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WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

(Mark one)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2004

 

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from              to             

 

Commission file number 33-27312

 


 

LAKELAND BANCORP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

New Jersey   22-2953275

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

250 Oak Ridge Road, Oak Ridge, New Jersey   07438
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(973) 697-2000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.)

 


 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12(b)-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  x    No  ¨

 

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

As of September 30, 2004 there were 20,793,550 outstanding shares of Common Stock, no par value.

 



Table of Contents

LAKELAND BANCORP, INC.

 

Form 10-Q Index

 

     PAGE

Part I Financial Information

    

Item 1.

   Financial Statements:     
    Consolidated Balance Sheets - September 30, 2004 (unaudited) and December 31, 2003    1
    Consolidated Income Statements - Unaudited Three Months and Nine Months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003    2
    Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity - Nine months ended September 30, 2004 (unaudited) and 12 months ended December 31, 2003    3
    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Unaudited Nine Months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003    4
    Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)    5

Item 2.

    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    12

Item 3.

    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    22

Item 4.

    Controls and Procedures    22

Part II Other Information

    

Item 1.

    Legal Proceedings    24

Item 2.

    Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities    24

Item 3.

    Defaults Upon Senior Securities    25

Item 4.

    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    25

Item 5.

    Other Information    25

Item 6.

    Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K    25
   

The Securities and Exchange Commission maintains a web site which contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information relating to registrants that file electronically at the address: http:/ / www.sec.gov.

    

 


Table of Contents

Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

    

September 30,
2004

(unaudited)


    December 31,
2003


 
     (dollars in thousands)  

ASSETS

                

Cash

   $ 50,448     $ 42,760  

Federal funds sold and interest-bearing deposits due from banks

     37,381       3,324  
    


 


Total cash and cash equivalents

     87,829       46,084  

Investment securities available for sale

     504,065       557,402  

Investment securities held to maturity; fair value of $142,149 in 2004 and $43,650 in 2003

     141,627       43,009  

Loans, net of deferred fees

     1,151,406       851,536  

Less: allowance for loan and lease losses

     18,783       16,899  
    


 


Net loans

     1,132,623       834,637  

Premises and equipment - net

     32,075       27,510  

Accrued interest receivable

     7,939       6,391  

Goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets

     94,314       27,609  

Bank owned life insurance

     33,900       27,575  

Other assets

     13,550       15,073  
    


 


TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 2,047,922     $ 1,585,290  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                

LIABILITIES:

                

Deposits:

                

Noninterest bearing

   $ 318,631     $ 242,710  

Savings and interest-bearing transaction accounts

     1,027,085       795,485  

Time deposits under $100 thousand

     268,065       209,216  

Time deposits $100 thousand and over

     87,880       78,271  
    


 


Total deposits

     1,701,661       1,325,682  

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     43,402       51,423  

Long-term debt

     42,260       34,500  

Subordinated debentures

     56,703       —    

Other liabilities

     9,409       7,734  

Guaranteed preferred beneficial interests in Company’s subordinated debentures

     —         55,000  
    


 


TOTAL LIABILITIES

     1,853,435       1,474,339  
    


 


Commitments and contingencies

                

Stockholders’ equity:

                

Common stock, no par value; authorized shares, 40,000,000; issued shares, 21,312,284 at September 30, 2004 and 16,483,551 at December 31, 2003; outstanding shares, 20,793,550 at September 30, 2004 and 15,948,526 at December 31, 2003

     207,537       131,116  

Accumulated Deficit

     (6,418 )     (12,980 )

Treasury stock, at cost, 518,734 shares in 2004 and 535,025 shares in 2003

     (7,585 )     (7,283 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     953       98  
    


 


TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

     194,487       110,951  
    


 


TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

   $ 2,047,922     $ 1,585,290  
    


 


 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

1


Table of Contents

Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS

 

     For the three months ended
September 30,


    For the nine months ended
September 30,


 
     2004

   2003

    2004

   2003

 
     (In thousands, except per share data)  

INTEREST INCOME

                              

Loans and fees

   $ 16,425    $ 11,828     $ 41,906    $ 35,406  

Federal funds sold and interest-bearing deposits with banks

     45      67       93      193  

Taxable investment securities

     5,443      3,710       15,184      10,849  

Tax-exempt investment securities

     865      774       2,364      2,144  
    

  


 

  


TOTAL INTEREST INCOME

     22,778      16,379       59,547      48,592  
    

  


 

  


INTEREST EXPENSE

                              

Deposits

     4,185      3,282       10,846      9,748  

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     110      50       277      160  

Long-term debt

     1,461      877       4,248      1,749  
    

  


 

  


TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE

     5,756      4,209       15,371      11,657  
    

  


 

  


NET INTEREST INCOME

     17,022      12,170       44,176      36,935  

Provision for loan and lease losses

     926      750       2,676      2,250  
    

  


 

  


NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES

     16,096      11,420       41,500      34,685  

NONINTEREST INCOME

                              

Service charges on deposit accounts

     2,054      1,913       5,757      5,232  

Commissions and fees

     911      792       2,269      1,947  

Gains on the sales of investment securities

     204      934       620      1,686  

Income on bank owned life insurance

     303      187       833      581  

Other income

     153      42       350      198  
    

  


 

  


TOTAL NONINTEREST INCOME

     3,625      3,868       9,829      9,644  
    

  


