AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER DATED AS OF DECEMBER 20, 2011 BY AND BETWEEN SANDY SPRING BANCORP, INC. AND COMMERCEFIRST BANCORP, INC. TABLE OF CONTENTS

EX-2.1 2 d272993dex21.htm EXHIBIT 2.1 Exhibit 2.1

Exhibit 2.1

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

DATED AS OF DECEMBER 20, 2011

BY AND BETWEEN

SANDY SPRING BANCORP, INC.

AND

COMMERCEFIRST BANCORP, INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


		Page Nos.

Introductory Statement			1

ARTICLE I - Definitions			1

ARTICLE II - The Merger			6
2.1	The Merger		6
2.2	Closing		6
2.3	Effective Time		6
2.4	Effects of the Merger		6
2.5	Effect on Outstanding Shares of Company Common Stock		7
2.6	Election and Proration Procedures		8
2.7	Exchange Procedures		11
2.8	Effect on Outstanding Shares of Purchaser Common Stock		13
2.9	Directors of Surviving Corporation After Effective Time		13
2.10	Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws		13
2.11	Dissenters’ Rights		13
2.12	Bank Merger		14
2.13	Alternative Structure		14
2.14	Absence of Control		14

ARTICLE III - Representations and Warranties			14
3.1	Disclosure Letters; Standard		14
3.2	Representations and Warranties of the Company		15
3.3	Representations and Warranties of Purchaser		31

ARTICLE IV - Conduct Pending the Merger			36
4.1	Forbearances by the Company		36
4.2	Forbearances by Purchaser		40

ARTICLE V - Covenants			41
5.1	Acquisition Proposals		41
5.2	Advice of Changes		42
5.3	Access and Information		42
5.4	Applications; Consents		43
5.5	Antitakeover Provisions		44
5.6	Additional Agreements		44
5.7	Publicity		44
5.8	Stockholder Meeting		45
5.9	Registration of Purchaser Common Stock		46
5.10	Notification of Certain Matters		47
5.11	Employee Benefit Matters		47
5.12	Indemnification		48


		Page Nos.
5.13	Stockholder Litigation		50
5.14	Retention of Employees		50

ARTICLE VI - Conditions to Consummation			50
6.1	Conditions to Each Party’s Obligations		50
6.2	Conditions to the Obligations of Purchaser		51
6.3	Conditions to the Obligations of the Company		52

ARTICLE VII - Termination			52
7.1	Termination		52
7.2	Termination Fee		55
7.3	Effect of Termination		55

ARTICLE VIII - Certain Other Matters			56
8.1	Interpretation		56
8.2	Survival		56
8.3	Waiver; Amendment		56
8.4	Counterparts		56
8.5	Governing Law		56
8.6	Expenses		56
8.7	Notices		56
8.8	Entire Agreement; etc.		57
8.9	Successors and Assigns; Assignment		58

EXHIBITS


Exhibit A Form of Voting Agreement
Exhibit B Plan of Bank Merger

Agreement and Plan of Merger

This is an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the 20th day of December, 2011 (“Agreement”), by and between Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“Purchaser”) and CommerceFirst Bancorp, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”).

Introductory Statement

The Board of Directors of each of Purchaser and the Company have determined that this Agreement and the business combination and related transactions contemplated hereby are advisable and in the best interests of Purchaser or the Company, as the case may be, and in the best long-term interests of their respective stockholders.

The parties hereto intend that the Merger as defined herein shall qualify as a reorganization under the provisions of Section 368(a) of the IRC for federal income tax purposes.

Purchaser and the Company each desire to make certain representations, warranties and agreements in connection with the business combination and related transactions provided for herein and to prescribe various conditions to such transactions.

As a condition and inducement to Purchaser’s willingness to enter into this Agreement, each of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company have entered into an agreement dated as of the date hereof in the form of Exhibit A pursuant to which he will vote his shares of Company Common Stock in favor of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

In consideration of their mutual promises and obligations hereunder, the parties hereto adopt and make this Agreement and prescribe the terms and conditions hereof and the manner and basis of carrying it into effect, which shall be as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

The following terms are defined in this Agreement in the Section indicated:


Defined Term		Location of Definition
Adjusted Stockholders’ Equity		Section 2.5(b)
Articles of Merger		Section 2.3
Bank Merger		Section 2.12
Cash Consideration		Section 2.5(a)
Cash Election		Section 2.6(b)
Cash Election Shares		Section 2.6(b)
Certificate(s)		Section 2.6(c)
Change of Recommendation		Section 5.8(b)


Defined Term		Location of Definition
Closing		Section 2.2
Closing Date		Section 2.2
Company		Preamble
Company Employee Plans		Section 3.2(s)(i)
Company Qualified Plan		Section 3.2(s)(iv)
Company’s Reports		Section 3.2(h)
Continuing Employee		Section 5.11(a)
Disclosure Letter		Section 3.1(a)
Dissenters’ Shares		Section 2.11
Effective Time		Section 2.3
Election Deadline		Section 2.6(c)
Election Form		Section 2.6(a)
Exchange Agent		Section 2.6(c)
Exchange Ratio		Section 2.5(a)
Indemnified Party		Section 5.12(a)
Index Ratio		Section 7.1(g)(ii)
Intellectual Property		Section 3.2(q)
Letter of Transmittal		Section 2.7(a)
Mailing Date		Section 2.6(a)
Measurement Date		Section 2.5(b)
Merger		Section 2.1
Merger Consideration		Section 2.5(a)
MGCL		Section 2.1
Mixed Election		Section 2.6(b)
Non-Election		Section 2.6(b)
Non-Election Shares		Section 2.6(b)
Proxy Statement-Prospectus		Section 5.9(a)
Purchaser		Preamble
Purchaser Ratio		Section 7.1(g)(ii)
Purchaser’s Reports		Section 3.3(g)
Representative		Section 2.6(b)
Shortfall Number		Section 2.6(e)(ii)
Stock Consideration		Section 2.5(a)
Stock Conversion Number		Section 2.6(d)
Stock Election		Section 2.6(b)
Stock Election Number		Section 2.6(b)
Stock Election Shares		Section 2.6(b)
Stockholder Meeting		Section 5.8(a)
Surviving Corporation		Section 2.1

For purposes of this Agreement:

“Acquisition Proposal” means any proposal or offer with respect to any of the following (other than the transactions contemplated hereunder): (i) any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, or other similar transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition of 20% or more of the Company’s consolidated assets in a single transaction or series of transactions; (iii) any tender offer or exchange offer for 20% or more of the outstanding shares of the Company’s capital stock or the filing of a registration statement under the Securities Act in connection therewith; or (iv) any public announcement of a proposal, plan or intention to do any of the foregoing or any agreement to engage in an any of the foregoing.

“Agreement” means this Agreement, as amended, modified or amended and restated from time to time in accordance with its terms.

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or Federal holiday.

“Company Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.

“CRA” means the Community Reinvestment Act.

“Environmental Law” means any federal, state or local law, statute, ordinance, rule, or regulation relating to (i) the protection, preservation or restoration of the environment (which includes, without limitation, air, water vapor, surface water, groundwater, drinking water supply, soil, surface land, subsurface land, plant and animal life or any other natural resource), or to human health or safety as it relates to Hazardous Materials, or (ii) the exposure to, or the use, storage, recycling, treatment, generation, transportation, processing, handling, labeling, production, release or disposal of, Hazardous Materials, in each case as amended and as now in effect. The term Environmental Law includes, without limitation, the Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, the Federal Clean Air Act, the Federal Clean Water Act, the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, and the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 as it relates to Hazardous Materials, each as amended and as now in effect.

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

“ERISA Affiliate” means any entity that is considered one employer with the Company under Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA or Section 414 of the IRC.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Excluded Shares” means (1) shares of Company Common Stock owned or held, other than in a bona fide fiduciary or agency capacity or in satisfaction of a debt previously contracted, by Purchaser, the Company or a Subsidiary of either and (ii) Dissenters’ Shares.

“FDIC” means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

“Federal Reserve” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

“GAAP” means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

“Governmental Entity” means any governmental or regulatory authority, agency, court, commission, or other administrative entity.

“Hazardous Material” means any substance (whether solid, liquid or gas) which is or could be detrimental to human health or safety or to the environment, currently or hereafter listed, defined, designated or classified as hazardous, toxic, radioactive or dangerous, or otherwise regulated, under any Environmental Law, whether by type or by quantity, including any substance containing any such substance as a component. Hazardous Material includes, without limitation, any toxic waste, pollutant, contaminant, hazardous substance, toxic substance, hazardous waste, special waste, industrial substance, oil or petroleum, or any derivative or by-product thereof, radon, radioactive material, asbestos, asbestos-containing material, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, lead and polychlorinated biphenyl.

“IRC” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“IRS” means the Internal Revenue Service.

“knowledge” means, with respect to the Company and Purchaser or any Subsidiary, the actual knowledge of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Lending Officer, the Chief Credit Officer or persons performing comparable functions.

“Lien” means any charge, mortgage, pledge, security interest, claim, lien or encumbrance.

“Loan” means a loan, lease, advance, credit enhancement, guarantee or other extension of credit.

“Loan Property” means any property in which the applicable party (or a subsidiary of it) holds a security interest and, where required by the context, includes the owner or operator of such property, but only with respect to such property.

“Maryland Department” means the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation.

“Maryland Office” means the Maryland Office of the Commissioner of Financial Regulation.

“Material Adverse Effect” means an effect, circumstance, occurrence or change which is material and adverse to the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Company or Purchaser, as the context may dictate, and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; provided, however, that any such effect, circumstance, occurrence or change resulting from any (i) changes in laws, rules or regulations or GAAP or regulatory accounting requirements or interpretations thereof that apply to financial and/or depository institutions and/or their holding companies generally, (ii) changes in economic conditions affecting financial institutions generally, including but not limited to, changes in the general level of market interest rates, (iii) actions and omissions of Purchaser or the Company taken with the prior written consent, or at the request, of the other, and (iv) direct effects of compliance with this Agreement on the operating performance of the parties, including expenses incurred by the parties in investigating, negotiating, documenting, effecting and consummating the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (v) changes in national or international political or social conditions including the engagement by the United States in hostilities, whether or not pursuant to the declaration of a national emergency or war, or the occurrence of any military or terrorist attack upon or within the United States, shall not be considered in determining if a Material Adverse Effect has occurred except, with respect to clauses (i), (ii) and (v), to the extent that the effects of such change disproportionately affect such party and its Subsidiaries as compared to comparable U.S. banking organizations.

“Purchaser Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Purchaser.

“Participation Facility” means any facility in which the applicable party (or a Subsidiary of it) participates in the management (including all property held as trustee or in any other fiduciary capacity) and, where required by the context, includes the owner or operator of such property, but only with respect to such property.

“person” means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity.

“Registration Statement” means a registration statement on Form S-4 (and any amendments or supplements thereto) with respect to the issuance of Purchaser Common Stock in the Merger.

“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Subsidiary” means a corporation, partnership, joint venture or other entity in which the Company or Purchaser, as the case may be, has, directly or indirectly, an equity interest representing 50% or more of any class of the capital stock thereof or other equity interests therein.

“Superior Proposal” means an unsolicited, bona fide written offer made by a third party to consummate an Acquisition Proposal that (i) the Company’s Board of Directors determines in good faith, after consulting with its outside legal counsel and its financial advisor, would, if consummated, result in a transaction that is more favorable to the stockholders of the Company than the transactions contemplated hereby (taking into account all legal, financial, regulatory and other aspects of the proposal and the entity making the proposal), (ii) is not conditioned on obtaining financing (and with respect to which Purchaser has reasonably assured itself of such person’s ability to fully finance its Acquisition Proposal), (iii) is for 100% of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock or all or substantially all of the assets and liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries; and (iv) is, in the written opinion of the Company’s financial advisor, more favorable to the stockholders of the Company from a financial point of view than the transactions contemplated hereby (including any adjustments to the terms and conditions of such transactions which as of the date of such determination have been proposed by Purchaser in response to such Acquisition Proposal).

“Taxes” means all income, franchise, gross receipts, real and personal property, real property transfer and gains, wage and employment taxes.

ARTICLE II

THE MERGER

2.1 The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company will merge with and into Purchaser (the “Merger”) at the Effective Time. At the Effective Time, the separate corporate existence of the Company shall cease. Purchaser shall be the surviving corporation (hereinafter sometimes referred to in such capacity as the “Surviving Corporation”) in the Merger and shall continue to be governed by the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”) and its name and separate corporate existence, with all of its rights, privileges, immunities, powers and franchises, shall continue unaffected by the Merger.

2.2 Closing. The closing of the Merger (the “Closing”) will take place by the electronic (PDF), facsimile or overnight courier exchange of executed documents or at a location and at a time as agreed to by the parties hereto on the date designated by Purchaser within thirty (30) days following satisfaction or waiver (subject to applicable law) of the conditions to Closing set forth in Article VI (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing), or such later date as the parties may otherwise agree (the “Closing Date”).

2.3 Effective Time. In connection with the Closing, Purchaser and the Company shall duly execute and deliver Articles of Merger (the “Articles of Merger”) to the Maryland Department for filing pursuant to the MGCL. The Merger shall become effective at such time as the Articles of Merger are duly filed with the Maryland Department or at such later date or time as Purchaser and the Company agree and specify in the Articles of Merger (the date and time the Merger becomes effective being the “Effective Time”).

2.4 Effects of the Merger. The Merger will have the effects set forth in the MGCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, from and after the Effective Time, Purchaser shall possess all of the properties, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and be subject to all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company.

2.5 Effect on Outstanding Shares of Company Common Stock .

(a) Subject to adjustment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section and to the provisions of Section 2.6 hereof, by virtue of the Merger, automatically and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding at the Effective Time, other than Excluded Shares, shall become and be converted into, at the election of the holder as provided in and subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, either the right to receive (i) $13.60 in cash, without interest (the “Cash Consideration”) or (ii) 0.8043 of a share (the “Exchange Ratio”) of Purchaser Common Stock (the “Stock Consideration”). The Cash Consideration and the Stock Consideration are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the “Merger Consideration.”

