UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  December 20, 2023
LAKELAND BANCORP INC
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
         
New Jersey
  
000-17820
  
22-2953275
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
  
(Commission File No.)
  
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
         
250 Oak Ridge Road, Oak Ridge, New Jersey
  
07438
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
  
(Zip Code)
         
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (973) 697-2000

Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
☐
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
  
Title of each class
  
Trading symbol(s)
  
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, no par value
  
LBAI
  
The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 
Item 1.01
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
 
On December 20, 2023, Lakeland Bancorp, Inc., a New Jersey corporation (“Lakeland”), Provident Financial Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Provident”), and NL 239 Corp., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Provident (“Merger Sub”), entered into an amendment (the “Amendment”) to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of September 26, 2022, by and among Provident, Merger Sub and Lakeland.

Prior to the parties’ execution and delivery of the Amendment, Section 8.1(c) of the Merger Agreement provided that the Merger Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the effective time of the merger of Merger Sub with and into Lakeland, with Lakeland as the surviving entity, by either Lakeland or Provident if the merger shall not have been consummated on or before December 26, 2023 (the “Termination Date”). Pursuant to the Amendment, the parties amended Section 8.1(c) of the Merger Agreement to extend the Termination Date to March 31, 2024. Other than as expressly modified pursuant to the Amendment, the Merger Agreement, which was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Lakeland with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on September 27, 2022, remains in full force and effect as originally executed on September 26, 2022.

The foregoing description of the Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amendment, which is filed as Exhibit 2.1 hereto, and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 8.01.
Other Events.

On December 20, 2023, Lakeland and Provident issued a joint press release announcing the entry into the Amendment, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 
Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
(d) Exhibits
 
Exhibit
Number
 
Description


104
 
Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are embedded in the Inline XBRL document).
 
Forward-Looking Statements
This Current Report on Form 8-K and the exhibits filed herewith include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with respect to Lakeland’s and Provident’s beliefs, goals, intentions, and expectations regarding the proposed transaction, revenues, earnings, earnings per share, loan production, asset quality, and capital levels, among other matters; our estimates of future costs and benefits of the actions we may take; our assessments of probable losses on loans; our assessments of interest rate and other market risks; our ability to achieve our financial and other strategic goals; the expected timing of completion of the proposed transaction; the expected cost savings, synergies and other anticipated benefits from the proposed transaction; and other statements that are not historical facts.
Forward‐looking statements are typically identified by such words as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “outlook,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “should,” and other similar words and expressions, and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, which change over time. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, those relating to the terms, timing and closing of the proposed transaction.
Additionally, forward‐looking statements speak only as of the date they are made; Lakeland and Provident do not assume any duty, and do not undertake, to update such forward‐looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Furthermore, because forward‐looking statements are subject to assumptions and uncertainties, actual results or future events could differ, possibly materially, from those indicated in such forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, many of which are beyond the control of Lakeland and Provident. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the management of Lakeland and Provident

and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties outside of the control of the parties. Caution should be exercised against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include the following: the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the right of one or both of the parties to terminate the Merger Agreement; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Lakeland or Provident; the possibility that the proposed transaction will not close when expected or at all because required regulatory or other approvals are not received or other conditions to the closing are not satisfied on a timely basis or at all, or are obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated (and the risk that required regulatory approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed transaction); the ability of Lakeland and Provident to meet expectations regarding the timing, completion and accounting and tax treatments of the proposed transaction; the risk that any announcements relating to the proposed transaction could have adverse effects on the market price of the common stock of either or both parties to the proposed transaction; the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction will not be realized when expected or at all, including as a result of the impact of, or problems arising from, the integration of the two companies or as a result of the strength of the economy and competitive factors in the areas where Lakeland and Provident do business; certain restrictions during the pendency of the proposed transaction that may impact the parties’ ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; the possibility that the transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities; the possibility that the parties may be unable to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies in the merger within the expected timeframes or at all and to successfully integrate Lakeland’s operations and those of Provident; such integration may be more difficult, time consuming or costly than expected; revenues following the proposed transaction may be lower than expected; Lakeland’s and Provident’s success in executing their respective business plans and strategies and managing the risks involved in the foregoing; the dilution caused by Provident’s issuance of additional shares of its capital stock in connection with the proposed transaction; effects of the announcement, pendency or completion of the proposed transaction on the ability of Lakeland and Provident to retain customers and retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with their suppliers, and on their operating results and businesses generally; and risks related to the potential impact of general economic, political and market factors on the companies or the proposed transaction and other factors that may affect future results of Lakeland and Provident; uncertainty as to the impacts of natural disasters or health epidemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic, on Lakeland, Provident and the proposed transaction; and the other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of each of Lakeland’s and Provident’s Annual Report on Form 10‐K for the year ended December 31, 2022, in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of each of Lakeland’s and Provident’s Quarterly Report on Form 10‐Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, and other reports Lakeland and Provident file with the SEC.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.


