METROPOLITAN TITLE ACQUIRES SANDUSKY BRANCH OF CHICAGO TITLE AGENCY
Company Opens First Office in Sanilac County

Howell, Mich. (April 23, 2001) – Metropolitan Title Company, based in Howell, Mich., has announced the acquisition of the former Chicago Title branch in Sandusky, Mich. While Metropolitan previously served the area through the company’s branch in nearby Port Huron, the Sandusky office will be Metropolitan’s first branch in Sanilac County.

“This really opens up our ability to serve customers in the “thumb” region of Michigan,” said Ken Lingenfelter, president of Metropolitan Title Company. “Aside from the obvious benefits to our clients in Sanilac County, we’re excited about the prospect of using this new office to improve our coverage in Tuscola County as well.”

The new Metropolitan branch, which is located on Sanilac Street in Sandusky, had a number of owners in nearly 30 years of operation prior to the Chicago Title acquisition in 1999. Metropolitan Title will retain all four of the former Chicago Title employees at the office, including branch manager Cathy Cook.

Metropolitan Title Company is the largest independent title agency in the state of Michigan and the second largest agency in the nation. Founded in 1979 by Lingenfelter, Metropolitan has a history of consistent growth. Key to its impressive growth over the last two decades is a dual emphasis on both human resources and advanced technology. A hallmark of the company has been progressive adaptation of technological innovation for title agency customers. Such innovation has created a more efficient system for all customer real estate transaction needs — from professional real estate closing to 1031 tax deferred exchanges.

Headquartered in Howell, Mich., Metropolitan Title also has regional centers in Rochester and Holland, Mich.; Mishawaka, Ind.; and Carol Stream, Ill.