(b) In the event that the Adjusted Stockholders Equity (as defined below) of the Company as of the last day of the month prior to the month in which the Effective Time is expected to occur (the “Measurement Date”) is less than $23,761,000, (i) the Cash Consideration shall be decreased by an amount equal to (x) the difference between $23,761,000 and the Adjusted Stockholders’ Equity as of the Measurement Date divided by (y) the number of outstanding shares of Company Common Stock as of the Effective Time and (ii) the Exchange Ratio shall be revised to equal the Cash Consideration, as adjusted pursuant to clause (i) of this sentence, divided by $16.91. “Adjusted Stockholders’ Equity” shall mean the consolidated stockholders’ equity of the Company, calculated in accordance with GAAP, which shall be adjusted to exclude the effect of the payment or accrual of all customary fees and expenses directly related to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, calculated on a tax-effected basis where appropriate. Transaction expenses that may be excluded from the calculation of Adjusted Stockholders’ Equity include fees and expenses of legal counsel and financial advisors for services rendered in connection with this Agreement, payments made with respect to the termination of any existing data processing or similar contract, expenses incurred in connection with holding the Stockholders Meeting, any payments or accruals with respect to termination of any officers or employees at or after the Effective Time, and any expenses related to actions taken at the request of Purchaser. Adjusted Stockholders’ Equity shall be calculated by the Company as of the close of business on the Measurement Date, using reasonable estimates of revenues and expenses where actual amounts are not available. Such calculation shall be subject to verification by Purchaser prior to the Closing.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no fraction of a share of Purchaser Common Stock and no certificates or scrip therefor will be issued in the Merger; instead, Purchaser shall pay to each holder of Company Common Stock who would otherwise be entitled to a fraction of a share of Purchaser Common Stock an amount in cash, rounded to the nearest cent, determined by multiplying such fraction by the average closing price of Purchaser Common Stock over the five trading days immediately prior to the Closing Date.

(d) If, between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, the outstanding shares of Purchaser Common Stock shall have been changed into a different number of shares or into a different class by reason of any stock dividend, subdivision, reclassification, recapitalization, split, combination or exchange of shares, the Exchange Ratio shall be adjusted appropriately to provide the holders of Company Common Stock the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior to such event.

(e) As of the Effective Time, each Excluded Share, other than Dissenters’ Shares, shall be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and no exchange or payment shall be made with respect thereto. All shares of Purchaser Common Stock that are held by the Company, if any, other than shares held in a fiduciary capacity or in satisfaction of a debt previously contracted, shall be canceled and shall constitute authorized but unissued shares. In addition, no Dissenters’ Shares shall be converted into the Merger Consideration pursuant to this Section 2.5 but instead shall be treated in accordance with the provisions set forth in Section 2.11 of this Agreement.

2.6 Election and Proration Procedures.

(a) An election form in such form as Purchaser and the Company shall mutually agree (an “Election Form”) shall be mailed on the Mailing Date (as defined below) to each holder of record of shares of Company Common Stock as of a record date which shall be the same date as the record date for eligibility to vote on the Merger. The “Mailing Date” shall be the date on which proxy materials relating to the Merger are mailed to holders of shares of Company Common Stock. Purchaser shall make available Election Forms as may be reasonably requested by all persons who become holders of Company Common Stock after the record date for eligibility to vote on the Merger and prior to the Election Deadline (as defined herein), and the Company shall provide to the Exchange Agent all information reasonably necessary for it to perform its obligations as specified herein.

(b) Each Election Form shall entitle the holder of shares of Company Common Stock (or the beneficial owner through appropriate and customary documentation and instructions) to (i) elect to receive the Cash Consideration for all of such holder’s shares (a “Cash Election”), (ii) elect to receive the Stock Consideration for all of such holder’s shares (a “Stock Election”), (iii) elect to receive the Cash Consideration with respect to some of such holder’s shares and the Stock Consideration with respect to such holder’s remaining shares (a “Mixed Election”) or (iv) make no election or to indicate that such holder has no preference as to the receipt of the Cash Consideration or the Stock Consideration (a “Non-Election”). Holders of record of shares of Company Common Stock who hold such shares as nominees, trustees or in other representative capacities (a “Representative”) may submit multiple Election Forms, provided that such Representative certifies that each such Election Form covers all the shares of Company Common Stock held by that Representative for a particular beneficial owner. Shares of Company Common Stock as to which a Cash Election has been made (including pursuant to a Mixed Election) are referred to herein as “Cash Election Shares.” Shares of Company

Common Stock as to which a Stock Election has been made (including pursuant to a Mixed Election) are referred to herein as “Stock Election Shares.” Shares of Company Common Stock as to which no election has been made are referred to as “Non-Election Shares.” The aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock with respect to which a Stock Election has been made is referred to herein as the “Stock Election Number.”

(c) To be effective, a properly completed Election Form must be received by Registrar and Transfer Company (the “Exchange Agent”) on or before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day subsequent to the Stockholder Meeting (or such other time and date as Purchaser and the Company may mutually agree) (the “Election Deadline”). An election shall have been properly made only if the Exchange Agent shall have actually received a properly completed Election Form by the Election Deadline. An Election Form shall be deemed properly completed only if accompanied by one or more certificates theretofore representing Company Common Stock (“Certificate(s)”) (or customary affidavits and, if required by Purchaser pursuant to Section 2.7(i), indemnification regarding the loss or destruction of such Certificates or the guaranteed delivery of such Certificates) representing all shares of Company Common Stock covered by such Election Form, together with duly executed transmittal materials included with the Election Form. Any Company stockholder may at any time prior to the Election Deadline change his or her election by written notice received by the Exchange Agent prior to the Election Deadline accompanied by a properly completed and signed revised Election Form. Any the Company stockholder may, at any time prior to the Election Deadline, revoke his or her election by written notice received by the Exchange Agent prior to the Election Deadline or by withdrawal prior to the Election Deadline of his or her Certificates, or of the guarantee of delivery of such Certificates, previously deposited with the Exchange Agent. All elections shall be revoked automatically if the Exchange Agent is notified in writing by Purchaser and the Company that this Agreement has been terminated. If a stockholder either (i) does not submit a properly completed Election Form by the Election Deadline or (ii) revokes its Election Form prior to the Election Deadline and does not submit a new properly executed Election Form prior to the Election Deadline, the shares of Company Common Stock held by such stockholder shall be designated Non-Election Shares. Purchaser shall cause the Certificates representing Company Common Stock described in clause (ii) to be promptly returned without charge to the person submitting the Election Form upon written request to that effect from the person who submitted the Election Form. Subject to the terms of this Agreement and of the Election Form, the Exchange Agent shall have reasonable discretion to determine whether any election, revocation or change has been properly or timely made and to disregard immaterial defects in any Election Form, and any good faith decisions of the Exchange Agent regarding such matters shall be binding and conclusive.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Agreement, 50% of the total number of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding at the Effective Time (the “Stock Conversion Number”) shall be converted into the Stock Consideration and the remaining outstanding shares of Company Common Stock (excluding shares of Company Common Stock to be canceled as provided in Section 2.5(e) and Dissenters’ Shares) shall be converted into the Cash Consideration; provided, however, that for federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the Merger will qualify as a reorganization under the provisions of Section 368(a) of the IRC and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in order that the Merger will not fail to satisfy continuity of interest requirements under applicable federal

income tax principles relating to reorganizations under Section 368(a) of the IRC, Purchaser shall increase the number of shares of Company Common Stock that will be converted into the Stock Consideration and reduce the number of shares of Company Common Stock that will be converted into the right to receive the Cash Consideration to ensure that the aggregate Stock Consideration will represent at least 40% of the value of the aggregate Merger Consideration, increased by the value of any Excluded Shares, each as measured as of the Effective Time.

(e) Within five business days after the later to occur of the Election Deadline or the Effective Time, Purchaser shall cause the Exchange Agent to effect the allocation among holders of Company Common Stock of rights to receive the Cash Consideration and the Stock Consideration as follows:

(i) If the Stock Election Number exceeds the Stock Conversion Number, then all Cash Election Shares and all Non-Election Shares shall be converted into the right to receive the Cash Consideration, and each holder of Stock Election Shares will be entitled to receive (A) the Stock Consideration in respect of the number of Stock Election Shares held by such holder multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Stock Conversion Number and the denominator of which is the Stock Election Number and (B) the Cash Consideration in respect of the remaining number of such holder’s Stock Election Shares;

(ii) If the Stock Election Number is less than the Stock Conversion Number (the amount by which the Stock Conversion Number exceeds the Stock Election Number being referred to herein as the “Shortfall Number”), then all Stock Election Shares shall be converted into the right to receive the Stock Consideration and the Non-Election Shares and Cash Election Shares shall be treated in the following manner:

(A) if the Shortfall Number is less than or equal to the number of Non-Election Shares, then all Cash Election Shares shall be converted into the right to receive the Cash Consideration and each holder of Non-Election Shares shall receive (1) the Stock Consideration in respect of the number of Non-Election Shares held by such holder multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Shortfall Number and the denominator of which is the total number of Non-Election Shares and (2) the Cash Consideration in respect of the remaining number of such holder’s Non-Election Shares; or

(B) if the Shortfall Number exceeds the number of Non-Election Shares, then all Non-Election Shares shall be converted into the right to receive the Stock Consideration, and each holder of Cash Election Shares shall receive (1) the Stock Consideration in respect of the number of Cash Election Shares held by such holder multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount by which the Shortfall Number exceeds the number of Non-Election Shares and the denominator of which is the total number of Cash Election Shares and (2) the Cash Consideration in respect of the remaining number of such holder’s Cash Election Shares.

For purposes of the foregoing calculations, Excluded Shares shall be deemed Cash Election Shares. For purposes of this Section 2.6(e), if Purchaser is obligated to increase the number of shares of Company Common Stock to be converted into shares of Purchaser Common Stock as a result of the application of the last clause of Section 2.6(d) above, then the higher number shall be substituted for the Stock Conversion Number in the calculations set forth in this Section 2.6(e).

2.7 Exchange Procedures .

(a) Appropriate transmittal materials (“Letter of Transmittal”) in a form satisfactory to Purchaser and the Company shall be mailed as soon as practicable after the Election Deadline to each holder of record of Company Common Stock as of the Effective Time who did not previously submit a completed Election Form. A Letter of Transmittal will be deemed properly completed only if accompanied by certificates representing all shares of Company Common Stock to be converted thereby.

(b) At and after the Effective Time, each Certificate (except as specifically set forth in Section 2.5) shall represent only the right to receive the Merger Consideration.

(c) Prior to the Effective Time, Purchaser shall (i) reserve for issuance with its transfer agent and registrar a sufficient number of shares of Purchaser Common Stock to provide for payment of the aggregate Stock Consideration and (ii) deposit, or cause to be deposited, with the Exchange Agent, for the benefit of the holders of shares of Company Common Stock, for exchange in accordance with this Section 2.7, an amount of cash sufficient to pay the aggregate Cash Consideration, including cash in lieu of fractional shares.

(d) The Letter of Transmittal shall (i) specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent, (ii) be in a form and contain any other provisions as Purchaser may reasonably determine and (iii) include instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for the Merger Consideration. Upon the proper surrender of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent, together with a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal, the holder of such Certificates shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor a certificate representing that number of whole shares of Purchaser Common Stock that such holder has the right to receive pursuant to Section 2.5, if any, and a check in the amount equal to the cash that such holder has the right to receive pursuant to Section 2.5, if any (including any cash in lieu of fractional shares, if any, that such holder has the right to receive pursuant to Section 2.5, and any dividends or other distributions to which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 2.5). Certificates so surrendered shall forthwith be canceled. As soon as practicable following receipt of the properly completed Letter of Transmittal and any necessary accompanying documentation, the Exchange Agent shall distribute Purchaser Common Stock and cash as provided herein. The Exchange Agent shall not be entitled to vote or exercise any rights of ownership with respect to the shares of Purchaser Common Stock held by it from time to time hereunder, except that it shall receive and hold all dividends or other distributions paid or distributed with respect to such shares for the account of the persons entitled thereto. If there is a transfer of ownership of any shares of Company Common Stock not registered in the transfer records of the Company, the Merger Consideration shall be issued to the transferee thereof if the

Certificates representing such Company Common Stock are presented to the Exchange Agent, accompanied by all documents required, in the reasonable judgment of Purchaser and the Exchange Agent, to evidence and effect such transfer and to evidence that any applicable stock transfer taxes have been paid.

(e) No dividends or other distributions declared or made after the Effective Time with respect to Purchaser Common Stock issued pursuant to this Agreement shall be remitted to any person entitled to receive shares of Purchaser Common Stock hereunder until such person surrenders his or her Certificates in accordance with this Section 2.7. Upon the surrender of such person’s Certificates, such person shall be entitled to receive any dividends or other distributions, without interest thereon, which subsequent to the Effective Time had become payable but not paid with respect to shares of Purchaser Common Stock represented by such person’s Certificates.

(f) The stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed immediately upon the Effective Time and from and after the Effective Time there shall be no transfers on the stock transfer records of the Company of any shares of Company Common Stock. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to Purchaser, they shall be canceled and exchanged for the Merger Consideration deliverable in respect thereof pursuant to this Agreement in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.7.

(g) Any portion of the aggregate amount of cash to be paid pursuant to Section 2.5, any dividends or other distributions to be paid pursuant to this Section 2.7 or any proceeds from any investments thereof that remains unclaimed by the stockholders of the Company for six months after the Effective Time shall be repaid by the Exchange Agent to Purchaser upon the written request of Purchaser. After such request is made, any stockholders of the Company who have not theretofore complied with this Section 2.7 shall look only to Purchaser for the Merger Consideration deliverable in respect of each share of Company Common Stock such stockholder holds, as determined pursuant to Section 2.5 of this Agreement, without any interest thereon. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Exchange Agent nor any party to this Agreement (or any affiliate thereof) shall be liable to any former holder of Company Common Stock for any amount delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar laws.

(h) Purchaser and the Exchange Agent shall be entitled to rely upon the Company’s stock transfer books to establish the identity of those persons entitled to receive the Merger Consideration, which books shall be conclusive with respect thereto. In the event of a dispute with respect to ownership of stock represented by any Certificate, Purchaser and the Exchange Agent shall be entitled to deposit any Merger Consideration represented thereby in escrow with an independent third party and thereafter be relieved with respect to any claims thereto.

(i) If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by the Exchange Agent or Purchaser, the posting by such person of a

bond in such amount as the Exchange Agent may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent will issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the Merger Consideration deliverable in respect thereof pursuant to Section 2.5.

2.8 Effect on Outstanding Shares of Purchaser Common Stock . At the Effective Time, and except as provided in Section 2.5(e), each share of common stock of Purchaser issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall remain an issued and outstanding share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation and shall not be affected by the Merger.

2.9 Directors of Surviving Corporation After Effective Time . Immediately after the Effective Time, until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified, the directors of the Surviving Corporation shall consist of the directors of Purchaser serving immediately prior to the Effective Time.

2.10 Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws . The articles of incorporation of Purchaser, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the articles of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable law and the terms thereof. The bylaws of Purchaser, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable law and the terms of such bylaws.

