ROCKLAND, Mass. & SOMERVILLE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Independent Bank Corp. (NASDAQ: INDB), parent of Rockland Trust Company, and Central Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: CEBK), parent of Central Bank, jointly announced today the April 30, 2012 signing of a definitive agreement under which Independent Bank Corp. will acquire Central Bancorp, Inc. and Rockland Trust Company will acquire Central Bank.

“This acquisition will significantly increase Rockland Trust’s presence in the communities of Middlesex County,” said Christopher Oddleifson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rockland Trust. “This transaction is consistent with our strategy to expand into contiguous, attractive markets where we can capitalize on Rockland’s successful business model and brand identity. We expect the transaction to be immediately accretive and bring solid returns to our shareholders. We are extremely pleased to welcome Central Bank customers and employees to Rockland Trust.”

“This transaction will provide many benefits to our customers and is in the best interests of our shareholders,” said John D. Doherty, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Central Bank. “Our customers will benefit from the strength that Rockland Trust offers and can look forward to a greater range of products and services.”

Under the terms of the agreement, 60% of outstanding Central Bancorp., Inc. shares will be exchanged for shares of Independent Bank Corp., at an exchange ratio subject to limited adjustment, and 40% of outstanding Central Bancorp., Inc. shares will be purchased for $32.00 per share in cash. Based upon Independent Bank Corp.’s $28.67 per share closing price on April 27, 2012 the transaction is valued at approximately $54.8 million. The transaction is intended to qualify as a tax-free reorganization for federal income tax purposes and to provide a tax-free exchange of shares for Central Bancorp shareholders who receive shares of Independent Bank Corp. stock in the transaction. Shareholders of Central Bancorp will be able to elect between receiving cash or shares of Independent Bank Corp. stock in exchange for their shares, subject to proration and allocation so that 60% of the outstanding shares of Central Bancorp stock are exchanged for Independent Bank Corp. stock and the remaining 40% are exchanged for cash. The agreement provides that, effective as of and contingent upon the merger, Independent Bank Corp. and Rockland Trust Company will add John J. Morrissey, Esq. to their board of directors.

The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of each company and is subject to certain conditions, including the receipt of required regulatory approvals, approval by Central Bancorp., Inc. shareholders, and other standard conditions. The parties anticipate that the closing of the transaction will likely occur in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Independent Bank Corp. was advised by Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P., with Mary Anne Callahan as lead investment banker, and used Choate Hall & Stewart LLP as its legal counsel for the transaction. Central Bancorp, Inc. was advised by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., with Benjamin H. Saunders as lead investment banker, and its legal counsel was Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP.

Mr. Oddleifson, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Denis K. Sheahan, Chief Financial Officer, of Independent Bank Corp., will host a conference call to discuss the transaction at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, May 1, 2012. Telephonic access will be available by dial-in at 877-317-6789 reference: INDB. A replay of the call will be available by calling 877-344-7529, Replay Conference Number: 10013766, which will be available through May 14, 2012 at 9:00 AM Eastern Time. Internet access to the call is available on the Company’s web site at http://www.RocklandTrust.com by choosing investor relations, Acquisition of Central Bancorp, Inc. The webcast replay will be available until May 1, 2013. An investor presentation regarding the transaction is available at http://www.RocklandTrust.com.

About Independent Bank Corp.

Independent Bank Corp., which has Rockland Trust Company as its wholly-owned commercial bank subsidiary, has approximately $5.0 billion in assets. Rockland Trust offers a wide range of commercial banking products and services, retail banking products and services, business and consumer loans, insurance products and services, and investment management services. To find out why Rockland Trust is the bank “Where Each Relationship Matters^®”, visit www.RocklandTrust.com.

About Central Bancorp., Inc.

Central Bancorp, Inc. is holding company for Central Bank, whose legal name is Central Co-Operative Bank and which was founded in 1915 as a Massachusetts chartered co-operative bank to provide savings deposits and originate mortgage loans. Central Bank is a full-service community banking operation that provides a variety of deposit and lending services --- including savings and checking accounts for retail and business customers, mortgage loans for constructing, purchasing and refinancing residential and commercial properties, and loans for education, home improvement and other purposes. Central Bank operates nine full-service offices in the Massachusetts communities of Somerville, Arlington, Burlington, Chestnut Hill, Malden, Medford, Melrose, and Woburn (two branches).

