DAMARISCOTTA – The board of directors of First National Lincoln Corp. (NASDAQ: FNLC) has declared a quarterly dividend of 20 cents per share.

This second-quarter dividend, which is payable on July 31 to shareholders of record as of July 6, represents an increase of 4 cents per share over the second quarter dividend declared in 2000.

First National Lincoln Corp. is the holding company for its wholly owned bank subsidiary, the First National Bank of Damariscotta.

An independent community bank serving midcoast Maine with six offices in Lincoln and Knox counties, the First National Bank of Damariscotta provides retail and commercial banking products as well as investment management and trust services through Pemaquid Advisors.

For more information, contact F. Stephen Ward, treasurer, at 563-3195.

The board of directors of Bangor Hydro (NYSE: BGR) declared the following regular quarterly dividends for the second quarter of 2001: 7 percent preferred stock, $1.75 per share; 4.25 percent preferred stock, $1.06 per share; 4 percent preferred stock, $1 per share; and common stock, 20 cents per share.

The dividends are payable on or before July 20 to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 29.

Regulatory approvals for the pending merger of Bangor Hydro-Electric Co. and Emera Inc. (TSE: EMA) appear to be nearing completion.

Under an agreement reached in June 2000, Emera will acquire all of the outstanding common stock of Bangor Hydro for $26.50 per share. All necessary regulatory approvals required for the merger have been received except for approval from U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935.

If, as expected, that approval is received in the future, Bangor Hydro and Emera plan to complete the merger in early July.

The payment of dividends will be made regardless of the date of the completion of the merger.

Bangor Hydro (www.bhe.com) is an electric utility serving a population of about 192,000 in eastern and coastal Maine.

For more information, contact Bangor Hydro at 945-5621.