2.11 Dissenters’ Rights. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, shares of Company Common Stock that are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and which are held by stockholders who shall have not voted in favor of the Merger nor consented thereto in writing and who shall have properly demanded payment of the fair value for such shares in accordance with the MGCL (collectively, the “Dissenters’ Shares”) shall not be converted into or represent the right to receive the Merger Consideration. Such stockholders instead shall be entitled to such rights as are granted by the MGCL, except that all Dissenters’ Shares held by stockholders who shall have failed to perfect or who effectively shall have withdrawn or otherwise lost their dissenters’ rights under the MGCL shall thereupon be deemed to have been converted into and to have become exchangeable, as of the Effective Time, for the right to receive, without any interest thereon, the Merger Consideration upon surrender, in the manner provided in Section 2.6 of the Certificate(s) that, immediately prior to the Effective Time, evidenced such shares. The Company shall give Purchaser (i) prompt notice of any written payment demands, attempted withdrawals of demands for payment and any other instruments served pursuant to the MGCL and received by the Company relating to Dissenters’ Shares, and (ii) the opportunity to participate in all negotiations and proceedings with respect to demands under the MGCL consistent with the obligations of the Company thereunder. The Company shall not, except with prior written consent of Purchaser, (x) make any payment with respect to such demand, (y) offer to settle or settle any demand for payment or (z) waive any failure to timely deliver a written demand for dissenters’ rights or timely take any other action to perfect dissenters’ rights in accordance with the MGCL.

2.12 Bank Merger. Concurrently with or as soon as practicable after the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Sandy Spring Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Purchaser, and CommerceFirst Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, shall enter into the Plan of Bank Merger, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, pursuant to which CommerceFirst Bank will merge with and into Sandy Spring Bank (the “Bank Merger”). The parties intend that the Bank Merger will become effective simultaneously with or immediately following the Effective Time.

2.13 Alternative Structure. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, prior to the Effective Time, Purchaser may specify that the structure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement be revised and the parties shall enter into such alternative transactions as Purchaser may reasonably determine to effect the purposes of this Agreement; provided, however, that such revised structure shall not (i) alter or change the amount or kind of the Merger Consideration, (ii) materially impede or delay consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (iii) adversely limit or impact the qualification of the Merger as a reorganization under the provisions of Section 368(a) of the IRC. In the event that Purchaser elects to make such a revision, the parties agree to execute appropriate documents to reflect the revised structure.

2.14 Absence of Control. It is the intent of the parties hereto that Purchaser by reason of this Agreement shall not be deemed (until consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby) to control, directly or indirectly, the Company or to exercise, directly or indirectly, a controlling influence over the management or policies of the Company.

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

3.1 Disclosure Letters; Standard.

(a) Prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Purchaser and the Company have each delivered to the other a letter (each, its “Disclosure Letter”) setting forth, among other things, facts, circumstances and events the disclosure of which is required or appropriate either in response to an express disclosure requirement contained in a provision hereof or as an exception to one or more of their respective representations and warranties contained in Section 3.2 or Section 3.3, as applicable, or to one or more of its covenants contained in Articles IV or V (and making specific reference to the Section of this Agreement to which they relate). Disclosure in any paragraph of the Disclosure Letter shall apply only to the indicated Section of this Agreement except to the extent that it is reasonably clear on the face of such disclosure that it is relevant to another paragraph of the Disclosure Letter or another Section of this Agreement.

(b) No representation or warrant of the Company or Purchaser contained in Sections 3.2 or 3.3, as applicable (other than (i) the representations and warranties contained in Sections 3.2(c) and 3.2(k)(i), which shall be true in all respects, and (ii) the representations and warranties contained in Sections 3.2(a), 3.2(d), 3.2(e)(i) and (ii), 3.2(v), 3.2(y), 3.2(ee), 3.3(a),

3.3(d), 3.3(e)(i) and (ii), and 3.3(n), which shall be true in all material respects) will be deemed untrue or incorrect, and no party will be deemed to have breached a representation or warranty, as a consequence of the existence of any fact, event or circumstance unless such fact, event or circumstance, individually or taken together with all other facts, events or circumstances inconsistent with any representation or warranty contained in Sections 3.2 or 3.3, has had or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company or Purchaser, as the case may be (it being understood that, except with respect to Section 3.2(j), for purposes of determining the accuracy of such representations and warranties, all “Material Adverse Effect” qualifications and other materiality qualifications contained in such representations and warranties shall be disregarded).

3.2 Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to Purchaser that, except as disclosed in the Company’s Disclosure Letter:

(a) Organization and Qualification. The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland and is registered with the Federal Reserve as a bank holding company. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct the business currently being conducted by it. The Company is duly qualified or licensed as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned or leased by it or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or licensed and in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Affect on the Company. The Company engages only in activities (and holds properties only of the types) permitted to bank holding companies by the Bank Holding Company Act, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(b) Subsidiaries.

(i) The Company’s Disclosure Letter sets forth with respect to each of the Company’s direct and indirect Subsidiaries its name, its jurisdiction of incorporation, the Company’s percentage ownership, the number of shares of stock or other equity interests owned or controlled by the Company and the name and number of shares held by any other person who owns any stock of the Subsidiary. The Company owns of record and beneficially all the capital stock of each of its Subsidiaries free and clear of any Liens. There are no contracts, commitments, agreements or understandings relating to the Company’s right to vote or dispose of any equity securities of its Subsidiaries. The Company’s ownership interest in each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations relating to equity investments by bank holding companies or Maryland chartered commercial banks.

(ii) Each of the Company’s Subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct the business currently being conducted by it and is duly qualified or licensed as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the

character of the properties owned or leased by it or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or licensed and in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect on such Subsidiary.

(iii) The outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary have been validly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. No shares of capital stock of any Subsidiary of the Company are or may be required to be issued by virtue of any options, warrants or other rights, no securities exist that are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of such capital stock or any other debt or equity security of any Subsidiary, and there are no contracts, commitments, agreements or understandings of any kind for the issuance of additional shares of capital stock or other debt or equity security of any Subsidiary or options, warrants or other rights with respect to such securities.

(iv) CommerceFirst Bank is a Maryland-chartered bank. No Subsidiary of the Company other than CommerceFirst Bank is an “insured depository institution” as defined in the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended, and the applicable regulations thereunder. CommerceFirst Bank’s deposits are insured by the FDIC through the Deposit Insurance Fund to the fullest extent permitted by law.

(i) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 4,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock.

(ii) As of the date of this Agreement:

(A) 1,820,548 shares of Company Common Stock are issued and outstanding, all of which are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and were issued in full compliance with all applicable laws and not in violation of any preemptive rights; and

(B) no shares of Company Common Stock are held in treasury by the Company or otherwise directly or indirectly owned by the Company.

(iii) No bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness having the right to vote on any matters on which stockholders of the Company may vote are issued or outstanding.

(iv) Except as set forth in this Section 3.2(c), as of the date of this Agreement, (A) no shares of capital stock or other voting securities of the Company are issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding and (B) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has or is bound by any outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights, convertible securities, commitments or agreements of any character obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, any additional shares of capital stock of the Company (including any rights plan or agreement) or obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to grant, extend or enter into any such option, warrant, call,

right, convertible security, commitment or agreement. As of the date hereof, there are no outstanding securities or instruments that contain any redemption or similar provisions, and there are no outstanding contractual obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(d) Authority. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate actions on the part of the Company’s Board of Directors, and no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement other than the approval and adoption of this Agreement by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock. The Company’s Board of Directors has determined that this Agreement is advisable and has directed that this Agreement be submitted to the Company’s stockholders for approval and adoption and has unanimously adopted a resolution to the foregoing effect and recommend that the stockholders adopt this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally and to general principles of equity, whether applied in a court of law or a court of equity.

(e) No Violations. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company do not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not, (i) assuming that the consents, approvals and filings referred to in Section 3.2(f) have been obtained and the applicable waiting periods have expired, violate any law, rule or regulation or any judgment, decree, order, governmental permit or license to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or any of their respective properties) is subject, (ii) violate the Articles of Incorporation or bylaws of the Company or the similar organizational documents of any of its Subsidiaries or (iii) constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under (or an event which, with due notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default under), or result in the termination of, accelerate the performance required by, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, indenture, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement, instrument or obligation to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or to which any of their respective properties or assets may be subject.

such proxy statement will be included as a prospectus, and declaration of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (iii) the filing of the Articles of Merger with the Maryland Department pursuant to the MGCL, (iv) filing with the Nasdaq Stock Market of a notification of the listing of the shares of Purchaser Common Stock to be issued in the Merger; and (v) such filings and approvals as are required to be made or obtained under the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of various states in connection with the issuance of shares of Purchaser Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement, no consents or approvals of, or filings or registrations with, any Governmental Entity or any third party are required to be made or obtained in connection with the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement or the consummation by the Company of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Bank Merger. As of the date hereof, the Company has no knowledge of any reason pertaining to the Company why any of the approvals referred to in this Section 3.2(f) should not be obtained without the imposition of any material condition or restriction described in Section 6.2(e).

(g) Governmental Filings. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has filed all reports, schedules, registration statements and other documents that it has been required to file since January 1, 2009 with the Federal Reserve, the FDIC, the Maryland Office or any other Governmental Entity. As of their respective dates, each of such filings complied in all material respects with all laws or regulations under which it was filed (or was amended so as to be in compliance promptly following discovery of such noncompliance).

(h) Securities Filings. The Company has filed with the SEC all reports, schedules, registration statements, definitive proxy statements and other documents that it has been required to file under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act since December 31, 2008 (collectively, “Company Reports”). None of the Company Reports contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As of their respective dates, all of the Company Reports complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder. Each of the financial statements (including, in each case, any notes thereto) of the Company included in the Company Reports complied as to form, as of their respective dates of filing with the SEC, in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto.

(i) Financial Statements. The Company has previously made available to Purchaser copies of (i) the consolidated statements of financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 and related consolidated statements of income, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the two years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2010, together with the notes thereto, accompanied by the audit report of Purchaser’s independent registered public accounting firm, as reported in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and (ii) the unaudited consolidated statements of financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of September 30, 2011 and the related consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, as

reported in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2011 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such financial statements were prepared from the books and records of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries, fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries in each case at and as of the dates indicated and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries for the periods indicated, and, except as otherwise set forth in the notes thereto, were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby; provided, however, that the unaudited financial statements for interim periods are subject to normal year-end adjustments (which will not be material individually or in the aggregate) and lack footnotes to the extent permitted under applicable regulations. The books and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries have been, and are being, maintained in all material respects in accordance with GAAP and any other legal and accounting requirements and reflect only actual transactions.

(j) Undisclosed Liabilities. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any debt, liability or obligation of any nature whatsoever (whether accrued, contingent, absolute or otherwise and whether due or to become due) other than liabilities reflected on or reserved against in the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of September 30, 2011, except for (i) liabilities incurred since September 30, 2011 in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice that, either alone or when combined with all similar liabilities, have not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and (ii) liabilities incurred for legal, accounting, financial advising fees and out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(k) Absence of Certain Changes or Events.

(i) Since September 30, 2011, the Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses only in the ordinary and usual course of such businesses consistent with their past practices and there has not been any event or occurrence that has had, or is reasonably expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

(ii) Since September 30, 2011, none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have taken any action that would be prohibited by clauses (b)(i), (c), (e), (h), (i)(ii), (j), (k), (n), or (o) of Section 4.1 if taken after the date hereof.

(l) Litigation. There are no suits, actions or legal, administrative or arbitration proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any property or asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that (i) are seeking damages or declaratory relief against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) challenge the validity or propriety of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (iii) involve a Governmental Entity. There are no judgments, decrees, injunctions, orders or rulings of any Governmental Entity or arbitrator outstanding against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or that, upon consummation of the Merger, would apply to Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries).

Since December 31, 2008, (i) there have been no subpoenas, written demands, or document requests received by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from any Governmental Entity and (ii) no Governmental Entity has requested that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries enter into a settlement negotiation or tolling agreement with respect to any matter related to any such subpoena, written demand, or document request.

(m) Absence of Regulatory Actions. Since December 31, 2008, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a party to any cease and desist order, written agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or has been subject to any action, proceeding, order or directive by any Governmental Entity, or has adopted any board resolutions at the request of any Governmental Entity, or has been advised by any Governmental Entity that it is contemplating issuing or requesting (or is considering the appropriateness of issuing or requesting) any such action, proceeding, order, directive, written agreement, memorandum of understanding, commitment letter, board resolutions or similar undertaking. There are no unresolved violations, criticisms or exceptions by any Governmental Entity with respect to any report or statement relating to any examinations of the Company or its Subsidiaries.

(n) Compliance with Laws. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries conducts its business in compliance with all statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders or decrees applicable to it or the employees conducting such business, except where noncompliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has all material permits, licenses, certificates of authority, orders and approvals of, and has made all filings, applications and registrations with, all Governmental Entities that are required in order to permit it to carry on its business as it is presently conducted; all such permits, licenses, certificates of authority, orders and approvals are in full force and effect, and no suspension or cancellation of any of them is, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been given notice or been charged with any violation of, any law, ordinance, regulation, order, writ, rule, decree or condition to approval of any Governmental Entity which, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

(o) Taxes. All federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have been timely filed or requests for extensions have been timely filed and any such extension shall have been granted and not have expired, and all such filed returns are complete and accurate in all material respects. All Taxes shown on such returns, all Taxes required to be shown on returns for which extensions have been granted and all other Taxes required to be paid by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have been paid in full or adequate provision has been made for any such Taxes on the Company’s balance sheet (in accordance with GAAP). There is no audit examination, deficiency assessment, tax investigation or refund litigation with respect to any Taxes of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and no claim has been made in writing by any authority in a jurisdiction where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries do not file tax returns that the Company or any

such Subsidiary is subject to taxation in that jurisdiction. All Taxes, interest, additions and penalties due with respect to completed and settled examinations or concluded litigation relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have been paid in full or adequate provision has been made for any such Taxes on the Company’s balance sheet (in accordance with GAAP). The Company and its Subsidiaries have not executed an extension or waiver of any statute of limitations on the assessment or collection of any tax due that is currently in effect. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has withheld and paid all Taxes required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, stockholder or other third party, and the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has timely complied with all applicable information reporting requirements under Part III, Subchapter A of Chapter 61 of the IRC and similar applicable state and local information reporting requirements. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or plan that has resulted or would result, individually or in the aggregate, in connection with this Agreement in the payment of any “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the IRC and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has made any payments and is not a party to any agreement, and does not maintain any plan, program or arrangement, that could require it to make any payments that would not be fully deductible by reason of Section 162(m) of the IRC.