   
LAKELAND BANCORP, INC.
 
 
 
DATE: December 20, 2023
By:  
 /s/ Timothy J. Matteson
   
Timothy J. Matteson
   
Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

EXHIBIT 2.1



AMENDMENT NO. 1
to
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

December 20, 2023

This Amendment No. 1 (this “Amendment”) to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 26, 2022 (the “Agreement”), is made and entered into as of December 20, 2023, by and among Provident Financial Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Provident”), NL 239 Corp., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned Subsidiary of Provident (“Merger Sub”), and Lakeland Bancorp, Inc., a New Jersey corporation (“Lakeland”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Amendment shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Agreement.

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 8.1(c) of the Agreement, either Provident or Lakeland may terminate the Agreement at any time prior to the Effective Time if the Merger shall not have been consummated on or before December 26, 2023, unless the failure of the Closing to occur by such date shall be due to the failure of the party seeking to terminate the Agreement to perform or observe the obligations, covenants and agreements of such party set forth therein; and

WHEREAS, Provident, Merger Sub and Lakeland desire to amend the Agreement in accordance with Section 9.2 thereof as provided below in order to extend the date after which either party may terminate the Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(c) thereof.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, representations, warranties and agreements contained in the Agreement and this Amendment, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:

1.
Amendment. Section 8.1(c) of the Agreement is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:

“(c) by either Provident or Lakeland if the Merger shall not have been consummated on or before March 31, 2024 (the “Termination Date”), unless the failure of the Closing to occur by such date shall be due to the failure of the party seeking to terminate this Agreement to perform or observe the obligations, covenants and agreements of such party set forth herein;”

2.
Effect of Amendment. This Amendment shall form a part of the Agreement for all purposes, and each party thereto and hereto shall be bound hereby. From and after the execution of this Amendment by the parties hereto, each reference in the Agreement to “this Agreement,” “hereof,” “hereunder” or words of like import referring to the Agreement shall mean and be a reference to the Agreement as amended by this Amendment. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Agreement is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Amendment is limited precisely as written and shall not be deemed to be an amendment to any other term or condition of the Agreement or any of the documents referred to therein.


3.
Miscellaneous. This Amendment hereby incorporates the provisions of Article IX of the Agreement as if fully set forth herein, mutatis mutandis.

[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.



 
PROVIDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
     
     
 
By:  
 /s/ Anthony J. Labozzetta
   
Name:  Anthony J. Labozzetta
Title:    President and Chief Executive Officer



 
NL 239 CORP.
     
     
 
By:  
 /s/ Anthony J. Labozzetta
   
Name:  Anthony J. Labozzetta
Title:    President and Chief Executive Officer



 
LAKELAND BANCORP, INC.
     
     
 
By:  
 /s/ Thomas J. Shara
   
Name:  Thomas J. Shara
Title:    President and Chief Executive Officer
 



EXHIBIT 99.1

 
 

Provident Financial Services, Inc. and Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. Extend Merger Agreement
Iselin, N.J. and Oak Ridge, N.J., December 20, 2023 – Provident Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:PFS) (“Provident”), the parent company of Provident Bank, and Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: LBAI) (“Lakeland”), the parent company of Lakeland Bank, today announced that the two companies have agreed to extend their merger agreement to March 31, 2024, to provide additional time to obtain the required regulatory approvals.
Both parties remain committed to the merger and to obtaining regulatory approvals.
When completed, the combined company will operate under the Provident name and will benefit from enhanced scale, opportunities for growth and profitability, and Provident’s and Lakeland’s complementary strengths will provide exceptional service to customers and communities served.
About Provident
Provident Financial Services, Inc. is the holding company for Provident Bank, a community-oriented bank offering “commitment you can count on” since 1839.  Provident Bank provides a comprehensive array of financial products and services through its network of branches throughout northern and central New Jersey, Bucks, Lehigh and Northampton counties in Pennsylvania, as well as Queens and Nassau Counties in New York.  The Bank also provides fiduciary and wealth management services through its wholly owned subsidiary, Beacon Trust Company and insurance services through its wholly owned subsidiary, Provident Protection Plus, Inc.
About Lakeland
Lakeland Bank is the wholly-owned subsidiary of Lakeland Bancorp, Inc., which had $11.18 billion in total assets at September 30, 2023.  With an extensive branch network and commercial lending centers throughout New Jersey and Highland Mills, New York, the Bank offers business and retail banking products and services.  Business services include commercial loans and lines of credit, commercial real estate loans, loans for healthcare services, asset-based lending, equipment financing, small business loans and lines and cash management services.  Consumer services include online and mobile banking, home equity loans and lines, mortgage options and wealth management solutions.  Lakeland is proud to be recognized as New Jersey’s Best-In-State Bank by Forbes and Statista for the fifth consecutive year, Best Banks to Work For by American Banker, rated a 5-Star Bank by Bauer Financial and named one of New Jersey’s 50 Fastest Growing Companies by NJBIZ.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with respect to Provident’s and Lakeland’s beliefs, goals, intentions, and expectations regarding the proposed transaction, revenues, earnings, earnings per

