Engagement Letter with Sandler O'Neill & Partners, L.P. as marketing agent

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October 3, 2007

Mr. Daniel R. Herndon

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

Home Federal Savings and Loan Association

624 Market Street

Shreveport, LA  71101

Dear Mr. Herndon:

Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P. (“Sandler O’Neill”) is pleased to act as records management agent for Home Federal Mutual Holding Company of Louisiana (the “MHC”), Home Federal Bancorp, Inc. of Louisiana (together with any successor stock holding company, the “Holding Company”) and Home Federal Savings and Loan Association (the “Bank”) in connection with the offer and sale of certain shares of the common stock of the Holding Company to the Bank's eligible account holders in a Subscription Offering, to members of the Bank’s community in a Direct Community Offering, and under certain circumstances, to the general public in a Syndicated Community Offering (collectively, the “Offerings”) pursuant to the terms of a Plan of Conversion to be adopted by the Boards of Directors of the MHC, the Holding Company and the Bank (the “Plan”).  The MHC, the Holding Company and the Bank are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the “Company.” This letter is to confirm the terms and conditions of our engagement.  Sandler O’Neill and the Company have entered into an agreement dated October 3, 2007 pursuant to which Sandler O’Neill will provide a fairness opinion to the Company (the “Advisory Engagement Letter”).  The terms of this engagement letter shall not affect the terms of the Advisory Engagement Letter, which shall continue to be in full force and effect.

In our role as Records Management Agent, we anticipate that our services will include the services outlined below, each as may be necessary and as the Company may reasonably request:

I.

Consolidation of Accounts and Vote Calculation

II.

Design and Preparation of Proxy and Stock Order Forms

 

III.

Organization and Supervision of the Conversion Center

IV.

Proxy Solicitation and Special Meeting Services

V.

Subscription Services

Each of these services is further described in Appendix A to this agreement.

For its services hereunder, the Company agrees to pay Sandler O’Neill a fee of $10,000.  This fee is based upon the requirements of current regulations and the Plan as currently contemplated.  Any unusual or additional items or duplication of service required as a result of a material change in the regulations or the Plan or a material delay or other similar events may result in extra charges that will be covered in a separate agreement if and when they occur.  All fees under this agreement shall be payable in cash, as follows: (a) $10,000 payable upon execution of this agreement, which shall be non-refundable; and (b) the balance upon the completion of the Offerings.

In addition to any fees that may be payable to Sandler O’Neill hereunder, the Company agrees to reimburse Sandler O’Neill, upon request made from time to time, for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with its engagement hereunder, regardless of whether the Offerings are consummated, including, without limitation, travel, lodging, meals, telephone, postage and other similar expenses; provided, however, that Sandler O’Neill shall document such expenses to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company.  It is understood that all expenses associated with the operation of the Conversion Center will be borne by the Company.

The Company will provide Sandler O’Neill with such information as Sandler O’Neill may reasonably require to carry out its duties.  The Company recognizes and confirms that Sandler O’Neill (a) will use and rely on such information in performing the services contemplated by this agreement without having independently verified the same, and (b) does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information.  The Company will also inform Sandler O’Neill within a reasonable period of time of any changes in the Plan that require changes in Sandler O’Neill’s services.  If a substantial expense results from any such change, the parties shall negotiate an equitable adjustment in the fee.

 

Sandler O’Neill, as Records Management Agent hereunder, (a) shall have no duties or obligations other than those specifically set forth herein; (b) will be regarded as making no representations and having no responsibilities as to the validity, sufficiency, value or genuineness of any order form or any stock certificates or the shares represented thereby, and will not be required to and will make no representations as to the validity, value or genuineness of the offer; (c) shall not be liable to any person or entity, including the Company, by reason of any error of judgment or for any act done by it in good faith, or for any mistake of law or fact in connection with this agreement and the performance hereof unless caused by or arising out of its own willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence; (d) will not be obliged to take any legal action hereunder which might in its judgment involve any expense or liability, unless it shall have been furnished with reasonable indemnity satisfactory to it; and (e) may rely on and shall be protected in acting in reliance upon any certificate, instrument, opinion, notice, letter, telex, telegram, or other document or security delivered to it and in good faith believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed by the proper party or parties.

Anything in this agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall Sandler O’Neill be liable for special, indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if Sandler O’Neill has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

The Company agrees to indemnify and hold Sandler O’Neill and its affiliates and their respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons (Sandler O’Neill and each such person being an “Indemnified Party”) harmless from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities, joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject under applicable federal or state law, or otherwise, related to or arising out of the engagement of Sandler O’Neill pursuant to, and the performance by Sandler O’Neill of the services contemplated by, this letter, and will reimburse any Indemnified Party for all expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) as they are incurred, including expenses incurred in connection with the investigation of, preparation for or defense of any pending or threatened claim or any action or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party.  The Company will not be liable under the foregoing indemnification provision to the extent that any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense is found in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted primarily from Sandler O’Neill’s willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence.

 

The following addresses shall be sufficient for written notices to each other:

If to you:

Home Federal Savings and Loan Association

624 Market Street

Shreveport, Louisiana  71101

Attention:        Mr. Daniel R. Herndon

If to us:

Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P.

919 Third Avenue

New York, New York  10022

Attention:  General Counsel

 

The Agreement and appendix hereto constitute the entire Agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and can be altered only by written consent signed by the parties.

This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of New York.

Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth our agreement by signing and returning to Sandler O’Neill the duplicate copy of this letter enclosed herewith.

	Very truly yours,
	Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P.
	By:	Sandler O’Neill & Partners Corp.,
		the sole general partner
	By:	/s/ Thomas P. Duke
		Thomas P. Duke
		An Officer of the Corporation

Accepted and agreed to as of

the date first above written:

Home Federal Savings and Loan Association

Home Federal Mutual Holding Company of Louisiana

Home Federal Bancorp, Inc. of Louisiana

By:	/s/ Daniel R. Herndon
	Daniel R. Herndon
	Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

I.	Consolidation of Accounts/Vote Calculation

1.

Consolidate files in accordance with regulatory guidelines and create central file.

2.

Our EDP format will be provided to your data processing people.

3.

Vote Calculation.

II.	Design and Preparation of Proxy and Stock Order Forms

1.

Assist in designing proxy forms and stock order forms for voting and ordering stock.

2.

Prepare account holder data for proxy and stock order forms.

3.

Target group identification for proxy solicitation.

III.	Organization and Supervision of Conversion Center

1.

Advising on physical organization of the Conversion Center, including materials requirements.

2.

Assist in training of all Bank and temporary personnel who will be staffing the Conversion Center.

3.

Establish reporting procedures.

4.

On-site supervision of the Conversion Center during the solicitation/offering period.

IV.	Special Meeting Services

1.

Proxy and ballot tabulation.

2.

Act as or support inspector of election, it being understood that Sandler O’Neill will not act as inspector of election in the case of a contested election.

3.

If required, delete voting record date accounts closed prior to special meeting.

4.

Produce final report of vote.

V.	Subscription Services

1.

Produce list of depositors by state (Blue Sky report).

2.

Production of subscription rights and research books.

3.

Stock order form processing.

4.

Acknowledgment letter to confirm receipt of stock order.

5.

Daily reports and analysis.

6.

Proration calculation and share allocation in the event of an oversubscription.

7.

Produce charter shareholder list.

8.

Interface with Transfer Agent for Stock Certificate issuance.

9.

Refund and interest calculations.

10.   Confirmation letter to confirm purchase of stock.

11.   Notification of full/partial rejection of orders.

12.   Production of 1099/Debit tape.