 

  


NONINTEREST EXPENSE

                              

Salaries and employee benefits

     6,965      5,240       18,074      15,250  

Net occupancy expense

     1,135      912       3,160      2,688  

Furniture and equipment

     1,076      877       2,828      2,452  

Stationery, supplies and postage

     400      341       1,089      1,007  

Legal fees

     417      388       1,406      1,040  

Marketing expense

     450      244       1,141      755  

Other expenses

     2,563      1,649       6,197      4,814  
    

  


 

  


TOTAL NONINTEREST EXPENSE

     13,006      9,651       33,895      28,006  
    

  


 

  


Income before provision for income taxes

     6,715      5,637       17,434      16,323  

Provision for income taxes

     2,163      1,815       5,595      5,212  
    

  


 

  


NET INCOME

   $ 4,552    $ 3,822     $ 11,839    $ 11,111  
    

  


 

  


EARNINGS PER SHARE

                              

Basic

   $ 0.22    $ 0.25     $ 0.67    $ 0.74  
    

  


 

  


Diluted

   $ 0.22    $ 0.25     $ 0.66    $ 0.73  
    

  


 

  


UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME  
     For the three months ended
September 30,


    For the nine months ended
September 30,


 
     2004

   2003

    2004

   2003

 
     (in thousands)     (in thousands)  

NET INCOME

   $ 4,552    $ 3,822     $ 11,839    $ 11,111  
    

  


 

  


OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME NET OF TAX:

                              

Unrealized securities gains (losses) arising during period

     6,133      (3,649 )     1,258      (1,998 )

Less: reclassification for gains included in net income

     133      635       403      1,146  
    

  


 

  


Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

     6,000      (4,284 )     855      (3,144 )
    

  


 

  


TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

   $ 10,552    $ (462 )   $ 12,694    $ 7,967  
    

  


 

  


 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

2


Table of Contents

Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

     Common stock

    Accumulated
deficit


    Treasury
Stock


   

Accumulated

Other
Comprehensive

Income

(Loss)


    Total

 
     Number of
Shares


   Amount

         
     (dollars in thousands)  

BALANCE DECEMBER 31, 2002

   14,671,097    $ 101,664     $ (9,436 )   $ (5,881 )   $ 4,420     $ 90,767  

Net Income 2003

   —        —         15,107       —         —         15,107  

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

   —        —         —         —         (4,322 )     (4,322 )

Exercise of stock options

   —        (210 )     —         680       —         470  

Shares issued for the purchase of CSB Financial Corp

   1,028,492      16,742       —         —         —         16,742  

Stock dividend

   783,962      12,920       (12,920 )     —         —         —    

Cash dividends

   —        —         (5,731 )     —         —         (5,731 )

Purchase of treasury stock

   —        —         —         (2,082 )     —         (2,082 )
    
  


 


 


 


 


BALANCE DECEMBER 31, 2003

   16,483,551      131,116       (12,980 )     (7,283 )     98       110,951  

Net Income, first nine months 2004

   —        —         11,839       —         —         11,839  

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

   —        —         —         —         855       855  

Exercise of stock options

   —        (150 )     —         762       —         612  

Shares issued for the purchase of Newton Financial Corp

   4,828,733      76,571       —         —         —         76,571  

Cash dividends

   —        —         (5,277 )     —         —         (5,277 )

Purchase of treasury stock

   —        —         —         (1,064 )     —         (1,064 )
    
  


 


 


 


 


BALANCE SEPTEMBER 30, 2004 (unaudited)

   21,312,284    $ 207,537     $ (6,418 )   $ (7,585 )   $ 953     $ 194,487  
    
  


 


 


 


 


 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

3


Table of Contents

Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS-(UNAUDITED)

 

     For the nine months ended
September 30,


 
     2004

    2003

 
     (in thousands)  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

                

Net income

   $ 11,839     $ 11,111  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

                

Net amortization of premiums, discounts and deferred loan fees and costs

     2,991       511  

Depreciation and amortization

     2,768       2,041  

Provision for loan and lease losses

     2,676       2,250  

Gain on sales and calls of securities

     (620 )     (1,686 )

(Gain) loss on disposition of premises and equipment

     40       (9 )

Deferred income tax

     589       5,212  

(Increase) decrease in other assets

     875       (3,941 )

Decrease in other liabilities

     (205 )     (1,101 )
    


 


NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

     20,953       14,388  
    


 


CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

                

Cash equivalents in excess of cash paid for business acquired

     31       2,346  

Proceeds from repayments on and maturity of securities:

                

Available for sale

     117,502       157,942  

Held for maturity

     25,819       16,176  

Proceeds from sales of securities:

                

Available for sale

     32,691       55,304  

Held for maturity

     —         701  

Purchase of securities:

                

Available for sale

     (56,316 )     (337,649 )

Held for maturity

     (84,094 )     (17,098 )

Purchase of Asset Based Lending portfolio

     (25,524 )     —    

Net increase in loans

     (76,029 )     (17,387 )

Purchase of Bank Owned Life Insurance

     —         (7,548 )

Proceeds from dispositions of premises and equipment

     4       9  

Capital expenditures

     (3,080 )     (1,709 )

Net decrease in other real estate owned

     —         (194 )
    


 


NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES

     (68,996 )     (149,107 )
    


 


CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

                

Net increase in deposits

     109,086       147,345  

Decrease in federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     (8,020 )     (2,594 )

Repayment of long-term debt

     (5,549 )     —    

Issuance of subordinated debentures

     —         30,000  

Purchase of treasury stock

     (1,064 )     (2,082 )

Exercise of stock options

     612       355  

Dividends paid

     (5,277 )     (4,121 )
    


 


NET CASH PROVIDED BY(USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES

     89,788       168,903  
    


 


Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     41,745       34,184  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

     46,084       35,465  
    


 


CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD

   $ 87,829     $ 69,649  
    


 


 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

4


Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED)

 

Note 1. Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Presentation.

