold”)
without seeking applicable regulatory approvals;

 

WHEREAS, concurrently
with the execution of this Agreement, and in order to facilitate a privately negotiated purchase of the Company’s capital stock
by the Holder without exceeding the Threshold, the Company agreed to enter into an Exchange Agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”),
whereby the Company will issue to the Holder, in exchange certain shares of the Company’s Common Stock, shares of the Company’s
Series A Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred Stock”);

 

WHEREAS, in connection
with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Exchange Agreement (the “Closing”), the Holder and the
Company wish to set forth certain understandings among the Parties, including with respect to certain corporate governance matters.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration
of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
is hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

Article I.     BOARD
OBSERVER

 

Section 1.01         The
Company hereby agrees that, from and after the Closing, for so long as Holder and its affiliates in the aggregate are the beneficial owners
of at least four and nine-tenths percent (4.9%) of the Company’s common stock then outstanding (the “Minimum Ownership
Interest”) the Company shall invite a person designated by Holder (the “Observer”) to attend meetings of
the Boards of Directors (the “Boards”) of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary Hanover Community Bank (the “Bank”),
as applicable, in a nonvoting, nonparticipating observer capacity. The designation of the Observer by the Holder must be reasonably acceptable
to the Company. Company hereby agrees that the designation of any of Michael Thaden or any Principal or Managing Principal of the Holder
as the Observer will be deemed acceptable to the Company. The Observer shall not have any right to vote on any matter presented to the
Boards, or any committee thereof. The Company shall give the Observer written notice of each meeting of the Boards at the same time and
in the same manner as the members of the Boards, shall provide the Observer with all written materials and other information given to
members of the Boards at the same time such materials and information are given to such members (provided, however, that the Observer
shall not be provided any confidential supervisory information) and shall permit the Observer to attend as an observer at all meetings
thereof. In the event the Company, or the Bank proposes to take any action by written consent in lieu of a meeting, the Company or the
Bank shall give written notice thereof to the Observer prior to the effective date of such consent describing the nature and substance
of such action and including the proposed text of such written consents. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 1.01,
(i) the Observer may be excluded from executive sessions comprised solely of independent directors, (ii) the Company, Bank and
the Boards, shall have the right to withhold any information and to exclude the Observer from any meeting or portion thereof if doing
so is, in the advice of counsel, (A) necessary to protect the attorney-client privilege between such party and counsel, or (B) necessary
to avoid a violation of any applicable Law or any fiduciary requirements under applicable Law, provided that the Company or the Bank,
as applicable, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide such information to the Observer in a manner that does not compromise
or violate (as applicable) such attorney-client privilege, fiduciary requirements or applicable Law. If Holder no longer has a Minimum
Ownership Interest, Holder will have no further rights under this Section 1.01.

 

     

     

    

 

Section 1.02         Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Article I, the Boards may exclude the Observer from portions of meetings of the Boards
to the extent that the Boards will be discussing (i) any matters directly related to Holder, or (ii) any exam or other confidential
correspondence with the Federal Reserve, the FDIC or the New York State Department of Financial Services, in each case to the extent required
by applicable law or regulation as reasonably determined by the Company’s legal counsel.

 

Section 1.03         Holder
covenants and agrees to hold any information obtained from its Observer in confidence, and to cause its Observer to agree to hold in confidence
and to act in a fiduciary manner with respect to all information provided to such Observer, in each case except to the extent that such
information (i) was previously known by or in the possession of such party on a nonconfidential basis, (ii) is or becomes in
the public domain through no fault of such party, (iii) is later lawfully acquired from other sources by the party to which it was
furnished or (iv) is independently developed by such party without the use of such information; provided, however, that the foregoing
will not prohibit the Observer from sharing any information with the Holder. Each of the parties to this Agreement hereby acknowledges
that they are aware, and will ensure that their representatives and affiliates are aware, that the United States securities laws prohibit
any person who has material non-public information about a company from purchasing or selling securities of such company, or
from communicating such information to any other person under circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that such person is
likely to purchase or sell such securities, and in furtherance thereof the Holder will, and the Holder will cause the Observer to, comply
with the Company’s Insider Trading Policy.

 

Article II.     MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 2.01        Execution
in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different Parties hereto in separate counterparts,
each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts, taken together,
shall constitute but one and the same agreement.

 

     

     

    

 

Section 2.02        Binding
Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company, the Holder and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Except
as expressly provided in this Agreement, this Agreement shall not be construed so as to confer any right or benefit upon any Person other
than the Parties to this Agreement and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

Section 2.03        Assignment.
This Agreement and the rights and obligations hereunder may not be assigned by any Party without the prior written consent of the other
Parties; provided, however, that the Holder may assign this Agreement and its rights hereunder to any of its Affiliates
who have agreed in writing, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms of this Agreement; provided
further, that no such assignment shall relieve the Holder of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

Section 2.04        Amendment;
Termination. This Agreement may not be amended or modified without the written consent of each Party, nor shall any waiver be
effective against any Party unless in writing and executed by such Party. This Agreement shall terminate automatically without any action
by either Party at such time as Holder (together with its affiliates) ceases to holder the Minimum Ownership Interest; provided, however,
that Section 1.04 and Section 2.02 through Section 2.07 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

Section 2.05         Severability.
If any provision of this Agreement shall be declared void or unenforceable by any judicial or administrative authority, the validity of
any other provision and of the entire Agreement shall not be affected thereby.

 

Section 2.06        Governing
Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related in any way to this
Agreement, the relationship of the Parties, the transactions leading to this Agreement or contemplated hereby and/or the interpretation
and/or enforcement of the respective rights and duties of the Parties hereunder or related in any way to the foregoing shall be governed
in all respects, including as to validity, interpretation and effect, by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any
principles or rules of conflict of laws (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction), to the extent such principles
would permit or require the application of the laws of another jurisdiction. Each of the Parties submits to the exclusive jurisdiction
of the Courts of the State of New York and the appellate courts having jurisdiction of appeals in such court in any action or proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement (whether in contract or in tort or otherwise), agrees that all claims in respect of such
action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such courts, submits to the personal jurisdiction in such courts and agrees not to
bring any such action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any other court. Each of the Parties waives any defense
of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any action or proceeding so brought and waives any bond, surety or other security that might
be required of any other party with respect thereto. Each Party agrees that a final, non-appealable judgment in any action or proceeding
so brought shall be conclusive and may be enforced by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law and irrevocably agrees
to be bound by any such final judgment from which no appeal may be taken or is available in connection with this Agreement. Nothing in
this Section 2.07, however, shall affect the right of any party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

     

     

    

 

Section 2.07        WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY
JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION, OR CAUSE OF ACTION (A) ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR (B) IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED
OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO OR
THE NEGOTIATION, EXECUTION OR PERFORMANCE HEREOF, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT,
TORT, EQUITY, OR OTHERWISE. THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT EACH HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION, OR CAUSE
OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF
A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL
BY JURY.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

     

     

    

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties
hereto execute this Agreement, effective as of the date first above written.

 

[Signature Page to Board Observation Agreement]

 

	HANOVER BANCORP, INC.	CASTLE CREEK CAPITAL PARTNERS VIII, L.P.
	
     

    /s/ Michael P. Puorro

    By:__________________________

     

    Michael P. Puorro

    Name:________________________

     

    Chairman & CEO

    Title:________________________

     
	
     

    /s/ Tony Scavuzzo

    By:__________________________

     

    Tony Scavuzzo

    Name:________________________

     

    Managing Principal

    Title:________________________

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