(p) Agreements.

(i) The Company has previously delivered to Purchaser, and the Company’s Disclosure Letter lists, any contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding (whether written or oral) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or is bound:

(A) (1) with any executive officer or other key employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries the benefits of which are contingent, or the terms of which are materially altered, upon the occurrence of a transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of the nature contemplated by this Agreement; (2) with respect to the employment of any directors, officers, employees or consultants; or (3) any of the benefits of which will be increased, or the vesting or payment of the benefits of which will be accelerated, by the occurrence of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or the value of any of the benefits of which will be calculated on the basis of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including any stock option plan, phantom stock or stock appreciation rights plan, restricted stock plan or stock purchase plan);

(B) that (1) contains a non-compete or client or customer non-solicit requirement or any other provision that restricts the conduct of, or the manner of conducting, any line of business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or, following the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries), (2) obligates the Company or any of its affiliates (or, following the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries) to conduct business with any third party on an exclusive or preferential basis, or (3) requires referrals of business or requires the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to make available investment opportunities to any person on a priority or exclusive basis;

(C) pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may become obligated to invest in or contribute capital to any entity;

(D) that relates to borrowings of money (or guarantees thereof) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $100,000, other than Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings and repurchase agreements with customers entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(E) that grants any right of first refusal, right of first offer or similar right with respect to any material assets, rights or properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(F) that limits the payment of dividends by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(G) that relates to the involvement of the Company or any Subsidiary in a joint venture, partnership, limited liability company agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement, or to the formation, creation or operation, management or control of any partnership or joint venture with any third parties;

(H) that relates to an acquisition, divestiture, merger or similar transaction and which contains representations, covenants, indemnities or other obligations (including indemnification, “earn-out” or other contingent obligations) that are still in effect,

(I) which is a lease or license with respect to any property, real or personal, whether as landlord, tenant, licensor or licensee, involving a liability or obligation as obligor in excess of $50,000 on an annual basis;

(J) which is a consulting agreement or data processing, software programming or licensing contract involving the payment of more than $50,000 per annum; or

(K) which is not of the type described in clauses (A) through (J) above and which involved payments by, or to, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, or which could reasonably be expected to involve such payments during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011, of more than $50,000 (excluding Loans) or the termination of which would require payment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $50,000.

(ii) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default under (and no event has occurred which, with due notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default under) or is in violation of any provision of any note, bond, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its respective properties or assets is subject and, to the knowledge of the Company, no other party to any such agreement (excluding any loan or extension of credit made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) is in default in any respect thereunder.

(q) Intellectual Property. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries owns or possesses valid and binding licenses and other rights to use (in the manner and the geographic areas in which they are currently used) without payment all patents, copyrights, trade secrets, trade names, service marks and trademarks material to its business. The Company’s Disclosure Letter sets forth a complete and correct list of all material trademarks, trade names, service marks and copyrights owned by or licensed to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for use in its business, and all licenses and other agreements relating thereto and all agreements relating to third party intellectual property that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is licensed or authorized to use in its business, including without limitation any software licenses but excluding any so-called “shrink-wrap” license agreements and other similar computer software licensed in the ordinary course of business and/or otherwise resident on desktop computers (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”). With respect to each item of Intellectual Property owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the owner possesses all right, title and interest in and to the item, free and clear of any Lien. With respect to each item of Intellectual Property that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is licensed or authorized to use, the license, sublicense or agreement covering such item is legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any charge, complaint, claim, demand or notice alleging any interference, infringement, misappropriation or violation with or of any intellectual property rights of a third party (including any claims that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries must license or refrain from using any intellectual property rights of a third party). To the knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has interfered with, infringed upon, misappropriated or otherwise come into conflict with any intellectual property rights of third parties and no third party has interfered with, infringed upon, misappropriated or otherwise come into conflict with any intellectual property rights of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(r) Labor Matters.

(i) The Company and its Subsidiaries are in material compliance with all applicable laws respecting employment, retention of independent contractors, employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, and wages and hours. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is or has ever been a party to, or is or has ever been bound by, any collective bargaining agreement, contract or other agreement or understanding with a labor union or labor organization with respect to its employees, nor is the Company or any of its Subsidiaries the subject of any proceeding asserting that it has committed an unfair labor practice or seeking to compel it or any such Subsidiary to bargain with any labor organization as to wages and conditions of employment nor, to the knowledge of the Company, has any such proceeding been threatened, nor is there any strike, other labor dispute or organizational effort involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(ii) The Company’s Disclosure Letter identifies (A) all present employees (including any leased or temporary employees) of the Company and its Subsidiaries and any consultants or independent contractors providing services to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (B) each employee’s, consultant’s or independent contractor’s current rate of compensation; and (C) each employee’s accrued vacation, sick leave or personal leave if applicable. The Company’s Disclosure Letter also names any employee who is absent from work due to a leave of absence (including but not limited to, in accordance with the requirements of the Family and Medical Leave Act or the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act) or a work-related injury, or who is receiving workers’ compensation or disability compensation. There are no unpaid wages, bonuses or commissions owed to any employee (other than those not yet due).

(s) Employee Benefit Plans.

(i) The Company’s Disclosure Letter contains a complete and accurate list of all pension, retirement, stock option, stock purchase, stock ownership, savings, stock appreciation right, profit sharing, deferred compensation, consulting, bonus, group insurance, severance and other benefit plans, contracts, agreements and arrangements, including, but not limited to, “employee benefit plans,” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, incentive and welfare policies, contracts, plans and arrangements and all trust agreements related thereto with respect to any present or former directors, officers or other employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Company Employee Plans”). The Company has previously delivered or made available to Purchaser true and complete copies of each agreement, plan and other documents referenced in the Company’s Disclosure Letter, along with, where applicable, copies of the IRS Form 5500 for the most recently completed year. There has been no announcement or commitment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to create an additional Company Employee Plan, or to amend any Company Employee Plan, except for amendments required by applicable law or which do not materially increase the cost of such Company Employee Plan. Each Company Employee Plan that provides for the payment of “deferred compensation,” including any employment agreement between the Company and any employee, complies in all respects with Section 409A of the IRC.

(ii) There is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened litigation, administrative action or proceeding relating to any Company Employee Plan. All of the Company Employee Plans comply in all material respects with all applicable requirements of ERISA, the IRC and other applicable laws. There has occurred no “prohibited transaction” (as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the IRC) with respect to the Company Employee Plans that is likely to result in the imposition of any penalties or Taxes upon the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under Section 502(i) of ERISA or Section 4975 of the IRC.

(iii) The Company has never sponsored, implemented or participated in any defined benefit pension plan or multiple-employer plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA.

(iv) Each Company Employee Plan that is an “employee pension benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) and which is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the IRC (a “Company Qualified Plan”) has received a favorable

determination letter from the IRS for the most recent applicable remedial amendment cycle, and, to the knowledge of the Company, there are no circumstances likely to result in revocation of any such favorable determination letter. No Company Qualified Plan is an “employee stock ownership plan” (as defined in Section 4975(e)(7) of the IRC).

(v) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any obligations for post-retirement or post-employment benefits under any Company Employee Plan that cannot be amended or terminated upon sixty (60) days’ notice or less without incurring any liability thereunder, except for coverage required by Part 6 of Title I of ERISA or Section 4980B of the IRC, or similar state laws, the cost of which is borne by the insured individuals.

(vi) All contributions required to be made with respect to any Company Employee Plan by applicable law or regulation or by any plan document or other contractual undertaking, and all premiums due or payable with respect to insurance policies funding any Company Employee Plan, for any period through the date hereof have been timely made or paid in full, or to the extent not required to be made or paid on or before the date hereof, have been fully reflected in the financial statements of the Company. Each Company Employee Plan that is an employee welfare benefit plan under Section 3(1) of ERISA either (A) is funded through an insurance company contract and is not a “welfare benefit fund” within the meaning of Section 419 of the IRC or (B) is unfunded.

(vii) The Company’s Disclosure Letter contains a calculation of the severance payment (estimated where necessary) and a description of other benefits payable to each director, officer or employee of the Company or any of it Subsidiaries that is a party to a severance, change in control or employment agreement, assuming that such person’s service with the Company terminates as of the Effective Time.

(t) Properties.

(i) A list of all real property owned or leased by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company is set forth in the Company’s Disclosure Letter. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all real property owned by it (including any property acquired in a judicial foreclosure proceeding or by way of a deed in lieu of foreclosure or similar transfer), in each case free and clear of any Liens except (i) liens for Taxes not yet due and payable and (ii) such easements, restrictions and encumbrances, if any, as are not material in character, amount or extent, and do not materially detract from the value, or materially interfere with the present use of the properties subject thereto or affected thereby. Each lease pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as lessee, leases real or personal property is valid and in full force and effect and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any other party to any such lease, is in default or in violation of any material provisions of any such lease. The Company has previously delivered to Purchaser a complete and correct copy of each such lease. All real property owned or leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are in all material respects in a good state of maintenance and repair (normal wear and tear excepted), conform with all applicable ordinances, regulations and zoning laws and are considered by the Company to be adequate for the current

business of the Company and its Subsidiaries. To the knowledge of the Company, none of the buildings, structures or other improvements located on any real property owned or leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries encroaches upon or over any adjoining parcel or real estate or any easement or right-of-way.

(ii) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all tangible personal property owned by it, free and clear of all Liens except such Liens, if any, that are not material in character, amount or extent, and that do not materially detract from the value, or materially interfere with the present use of the properties subject thereto or affected thereby. With respect to personal property used in the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries that is leased rather than owned, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default under the terms of any such lease.

(u) Fairness Opinion. The Company has received the opinion of Scott & Stringfellow, LLC to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and subject to the assumptions and qualifications set forth therein, the Merger Consideration to be paid to the Company’s stockholders by Purchaser in connection with the Merger pursuant to this Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to such Company stockholders.

(v) Fees. Other than for financial advisory services performed for the Company by Scott & Stringfellow, LLC, pursuant to an agreement dated October 26, 2011, a true and complete copy of which has previously been provided to Purchaser, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents, has employed any broker or finder or incurred any liability for any financial advisory fees, brokerage fees, commissions or finder’s fees, and no broker or finder has acted directly or indirectly for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

(w) Environmental Matters.

(i) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries, the Participation Facilities, and, to the knowledge of the Company, the Loan Properties are, and have been, in material compliance with all Environmental Laws.

(ii) There is no suit, claim, action, demand, executive or administrative order, directive, investigation or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, before any court, governmental agency or board or other forum against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Participation Facility (A) for alleged noncompliance (including by any predecessor) with, or liability under, any Environmental Law or (B) relating to the presence of or release into the environment of any Hazardous Material, whether or not occurring at or on a site owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Participation Facility.

(iii) To the knowledge of the Company, there is no suit, claim, action, demand, executive or administrative order, directive, investigation or proceeding pending or threatened before any court, governmental agency or board or other forum relating to or against any Loan Property (or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of such Loan Property) (A) relating to alleged noncompliance (including by any predecessor) with, or liability under, any Environmental Law or (B) relating to the presence of or release into the environment of any Hazardous Material, whether or not occurring at a Loan Property.

(iv) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice, demand letter, executive or administrative order, directive or request for information from any Governmental Entity or any third party indicating that it may be in violation of, or liable under, any Environmental Law.

(v) To the knowledge of the Company, there are no underground storage tanks at any properties owned or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Participation Facility. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any other person or entity, has closed or removed any underground storage tanks from any properties owned or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Participation Facility.

(vi) During the period of (A) the Company’s or its Subsidiary’s ownership or operation of any of their respective current properties or (B) the Company’s or its Subsidiary’s participation in the management of any Participation Facility, there has been no release of Hazardous Materials in, on, under or affecting such properties except for releases of Hazardous Materials in quantities below the level at which they are regulated under any Environmental Law. To the knowledge of the Company, prior to the period of (A) the Company’s or its Subsidiary’s ownership or operation of any of their respective current properties or (B) the Company’s or its Subsidiary’s participation in the management of any Participation Facility, there was no contamination by or release of Hazardous Material in, on, under or affecting such properties except for releases of Hazardous Materials in quantities below the level at which they are regulated under any Environmental Law.

(x) Loan Matters.

(i) All Loans held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries were made in all material respects for good, valuable and adequate consideration in the ordinary course of the business, in accordance in all material respects with sound banking practices, and, to the knowledge of the Company, are not subject to any defenses, setoffs or counterclaims, including without limitation any such as are afforded by usury or truth in lending laws, except as may be provided by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws or by general principles of equity. The notes or other evidences of indebtedness evidencing such Loans and all forms of pledges, mortgages and other collateral documents and security agreements are, in all material respects, enforceable, valid, true and genuine and what they purport to be.

(ii) Neither the terms of any Loan, any of the documentation for any Loan, the manner in which any Loans have been administered and serviced, nor the Company’s practices of approving or rejecting Loan applications, violate in any material respect any federal,

state, or local law, rule or regulation applicable thereto, including, without limitation, the Truth In Lending Act, Regulations O and Z of the Federal Reserve Board, the CRA, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and any state laws, rules and regulations relating to consumer protection, installment sales and usury.

(iii) The allowance for loan losses reflected in the Company’s audited balance sheet at December 31, 2010 was, and the allowance for loan losses shown on the balance sheets in the Company’s Reports for periods ending after such date, in the opinion of management, was or will be adequate, as of the dates thereof.

(iv) None of the agreements pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has sold Loans or pools of Loans or participations in Loans or pools of Loans contains any obligation to repurchase such Loans or interests therein solely on account of a payment default by the obligor on any such Loan.

(v) (A) The Company’s Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of all Loans as of the date hereof by the Company or CommerceFirst Bank to any directors, executive officers and principal stockholders (as such terms are defined in Regulation O of the Federal Reserve Board (12 C.F.R. Part 215)) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) there are no employee, officer, director or other affiliate Loans on which the borrower is paying a rate other than that reflected in the note or other relevant credit or security agreement or on which the borrower is paying a rate which was not in compliance with Regulation O and (C) all such Loans are and were originated in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws.

(vi) The Company’s Disclosure Letter sets forth a listing, as of November 30, 2011, of all Loans (A) that are contractually past due ninety (90) days or more in the payment of principal and/or interest, (B) that are on non-accrual status, (C) that are classified as “Watch”, “Special Mention”, “Substandard”, “Doubtful”, “Loss” or words of similar import, (D) where a reasonable doubt exists as to the timely future collectibility of principal and/or interest, whether or not interest is still accruing or the loans are less than ninety (90) days past due, (E) where the interest rate terms have been reduced and/or the maturity dates have been extended subsequent to the origination of the Loan due to concerns regarding the borrower’s ability to pay in accordance with the Loan’s original terms, and (F) where a specific reserve allocation exists in connection therewith.

