Northeast Bancorp (NASDAQ: NBN) ("Northeast” or the "Company”) announced
today that its insurance division – Northeast Bank Insurance Group – has
been acquired by local agencies in two separate transactions, effective
September 1, 2011. The Varney Agency, of Bangor, Maine, will purchase
the assets of nine Northeast Bank insurance offices which cover
southern, central, and western Maine. Brad Scott, currently a member of
the Northeast Bank Insurance Group’s senior management team, will
acquire the assets of Spence and Mathews Insurance, which operates one
insurance office in Berwick, Maine, and serves customers in Southern
Maine and Seacoast New Hampshire. Total sale proceeds of $9.7 million
will add approximately $8.4 million to the Company’s tangible equity.
"This is a very good transaction for our customers, employees, and for
our company” said Rick Wayne, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Northeast Bancorp. "It further strengthens our balance sheet, while
retaining jobs and services in Maine. We are pleased that both the
Varney Agency and Spence and Mathews, two well established, local
agencies, will be acquiring our insurance business. We will work closely
with them to ensure that this transition is a smooth one.”
Northeast will continue to have a business relationship with both the
Varney Agency and Spence and Mathews Insurance after the transaction
closes. Northeast Bank will be referring customers with insurance needs
to each of these agencies. In both transactions, existing Northeast Bank
Insurance Group customer insurance policies, carriers, terms, and the
majority of account service representatives will remain.
"This transaction allows us to maintain a strong working relationship
with our insurance colleagues,” said Jim Delamater President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Northeast Community Banking Division. "We look
forward to partnering with both the Varney Agency and Spence and Mathews
to continue delivering high quality insurance services to our customers.”
These transactions will further the growth of two well-established Maine
businesses.
"I am excited about this transaction as it allows us to add offices in
new parts of the state and provides us the ability to leverage the
experience, reputation, and talent of Northeast’s insurance
professionals,” said Tim Varney, owner of the Varney Agency. "I feel
privileged to have been chosen by Northeast Bank to carry on the
tradition of providing quality insurance service to their customers, and
look forward to working with the staff to continue these efforts.”
Brad Scott, the new owner of Spence and Mathews, and a longtime
Northeast Bank insurance manager, will continue operating out of the
Berwick office. "This transaction enables us to acquire an excellent
business, retain talented employees, continue in a great location, and
maintain a strong relationship with Northeast Bank,” said Scott. "We are
very excited to work closely with the bank in the years ahead.”
The Varney Agency and Spence and Mathews will be contacting customers
directly, but all retail locations and contact numbers will remain the
same. Customers with inquiries may contact the Varney Agency at
877-947-8637 or Spence and Mathews Insurance at 800-595-2565.
About Northeast Bancorp
Northeast Bancorp (NASDAQ: NBN) is the holding company for Northeast
Bank, a full service community bank headquartered in Lewiston, Maine.
Northeast Bank derives its income from a combination of traditional
banking services and non-traditional financial products and services,
including insurance and investments. The Company has approximately $596
million in assets as of June 30th, 2011 and operates ten
traditional bank branches, three investment centers and four loan
production offices that serve seven counties in Maine and two in New
Hampshire. Information regarding Northeast Bank can be found on its
website at www.northeastbank.com
or by contacting 1-800-284-5989.
About Spence and Mathews Insurance
The Spence and Mathews Insurance Agency was founded in 1935 and has
provided insurance services to the Southern Maine and New Hampshire
region for over 70 years. It provides home, auto, and business insurance
services to over 6,000 clients.
About the Varney Agency
Headquartered in Bangor, Maine, the Varney Agency has been providing
comprehensive insurance protection to Maine families since 1980. After
this transaction they will have 22 full-service branch offices located
throughout the state. They offer customers a winning combination:
friendly, knowledgeable hometown professionals partnered with some of
the nation's finest underwriting companies.