 

This quarterly report presents the consolidated financial statements of Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. (the Company) and its subsidiaries, Lakeland Bank (Lakeland) and Newton Trust Company (Newton Trust).

 

The Company’s financial statements reflect all adjustments and disclosures which management believes are necessary for a fair presentation of interim results. The results of operations for the quarter presented do not necessarily indicate the results that the Company will achieve for all of 2004. You should read these interim financial statements in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes that are presented in the Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.

 

The financial information in this quarterly report has been prepared in accordance with the Company’s customary accounting practices; these financial statements have not been audited. Certain information and footnote disclosures required under generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted, as permitted by rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

The Company follows the provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” which contains a fair value-based method for valuing stock-based compensation that entities may use, which measures compensation cost at the grant date based on the fair value of the award. Compensation is then recognized over the service period, which is usually the vesting period. Alternatively, the standard permits entities to continue accounting for employee stock options and similar equity instruments under Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” Entities that continue to account for stock options using APB Opinion No. 25 are required to make pro forma disclosures of net income and earnings per share, as if the fair value-based method of accounting defined in SFAS No. 123 had been applied.

 

At September 30, 2004, the Company had four stock-based employee compensation plans, which are more fully described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company accounts for these plans under the recognition and measurement principles of APB No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations. Stock-based employee compensation costs are not reflected in net income, as all options granted under the plans had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” to stock-based employee compensation (in thousands, except per share amounts).

 

     For the Three Months Ended
September 30,


   For the nine Months Ended
September 30,


     2004

   2003

   2004

   2003

Net income, as reported

   $ 4,552    $ 3,822    $ 11,839    $ 11,111

Deduct: Stock-based compensation costs determined under fair value based method for all awards

     192      123      552      368
    

  

  

  

Pro forma net income

   $ 4,360    $ 3,699    $ 11,287    $ 10,743
    

  

  

  

Earnings per share:

                           

Basic, as reported

   $ 0.22    $ 0.25    $ 0.67    $ 0.74

Basic, pro forma

   $ 0.21    $ 0.24    $ 0.64    $ 0.71

Diluted, as reported

   $ 0.22    $ 0.25    $ 0.66    $ 0.73

Diluted, pro forma

   $ 0.21    $ 0.24    $ 0.63    $ 0.70

 

5


Table of Contents

Stock Options outstanding were 941,184 and 736,939 at September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes options-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions used for grants in 2004 and 2003: dividend rate of 2%, expected volatility of 32% and 35%, risk-free interest rate of 4.10% and 3.39% and expected lives of 7 years. The Company granted 100,000 in stock options during the third quarter of 2004. In addition, 13,591 in Newton Financial Corp options were exchanged for 61,160 Company options as a result of the acquisition of Newton Financial Corp. The options issued in the Newton acquisition are fully vested.

 

On March 31, 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a proposed Statement, “Share-Based Payment-an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 123 and APB 95,” that addresses the accounting for share-based payment transactions in which an enterprise receives employee services in exchange for (a) equity instruments of the enterprise or (b) liabilities that are based on the fair value of the enterprise’s equity instruments or that may be settled by the issuance of such equity instruments. Under the FASB’s proposal, all forms of share-based payments to employees, including employee stock options, would be treated the same as other forms of compensation by recognizing the related cost in the income statement. The expense of the award would generally be measured at fair value at the grant date. Current accounting guidance requires that the expense relating to so-called fixed plan employee stock options only be disclosed in the footnotes to the financial statements. The proposed Statement would eliminate the ability to account for share-based compensation transactions using APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” On October 13, 2004, FASB voted to delay the adoption of this proposed standard by public companies until their first fiscal quarter beginning after June 15, 2005. The Company is currently evaluating this proposed statement and its effects on the Company’s results of operations.

 

Note 2. Statement of Cash Flow Information.

 

     For the nine months ended
September 30,


     2004

   2003

     (in thousands)

Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities:

             

Cash paid during the period for income taxes

   $ 5,000    $ 6,210

Cash paid during the period for interest

     15,157      11,436

Transfer of loans receivable to other real estate owned

     —        325

 

Note 3. Earnings Per Share.

 

Basic earnings per share for a particular period of time is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during that period.

 

Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of outstanding common shares and common share equivalents. The Company’s only outstanding “common share equivalents” are options to purchase its common stock.