(y) Anti-takeover Provisions Inapplicable. The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken all actions required to exempt Purchaser, the Agreement, the Plan of Bank Merger, the Merger and the Bank Merger from any provisions of an antitakeover nature contained in their organizational documents, and the provisions of any federal or state “anti-takeover,” “fair price,” “moratorium,” “control share acquisition” or similar laws or regulations.

(z) Material Interests of Certain Persons. Except for deposit and loan relationships entered into in the ordinary course of business, no current or former officer or director of the Company, or any family member or affiliate of any such person, has any material interest, directly or indirectly, in any contract or property (real or personal), tangible or intangible, used in or pertaining to the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(aa) Insurance. In the opinion of management, the Company and its Subsidiaries are presently insured for amounts deemed reasonable by management against such risks as companies engaged in a similar business would, in accordance with good business practice, customarily be insured. The Company’s Disclosure Letter contains a list of all policies of insurance carried and owned by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries showing the name of the insurance company and agent, the nature of the coverage, the policy limit, the annual premiums and the expiration date. All of the insurance policies and bonds maintained by the Company and its Subsidiaries are in full force and effect, the Company and its Subsidiaries are not in default thereunder, all premiums and other payments due under any such policy have been paid and all material claims thereunder have been filed in due and timely fashion.

(bb) Investment Securities; Derivatives.

(i) Except for restrictions that exist for securities that are classified as “held to maturity,” none of the investment securities held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any restriction (contractual or statutory) that would materially impair the ability of the entity holding such investment freely to dispose of such investment at any time.

(ii) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or has agreed to enter into an exchange-traded or over-the-counter equity, interest rate, foreign exchange or other swap, forward, future, option, cap, floor or collar or any other contract that is a derivative contract (including various combinations thereof) or owns securities that (A) are referred to generically as “structured notes,” “high risk mortgage derivatives,” “capped floating rate notes” or “capped floating rate mortgage derivatives” or (B) are likely to have changes in value as a result of interest or exchange rate changes that significantly exceed normal changes in value attributable to interest or exchange rate changes.

(cc) Indemnification. Except as provided in the Articles of Incorporation or bylaws of the Company and the similar organizational documents of its Subsidiaries, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement that provides for the indemnification of any of its present or former directors, officers or employees, or other persons who serve or served as a director, officer or employee of another corporation, partnership or other enterprise at the request of the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, there are no claims for which any such person would be entitled to indemnification under the Articles of Incorporation or bylaws of the Company or the similar organizational documents of any of its Subsidiaries, under any applicable law or regulation or under any indemnification agreement.

(dd) Corporate Documents and Records. The Company has previously provided a complete and correct copy of the Articles of Incorporation, bylaws and similar organizational documents of the Company and each of the Company’s Subsidiaries, as in effect as of the date of this Agreement. Neither the Company nor any of the Company’s Subsidiaries is in violation of its Articles of Incorporation, bylaws or similar organizational documents. The

minute books of the Company and each of the Company’s Subsidiaries constitute a complete and correct record of all actions taken by their respective boards of directors (and each committee thereof) and their stockholders.

(ee) Company Information. The information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries to be supplied by Purchaser for inclusion in the Registration Statement, any filings or approvals under applicable state securities laws, or any filing pursuant to Rule 165 or Rule 425 under the Securities Act or Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The Proxy Statement-Prospectus (except for such portions thereof that relate only to Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries) will comply as to form in all material respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. The information supplied, or to be supplied, by the Company for inclusion in applications to Governmental Entities to obtain all permits, consents, approvals and authorizations necessary or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be accurate in all material respects.

(ff) CRA, Anti-Money Laundering, OFAC and Customer Information Security. CommerceFirst Bank has received a rating of “Satisfactory” or better in its most recent examination or interim review with respect to the CRA. The Company does not have knowledge of any facts or circumstances that would cause CommerceFirst Bank or any other Subsidiary of the Company: (i) to be deemed not to be in satisfactory compliance in any material respect with the CRA, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, or to be assigned a rating for CRA purposes by federal bank regulators of lower than “Satisfactory”; or (ii) to be deemed to be operating in violation in any material respect of the Bank Secrecy Act, the USA PATRIOT Act, any order issued with respect to anti-money laundering by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, or any other applicable anti-money laundering statute, rule or regulation; or (iii) to be deemed not to be in satisfactory compliance in any material respect with the applicable privacy of customer information requirements contained in any federal and state privacy laws and regulations, including without limitation, in Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 and the regulations promulgated thereunder, as well as the provisions of the information security program adopted by CommerceFirst Bank. To the knowledge of the Company, no non-public customer information has been disclosed to or accessed by an unauthorized third party in a manner which would cause either the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to undertake any remedial action. The Board of Directors of CommerceFirst Bank (or where appropriate of any other Subsidiary of the Company) has adopted, and CommerceFirst Bank (or such other Subsidiary of the Company) has implemented, an anti-money laundering program that contains adequate and appropriate customer identification verification procedures that comply with Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act and such anti-money laundering program meets the requirements in all material respects of Section 352 of the USA PATRIOT Act and the regulations thereunder, and CommerceFirst Bank (or such other Subsidiary of the Company) has complied in all material respects with any requirements to file reports and other necessary documents as required by the USA PATRIOT Act and the regulations thereunder.

(gg) Internal Controls. The Company and its Subsidiaries have devised and maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principals and to maintain accountability for assets, and (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization. Except as disclosed in the Company Reports, there are no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect in any material respect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information. There has occurred no fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

(hh) Tax Treatment of the Merger. The Company has no knowledge of any fact or circumstance relating to it that would prevent the transactions contemplated by this Agreement from qualifying as a reorganization under Section 368(a) of the IRC.

3.3 Representations and Warranties of Purchaser. Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company that, except as set forth in Purchaser’s Disclosure Letter:

(a) Organization and Qualification. Purchaser is a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Maryland. Purchaser has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct the business currently being conducted by it. Purchaser is duly qualified or licensed as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned or leased by it or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or licensed and in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Affect on Purchaser.

(b) Subsidiaries.

(i) Each of Purchaser’s Subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct the business currently being conducted by it and is duly qualified or licensed as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned or leased by it or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or licensed and in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect on such Subsidiary.

(ii) Sandy Spring Bank is a Maryland chartered trust company with commercial banking powers. No Subsidiary of Purchaser other than Sandy Spring Bank is an “insured depository institution” as defined in the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended, and the applicable regulations thereunder. Sandy Spring Bank’s deposits are insured by the FDIC through the Deposit Insurance Fund to the fullest extent permitted by law.

(i) The authorized capital stock of Purchaser consists of 50,000,000 shares of capital stock.

(ii) As of November 30, 2011, (A) 24,305,753 shares of Purchaser Common Stock were issued and outstanding, all of which are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and were issued in full compliance with all applicable laws; and (B) no more than 667,677 shares of Purchaser Common Stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding grants or awards under Purchaser’s stock-based benefit plans.

(iii) The shares of Purchaser Common Stock to be issued in exchange for shares of Company Common Stock upon consummation of the Merger in accordance with this Agreement have been duly authorized and when issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and subject to no preemptive rights.

(d) Authority. Purchaser has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate actions on the part of Purchaser’s Board of Directors, and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Purchaser are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Purchaser and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Purchaser, enforceable against Purchaser in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally and to general principles of equity, whether applied in a court of law or a court of equity.

(e) No Violations. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Purchaser do not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not, (i) assuming that the consents, approvals and filings referred to in Section 3.3(f) have been obtained and the applicable waiting periods have expired, violate any law, rule or regulation or any judgment, decree, order, governmental permit or license to which Purchaser (or any of its properties) is subject, (ii) violate the Articles of Incorporation or bylaws of Purchaser or (iii) constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under (or an event which, with due notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default under), or result in the termination of, accelerate the performance required by, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of Purchaser under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, indenture, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement, instrument or obligation to which Purchaser is a party, or to which any of their respective properties or assets may be subject

except, in the case of (iii), for any such breaches, violations or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Purchaser. The Purchaser is in compliance with all applicable listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market.

(f) Consents and Approvals. Except for (i) filings of applications and notices with, receipt of approvals or no objections from, and the expiration of related waiting periods required by, federal and state banking authorities, including filings and notices with the Federal Reserve and the Maryland Office, (ii) the filing with the SEC of a proxy statement in definitive form relating to the meeting of the Company’s stockholders to be held in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and of the Registration Statement in which such proxy statement will be included as a prospectus, and declaration of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (iii) the filing of the Articles of Merger with the Maryland Department pursuant to the MGCL, (iv) filing with the Nasdaq Stock Market of a notification of the listing of the shares of Purchaser Common Stock to be issued in the Merger; and (v) such filings and approvals as are required to be made or obtained under the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of various states in connection with the issuance of shares of Purchaser Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement, no consents or approvals of, or filings or registrations with, any Governmental Entity or any third party are required to be made or obtained in connection with the execution and delivery by Purchaser of this Agreement or the consummation by Purchaser of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Bank Merger. As of the date hereof, Purchaser knows of no reason pertaining to Purchaser why any of the approvals referred to in this Section 3.3(f) should not be obtained without the imposition of any material condition or restriction described in Section 6.2(e).

(g) Securities Filings. Purchaser has filed with the SEC all reports, schedules, registration statements, definitive proxy statements and other documents that it has been required to file under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act since December 31, 2008 (collectively, “Purchaser’s Reports”). None of Purchaser’s Reports contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As of their respective dates, all of Purchaser’s Reports complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder. Each of the financial statements (including, in each case, any notes thereto) of Purchaser included in Purchaser’s Reports complied as to form, as of their respective dates of filing with the SEC, in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto.

(h) Financial Statements. Purchaser has previously made available to the Company copies of (i) the consolidated statements of financial condition of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 and related consolidated statements of income, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010, together with the notes thereto, accompanied by the audit report of Purchaser’s independent registered public accounting firm, as reported in Purchaser’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 filed with the Securities and

Exchange Commission and (ii) the unaudited consolidated statements of financial condition of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries as of September 30, 2011 and the related consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, as reported in Purchaser’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2011 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such financial statements were prepared from the books and records of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries, fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries in each case at and as of the dates indicated and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries for the periods indicated, and, except as otherwise set forth in the notes thereto, were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby; provided, however, that the unaudited financial statements for interim periods are subject to normal year-end adjustments (which will not be material individually or in the aggregate) and lack footnotes to the extent permitted under applicable regulations. The books and records of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries have been, and are being, maintained in all material respects in accordance with GAAP and any other legal and accounting requirements and reflect only actual transactions.

(i) Undisclosed Liabilities. Neither Purchaser nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any debt, liability or obligation of any nature whatsoever (whether accrued, contingent, absolute or otherwise and whether due or to become due) other than liabilities reflected on or reserved against in the consolidated balance sheet of Purchaser as of September 30, 2011, except for (i) liabilities incurred since September 30, 2011 in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice that, either alone or when combined with all similar liabilities, have not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect on Purchaser and (ii) liabilities incurred for legal, accounting, financial advising fees and out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(j) Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Since September 30, 2011, Purchaser and its Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses only in the ordinary and usual course of such businesses consistent with their past practices and there has not been any event or occurrence that has had, or is reasonably expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect on Purchaser.

(k) Litigation. There are no suits, actions or legal, administrative or arbitration proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Purchaser, threatened against or affecting Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries that (i) challenge the validity or propriety of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the ability of Purchaser to perform under this Agreement, or (iii) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Purchaser.

(l) Absence of Regulatory Actions. Since December 31, 2008, neither Purchaser nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a party to any cease and desist order, written agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or has been subject to any action, proceeding, order or directive by any Governmental Entity, or has adopted any board resolutions at the request of any Governmental

Entity, or has been advised by any Governmental Entity that it is contemplating issuing or requesting (or is considering the appropriateness of issuing or requesting) any such action, proceeding, order, directive, written agreement, memorandum of understanding, commitment letter, board resolutions or similar undertaking.

(m) Compliance with Laws. Purchaser and each of its Subsidiaries conducts its business in compliance with all statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders or decrees applicable to it or the employees conducting such business, except where noncompliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Purchaser. Purchaser and each of its Subsidiaries has all material permits, licenses, certificates of authority, orders and approvals of, and has made all filings, applications and registrations with, all Governmental Entities that are required in order to permit it to carry on its business as it is presently conducted; all such permits, licenses, certificates of authority, orders and approvals are in full force and effect, and no suspension or cancellation of any of them is, to the knowledge of Purchaser, threatened. Neither Purchaser nor any of its Subsidiaries has been given notice or been charged with any violation of, any law, ordinance, regulation, order, writ, rule, decree or condition to approval of any Governmental Entity which, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Purchaser.

(n) Purchaser Information. The information regarding Purchaser and its Subsidiaries to be supplied by Purchaser for inclusion in the Registration Statement, any filings or approvals under applicable state securities laws, or any filing pursuant to Rule 165 or Rule 425 under the Securities Act or Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The Proxy Statement-Prospectus (except for such portions thereof that relate only to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) will comply as to form in all material respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. The Registration Statement will comply as to form in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

(o) Internal Controls. Purchaser and its Subsidiaries have devised and maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principals and to maintain accountability for assets, and (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization. Except as disclosed in Purchaser’s Reports, there are no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect in any material respect Purchaser’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information.

(p) Tax Treatment of the Merger. Purchaser has no knowledge of any fact or circumstance relating to it that would prevent the transactions contemplated by this Agreement from qualifying as a reorganization under Section 368 of the IRC.

(q) Availability of Funds. Purchaser has, or will have available to it at the Effective Time, immediately available cash in amounts sufficient to pay the aggregate Cash Consideration and to pay any other amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement and to effect the transactions contemplated hereby.

