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Northeast Bancorp Receives Shareholder and Regulatory Approvals to Complete $16 million Investment

^{Published on 2010-12-13 15:11:33 - Market Wire}
 

LEWISTON, Maine--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Northeast Bancorp (NASDAQ: NBN) (aNortheasta) announced today that it has received all shareholder and regulatory approvals necessary to complete the merger with FHB Formation LLC (aFHBa), bringing approximately $16 million of new capital to Northeast. The transaction is expected to close on or before December 31, 2010, with Northeast continuing as the surviving entity.

"With both shareholder and regulatory approvals now complete, we look forward to working with Jim Delamater and his team to ensure that Northeast remains a vibrant community bank, based in Maine, that is well positioned for future success."

As part of this transaction, Northeast will retain its headquarters in Lewiston, ME, and Northeasta™s management and employees will remain. Northeasta™s customer accounts and retail locations will not change as a result of the transaction, making this transition seamless for customers across all of Northeasta™s business lines, including its investment group, Northeast Financial Services and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Northeast Bank Insurance Group, Inc.

Richard Wayne, President & Chief Executive Officer of FHB, said: aWith both shareholder and regulatory approvals now complete, we look forward to working with Jim Delamater and his team to ensure that Northeast remains a vibrant community bank, based in Maine, that is well positioned for future success.a

Jim Delamater, President and CEO of Northeast said, aThis is an exciting investment for Northeast and for the state of Maine. We believe this transaction will enable us to bring new capital to Northeast, create jobs, and offer enhanced products to customers. Our company is energized and eager to build upon the solid community bank that wea™ve built here since 1872.a

The existing management team of Northeast will continue with the company: Jim Delamater will become President & CEO of the Northeast Community Banking Division, Pender J. Lazenby will remain as the Chief Risk Officer of Northeast, Robert S. Johnson will become Chief Financial Officer of the Northeast Community Banking Division and Marcel C. Blais will become Chief Operating Officer of the Northeast Community Banking Division.

Richard Wayne will become President & Chief Executive Officer of Northeast. Mr. Wayne co-founded Capital Crossing Bank in 1988 and served as President and Co-Chief Executive Officer from 1991 until its sale in 2007. Claire S. Bean will become Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operating Officer of Northeast. She has a 25-year track record in financial services, most recently as EVP and CFO of Benjamin Franklin Bancorp which was sold to Independent Bancorp in 2009. Heather P. Campion will become Chief Administrative Officer of Northeast. She has over 25 years of experience as a leading executive in the public and private sectors, and was the Group EVP and Director of Corporate Affairs at Citizens Financial Group from 1998-2007.

The regulatory approvals are subject to certain conditions that are discussed in more detail in Northeasta™s Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 13, 2010.

ABOUT NORTHEAST BANCORP

Northeast Bank, a leader in delivering one-stop shopping for financial services, is headquartered in Lewiston, Maine and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Northeast Bancorp (NASDAQ: NBN). Northeast has approximately $629 million in assets as of September 30, 2010 and derives its income from a combination of traditional banking services and non-traditional financial products and services including insurance and investments, operating 10 traditional bank branches, 11 insurance offices and three investment centers that serve western, central, mid-coastal and southern Maine, as well as seacoast New Hampshire. Information regarding Northeast Bank Insurance Group, Inc. and Northeast Bank can be found on its website at [ www.northeastbank.com ] or by contacting 800-284-5989.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the asafe harbora provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on managementa™s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this document include statements concerning the proposed transaction. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, and are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove accurate. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed herein. We urge you to carefully consider the risks which are described in Northeasta™s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2010 and in Northeasta™s other SEC filings. Northeast is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Additional Information and Where You Can Find It

In connection with the proposed merger, Northeast has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 containing a proxy statement/prospectus dated June 14, 2010, which has been mailed to Northeast shareholders. Investors and shareholders of Northeast are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus filed with the SEC because it contains important information about Northeast and the proposed transaction. The proxy statement/prospectus and any other documents filed by Northeast with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the SECa™s website at [ www.sec.gov ]. In addition, investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Northeast by contacting Northeast at [ www.northeastbank.com ].

This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.