 

All weighted average, actual shares and per share information has been adjusted retroactively for the effects of stock dividends. The following schedule shows the Company’s earnings per share for the periods presented:

 

     For the three months ended
September 30,


   For the nine months ended
September 30,


(In thousands except per share data)    2004

   2003

   2004

   2003

Income applicable to common stock

   $ 4,552    $ 3,822    $ 11,839    $ 11,111
                             

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic

     20,807      15,333      17,601      15,059

Stock options

     224      217      225      224
    

  

  

  

Weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents - diluted

     21,031      15,550      17,826      15,283

Basic earnings per share

   $ 0.22    $ 0.25    $ 0.67    $ 0.74
    

  

  

  

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.22    $ 0.25    $ 0.66    $ 0.73
    

  

  

  

 

6


Table of Contents

Note 4. Investment Securities

 

AVAILABLE FOR SALE


   September 30, 2004

   December 31, 2003

(in thousands)


   Amortized
Cost


   Gross
Unrealized
Gains


   Gross
Unrealized
Losses


   

Fair

Value


   Amortized
Cost


   Gross
Unrealized
Gains


   Gross
Unrealized
Losses


   

Fair

Value


U.S. Treasury and U.S. government agencies

   $ 148,650    $ 177    $ (1,327 )   $ 147,500    $ 160,834    $ 448    $ (2,487 )   $ 158,795

Mortgage-backed securities

     289,774      974      (2,341 )     288,407      331,995      1,593      (3,541 )     330,047

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

     46,165      1,802      (7 )     47,960      51,559      2,079      (20 )     53,618

Other debt securities

     4,094      43      (5 )     4,132      4,102      35      (69 )     4,068

Other equity securities

     13,965      2,116      (15 )     16,066      8,965      1,909      —         10,874
    

  

  


 

  

  

  


 

     $ 502,648    $ 5,112    $ (3,695 )   $ 504,065    $ 557,455    $ 6,064    $ (6,117 )   $ 557,402
    

  

  


 

  

  

  


 

HELD TO MATURITY


   September 30, 2004

   December 31, 2003

(in thousands)


   Amortized
Cost


   Gross
Unrealized
Gains


   Gross
Unrealized
Losses


   

Fair

Value


   Amortized
Cost


   Gross
Unrealized
Gains


   Gross
Unrealized
Losses


   

Fair

Value


U.S. Treasury and U.S. government agencies

   $ 40,241    $ 106    $ (59 )   $ 40,288    $ 11,031    $ 267    $ —       $ 11,298

Mortgage-backed securities

     56,026      387      (227 )     56,186      2,857      119      —         2,976

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

     41,765      430      (132 )     42,063      28,521      436      (181 )     28,776

Other

     3,595      9      —         3,604      600      —        —         600
    

  

  


 

  

  

  


 

     $ 141,627    $ 932    $ (418 )   $ 142,141    $ 43,009    $ 822    $ (181 )   $ 43,650
    

  

  


 

  

  

  


 

 

     September 30, 2004

     Available for Sale

   Held to Maturity

     Amortized
Cost


  

Fair

Value


   Amortized
Cost


  

Fair

Value


     (in thousands)

Due in one year or less

   $ 15,657    $ 15,646    $ 24,023    $ 24,166

Due after one year through five years

     83,708      84,337      29,325      29,406

Due after five years through ten years

     89,897      89,951      28,594      28,757

Due after ten years

     9,647      9,658      3,659      3,626
    

  

  

  

       198,909      199,592      85,601      85,955

Mortgage-backed securities

     289,774      288,407      56,026      56,186

Other investments

     13,965      16,066      —        —  
    

  

  

  

Total securities

   $ 502,648    $ 504,065    $ 141,627    $ 142,141
    

  

  

  

 

In 2002, the Company recorded an other-than-temporary impairment loss of $400,000 on a bond because the issuer of the bond had declared bankruptcy and was in default on its interest payments. During the second quarter of 2004, the issuer paid the bond in full and the Company recorded a gain of $400,000.

 

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Note 5. Loans.

 

     September 30,
2004


   December 31,
2003


     (in thousands)

Commercial

   $ 595,687    $ 399,468

Real estate-construction

     54,912      20,476

Real estate-mortgage

     216,147      178,404

Home equity and consumer

     286,677      254,039
    

  

Total loans

     1,153,423      852,387
    

  

Less:deferred fees

     2,017      851
    

  

Loans net of deferred fees

     1,151,406      851,536
    

  

 

The Company follows Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 114, “Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan” (known as “SFAS No. 114”), and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 118, “Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan, Income Recognition and Disclosures.” Impairment is measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, except that as a practical expedient, a creditor may measure impairment based on a loan’s observable market price, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral-dependent. Regardless of the measurement method, a creditor must measure impairment based on the fair value of the collateral when the creditor determines that foreclosure is probable.

 

The following table shows the Company’s recorded investment in impaired loans and the related valuation allowance calculated under SFAS No. 114 as of September 30, 2004 and 2003, and the average recorded investment in impaired loans during the nine months preceding those dates:

 

Date


 

Investment


 

Valuation Allowance


 

Average Recorded

Investment

(over preceding nine

months)


September 30, 2004

  $16.4 million   $6.6 million   $15.5 million

September 30, 2003

  $18.2 million   $8.4 million   $19.4 million

 

Interest received on impaired loans ordinarily is recorded as interest income. However, if management is not reasonably certain that an impaired loan will be repaid in full, or if a specific timeframe to resolve full collection cannot yet be reasonably determined, all payments received are recorded as reductions of principal. The Company recognized interest on impaired loans of $184,000 in the first nine months of 2004. Interest that would have accrued had the loans performed under original terms would have been $1.2 million for the first nine months of 2004.

