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| The Truth About Driver’s Careless
Campaign Against First Foundation
Driver Management, led by its self-serving Founder Abbott Cooper, who has a history of attacking community banks, oftentimes without merit (see:
Bullies of Banking – Public Citizen), has been running an opportunistic and misguided campaign for several months to install Allison Ball – an
unqualified podcaster with a lack of experience in banking or other highly-regulated businesses – on the First Foundation Inc. Board of Directors. Not
only has this campaign been a costly, harmful e!ort to First Foundation and its stockholders, not dissimilar to his past campaigns against National
Bankshares, AmeriServ Financial Inc, and First United Corp, but Driver’s campaign against First Foundation has also been rife with omissions, errors and
faulty assumptions that demonstrate a recklessness that should concern all stockholders. Given today’s challenging industry environment, we remain
committed to serving our clients and executing against our business strategy, despite Driver’s demonstrated intention to distract us from that mission.
Our Position
First Foundation has a highly qualified board that has made and is continuing to
make the right decisions for our organization amid the broader unprecedented
developments in the banking industry. First Foundation believes Ms. Ball
fundamentally lacks the experience, qualifications, and decorum required of a
director of a publicly traded financial services company. Specifically, we are
concerned about Ms. Ball’s:
If elected, Ms. Ball would replace one of our highly-qualified board members, all of
which have vast experience with First Foundation, our industry, and the current
operating environment. Her potential election stands to hinder further progress on
our strategy as we are focused on navigating this di"cult moment for regional
banks and maintaining our status as a partner of choice for clients.
We strongly urge all stockholders to reject the nomination of Ms. Ball to the board
at First Foundation.
lack of experience leading a highly regulated business;
lack of executive or board of directors’ experience in any relevant industry;
lack of the skill, business acumen, and respect for rules and regulations
required to govern a financial institution as complex as First Foundation; and
exhibited penchant for making inflammatory, insulting, or degrading
comments that would reflect negatively on First Foundation, our clients, and
potential business partners.
Investor Presentation
PRIVATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT ! PERSONAL BANKING ! BUSINESS BANKING
Our Commitment to Stockholder Value
June 2023
1 of 2 Page Width
Download
News & Media
Read about how we have pushed back against Driver’s baseless and inaccurate allegations and statements in the media, its SEC filings, and letters to management.
MEDIA COVERAGE
First Foundation Has Board
Deal With Driver, Ending Court
Fight
04/28/2023
MEDIA COVERAGE
First Foundation Reaches Deal
With Activist
04/28/2023
PRESS RELEASES
First Foundation Announces
Litigation Settlement with
Driver Management
04/28/2023
MEDIA COVERAGE
First Foundation Accused of
Gamesmanship to Beat Board
Fight
03/08/2023
ALL NEWS & INSIGHTS
Meet the Board
Meet First Foundation’s
Established Board Of Directors.
Learn More
Background on Driver Management and its Director Nominee
Read about Driver Management’s Attempts at Showboating Activism and Allison Ball’s Missteps
Learn More
! " # $
All rights reserved © firstfoundation 2023
Homepage Timeline Board of Directors Driver & Nominee Background How to Vote FAQs News & Media
Press Releases
Media Coverage
SEC Filings
Privacy Policy Terms Of Use Disclaimer
! Timeline Board of Directors Driver & Nominee Background How to Vote FAQs News & Media "
The Truth About Driver’s Careless
Campaign Against First Foundation
Driver Management, led by its self-serving Founder Abbott Cooper, who has a history of attacking community banks, oftentimes without merit (see:
Bullies of Banking – Public Citizen), has been running an opportunistic and misguided campaign for several months to install Allison Ball – an
unqualified podcaster with a lack of experience in banking or other highly-regulated businesses – on the First Foundation Inc. Board of Directors. Not
only has this campaign been a costly, harmful e!ort to First Foundation and its stockholders, not dissimilar to his past campaigns against National
Bankshares, AmeriServ Financial Inc, and First United Corp, but Driver’s campaign against First Foundation has also been rife with omissions, errors and
faulty assumptions that demonstrate a recklessness that should concern all stockholders. Given today’s challenging industry environment, we remain
committed to serving our clients and executing against our business strategy, despite Driver’s demonstrated intention to distract us from that mission.
Our Position
First Foundation has a highly qualified board that has made and is continuing to
make the right decisions for our organization amid the broader unprecedented
developments in the banking industry. First Foundation believes Ms. Ball
fundamentally lacks the experience, qualifications, and decorum required of a
director of a publicly traded financial services company. Specifically, we are
concerned about Ms. Ball’s:
If elected, Ms. Ball would replace one of our highly-qualified board members, all of
which have vast experience with First Foundation, our industry, and the current
operating environment. Her potential election stands to hinder further progress on
our strategy as we are focused on navigating this di"cult moment for regional
banks and maintaining our status as a partner of choice for clients.