ARTICLE IV

CONDUCT PENDING THE MERGER

4.1 Forbearances by the Company. Except as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement or disclosed in the Company’s Disclosure Letter, and except to the extent required by law or regulation or any Governmental Entity during the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, the Company shall not, nor shall the Company permit any of its Subsidiaries to, without the prior written consent of Purchaser, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed:

(a) conduct its business other than in the regular, ordinary and usual course consistent with past practice; fail to use reasonable efforts to maintain and preserve intact its business organization, properties, leases, employees and advantageous business relationships and retain the services of its officers and key employees; or take any action that would adversely affect or delay its ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby;

(b) (i) incur, modify, extend or renegotiate any indebtedness for borrowed money, or assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise as an accommodation become responsible for the obligations of any other person, other than the creation of deposit liabilities in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

(ii) prepay any indebtedness or other similar arrangements so as to cause the Company to incur any prepayment penalty thereunder; or

(iii) purchase any brokered certificates of deposit other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice with a term not in excess of one year;

(ii) make, declare or pay any dividend, or make any other distribution on its capital stock, except that CommerceFirst Bank may pay a capital distribution to the Company sufficient to enable the Company to pay expenses related to ordinary operations of the Company or to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(iii) grant any person any right to acquire any shares of its capital stock;

(iv) issue any additional shares of capital stock or any securities or obligations convertible or exercisable for any shares of its capital stock; or

(v) directly or indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock;

(d) other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice (including the sale, transfer or disposal of other real estate owned (“OREO”)) or pursuant to contracts or agreements in force at the date of this Agreement and which are described in the Company’s Disclosure Letter, (i) sell, transfer, mortgage, encumber or otherwise dispose of any of its real property or other assets to any person other than a Subsidiary, or (ii) cancel, release or assign any indebtedness to any such person or any claims held by any such person;

(e) make any equity investment, either by purchase of stock or securities, contributions to capital, property transfers, or purchase of any property or assets of any other person, or form any new subsidiary, other than purchases of stock of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond in accordance with applicable law and regulation;

(f) enter into, renew, amend or terminate any contract or agreement, or make any change in any of its leases or contracts, other than with respect to those involving aggregate payments of less than, or the provision of goods or services with a market value of less than, $50,000 per annum and other than contracts or agreements covered by Section 4.1(g);

(g) make, renegotiate, renew, increase the amount of, extend the term of, modify or purchase any Loan, or make any commitment in respect of any of the foregoing, except (i) in conformity with existing lending practices, including approval by the Company’s President, in amounts not to exceed $100,000 if such Loan is not fully secured or $750,000 if such Loan is fully secured or (ii) Loans as to which the Company has a binding obligation to make such Loans as of the date hereof and which are described in the Company’s Disclosure Letter; provided, however, that neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall make, renegotiate, renew, increase the amount of, extend the term of, modify or purchase any Loan, or make any commitment in respect of any of the foregoing, to any person if when aggregated with all outstanding Loans and commitments for Loans made to such person and such person’s family members and affiliates, the Loans would exceed $750,000; provided further that Purchaser’s consent shall be deemed to have been granted if Purchaser does not object within three (3) Business Days of receipt of notice from the Company of its intent to make such Loan;

(h) except for Loans made in accordance with Regulation O of the Federal Reserve Board (12 C.F.R. Part 215), make or increase any Loan, or commit to make or increase any such Loan or extension of credit, to any director or executive officer of the Company or CommerceFirst Bank, or any entity controlled, directly or indirectly, by any of the foregoing;

(i) (i) increase in any manner the compensation, bonuses or other fringe benefits of any of its employees or directors other than in the ordinary course of business, or pay any bonus, pension, retirement allowance or contribution not required by any existing plan or agreement to any such employees or directors, provided that nothing in this subsection shall preclude the Company or any Subsidiary from paying bonuses with respect to the calendar year 2011 to officers, employees or directors, or providing salary increases to officers, directors or employees, in each case as set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedule;

(ii) become a party to, amend, renew, extend or commit itself to any pension, retirement, profit-sharing or welfare benefit plan or agreement or employment or change-in-control agreement with or for the benefit of any employee or director, except for amendments to any plan or agreement that are required by law;

(iii) elect to any senior executive office any person who is not a member of its senior executive officer team as of the date of this Agreement or elect to its Board of Directors any person who is not a member of its Board of Directors as of the date of this Agreement; or

(iv) hire any employee except as may be necessary to replace any non-officer employee whose employment is terminated, whether voluntarily or involuntarily;

(j) commence any action or proceeding, other than to enforce any obligation owed to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and in accordance with past practice, or settle any claim, action or proceeding (i) involving payment by it of money damages in excess of $50,000 or (ii) which would impose any material restriction on its operations or the operations of any of its Subsidiaries;

(k) amend its Articles of Incorporation or bylaws, or similar governing documents;

(l) increase or decrease the rate of interest paid on time deposits or on certificates of deposit, except in a manner and pursuant to policies consistent with past practice;

(m) purchase any debt security, including mortgage-backed and mortgage-related securities, other than U.S. government and U.S. government agency securities or FDIC-insured certificates of deposit with final maturities less than one year;

(n) make any capital expenditures other than pursuant to binding commitments existing on the date hereof, which are described in the Company’s Disclosure Letter, and expenditures necessary to maintain existing assets in good repair;

(o) establish or commit to the establishment of any new branch or other office facilities or file any application to relocate or terminate the operation of any banking office;

(p) enter into any futures contract, option, swap agreement, interest rate cap, interest rate floor, interest rate exchange agreement, or take any other action for purposes of hedging the exposure of its interest-earning assets or interest-bearing liabilities to changes in market rates of interest, other than interest rate caps and floors in Loans in the ordinary course of business;

(q) make any changes in policies in existence on the date hereof with regard to: the extension of credit, or the establishment of reserves with respect to possible loss thereon or the charge off of losses incurred thereon; investments; asset/liability management; or other material banking policies, except as may be required by changes in applicable law or regulations, GAAP, or the direction of a Governmental Entity;

(r) issue any communication of a general nature to employees (including general communications relating to benefits and compensation) without prior consultation with Purchaser and, to the extent relating to post-Closing employment, benefit or compensation information, without the prior consent of Purchaser (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) or issue any communication of a general nature to customers without the prior approval of Purchaser (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), except as required by law or for communications in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice that do not relate to the Merger or other transactions contemplated hereby;

(s) except with respect to foreclosures in process as of the date hereof, foreclose upon or take a deed or title to any commercial real estate (i) without providing prior notice to Purchaser and conducting a Phase I environmental assessment of the property, or (ii) if the Phase I environmental assessment referred to in the prior clause reflects the presence of any Hazardous Material or underground storage tank;

(t) make, change or rescind any material election concerning Taxes or Tax Returns, file any amended Tax Return, enter into any closing agreement with respect to Taxes, settle or compromise any material Tax claim or assessment, or surrender any right to claim a refund of Taxes or obtain any Tax ruling;

(u) take any action that is intended or expected to result in any of its representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement being or becoming untrue in any material respect at any time prior to the Effective Time, or in any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in Article VI not being satisfied or in a violation of any provision of this Agreement;

(v) implement or adopt any change in its accounting principles, practices or methods, other than as may be required by GAAP or regulatory guidelines;

(w) knowingly take action that would prevent or impede the Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of the IRC; or

(x) agree to take, make any commitment to take, or adopt any resolutions of its Board of Directors in support of, any of the actions prohibited by this Section 4.1.

Any request by the Company or response thereto by Purchaser shall be made in accordance with the notice provisions of Section 8.7 and shall note that it is a request pursuant to this Section 4.1.

4.2 Forbearances by Purchaser. Except as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, and except to the extent required by law or regulation or any Governmental Entity, during the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, Purchaser shall use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact its and its Subsidiaries business organization, goodwill, relationships with depositors, customers and employees, and maintain its rights and franchises in all material respects, and shall not, nor shall Purchaser permit any of its Subsidiaries to, without the prior written consent of the Company:

(a) knowingly take any action that would adversely affect or delay (i) the ability to obtain the necessary approvals of any Governmental Entity required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (ii) its ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby;

(b) take any action that is intended to or expected to result in any of its representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement being or becoming untrue in any material respect at any time prior to the Effective Time, or in any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in Article VI not being satisfied or in a violation of any provision of this Agreement;

(c) knowingly take action that would prevent or impede the Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of the IRC;

(d) agree to take, make any commitment to take, or adopt any resolutions of its Board of Directors in support of, any of the actions prohibited by this Section 4.2;

(e) amend, repeal or modify any provision of its Articles of Incorporation or bylaws in a manner which would adversely affect the Company or any Company stockholder or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or

(f) make or pay any extraordinary one-time dividend or distribution on shares of Purchaser Common Stock.

ARTICLE V

COVENANTS

5.1 Acquisition Proposals.

(a) From the date of this Agreement until the earlier to occur of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Company shall not, and shall not authorize or permit any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Subsidiaries’ officers, directors or employees or any investment banker, financial advisor, attorney, accountant or other representative retained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate or encourage, or take any other action to facilitate, any inquiries, discussions or the making of any proposal that constitutes or could reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal, (ii) furnish any information or data regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any person in connection with or in response to an Acquisition Proposal or an inquiry or indication of interest that would reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal, (iii) continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations, or otherwise communicate in any way with any person (other than Purchaser), regarding an Acquisition Proposal, (iv) approve, endorse or recommend any Acquisition Proposal, or (v) enter into or consummate any agreement, arrangement or understanding contemplating any Acquisition Transaction or requiring it to abandon, terminate or fail to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Without limiting the foregoing, it is understood that any violation of the restrictions set forth in the preceding sentence by any officer, director or employee of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any investment banker, financial advisor, attorney, accountant or other representative retained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be a breach of this Section 5.1 by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the adoption and approval of this Agreement by the Company’s stockholders at a meeting of the stockholders of the Company, this Section 5.1(a) shall not prohibit the Company from furnishing nonpublic information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries to, or entering into discussions with, any person in response to an Acquisition Proposal that is submitted to the Company by such person (and not withdrawn) if (1) the Acquisition Proposal constitutes or is reasonably expected to result in a Superior Proposal, (2) the Company has not violated any of the restrictions set forth in this Section 5.1, (3) the Company’s Board of Directors determines in good faith, after consultation with and based upon the advice of its outside legal counsel, that such action is required in order for the Board of Directors to comply with its fiduciary obligations to the Company’s stockholders under applicable law, and (4) at least two (2) Business Days prior to furnishing any nonpublic information to, or entering into discussions with, such person, the Company gives Purchaser written notice of the identity of such person and of the Company’s intention to furnish nonpublic information to, or enter into discussions with, such person and the Company receives from such person an executed confidentiality agreement on terms no more favorable to such person than the confidentiality agreement between Purchaser and the Company.

(b) The Company will notify Purchaser immediately orally (within one (1) calendar day) and in writing (within three (3) calendar days) of receipt of any Acquisition Proposal, any request for non-public information that could reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal, or any inquiry with respect to or that could reasonably be expected to lead to

an Acquisition Proposal, including, in each case, the identity of the person making such Acquisition Proposal, request or inquiry and the terms and conditions thereof, and shall provide to Purchaser any written materials received by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection therewith. The Company will keep Purchaser informed of any developments with respect to any such Acquisition Proposal, request or inquiry immediately upon the occurrence thereof.

(c) The Company will immediately cease and cause to be terminated any existing activities, discussions or negotiations with any parties conducted prior to the date of this Agreement with respect to any of the foregoing. The Company shall not release any third party from, or waive any provisions of, any confidentiality agreements or standstill agreement to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is a party.

5.2 Advice of Changes. Prior to the Closing, each party shall promptly advise the other party orally and in writing to the extent that it has knowledge of (i) any representation or warranty made by it contained in this Agreement becoming untrue or inaccurate in any material respect or (ii) the failure by it to comply in any material respect with or satisfy in any material respect any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it under this Agreement; provided, however, that no such notification shall affect the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of the parties or the conditions to the obligations of the parties under this Agreement.

5.3 Access and Information.

(a) Upon reasonable notice and subject to applicable laws relating to the exchange of information, the Company shall (and shall cause the Company’s Subsidiaries to) afford Purchaser and its representatives (including, without limitation, officers and employees of Purchaser and its affiliates and counsel, accountants and other professionals retained by Purchaser) such reasonable access during normal business hours throughout the period prior to the Effective Time to the books, records (including, without limitation tax returns), contracts, properties, personnel and to such other information relating to the Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries as Purchaser may reasonably request; provided, however, that no investigation pursuant to this Section 5.3 shall affect or be deemed to modify any representation or warranty made by the Company in this Agreement. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to provide access to or to disclose information where such access or disclosure would violate or prejudice the rights of its customers, jeopardize the attorney-client privilege of the entity in possession or control of such information or contravene any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree, fiduciary duty or binding agreement entered into prior to the date of this Agreement. The parties will make appropriate and reasonable substitute disclosure arrangements under circumstances in which the restrictions of the preceding sentence apply.

(b) From the date hereof until the Effective Time, the Company shall, and shall cause the Company’s Subsidiaries to, promptly provide Purchaser with (i) a copy of each report filed with a Governmental Entity, (ii) a copy of each periodic report to its senior management and

all materials relating to its business or operations furnished to its Board of Directors, (iii) a copy of each press release made available to the public and (iv) all other information concerning its business, properties and personnel as Purchaser may reasonably request, provided that Purchaser shall not be entitled to receive reports or other documents relating to (x) matters involving this Agreement, (y) pending or threatened litigation or investigations if, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, the presence of such designees would or might adversely affect the confidential nature of, or any privilege relating to, the matters being discussed, or (z) matters involving an Acquisition Proposal.

(c) Purchaser will not, and will cause its representatives not to, use any information obtained pursuant to this Section 5.3 for any purpose unrelated to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. All information and documents obtained pursuant to this Section 5.3 be held in confidence to the extent required by, and in accordance with, the provisions of confidentiality set forth in a letter agreement, dated October 5, 2011 between Purchaser and the Company.

(d) The Company shall give notice, and shall cause CommerceFirst Bank to give notice, to a designee of Purchaser, and shall invite such person to attend all regular and special meetings of the Board of Directors of the Company and CommerceFirst Bank and all meetings of the Loan Committee of CommerceFirst Bank. The Company’s Disclosure Schedule sets forth the regularly scheduled meetings of the Boards of Directors of the Company and CommerceFirst Bank and of the Loan Committee of CommerceFirst Bank to be held in 2012, which disclosure is hereby deemed to constitute notice of and an invitation to Purchaser’s designee to attend, such meetings. Such designees shall have no right to vote and shall not attend sessions of the Boards of Directors or any committee thereof during which there is being discussed (i) matters involving this Agreement, (ii) pending or threatened litigation or investigations if, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, the presence of such designees would or might adversely affect the confidential nature of, or any privilege relating to, the matters being discussed, or (iii) matters involving an Acquisition Proposal.

(e) From and after the date hereof, representatives of Purchaser and the Company shall meet on a regular basis to discuss and plan for the conversion of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ data processing and related electronic informational systems to those used by Purchaser and its Subsidiaries with the goal of conducting such conversion simultaneously with the consummation of the Bank Merger or as soon thereafter as possible.