 

Note 6. Variable Interest Entities

 

Management has determined that Lakeland Bancorp Capital Trust I, Lakeland Bancorp Capital Trust II and Lakeland Bancorp Capital Trust III (collectively, “the Trusts”) qualify as variable interest entities under FASB Interpretation 46, as revised. The Trusts issued mandatorily redeemable preferred stock to investors and loaned the proceeds to the Company. The Trusts are included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and statements of income as of and for the year ended December 31, 2003. Subsequent to the issuance of FIN 46 in January 2003, the FASB issued a revised interpretation, FIN 46(R) “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” the provisions of which must be applied to certain variable interest entities by March 31, 2004.

 

The Company adopted the provisions under the revised interpretation in the first quarter of 2004. Accordingly, the Company no longer consolidates the Trusts as of September 30, 2004. FIN 46(R) precludes consideration of the call option embedded in the preferred stock when determining if the Company has the right to a majority of the Trusts’ expected residual returns. The deconsolidation results in the investment in the common stock of the Trusts to be included in other assets as of September 30, 2004 and the corresponding increase in subordinated debentures of $1.7 million. In addition, the income received on the Company’s common stock investment is included in other income. The adoption of FIN 46(R) did not have a material impact on the financial position or results of operations of the Company.

 

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The Federal Reserve has issued proposed guidance on the regulatory capital treatment for the trust-preferred securities issued by the Trusts as a result of the adoption of FIN 46(R). The proposed rule would retain the current maximum percentage of total capital permitted for trust preferred securities at 25%, but would enact other changes to the rules governing trust preferred securities that affect their use as part of the collection of entities known as “restricted core capital elements”. The rule would take effect March 31, 2007; however, a three year transition period starting now and leading up to that date would allow bank holding companies to continue to count trust preferred securities as Tier 1 Capital after applying FIN-46(R). Management has evaluated the effects of the proposed rule and anticipates that its ratios would still exceed the minimum ratios required to qualify as a well-capitalized institution.

 

Note 7. Postretirement Health Care Benefits

 

The components of net periodic postretirement benefit cost are as follows:

 

     For the three months ended
September 30,


   For the nine months ended
September 30,


     2004

    2003

   2004

    2003

     (in thousands)    (in thousands)

Service cost

   $ 17     $ 17    $ 50     $ 50

Interest cost

     9       9      27       27

Expected return on plan assets

     —         —        —         —  

Amortization of prior service cost

     (2 )     —        (7 )     —  

Amortization of unrecognized net actuarial loss

     12       12      36       34

Amortization of transition obligation

     1       1      5       5
    


 

  


 

Net periodic benefit expense

   $ 37     $ 39    $ 111     $ 116
    


 

  


 

 

The Company currently expects to contribute approximately $26,000 to our post retirement benefit plan in 2004. The Company made contributions of $20,000 to the plan in the nine months ended September 30, 2004.

 

Note 8. Directors’ Retirement Plan

 

The components of net periodic plan costs for the directors’ retirement plan are as follows:

 

     For the three months ended
September 30,


   For the nine months ended
September 30,


     2004

   2003

   2004

   2003

     (in thousands)    (in thousands)

Service cost

   $ 2    $ 1    $ 5    $ 3

Interest cost

     9      9      27      27

Amortization of prior service cost

     8      8      24      24
    

  

  

  

Net periodic benefit expense

   $ 19    $ 18    $ 56    $ 54
    

  

  

  

 

The Company currently expects to contribute approximately $37,000 to the directors’ retirement plan in 2004. The Company made contributions of $37,000 to the plan in the nine months ended September 30, 2004.

 

Note 9. Acquisitions

 

On August 25, 2003, the Company and Lakeland completed a merger with CSB Financial Corp and its subsidiary Community State Bank pursuant to which CSB Financial Corp and Community were merged into the Company and Lakeland. Subject to specified allocation procedures in the merger agreement, CSB shareholders had the right to elect to receive shares of the Company’s common stock or cash in the merger. Under the terms of the merger, each of the 577,513 shares of CSB stock was exchanged for 1.781 shares of Lakeland Bancorp common stock for a total issuance of 1,028,492 shares of stock. The remaining 577,514 shares of CSB stock were exchanged for a cash payment of $29 per share for a total of $16.7 million. Remaining stock options of 55,325 were paid at a rate of $29 per share less the exercise price of the options for a total cash payment of $856,000. The acquisition resulted in the recording of approximately $26.0 million of goodwill and other intangible assets. The Company

 

9


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acquired assets, loans and deposits of $141.2 million, $87.2 million and $125.7 million, respectively. The transaction was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. Results of operations for the first nine months of 2003 include results of operations for CSB from August 25,2003 forward.

 

On July 1, 2004, the Company completed the acquisition of Newton Financial Corp. (“Newton”) pursuant to which Newton was merged into the Company. Newton shareholders had the right to elect stock and/or cash in the merger subject to certain allocation provisions. Newton shareholders who received stock received 4.5 shares of the Company’s stock for each of their Newton shares. Newton shareholders who received cash received $72.08 per share. Under the terms of the merger, 1,073,081 shares of Newton stock were exchanged for a total issuance of 4,828,733 shares of Lakeland Bancorp stock. The remaining 284,337 shares of Newton stock were exchanged for a total of $20.5 million. Newton stock options of 13,591 were exchanged for Company stock options of 61,160 and were fully vested at the time of merger. As a result of the acquisition, the Company recorded $66.1 million in goodwill and other intangible assets. The transaction was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. The results of operations for the first nine months of 2004 include Newton’s results of operations from July 1, 2004 forward.