We strongly urge all stockholders to reject the nomination of Ms. Ball to the board
at First Foundation.
lack of experience leading a highly regulated business;
lack of executive or board of directors’ experience in any relevant industry;
lack of the skill, business acumen, and respect for rules and regulations
required to govern a financial institution as complex as First Foundation; and
exhibited penchant for making inflammatory, insulting, or degrading
comments that would reflect negatively on First Foundation, our clients, and
potential business partners.
Investor Presentation
PRIVATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT ! PERSONAL BANKING ! BUSINESS BANKING
Our Commitment to Stockholder Value
June 2023
1 of 2 Page Width
Download
News & Media
Read about how we have pushed back against Driver’s baseless and inaccurate allegations and statements in the media, its SEC filings, and letters to management.
MEDIA COVERAGE
First Foundation Has Board
Deal With Driver, Ending Court
Fight
04/28/2023
MEDIA COVERAGE
First Foundation Reaches Deal
With Activist
04/28/2023
PRESS RELEASES
First Foundation Announces
Litigation Settlement with
Driver Management
04/28/2023
MEDIA COVERAGE
First Foundation Accused of
Gamesmanship to Beat Board
Fight
03/08/2023
ALL NEWS & INSIGHTS
Meet the Board
Meet First Foundation’s
Established Board Of Directors.
Learn More
Background on Driver Management and its Director Nominee
Read about Driver Management’s Attempts at Showboating Activism and Allison Ball’s Missteps
Learn More
! " # $
All rights reserved © firstfoundation 2023
Homepage Timeline Board of Directors Driver & Nominee Background How to Vote FAQs News & Media
Press Releases
Media Coverage
SEC Filings
Privacy Policy Terms Of Use Disclaimer
! Timeline Board of Directors Driver & Nominee Background How to Vote FAQs News & Media "
The Truth About Driver’s Careless
Campaign Against First Foundation
Driver Management, led by its self-serving Founder Abbott Cooper, who has a history of attacking community banks, oftentimes without merit (see:
Bullies of Banking – Public Citizen), has been running an opportunistic and misguided campaign for several months to install Allison Ball – an
unqualified podcaster with a lack of experience in banking or other highly-regulated businesses – on the First Foundation Inc. Board of Directors. Not
only has this campaign been a costly, harmful e!ort to First Foundation and its stockholders, not dissimilar to his past campaigns against National
Bankshares, AmeriServ Financial Inc, and First United Corp, but Driver’s campaign against First Foundation has also been rife with omissions, errors and
faulty assumptions that demonstrate a recklessness that should concern all stockholders. Given today’s challenging industry environment, we remain
committed to serving our clients and executing against our business strategy, despite Driver’s demonstrated intention to distract us from that mission.
Our Position
First Foundation has a highly qualified board that has made and is continuing to
make the right decisions for our organization amid the broader unprecedented
developments in the banking industry. First Foundation believes Ms. Ball
fundamentally lacks the experience, qualifications, and decorum required of a
director of a publicly traded financial services company. Specifically, we are
concerned about Ms. Ball’s:
If elected, Ms. Ball would replace one of our highly-qualified board members, all of
which have vast experience with First Foundation, our industry, and the current
operating environment. Her potential election stands to hinder further progress on
our strategy as we are focused on navigating this di"cult moment for regional
banks and maintaining our status as a partner of choice for clients.
We strongly urge all stockholders to reject the nomination of Ms. Ball to the board
at First Foundation.
lack of experience leading a highly regulated business;
lack of executive or board of directors’ experience in any relevant industry;
lack of the skill, business acumen, and respect for rules and regulations
required to govern a financial institution as complex as First Foundation; and
exhibited penchant for making inflammatory, insulting, or degrading
comments that would reflect negatively on First Foundation, our clients, and
potential business partners.
News & Media
Read about how we have pushed back against Driver’s baseless and inaccurate allegations and statements in the media, its SEC filings, and letters to management.
PRESS RELEASES
First Foundation Highlights
Board’s Response to Economic
Environment in Letter to
Stockholders
05/31/2023
PRESS RELEASES
First Foundation Files
Definitive Proxy Statement and
Issues Letter to Stockholders
05/15/2023
MEDIA COVERAGE
First Foundation Has Board
Deal With Driver, Ending Court
Fight
04/28/2023
MEDIA COVERAGE
First Foundation Reaches Deal
With Activist
04/28/2023
ALL NEWS & INSIGHTS
Meet the Board
Meet First Foundation’s
Established Board Of Directors.
Learn More
Background on Driver Management and its Director Nominee
Read about Driver Management’s Attempts at Showboating Activism and Allison Ball’s Missteps
Learn More
! " # $
All rights reserved © firstfoundation 2023
Homepage Timeline Board of Directors Driver & Nominee Background How to Vote FAQs News & Media
Press Releases
Media Coverage
SEC Filings
Privacy Policy Terms Of Use Disclaimer
! Timeline Board of Directors Driver & Nominee Background How to Vote FAQs News & Media " |