Takeover #5 70% + gain

A focus bank is acquired

3Rivers Federal Credit Union and West End Bank S.B. Announce Strategic Acquisition Fort Wayne, Indiana and Richmond, Indiana –Three Rivers Federal Credit Union (“3Rivers”), and West End Indiana Bancshares, Inc. (“West End Indiana Bancshares”) (OTC: WEIN), the holding company of West End Bank S.B. (“West End Bank”), announced today that they have signed a definitive purchase and assumption agreement whereby 3Rivers, headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, will acquire the assets and assume the liabilities of West End Bank, headquartered in Richmond, Indiana, in an all-cash transaction. Following the completion of this transaction, West End Indiana Bancshares and West End Bank will settle their remaining obligations and distribute their remaining cash to the West End Indiana Bancshares stockholders. West End Bank operates four bank branches in Richmond, Liberty and Hagerstown, Indiana and had approximately $298.8 million in assets, and 24,000 customers as of March 31, 2019. 3Rivers currently operates 16 branches in a seven-county area in northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio, and has 82,000 members. This strategic acquisition will increase 3Rivers’ total number of branches to 20, members to 106,000, over 400 employees and total assets to approximately $1.4 billion. West End Indiana Bancshares was created in connection with the 2012 conversion of West End Bank’s prior federal mutual holding company from the mutual to the stock form. As a part of such conversion, a liquidation account was created for the benefit of certain depositors of West End Bank. Since the sale of assets and liabilities to a credit union by an institution which had converted from mutual to stock form under the current federal rules has not yet been implemented by any other institution, there are certain uncertainties associated with the treatment of the liquidation account. As a result, we cannot predict at this time whether the organization will be required to distribute the remaining liquidation account to certain depositors of West End Bank, the amount of any such distribution, and the ultimate impact of any required payments on the amount of cash to be received by West End Indiana Bancshares stockholders in this transaction. Under the terms of the purchase and assumption agreement, West End Bancshares estimates that its stockholders will receive between $34.91 and $36.81 in cash consideration for each share of West End Indiana Bancshares common stock (the “per share consideration”) they own. The amount of the per share consideration is subject to substantial variation based on, among other things, significant uncertainties with respect to the treatment of and costs associated with the liquidation account, West End Bank’s equity at closing, the amount of corporate level taxation of such transaction, the amount of cash held by West End Indiana Bancshares at closing, costs related to the dissolution of West End Bank and West End Indiana Bancshares and the distribution of the remaining assets to stockholders and future operating results. Other factors that may cause a reduction in the per share consideration include, among others, costs associated with employee compensation and benefit arrangements and any West End Bank environmental problems with remediation costs over a threshold amount. Accordingly, investors should not assume that the ultimate consideration distributed to stockholders will be within the range set forth above. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the board of directors of both institutions and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2020, subject to customary closing conditions, the approval of West End Indiana Bancshares’s stockholders, West End Bank’s depositors (if required) and regulatory approvals. The distribution of cash to West End Indiana Bancshares, Inc. stockholders is expected to occur within several months after completion of the sale of assets to 3Rivers. West End Bank has served its community since 1894. All 4 banking locations will operate as branches of 3Rivers after the sale is finalized. West End Bank customers will become members of 3Rivers with full access to the credit union’s wide array of products and services as well as its larger lending limit. “We are excited to announce the acquisition of West End Bank. We look forward to being a part of the Wayne and Union County communities and welcoming their customers and employees into the 3Rivers family,” said Don Cates, 3Rivers’ President and CEO. “This acquisition will allow us to expand our footprint to serve more people and communities in Indiana, and it will result in expanded product, service and technology offerings for West End Bank’s customers as well. We look forward to getting to know and investing in Wayne and Union Counties, as we begin the transition process. We mutually feel that this is an ideal fit, as we are both deeply engaged in the communities we serve, have a strong organizational culture, and a sincere care for our members’ and customers’ financial wellness. Additionally, we are committed to working closely together with our West End Bank partners to work towards as smooth a transition as possible.” “We are thrilled about our new partnership with 3Rivers Federal Credit Union because of the expanded opportunities it brings to our customers, our employees, and our communities,” said Timothy Frame, President & CEO of West End Bank. “3Rivers is a proven leader in providing the highest level of financial services, while also sharing our commitment to strong community support. “The Board of Directors of West End Bank and West End Indiana Bancshares (WEIN) are excited and pleased with this combination with 3Rivers Federal Credit Union. We believe it continues our commitment to enhance shareholder value. In addition, it will provide a myriad of opportunities to our employees, customers, and the communities that we serve today,” said John McBride, Chairman of the Board of West End Bank and West End Indiana Bancshares.

Posted to Banking on Profit on Aug 01, 2019 — 10:08 AM
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