 

The following condensed consolidated balance sheet of Newton Financial Corp. discloses the amounts assigned to each major asset and liability caption at the acquisition date, July 1, 2004.

 

     (dollars in thousands)  

Assets:

        

Cash and due from banks

   $ 31  

Investment securities

     80,803  

Net loans

     200,084  

Premises and Equipment

     3,790  

Goodwill and core deposit intangible

     66,129  

Other assets

     7,816  
    


Total assets

   $ 358,653  
    


Liabilities

        

Total deposits

   $ (266,894 )

Borrowings

     (13,309 )

Other liabilities

     (1,879 )
    


Total liabilities assumed

     (282,082 )
    


Net assets acquired

   $ 76,571  
    


 

The following represents the unaudited pro forma financial information of Lakeland Bancorp as if the acquisition occurred on the first date of the period indicated. The pro forma financial information should be read in conjunction with the related historical information and is not necessarily indicative of the results that would have been attained had the transaction actually taken place.

 

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Table of Contents
    

For the nine

months ended
September 30, 2004


     (in thousands)

Interest income

   $ 67,054

Interest expense

     16,854
    

Net interest income

     50,200

Provision for loan losses

     3,112

Non-interest income

     10,495

Non-interest expense

     38,669

Net Income

   $ 12,936

 

Note 10. New Accounting Pronouncements

 

The SEC recently released Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 105, “Application of Accounting Principles to Loan Commitments.” SAB 105 provides guidance about the measurement of loan commitments recognized at fair value under FASB Statement No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” SAB 105 also requires companies to disclose their accounting policy for those loan commitments including methods and assumptions used to estimate fair value and associated hedging strategies. SAB 105 is effective for all loan commitments accounted for as derivatives that are entered into after March 31, 2004. The adoption of SAB 105 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In November 2003, the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) of the FASB issued EITF Abstract 03-1, “The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and its Application to Certain Investments” (EITF 03-1). The quantitative and qualitative disclosure provisions of EITF 03-1 were effective for years ending after December 15, 2003 and were included in the Company’s 2003 Form 10-K . In March 2004, the EITF issued a Consensus on Issue 03-1 requiring that the provisions of EITF 03-1 be applied for reporting periods beginning after June 15, 2004 to investments accounted for under SFAS No. 115 and 124. EITF 03-1 establishes a three-step approach for determining whether an investment is considered impaired, whether that impairment is other-than-temporary, and the measurement of an impairment loss. In September 2004, the FASB issued a proposed Staff Position, EITF Issue 03-1-a, “Implementation Guidance for the Application of Paragraph 16 of EITF 03-1 (EITF 03-1-a).” EITF 03-1-a would provide implementation guidance with respect to debt securities that are impaired solely due to interest rates and/or sector spreads and analyzed for other-than-temporary impairment under paragraph 16 of EITF 03-1. In September 2004, the FASB issued a Staff Position, EITF Issue 03-1-1, “Effective Date of Paragraphs 10-20 of EITF Issue No. 03-1” (EITF 03-1-1). FSP EITF Issue No. 03-1-1, “Effective Date of Paragraphs 10-20 of EITF Issue No. 03-1, ‘The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments’” delays the effective date of certain provisions of EITF Issue 03-1, including steps two and three of the Issue’s three-step approach for determining whether an investment is other-than-temporarily impaired. However, step one of that approach must still be initially applied for impairment evaluations in reporting periods beginning after June 15, 2004. The delay of the effective date for paragraphs 10-20 of EITF Issue 03-1 will be superseded with the final issuance of proposed FSP EITF Issue 03-1-a, “Implementation Guidance for the Application of Paragraph 16 of EITF Issue No. 03-1, “The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments.’” The Company is in the process of determining the impact that this EITF will have on its financial statements.

 

Note 11. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Litigation

 

Reference is made to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, and quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2004 and June 30, 2004, for a description of litigation concerning various pools of commercial leases that Lakeland purchased from Commercial Money Center, Inc. (“CMC”), which has filed for bankruptcy protection, and the surety bonds issued by surety companies to guarantee the income stream of those leases. As of September 30, 2004, $10.4 million of the leases were on non-accrual. Based on its examination of these matters and discussions with legal counsel, Lakeland continues to believe that it has substantial and meritorious positions and claims in these matters and intends to vigorously exercise all its rights and remedies to obtain the required payments.

 

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Table of Contents

Also as previously disclosed in the Company’s SEC filings, a complaint captioned Ronnie Clayton dba Clayton Trucking, et al v. Ronald Fisher, et al was filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court against Lakeland and others. The complaint alleges that CMC was never licensed as a lender in California and therefore could not legally charge interest on any loans which it may have orginated. The plaintiffs’ second amended complaint was dismissed by the court, which held that the trustee in the CMC bankruptcy was a necessary and indispensable party to the claims against Lakeland and other investor institutions. The plaintiffs sought permission from the bankruptcy court to join the trustee in the state court action. That permission was not given. The plaintiffs then filed a third amended complaint without joining the trustee. Lakeland asked the court to dismiss the complaint on the ground that the trustee in bankruptcy was not joined. On November 1, 2004 the court denied the motion to dismiss, thus allowing the case to proceed.

