Exhibit 10.1
SUBORDINATED NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This SUBORDINATED NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of March 12, 2026, and is made by and among Hanover Bancorp, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and the several purchasers of the Subordinated Notes (as defined herein) identified on the signature pages hereto (each a “Purchaser” and collectively, the “Purchasers”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company is offering up to $35,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Subordinated Notes, which aggregate amount is intended to qualify as Tier 2 Capital (as defined herein);
WHEREAS, the Company has engaged Piper Sandler & Co. as lead placement agent and Hovde Group, LLC as co-placement agent (collectively, the “Placement Agents”) for the offering of the Subordinated Notes;
WHEREAS, each Purchaser is either an institutional accredited investor as such term is defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D (“Regulation D”) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (and the rules and regulations of the SEC (as defined below) promulgated thereunder (the “Securities Act”), or a QIB (as defined herein);
WHEREAS, the offer and sale of the Subordinated Notes by the Company is being made in reliance upon the exemptions from registration available under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506(b) of Regulation D;
WHEREAS, each Purchaser is willing to purchase from the Company a Subordinated Note in the principal amount set forth on such Purchaser’s respective signature page hereto (the “Subordinated Note Amount”) in accordance with the terms, subject to the conditions and in reliance on, the recitals, representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein and in the Subordinated Notes and the Indenture (as defined below); and
WHEREAS, at Closing, the Company and the Purchasers shall execute and deliver a Registration Rights Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Company will agree to provide certain registration rights with respect to the Subordinated Notes under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and applicable state securities laws.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, conditions and agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound, hereto hereby agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
“Affiliate(s)” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s immediate family members, partners, members or parent and subsidiary corporations, and any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with said Person and their respective Affiliates. For the purposes of this definition, “control,” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Subordinated Note represented by a global certificate, the rules and procedures of DTC that apply to such transfer or exchange.
“Articles of Incorporation” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.1.2(a).
“Bank” means Hanover Community Bank, a New York chartered commercial bank and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are permitted or required by any applicable law, regulation or executive order to close.
“Bylaws” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.1.2(d).
“Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
“Closing Date” means March 12, 2026.
“Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.2.
“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto and shall include any successors to the Company.
“Company Covered Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.4.
“Company’s Reports” means (i) the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as filed with the SEC, including the audited financial statements contained therein; (ii) the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2025, June 30, 2025 and September 30, 2025, as filed with the SEC, including the unaudited financial statements contained therein; and (iii) the Company’s public reports for the year ended December 31, 2024, and the periods ended March 31, 2025, June 30, 2025 and September 30, 2025, as filed with the FRB as required by regulations of the FRB.
“Designated NRSRO” means a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (NRSRO) within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act, that is designated as a “Credit Rating Provider” (or other similar designation) by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
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“Disbursement” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
“Disqualification Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.4.
“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company.
“Equity Interest” means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person that is not a corporation, and any and all warrants, options or other rights to purchase any of the foregoing.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
“FDIC” means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
“FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time in the United States of America.
“Global Note” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
“Governmental Agency(ies)” means, individually or collectively, any federal, state, county or local governmental department, commission, board, regulatory authority or agency (including, without limitation, each applicable Regulatory Agency) with jurisdiction over the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company.
“Governmental Licenses” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.
“Hazardous Materials” means flammable explosives, asbestos, urea formaldehyde insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls, radioactive materials, hazardous wastes, toxic or contaminated substances or similar materials, including any substances which are “hazardous substances,” “hazardous wastes,” “hazardous materials” or “toxic substances” under the Hazardous Materials Laws and/or other applicable environmental laws, ordinances or regulations.
“Hazardous Materials Laws” mean any laws, regulations, permits, licenses or requirements pertaining to the protection, preservation, conservation or regulation of the environment which relates to real property, including: the Clean Air Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 7401 et seq.; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. Section 1251 et seq.; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 6901 et seq.; the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (including the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986), 42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended, 15 U.S.C. Section 2601 et seq.; the Occupational Safety and Health Act, as amended, 29 U.S.C. Section 651, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. Section 11001 et seq.; the Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended, 30 U.S.C. Section 801 et seq.; the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 300f et seq.; and all comparable state and local laws, laws of other jurisdictions or orders and regulations.
“Holder” has the meaning set forth in the Subordinated Notes.
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“Indebtedness” means: (i) all items arising from the borrowing of money that, according to GAAP as in effect from time to time, would be included in determining total liabilities as shown on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company; and (ii) all obligations secured by any lien on property owned by the Company or any Subsidiary whether or not such obligations shall have been assumed; provided, however, Indebtedness shall not include deposits or other indebtedness created, incurred or maintained in the ordinary course of the Company’s or the Bank’s business (including, without limitation, federal funds purchased, advances from any Federal Home Loan Bank, secured deposits of municipalities, letters of credit issued by the Company or the Bank and repurchase arrangements) and consistent with customary banking practices and applicable laws and regulations.
“Indenture” means the indenture, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and UMB Bank, N.A., as trustee, under which the Subordinated Notes are to be issued, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
“Leases” means all leases, licenses or other documents providing for the use or occupancy of any portion of any Property, including all amendments, extensions, renewals, supplements, modifications, sublets and assignments thereof and all separate letters or separate agreements relating thereto.
“Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to any Person, any change or effect that (i) is or would be reasonably likely to be material and adverse to the financial condition, results of operations or business of such Person and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (ii) would materially impair the ability of such Person to perform its respective obligations under any of the Transaction Documents, or otherwise materially impede the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that “Material Adverse Effect” shall not be deemed to include the impact of (1) changes in banking and similar laws, rules or regulations of general applicability or interpretations thereof by Governmental Agencies, (2) changes in GAAP or regulatory accounting requirements applicable to financial institutions and their holding companies generally, (3) changes after the date of this Agreement in general economic or capital market conditions affecting financial institutions or their market prices generally and not specifically related to the Company, the Bank, or the Purchasers, (4) direct effects of compliance with this Agreement on the operating performance of the Company, the Bank or the Purchasers, including expenses incurred by the Company or the Purchasers in consummating the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (5) the effects of any action or omission taken by the Company with the prior written consent of the Purchasers, and vice versa, or as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement and the Subordinated Notes, (6) the effects of any natural disasters or other force majeure events or any epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak, or (7) changes in global, national, or regional political conditions, including the outbreak or escalation of war or acts of terrorism which in the event of (1), (2), (3) and (6) do not disproportionately affect the operations or business of the Company or the Bank, taken as a whole, in comparison to other banking institutions with similar operations.
“Maturity Date” means March 15, 2036.
“Person” means an individual, a corporation (whether or not for profit), a partnership, a limited liability company, a joint venture, an association, a trust, an unincorporated organization, a government or any department or agency thereof (including a Governmental Agency) or any other entity or organization.
“Placement Agents” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Property” means any real property owned or leased by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.
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“Purchaser” or “Purchasers” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
“QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A of the Securities Act.
“Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company and the Purchasers in the form attached as Exhibit B hereto.
“Regulation D” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Regulatory Agency” means any federal or state agency charged with the supervision or regulation of depository institutions or holding companies of depository institutions, or engaged in the insurance of depository institution deposits, or any court, administrative agency or commission or other authority, body or agency having supervisory or regulatory authority with respect to the Company, the Bank or any of their Subsidiaries.
“Sarbanes-Oxley Act” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith.
“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Secondary Market Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.5.
“Securities Act” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Significant Subsidiary” has the meaning given in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act.
“Subordinated Note” means the Subordinated Note (or collectively, the “Subordinated Notes”) in the form attached as an exhibit to the Indenture, as amended, restated, supplemented or modified from time to time, and each Subordinated Note delivered in substitution or exchange for such Subordinated Note.
“Subordinated Note Amount” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Subsidiary” means with respect to any Person, any corporation or entity in which a majority of the outstanding Equity Interest is directly or indirectly owned by such Person.
“Tier 2 Capital” has the meaning given to the term “Tier 2 capital” in 12 C.F.R. Part 217 and 12 C.F.R. Part 250, as amended, modified and supplemented and in effect from time to time or any replacement thereof.
“Tier 2 Capital Event” has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.
“Transaction Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.1.1.
“Trustee” means the trustee, including any successor trustee, under the Indenture.
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| (a) | A copy, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company (the “Articles of Incorporation”); |
| (b) | A certificate of good standing of the Company issued by the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation; |
| (c) | A copy, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, of the By-laws of the Company (the “Bylaws”); |
| (d) | A copy, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, of the resolutions of the board of directors of the Company, and any committee thereof, authorizing issuance of the Subordinated Notes and the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents; |
| (e) | An incumbency certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company certifying the names of the officer or officers of the Company authorized to sign the Transaction Documents and the other documents provided for in this Agreement; and |
| (f) | The opinion of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, counsel to the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, substantially in the form set forth at Exhibit C attached hereto addressed to the Purchasers and the Placement Agents. |
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The Company hereby represents and warrants to each Purchaser as follows:
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The Company hereby further covenants and agrees with each Purchaser as follows:
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| 6. | REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF THE PURCHASERS. |
Each Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the Company, and covenants with the Company, severally and not jointly, as follows:
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or to such other address or addresses as the party to be given notice may have furnished in writing to the party seeking or desiring to give notice, as a place for the giving of notice; provided that no change in address shall be effective until five (5) Business Days after being given to the other party in the manner provided for above. Any notice given in accordance with the foregoing shall be deemed given when delivered personally or, if mailed, three (3) Business Days after it shall have been deposited in the United States mail as aforesaid or, if sent by overnight courier, the Business Day following the date of delivery to such courier (provided next Business Day delivery was requested).
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[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized representative as of the date first above written.
COMPANY: HANOVER BANCORP, INC. By: Name: Michael P. Puorro Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | |
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[Company Signature Page to Subordinated Note Purchase Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Purchaser has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized representative as of the date first above written.
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| PURCHASER: [INSERT PURCHASER’S NAME] By: Name: [•] Title: [•] |
| Address of Purchaser: [•] |
| Principal Amount of Purchased Subordinated Note: $[•] |
[Purchaser Signature Page to Subordinated Note Purchase Agreement]