(f) Within ten (10) Business Days of the end of each calendar month, the Company shall provide Purchaser with an updated list of Loans described in Section 3.2(x)(vi).

5.4 Applications; Consents.

(a) The parties hereto shall cooperate with each other and shall use their reasonable best efforts to prepare and file as soon as practicable after the date hereof, and in any event within 45 days of the date hereof, all necessary applications, notices and filings to obtain all

permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of all Governmental Entities that are necessary or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Company and Purchaser shall furnish each other with all information concerning themselves, their respective subsidiaries, and their respective subsidiaries’ directors, officers and stockholders and such other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable in connection with any application, notice or filing made by or on behalf of Purchaser, the Company or any of their respective subsidiaries to any Governmental Entity in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Purchaser and the Company shall have the right to review in advance, and to the extent practicable each will consult with the other on, all the information relating to Purchaser and the Company, as the case may be, and any of their respective subsidiaries, that appears in any filing made with, or written materials submitted to, any Governmental Entity pursuant to this Section 5.4(a).

(b) As soon as practicable after the date hereof, each of the parties hereto shall, and they shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to, use its reasonable best efforts to obtain any consent, authorization or approval of any third party that is required to be obtained in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

5.5 Antitakeover Provisions. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall take all steps required by any relevant federal or state law or regulation or under any relevant agreement or other document to exempt or continue to exempt Purchaser, the Agreement, the Plan of Bank Merger, the Merger and the Bank Merger from any provisions of an antitakeover nature in the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ Articles of Incorporation and bylaws, or similar organizational documents, and the provisions of any federal or state antitakeover laws.

5.6 Additional Agreements. Subject to the terms and conditions herein provided, each of the parties hereto agrees to use all reasonable efforts to take promptly, or cause to be taken promptly, all actions and to do promptly, or cause to be done promptly, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and regulations to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as expeditiously as possible, including using efforts to obtain all necessary actions or non-actions, extensions, waivers, consents and approvals from all applicable Governmental Entities, effecting all necessary registrations, applications and filings (including, without limitation, filings under any applicable state securities laws) and obtaining any required contractual consents and regulatory approvals.

5.7 Publicity. The initial press release announcing this Agreement shall be a joint press release. Thereafter the Company and Purchaser shall consult with each other prior to issuing any press releases or otherwise making public statements (including any written communications to stockholders) with respect to the Merger and any other transaction contemplated hereby and in making any filings with any Governmental Entity; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 5.7 shall be deemed to prohibit any party from making any disclosure which its counsel deems necessary in order to satisfy such party’s disclosure obligations imposed by law.

5.8 Stockholder Meeting.

(a) The Company will submit to its stockholders this Agreement and any other matters required to be approved or adopted by stockholders in order to carry out the intentions of this Agreement. In furtherance of that obligation, the Company will take, in accordance with applicable law and its Articles of Incorporation and bylaws, all action necessary to call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its stockholders (the “Stockholder Meeting”) as promptly as practicable for the purpose of considering and voting on approval and adoption of this Agreement and the transactions provided for in this Agreement. Subject to Section 5.8(b), the Company shall, (i) through the Company’s Board of Directors, recommend to its stockholders adoption of this Agreement, (ii) include such recommendation in the Proxy Statement-Prospectus and (iii) subject to the fiduciary duties of the Company’s Board of Directors, use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain from its stockholders a vote approving and adopting this Agreement.

(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, at any time prior to the Effective Time, the Company’s Board of Directors may, if it concludes in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal advisors) that the failure to do so would cause it to violate its fiduciary duties under applicable law, withdraw, modify or change its recommendation that the stockholders of the Company approve this Agreement in a manner adverse to Purchaser (a “Change of Recommendation”); provided that prior to any such Change of Recommendation, the Company shall have complied in all material respects with Section 5.1, given Purchaser prompt written notice advising it of the decision of the Company’s Board of Directors to take such action and, in the event the decision relates to an Acquisition Proposal, given Purchaser the material terms and conditions of the Acquisition Proposal, including the identity of the person making any such Acquisition Proposal or inquiry and the material terms of such Acquisition Proposal or inquiry; and provided, further, that in the event the decision relates to an Acquisition Proposal: (i) the Company shall have given Purchaser three (3) Business Days after delivery of such notice to propose revisions to the terms of this Agreement (or make another proposal) and if Purchaser proposes to revise the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall have negotiated, and shall have caused its financial and legal advisors to negotiate, in good faith with Purchaser with respect to such proposed revisions or other proposal; and (ii) the Company’s Board of Directors shall have determined in good faith, after considering the results of such negotiations and giving effect to any proposals, amendments or modifications made or agreed to by Purchaser, if any, that such Acquisition Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal. In the event the Company’s Board of Directors does not make the determination that such Acquisition Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal and thereafter determines to withdraw, modify or change its recommendation that the stockholders of the Company approve this Agreement in connection with a new Acquisition Proposal, the procedures referred to above shall apply anew and shall also apply to any subsequent withdrawal, amendment or change. In the event of any material revisions to the Acquisition Proposal that result in terms that are less favorable to the Company, the Company shall be required to deliver a new written notice to Purchaser and to again comply with the requirements of this Section 5.8(b) with respect to such new written notice, except that the three (3) Business Day period referred to above shall be reduced to two (2) Business Days. In addition to the foregoing, the Company shall not submit to the vote of its stockholders any Acquisition Proposal other than the Merger.

5.9 Registration of Purchaser Common Stock .

(a) As promptly as reasonably practicable following the date hereof, Purchaser shall prepare and file the Registration Statement with the SEC. The Registration Statement shall contain proxy materials relating to the matters to be submitted to the Company stockholders at the Stockholders Meeting, which shall also constitute the prospectus relating to the shares of Purchaser Common Stock to be issued in the Merger (such proxy statement/prospectus, and any amendments or supplements thereto, the “Proxy Statement-Prospectus”). The Company will furnish to Purchaser the information required to be included in the Registration Statement with respect to its business and affairs and shall have the right to review and consult with Purchaser and approve the form of, and any characterizations of such information included in, the Registration Statement prior to its being filed with the SEC. Purchaser shall use reasonable best efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC and to keep the Registration Statement effective as long as is necessary to consummate the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company will use reasonable best efforts to cause the Proxy Statement-Prospectus to be mailed to the Company’s stockholders as promptly as practicable after the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act. Purchaser will advise the Company, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when the Registration Statement has become effective, the issuance of any stop order, the suspension of the qualification of the Purchaser Common Stock issuable in connection with the Merger for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or any request by the SEC for amendment of the Proxy Statement-Prospectus or the Registration Statement. If at any time prior to the Effective Time any information relating to Purchaser or the Company, or any of their respective affiliates, officers or directors, should be discovered by Purchaser or the Company which should be set forth in an amendment or supplement to any of the Registration Statement or the Proxy Statement-Prospectus so that any of such documents would not include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the party which discovers such information shall promptly notify the other party hereto and, to the extent required by law, rules or regulations, an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information shall be promptly filed by Purchaser with the SEC and disseminated by the Company to the stockholders of the Company.

(b) Purchaser shall also take any action required to be taken under any applicable state securities laws in connection with the Merger and each of the Company and Purchaser shall furnish all information concerning it and the holders of Company Common Stock as may be reasonably requested in connection with any such action.

(c) Prior to the Effective Time, Purchaser shall notify The Nasdaq Stock Market of the additional shares of Purchaser Common Stock to be issued by Purchaser in exchange for the shares of Company Common Stock.

5.10 Notification of Certain Matters. Each party shall give prompt notice to the other of: (i) any event or notice of, or other communication relating to, a default or event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default, received by it or any of its Subsidiaries subsequent to the date of this Agreement and prior to the Effective Time, under any contract material to the financial condition, properties, businesses or results of operations of each party and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to which each party or any Subsidiary is a party or is subject; and (ii) any event, condition, change or occurrence which individually or in the aggregate has, or which, so far as reasonably can be foreseen at the time of its occurrence, is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Company and Purchaser shall give prompt notice to the other party of any notice or other communication from any third party alleging that the consent of such third party is or may be required in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

5.11 Employee Benefit Matters.

(a) Following the Effective Time, Purchaser shall maintain or cause to be maintained employee benefit plans and compensation opportunities for the benefit of all persons who are employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries immediately prior to the Effective Time and whose employment is not specifically terminated at or prior to the Effective Time (a “Continuing Employee”) that, in the aggregate are substantially comparable to the employee benefit and compensation opportunities that are generally made available to similarly situated employees of Purchaser or its Subsidiaries; provided, however, in no event shall any Continuing Employee be eligible to participate in any closed or frozen plan of Purchaser or its Subsidiaries.

(b) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall adopt resolutions providing that the Company’s health and welfare plans as set forth on the Company’s Disclosure Schedule will be terminated effective immediately prior to the Effective Time (or such later date as requested by Purchaser or as may be required to comply with any applicable advance notice or other requirements contained in such plans) and shall arrange for termination of all corresponding insurance policies, service agreements and related arrangements effective on the same date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no coverage of any of the Continuing Employees or their dependents shall terminate under any of the Company’s health and welfare plans prior to the time such Continuing Employees or their dependents, as applicable, become eligible to participate in the health plans, programs and benefits common to all employees of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries and their dependents and, consequently, no Continuing Employee shall experience a gap in coverage. Continuing Employees who become covered under health plans, programs and benefits of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries shall receive credit for any co-payments and deductibles paid under the Company’s health plan for the plan year in which coverage commences under Purchaser’s health plan. Terminated Company employees and qualified beneficiaries will have the right to continued coverage under group health plans of Purchaser in accordance with COBRA.

(c) Continuing Employees shall not receive prior service credit for benefit accrual purposes under any of Purchaser’s compensation and benefit plans, programs or policies,

except for Purchaser’s vacation and sick leave programs. Continuing Employees will receive credit for service with Purchaser for purposes of vesting and determination of eligibility to participate in Purchaser’s 401(k) plan. Each Continuing Employee with sufficient service credit with the Company to satisfy Purchaser’s 401(k) plan eligibility service requirement and who has attained the requisite plan participation age, shall be eligible to participate in Purchaser’s 401(k) plan as of the 401(k) plan entry date coincident with or following the Effective Time. The Company shall take all necessary and appropriate actions to cause the Company’s 401(k) plan to be frozen as to future contributions effective immediately prior to the Effective Time. If requested in writing by Purchaser, the Company will also take all necessary steps to terminate the Company’s 401(k) plan immediately prior to the Effective Time. Final distributions from the Company’s 401(k) plan need not be made by the Effective Time and may be conditioned upon receipt of a letter from the IRS confirming that, upon termination, the Company’s 401(k) plan remains qualified under Section 401 of the IRC. The Purchaser hereby agrees to permit, to the extent permitted by applicable law, regulation and the terms of Purchaser’s 401(k) plan, each participant in the Company’s 401(k) plan to elect to rollover all or any part of such participant’s distributions from the Company’s 401(k) plan into Purchaser’s 401(k) plan.

(d) Purchaser agrees that each full time Company employee who is involuntarily terminated by Purchaser (other than for cause as determined by Purchaser) within six (6) months of the Effective Time and who is not covered by a separate severance, change in control, or employment agreement shall, upon executing an appropriate release in the form reasonably determined by Purchaser, receive a severance payment equal to two weeks of base pay (at the rate in effect on the termination date) for each year of service at the Company, with a minimum payment equal to four weeks of base pay for Company employees who have at least one full year of service as of their date of termination and a maximum equal to 26 weeks of base pay. For purposes of calculating the number of years of service, fractional years of service shall be rounded up or down to the nearest full year, except for purposes of determining eligibility to receive a severance payment. For purposes of calculating base pay, Company employees who are paid on an hourly basis shall be deemed to have a base pay equal to the employee’s average weekly compensation over the two months prior to the termination date.

(e) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company will pay out all unused vacation leave accrued prior to January 1, 2012 in accordance with the Company’s existing vacation policy.

5.12 Indemnification.

(a) From and after the Effective Time through the sixth anniversary of the Effective Time, Purchaser shall indemnify and hold harmless each of the current or former directors, officers or employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (each, an “Indemnified Party”), and any person who becomes an Indemnified Party between the date hereof and the Effective Time, against any costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages or liabilities and amounts paid in settlement incurred in connection with any actual or threatened claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether

civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, arising out of matters existing or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Effective Time, based in whole or in part on, or arising in whole or in part out of, or pertaining to (i) the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective predecessors or was prior to the Effective Time serving at the request of any such party as a director, officer, employee, trustee or partner of another corporation, partnership, trust, joint venture, employee benefit plan or other entity or (ii) any matters arising in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, to the fullest extent such person would have been indemnified or have the right to advancement of expenses pursuant to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and bylaws as in effect on the date of this Agreement and as permitted by applicable law, and Purchaser and the Surviving Corporation shall also advance expenses as incurred to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, provided that the person to whom expenses are advanced provides an undertaking to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such person is not entitled to indemnification.

(b) Any Indemnified Party wishing to claim indemnification under Section 5.12(a), upon learning of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation described above, shall promptly notify Purchaser thereof. Any failure to so notify shall not affect the obligations of Purchaser under Section 5.12(a) unless and to the extent that Purchaser is actually prejudiced as a result of such failure.

(c) For a period of six (6) years following the Effective Time, Purchaser shall maintain in effect the Company’s current directors’ and officers’ liability insurance covering each person currently covered by the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy with respect to claims against such persons arising from facts or events occurring at or prior to the Effective Time; provided, however, that in no event shall Purchaser be required to expend annually pursuant to this Section 5.12(c) more than 200% of the annual premiums currently paid by the Company for such insurance and, if Purchaser is unable to maintain such policy as a result of this proviso, Purchaser shall obtain as much comparable insurance as is available by payment of such time; provided further, that Purchaser may (i) request the Company to obtain an extended reporting period endorsement under the Company’s existing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy or (ii) substitute therefor “tail” policies the material terms of which, including coverage and amount, are no less favorable in any material respect to such person’s than the Company’s existing insurance policies as of the date hereof.

(d) In the event Purchaser or any of its successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other person or entity and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) liquidates, dissolves, transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any person or entity, then, and in each such case, to the extent necessary, proper provision shall be made so that such successor and assign of Purchaser and its successors and assigns assume the obligations set forth in this Section 5.12.

(e) The provisions of this Section 5.12 are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party and his or her representatives.