Forward Looking Statements:

Certain statements contained in this filing that are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”), notwithstanding that such statements are not specifically identified. In addition, certain statements may be contained in the future filings of Independent with the Securities Exchange Commission, in press releases and in oral and written statements made by or with the approval of Independent that are not statements of historical fact and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) statements about the benefits of the merger, including future financial and operating results, cost savings, enhanced revenues and accretion to reported earnings that may be realized from the merger; (ii) statements of plans, objectives and expectations of management or the Boards of Directors; (iii) statements of future economic performance; and (iv) statements of assumptions underlying such statements. Words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “targeted,” “continue,” “remain,” “will,” “should,” “may” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) the risk that the businesses involved in the merger will not be integrated successfully or such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; (ii) expected revenue synergies and cost savings from the merger may not be fully realized or realized within the expected time frame; (iii) revenues following the merger may be lower than expected; (iv) deposit attrition, operating costs, customer loss and business disruption following the merger, including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, may be greater than expected; (v) the ability to obtain governmental approvals of the merger on the proposed terms and schedule; (vi) local, regional, national and international economic conditions and the impact they may have on the parties to the merger and their customers; (vii) changes in interest rates, spreads on earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, and interest rate sensitivity; (viii) prepayment speeds, loan originations and credit losses; (ix) sources of liquidity; (x) shares of common stock outstanding and common stock price volatility; (xi) fair value of and number of stock-based compensation awards to be issued in future periods; (xii) legislation affecting the financial services industry as a whole, and/or the parties and their subsidiaries individually or collectively; (xiii) regulatory supervision and oversight, including required capital levels; (xiv) increasing price and product/service competition by competitors, including new entrants; (xv) rapid technological developments and changes; (xvi) the parties’ ability to continue to introduce competitive new products and services on a timely, cost-effective basis; (xvii) the mix of products/services; (xiii) containing costs and expenses; (xix) governmental and public policy changes; (xx) protection and validity of intellectual property rights; (xxi) reliance on large customers; (xxii) technological, implementation and cost/financial risks in large, multi-year contracts; (xxiii) the outcome of pending and future litigation and governmental proceedings; (xxiv) continued availability of financing; (xxv) financial resources in the amounts, at the times and on the terms required to support the parties’ future businesses; and (xxvi) material differences in the actual financial results of merger and acquisition activities compared with expectations, including the full realization of anticipated cost savings and revenue enhancements. Additional factors that could cause Independent’s results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in Independent’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the proposed transaction or other matters and attributable to the parties or any person acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements referenced above. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made. The parties undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Additional Information:

In connection with the Merger, Independent will file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that will include a Proxy Statement of Central Bancorp, Inc. and a Prospectus of Independent, as well as other relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction. Shareholders are urged to read the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus regarding the Merger when it becomes available and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they will contain important information. You will be able to obtain a free copy of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about Independent and Central Bancorp at the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). You will also be able to obtain these documents for Independent, free of charge, at http://www.rocklandtrust.com under the tab “Investor Relations” and then under the heading “SEC Filings.” Copies of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the SEC filings that will be incorporated by reference in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus can also be obtained, free of charge, by directing a request to Investor Relations, Independent Bank Corp., 288 Union Street, Rockland, Massachusetts 02370, (781) 982-6858.

Central Bancorp and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Central Bancorp in connection with the Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby. Information about the directors and executive officers of Central Bancorp is set forth on the proxy statement for its 2011 annual meeting of shareholders, as filed with the SEC on a Schedule 14A on June 17, 2011. Additional information regarding the interests of those participants and other persons who may be deemed participants in the transaction may be obtained by reading the Proxy Statement/Prospectus regarding the Merger when it becomes available. You may obtain free copies of this document as described in the preceding paragraph.

Independent Bank Corp.
Investor Contacts:
Chris Oddleifson, 781-982-6660
President and Chief Executive Officer
or
Denis K. Sheahan, 781-982-6341
Chief Financial Officer
or
Media Contact:
Ralph Valente, 781-982-6636
Senior Vice President
or
Central Bancorp, Inc.
Investor and Media Contacts:
William P. Morrissey, 617-628-4000
President and Chief Operating Officer

Source: Rockland Trust Company