 

From time to time, the Company and its subsidiaries are defendants in legal proceedings relating to their respective businesses. While the ultimate outcome of the above mentioned matter cannot be determined at this time, management does not believe that the outcome of any pending legal proceeding will materially affect the consolidated financial position of the Company, but could possibly be material to the results of operations of any one period.

 

PART I — ITEM 2

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

You should read this section in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.

 

Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information

 

The information disclosed in this document includes various forward-looking statements that are made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to credit quality (including delinquency trends and the allowance for loan and lease losses), corporate objectives, and other financial and business matters. The words “anticipates,” “projects,” “intends,” “estimates,” “expects,” “believes,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” and other similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. The Company cautions that these forward-looking statements are necessarily speculative and speak only as of the date made, and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, all of which may change over time. Actual results could differ materially from such forward-looking statements.

 

In addition to the factors disclosed by the Company elsewhere in this document, the following factors, among others, could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially and adversely from such forward-looking statements: pricing pressures on loan and deposit products; competition; changes in economic conditions nationally, regionally and in the Company’s markets; the extent and timing of actions of the Federal Reserve Board; changes in levels of market interest rates; clients’ acceptance of the Company’s products and services; credit risks of lending activities and competitive factors; whether or not the Company ultimately receives payment of all amounts due from the lease portfolio as described in Note 11 - Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q; changes in the conditions of the capital markets in general and in the capital markets for financial institutions in particular and the impact of the war in Iraq on such markets; the ability of the Company to integrate Newton Financial Corp promptly into the Company’s overall business and plans; and the extent and timing of legislative and regulatory actions and reforms.

 

The above-listed risk factors are not necessarily exhaustive, particularly as to possible future events, and new risk factors may emerge from time to time. Certain events may occur that could cause the Company’s actual results to be materially different than those described in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any statements made by the Company that are not historical facts should be considered to be forward-looking statements. The Company is not obligated to update and does not undertake to update any of its forward-looking statements made herein.

 

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Table of Contents

Significant Accounting Policies, Judgments and Estimates

 

The accounting and reporting policies of the Company and its subsidiaries conform with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and predominant practices within the banking industry. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, Lakeland, Newton Trust Company, Lakeland Investment Corp., Lakeland NJ Investment Corp. and Newton Investment Corp. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

 

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. These estimates and assumptions also affect reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Significant estimates implicit in these financial statements are as follows:

 

The principal estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term relate to the allowance for loan and lease losses. The evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for loan and lease losses includes, among other factors, an analysis of historical loss rates, by category, applied to current loan totals. However, actual losses may be higher or lower than historical trends, which vary. Actual losses on specified problem loans, which also are provided for in the evaluation, may vary from estimated loss percentages.

 

The allowance for loan and lease losses is established through a provision for loan and lease losses charged to expense. Loan principal considered to be uncollectible by management is charged against the allowance for loan and lease losses. The allowance is an amount that management believes will be adequate to absorb losses on existing loans that may become uncollectible based upon an evaluation of known and inherent risks in the loan portfolio. The evaluation takes into consideration such factors as changes in the nature and size of the loan portfolio, overall portfolio quality, specific problem loans, and current economic conditions which may affect the borrowers’ ability to pay. The evaluation also details historical losses by loan category, the resulting loss rates for which are projected at current loan total amounts. Loss estimates for specified problem loans are also detailed.

 

Interest income is accrued as earned on a simple interest basis. Accrual of interest is discontinued on a loan when management believes, after considering economic and business conditions and collection efforts, that the borrower’s financial condition is such that collection of interest is doubtful. When a loan is placed on such non-accrual status, all accumulated accrued interest receivable is reversed out of current period income. Commercial loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing interest must have both principal and accruing interest adequately secured and must be in the process of collection. Residential mortgage loans are placed on non-accrual status at the time when foreclosure proceedings are commenced except where there exists sufficient collateral to cover the defaulted principal and interest payments, and management’s knowledge of the specific circumstances warrant continued accrual. Consumer loans are generally charged off when principal and interest payments are four months in arrears unless the obligations are well secured and in the process of collection. Interest thereafter on such charged-off consumer loans is taken into income when received only after full recovery of principal.

 

The Company accounts for impaired loans in accordance with SFAS No. 114, “Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan,” as amended by SFAS No. 118, “Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan - Income Recognition and Disclosures.” Impairment is measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, except that as a practical expedient, a creditor may measure impairment based on a loan’s observable market price, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral-dependent. Regardless of the measurement method, a creditor must measure impairment based on the fair value of the collateral when the creditor determines that foreclosure is probable.

 

The Company accounts for income taxes under the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities as measured by the enacted tax rates that will be in effect when these differences reverse. Deferred tax expense is the result of changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities. The principal types of differences between assets and liabilities for financial statement and tax return purposes are the allowance for loan and lease losses, deferred loan fees, deferred compensation and securities available for sale.

 

The Company accounts for goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets in accordance with SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Intangible Assets.” SFAS No. 142 includes requirements to test goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets for impairment rather than amortize them. The Company has tested its goodwill as of December 31, 2003 and determined that it is not impaired.