share, loan production, asset quality, and capital levels, among other matters; our estimates of future costs and benefits of the actions we may take; our assessments of probable losses on loans; our assessments of interest rate and other market risks; our ability to achieve our financial and other strategic goals; the expected timing of completion of the proposed transaction; the expected cost savings, synergies and other anticipated benefits from the proposed transaction; and other statements that are not historical facts.
Forward‐looking statements are typically identified by such words as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “outlook,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “should,” and other similar words and expressions, and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, which change over time. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, those relating to the terms, timing and closing of the proposed transaction.
Additionally, forward‐looking statements speak only as of the date they are made; Provident and Lakeland do not assume any duty, and do not undertake, to update such forward‐looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Furthermore, because forward‐looking statements are subject to assumptions and uncertainties, actual results or future events could differ, possibly materially, from those indicated in such forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, many of which are beyond the control of Provident and Lakeland. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the management of Provident and Lakeland and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties outside of the control of the parties. Caution should be exercised against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include the following: the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the right of one or both of the parties to terminate the Merger Agreement; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Provident or Lakeland; the possibility that the proposed transaction will not close when expected or at all because required regulatory or other approvals are not received or other conditions to the closing are not satisfied on a timely basis or at all, or are obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated (and the risk that required regulatory approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed transaction); the ability of Provident and Lakeland to meet expectations regarding the timing, completion and accounting and tax treatments of the proposed transaction; the risk that any announcements relating to the proposed transaction could have adverse effects on the market price of the common stock of either or both parties to the proposed transaction; the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction will not be realized when expected or at all, including as a result of the impact of, or problems arising from, the integration of the two companies or as a result of the strength of the economy and competitive factors in the areas where Provident and Lakeland do business; certain restrictions during the pendency of the proposed transaction that may impact the parties’ ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; the possibility that the transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities; the possibility that the parties may be unable to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies in the merger within the expected timeframes or at all and to successfully integrate Lakeland’s operations and those of Provident; such integration may be more difficult, time consuming or costly than expected; revenues following the proposed transaction may be

lower than expected; Provident’s and Lakeland’s success in executing their respective business plans and strategies and managing the risks involved in the foregoing; the dilution caused by Provident’s issuance of additional shares of its capital stock in connection with the proposed transaction; effects of the announcement, pendency or completion of the proposed transaction on the ability of Provident and Lakeland to retain customers and retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with their suppliers, and on their operating results and businesses generally; and risks related to the potential impact of general economic, political and market factors on the companies or the proposed transaction and other factors that may affect future results of Provident and Lakeland; uncertainty as to the impacts of natural disasters or health epidemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic, on Provident, Lakeland and the proposed transaction; and the other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of each of Provident’s and Lakeland’s Annual Report on Form 10‐K for the year ended December 31, 2022, in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of each of Provident’s and Lakeland’s Quarterly Report on Form 10‐Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, and other reports Provident and Lakeland file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Provident Financial Services, Inc.
Investor Relations Contact:
Thomas Lyons
SEVP & Chief Financial Officer
(732) 590-9348

Lakeland Bancorp, Inc.
Investor Relations Contacts:
Thomas J. Shara
President & Chief Executive Officer
(973) 697-2000

Thomas F. Splaine
EVP & Chief Financial Officer
(973) 697-2000


v3.23.4
Document and Entity Information
Dec. 20, 2023
Cover [Abstract]  
Document Type 8-K
Amendment Flag false
Document Period End Date Dec. 20, 2023
Entity File Number 000-17820
Entity Registrant Name LAKELAND BANCORP INC
Entity Central Index Key 0000846901
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code NJ
Entity Tax Identification Number 22-2953275
Entity Address, Address Line One 250 OAK RIDGE RD
Entity Address, City or Town OAKRIDGE
Entity Address, State or Province NJ
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 07438
City Area Code 973
Local Phone Number 697-2000
Title of 12(b) Security Common stock, no par value
Trading Symbol LBAI
Security Exchange Name NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company false
Written Communications false
Soliciting Material false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer false
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