ATHENAHEALTH SIGNS DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT TO PURCHASE OPERATIONS FACILITY FROM BRACEBRIDGE CORPORATION, A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
BELFAST, Maine and WATERTOWN, Mass. (November 29, 2007) – (PrimeNewswire via COMTEX News Network) — athenahealth, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATHN), a leading provider of internet-based business services for physician practices, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to purchase an operations facility from Bracebridge Corporate, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. The facility, located in Belfast, Maine, includes more than 130,000 square feet of office space on a 53 acre campus that was formerly owned and operated by MBNA Corp. prior to its acquisition by Bank of America in 2006. The new athenahealth Maine Center will act as athenahealth’s second operational service site and is expected to provide additional business continuity capability as the Company looks to expand its growing national physician network. The purchase is expected to be completed on or before February 16, 2008, subject to customary closing conditions.
“athenahealth could not be happier in our expansion to Maine and we look forward to establishing an exciting collaborative relationship with the people of the greater Belfast region,” said Jonathan Bush, Chairman and CEO of athenahealth. “Given athenahealth’s continued growth and demand for our unique service-based offerings to medical groups, we anticipate creating hundreds of new jobs in the region in the years to come as we look to better support our growing national network of physician clients.”
“The presence of a leading company like athenahealth confirms that Maine is open for business,” said Governor John E. Baldacci. “athenahealth will tap into some of our state’s greatest business resources: our successful Pine Tree Zone program and our talented workforce.”
athenahealth has received preliminary approval for the State’s Pine Tree Development Zone (PTZ) program. Established in 2003, this program offers tax incentives to businesses in targeted industries and specific areas of the state with high unemployment rates.
“We are thrilled that athenahealth, one of the nation’s foremost healthcare information technology companies, has selected Belfast for its second operations center,” said Belfast Mayor Walter Ash, Jr. “We look forward to the athenahealth Maine Center becoming an integral member of our business community.”
athenahealth worked closely with Maine & Company, a private, non-profit corporation committed to bringing businesses to Maine, which introduced the expanding internet-based physician support service company to viable location options in the state of Maine.
“Our work with Maine & Company was instrumental in achieving a decision to open the athenahealth Maine Center,” said Bush. “We commend the group’s dedication and commitment to bring businesses, such as athenahealth, to the state.”
athenahealth will be holding a formal press conference this morning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern at the new athenahealth Maine Center. A webcast replay will be available on athenahealth’s Website following the press conference.
Source: ATHENAHEALTH