5.13 Stockholder Litigation. The Company shall give Purchaser the opportunity to participate in the defense or settlement of any stockholder litigation against the Company and/or its directors relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and no such settlement shall be agreed to without Purchaser’s prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

5.14 Retention of Employees. Parent and the Company may wish to provide retention bonuses to employees of the Company who remain employed at the Company through the Effective Time, or at Parent for an interim period following the Effective Time through conversion of the Company’s data processing systems, or some other transition period following the Closing. Parent and the Company will mutually agree as to each Company employee eligible to receive a retention bonus and the amount of each such retention bonus.

ARTICLE VI

CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION

6.1 Conditions to Each Party’s Obligations. The respective obligations of each party to effect the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a) Stockholder Approval. This Agreement shall have been approved by the requisite vote of the Company’s stockholders in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

(b) Regulatory Approvals. All approvals, consents or waivers of any Governmental Entity required to permit consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been obtained and shall remain in full force and effect, and all statutory waiting periods shall have expired or been terminated.

(c) No Injunctions or Restraints; Illegality. No party hereto shall be subject to any order, decree or injunction of a court or agency of competent jurisdiction that enjoins or prohibits the consummation of the Merger or the Bank Merger and no Governmental Entity shall have instituted any proceeding for the purpose of enjoining or prohibiting the consummation of the Merger, the Bank Merger or any transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No statute, rule or regulation shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any Governmental Entity which prohibits or makes illegal consummation of the Merger.

(d) Third Party Consents. Purchaser and the Company shall have obtained the consent or approval of each person (other than the governmental approvals or consents referred to in Section 6.1(b)) whose consent or approval shall be required to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except those for which failure to obtain such consents and

approvals would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Purchaser (after giving effect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby).

(e) Registration Statement; Blue Sky Laws. The Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the SEC and no proceedings shall be pending or threatened by the SEC to suspend the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and Purchaser shall have received all required approvals by state securities or “blue sky” authorities with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(f) Tax Opinion. Purchaser and the Company shall have received a written opinion of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, dated as of the Closing Date, in form and substance customary in transactions of the type contemplated hereby, and reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser and the Company, substantially to the effect that on the basis of the facts, representations and assumptions set forth in such opinions which are consistent with the state of facts existing at the Effective Time, (i) the Merger will be treated for federal income tax purposes as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the IRC and (ii) Purchaser and the Company will each be a party to that reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the IRC. Such opinions may be based on, in addition to the review of such matters of fact and law as counsel considers appropriate, representations contained in certificates of officers of Purchaser, the Company and others.

6.2 Conditions to the Obligations of Purchaser. The obligations of Purchaser to effect the Merger shall be further subject to the satisfaction of the following additional conditions, any one or more of which may be waived by Purchaser:

(a) The Company’s Representations and Warranties. Subject to the standard set forth in Section 3.1, each of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement and in any certificate or other writing delivered by the Company pursuant hereto shall be true and correct at and as of the Closing Date as though made at and as of the Closing Date, except that those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date need only be true and correct as of such date.

(b) Performance of the Company’s Obligations. 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 Effective Time.

(c) Officers’ Certificate. Purchaser shall have received a certificate signed by the chief executive officer and the chief financial or principal accounting officer of the Company to the effect that the conditions set forth in Sections 6.2(a) and (b) have been satisfied.

(d) No Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company.

(e) Burdensome Condition. None of the approvals, consents or waivers of any Governmental Entity required to permit consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall contain any condition or requirement that would so

materially and adversely impact the economic or business benefits to Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby that, had such condition or requirement been known, Purchaser would not, in its reasonable judgment, have entered into this Agreement.

(f) Dissenters’ Rights. The aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock with respect to which the holders thereof have exercised and not withdrawn their dissenters’ rights shall not exceed 10% of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock as of the record date for the Stockholder Meeting.

(g) Litigation. There shall be no pending actions or proceedings (i) challenging the validity or legality of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) seeking to restrain or invalidate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (iii) seeking damages in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, which damages, if imposed, could reasonably be expected to be material in relation to the value of the Merger Consideration.

6.3 Conditions to the Obligations of the Company. The obligations of the Company to effect the Merger shall be further subject to the satisfaction of the following additional conditions, any one or more of which may be waived by the Company:

(a) Purchaser’s Representations and Warranties. Subject to the standard set forth in Section 3.1, each of the representations and warranties of Purchaser contained in this Agreement and in any certificate or other writing delivered by Purchaser pursuant hereto shall be true and correct at and as of the Closing Date as though made at and as of the Closing Date, except that those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date need only be true and correct as of such date.

(b) Performance of Purchaser’s Obligations. Purchaser shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Effective Time.

(c) Officers’ Certificate. The Company shall have received a certificate signed by the chief executive officer and the chief financial or principal accounting officer of Purchaser to the effect that the conditions set forth in Sections 6.3(a) and (b) have been satisfied.

ARTICLE VII

TERMINATION

7.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated, and the Merger abandoned, at any time prior to the Effective Time, by action taken or authorized by the Board of Directors of the terminating party, either before or after any requisite stockholder approval:

(a) by the mutual written consent of Purchaser and the Company; or

(b) by either Purchaser or the Company, in the event of the failure of the Company’s stockholders to approve the Agreement at the Stockholder Meeting; provided, however, that the Company shall only be entitled to terminate the Agreement pursuant to this clause if it has complied in all material respects with its obligations under Section 5.8; or

(c) by either Purchaser or the Company, if either (i) any approval, consent or waiver of a Governmental Entity required to permit consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been denied and such denial has become final and non-appealable or (ii) any Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction shall have issued a final, unappealable order enjoining or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or

(d) by either Purchaser or the Company, in the event that the Merger is not consummated by September 30, 2012, unless the failure to so consummate by such time is due to the failure of the party seeking to terminate this Agreement to perform or observe the covenants and agreements of such party set forth herein; or

(e) by either Purchaser or the Company (provided that the party seeking termination is not then in material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained herein), in the event of a breach of any covenant or agreement on the part of the other party set forth in this Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of the other party shall have become untrue, in either case such that the conditions set forth in Sections 6.2(a) and (b) or Sections 6.3(a) and (b), as the case may be, would not be satisfied and such breach or untrue representation or warranty has not been or cannot be cured within thirty (30) days following written notice to the party committing such breach or making such untrue representation or warranty; or

(f) by Purchaser, if (i) the Company shall have materially breached its obligations under Section 5.1 or Section 5.8 or (ii) if the Board of Directors of the Company does not publicly recommend in the Proxy Statement-Prospectus that stockholders approve and adopt this Agreement or if, after recommending in the Proxy Statement-Prospectus that stockholders approve and adopt this Agreement, the Board of Directors effects a Change of Recommendation.

(g) by the Company, at any time during the five-day period following the Determination Date, if both of the following conditions are satisfied:

(i) The number obtained by dividing the Average Closing Price by the Starting Price (the “Purchaser Ratio”) shall be less than 0.80; and

(ii) The Purchaser Ratio shall be less than the number obtained by dividing (x) the Average Index Value by (y) the Starting Index Value and subtracting 0.20 from such quotient (such number being referred to herein as the “Index Ratio”);

subject, however, to the following three sentences. If the Company elects to exercise its termination right pursuant to this Section, it shall give written notice to Purchaser (provided that such notice of election to terminate may be withdrawn at any time within the

aforementioned five-day period). During the five-day period commencing with its receipt of such notice, Purchaser shall have the option to increase the Stock Consideration to be received by the holders of Company Common Stock hereunder, by adjusting the Exchange Ratio (calculated to the nearest ten-thousandth) to equal the lesser of (x) a number (rounded to the nearest ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing (A) the product of the Starting Price, 0.80 and the Exchange Ratio by (B) the Average Closing Price and (y) a number (rounded to the nearest ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing (A) the product of the Index Ratio and the Exchange Ratio (as then in effect) by (B) the Purchaser Ratio. If Purchaser so elects within such five-day period, it shall give prompt written notice to the Company of such election and the revised Exchange Ratio, whereupon no termination shall have occurred pursuant to this Section and this Agreement shall remain in effect in accordance with its terms (except as the Exchange Ratio shall have been so modified).

For purposes of this Section 7.1(g), the following terms shall have the meaning ascribed to them below.

“Average Closing Price” means the average of the closing prices of a share of Purchaser Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market for the ten consecutive trading days ending on the trading day prior to the Determination Date, rounded to the nearest whole cent.

“Average Index Value” means the average closing values of the Index for the ten consecutive trading days ending on the trading day prior to the Determination Date.

“Determination Date” means the later of (i) the date on which the last required approval of a Governmental Entity is obtained with respect to the Merger and the Bank Merger, without regard to any requisite waiting period in respect thereof, or (ii) the date on which the stockholders of the Company approve the Agreement.

“Index” means the NASDAQ Bank Index.

“Starting Index Value” means the closing value of the Index on the last trading day immediately preceding the date of the first public announcement of the entry into this Agreement.

“Starting Price” means the closing price of Purchaser Common Stock on the last trading day immediately preceding the date of the first public announcement of the entry into this Agreement.

(h) by the Company, at any time prior to the adoption and approval of this Agreement by the Company’s stockholders, in order to enter into an agreement with respect to a Superior Proposal, but only if (i) the Company’s Board of Directors has determined in good faith based on the advice of legal counsel that such action is required in order for the Board of Directors to comply with its fiduciary duties under applicable law, (ii) the Company has not materially breached its obligations under Section 5.1; and (iii) the Company has paid the termination fee set forth in Section 7.2(a).

7.2 Termination Fee.

(a) In the event of termination of this Agreement by the Company pursuant to Section 7.1(h), the Company shall make payment to Purchaser of a termination fee in the amount of $1,000,000.

(b) In the event of termination of this Agreement by Purchaser pursuant to Section 7.1(f), so long as at the time of such termination Purchaser is not in material breach of any representation, warranty or material covenant contained herein, the Company shall make payment to Purchaser of a termination fee in the amount of $1,000,000.

(c) In the event of termination of this Agreement by either party pursuant to Section 7.1(b) or by Purchaser pursuant to Section 7.1(e) if the breach giving rise to such termination was knowing or intentional, then so long as (i) at the time of such termination Purchaser is not in material breach of any representation, warranty or material covenant contained herein, (ii) prior to the Stockholder Meeting (in the case of termination pursuant to Section 7.1(b)) or the date of termination (in the case of termination pursuant to Section 7.1(e)), an Acquisition Proposal has been publicly announced, disclosed or communicated and (iii) within twelve (12) months of such termination the Company shall consummate or enter into any agreement with respect to an Acquisition Proposal, the Company shall make payment to Purchaser of a termination fee in the amount of $1,000,000.

(c) The fee payable pursuant to Section 7.2(a) shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds at the time of termination. Any fee payable pursuant to Section 7.2(b) or (c) shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds within two (2) Business Days after notice of demand for payment. The Company and Purchaser acknowledge that the agreements contained in this Section 7.2 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that, without these agreements, Purchaser would not enter into this Agreement. The amount payable by the Company pursuant to Sections 7.2(a), (b) or (c) constitutes liquidated damages and not a penalty and shall be the sole remedy of Purchaser in the event of termination of this Agreement on the bases specified in such sections.

7.3 Effect of Termination . In the event of termination of this Agreement by either Purchaser or the Company as provided in Section 7.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and, subject to Section 7.2, have no effect, and there shall be no liability on the part of any party hereto or their respective officers and directors, except that (i) Sections 5.3(c), 7.2 and 8.6, shall survive any termination of this Agreement, and (ii) notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, no party shall be relieved or released from any liabilities or damages arising out of its willful breach of any provision of this Agreement.

ARTICLE VIII

CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS

8.1 Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to Sections or Exhibits such reference shall be to a Section of, or Exhibit to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for ease of reference only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation 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.” Any singular term in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular. Any reference to gender in this Agreement shall be deemed to include any other gender.

8.2 Survival. Only those agreements and covenants of the parties that are by their terms applicable in whole or in part after the Effective Time, including Section 5.12 of this Agreement, shall survive the Effective Time. All other representations, warranties, agreements and covenants shall be deemed to be conditions of the Agreement and shall not survive the Effective Time.

8.3 Waiver; Amendment. Prior to the Effective Time, any provision of this Agreement may be: (i) waived in writing by the party benefited by the provision or (ii) amended or modified at any time (including the structure of the transaction) by an agreement in writing between the parties hereto (which writing shall expressly state the intent to amend or modify this Agreement) except that, after the vote by the stockholders of the Company, no amendment or modification may be made that would reduce the amount or alter or change the kind of consideration to be received by holders of Company Common Stock or that would contravene any provision of the MGCL or the applicable state and federal banking laws, rules and regulations.

8.4 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts each of which shall be deemed to constitute an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. A facsimile or other electronic copy of a signature page shall be deemed to be an original signature page.

8.5 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to conflicts of laws principles.

8.6 Expenses. Each party hereto will bear all expenses incurred by it in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

8.7 Notices. All notices and other communications in connection with this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, sent via facsimile or by email, in case with a hard copy sent by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) or commercial overnight delivery service, or

delivered by an express courier (with confirmation) to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):


If to Purchaser, to:

	Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc.
	17801 Georgia Avenue
	Olney, Maryland 20832
	Facsimile:	(301) ###-###-####
	Email:	*@*
	Attention:	Ronald E. Kuykendall,
		Secretary and General Counsel

With copies to:

	Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
	Suite 900, 607 14^th Street, NW
	Washington, DC 20005
	Attention:	Aaron M. Kaslow
	Email:	*@*

If to the Company, to:

	CommerceFirst Bancorp, Inc.
	1804 West Street, Suite 200
	Annapolis, Maryland 21401
	Facsimile:	(410) ###-###-####
	Attention:	Richard J. Morgan
		President and CEO

With copies to:

	BuckleySandler, LLP
	1250 24^th Street, NW
	Washington, DC 20037
	Attention:	Noel M. Gruber
	Email:	*@*

8.8 Entire Agreement; etc. This Agreement, together with the Disclosure Letters, represents the entire understanding of the parties hereto with reference to the transactions contemplated hereby and supersedes any and all other oral or written agreements heretofore made. All terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Except for Section 5.12,

which confers rights on the parties described therein, nothing in this Agreement is intended to confer upon any other person any rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

8.9 Successors and Assigns; Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement may not be assigned by either party hereto without the written consent of the other party.

[Signature page follows]

In Witness Whereof, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement and Plan of Merger to be executed by their duly authorized officers as of the date first above written.


Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc.

By:		/s/ Daniel J. Schrider
		Daniel J. Schrider
		President and Chief Executive Officer


CommerceFirst Bancorp, Inc.

By:		/s/ Milton D. Jernigan, II
		Milton D. Jernigan, II
		Chairman