 

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Table of Contents

Results of Operations

 

(Third quarter 2004 compared to third quarter 2003)

 

Net Income

 

Net income for the third quarter of 2004 was $4.6 million, compared to $3.8 million for the same period in 2003. Diluted earnings per share decreased from $0.25 in third quarter 2003 to $0.22 in third quarter 2004. Return on Average Assets was 0.90% and Return on Average Equity was 9.57% for the third quarter 2004. The decline in the Company’s earnings per share resulted from more shares being outstanding due to the acquisitions of CSB Financial Corp on August 25, 2003 and Newton Financial Corp on July 1, 2004.

 

Net Interest Income

 

Net interest income on a tax equivalent basis for third quarter 2004 was $17.5 million, representing a $4.9 million or 39% increase from the $12.6 million earned in 2003. The increase in net interest income results from an increase in interest income due to an increase in average interest-earning assets outstanding offset partially by an increase in interest expense resulting from an increase in average interest-bearing liabilities and from the issuance of $25.0 million in trust preferred debt in the fourth quarter of 2003. The net interest margin increased marginally from 3.85% in third quarter 2003 to 3.86% in third quarter 2004.

 

The following table reflects the components of the Company’s net interest income, setting forth for the periods presented, (1) average assets, liabilities and stockholders’ equity, (2) interest income earned on interest-earning assets and interest expense paid on interest-bearing liabilities, (3) average yields earned on interest-earning assets and average rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities), (4) the Company’s net interest spread (i.e., the average yield on interest-earning assets less the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities) and (5) the Company’s net interest margin. Rates are computed on a tax equivalent basis using a tax rate of 35%.

 

14


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED STATISTICS ON A TAX EQUIVALENT BASIS

 

    

For the three months ended,

September 30, 2004


   

For the three months ended,

September 30, 2003


 
     Average
Balance


    Interest
Income/
Expense


  

Average
rates

earned/
paid


    Average
Balance


    Interest
Income/
Expense


   Average
rates
earned/
paid


 
     (dollars in thousands)  

Assets

                                          

Interest-earning assets:

                                          

Loans (A)

   $ 1,117,074     $ 16,425    5.85 %   $ 766,069     $ 11,828    6.13 %

Taxable investment securities

     578,704       5,443    3.76 %     423,915       3,710    3.50 %

Tax-exempt securities

     89,060       1,331    5.98 %     78,441       1,191    6.07 %

Federal funds sold (B)

     17,420       45    1.03 %     27,984       67    0.96 %
    


 

  

 


 

  

Total interest-earning assets

     1,802,258       23,244    5.14 %     1,296,409       16,796    5.15 %

Noninterest-earning assets:

                                          

Allowance for loan and lease losses

     (19,043 )                  (19,177 )             

Other assets

     233,946                    126,555               
    


              


            

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 2,017,161                  $ 1,403,787               
    


              


            

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

                                          

Interest-bearing liabilities:

                                          

Savings accounts

   $ 363,802     $ 506    0.55 %   $ 278,940     $ 376    0.53 %

Interest-bearing transaction accounts

     656,864       1,875    1.14 %     441,325       1,208    1.09 %

Time deposits

     350,134       1,804    2.06 %     262,419       1,698    2.59 %

Borrowings

     130,811       1,571    4.80 %     82,222       927    4.51 %
    


 

  

 


 

  

Total interest-bearing liabilities

     1,501,611       5,756    1.53 %     1,064,906       4,209    1.58 %
    


 

  

 


 

  

Noninterest-bearing liabilities:

                                          

Demand deposits

     317,638                    235,715               

Other liabilities

     8,664                    5,473               

Stockholders’ equity

     189,248                    97,693               
    


              


            

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

   $ 2,017,161                  $ 1,403,787               
    


              


            

Net interest income/spread

             17,488    3.61 %             12,587    3.58 %

Tax equivalent basis adjustment

             466                    417       
            

                

      

NET INTEREST INCOME

           $ 17,022                  $ 12,170       
            

                

      

Net interest margin (C)

                  3.86 %                  3.85 %
                   

                


(A) Includes non-accrual loans, the effect of which is to reduce the yield earned on loans, and deferred loan fees.
(B) Includes interest-bearing cash accounts.
(C) Net interest income divided by interest-earning assets.

 

Interest income on a tax equivalent basis increased from $16.8 million in third quarter 2003 to $23.2 million in 2004, an increase of $6.4 million or 38%. The increase in interest income was due to an increase in average earning assets of $505.8 million or 39% from $1.296 billion in third quarter 2003 to $1.802 billion in third quarter 2004. The increase in earning assets included $285.3 million in earning assets acquired in the purchase of Newton Financial Corp. The yield on earning assets dropped marginally from 5.15% in third quarter 2003 to 5.14% in third quarter 2004.

 

Total interest expense increased from $4.2 million in third quarter 2003 to $5.8 million in third quarter 2004, an increase of $1.5 million. The issuance of trust preferred debt in the fourth quarter of 2003 contributed $475,000 to this increase. Average interest bearing liabilities increased $436.7 million, (including $224.5 million from the Newton acquisition) while the cost of funds decreased 5 basis points to 1.53%.

 

Provision for Loan and Lease Losses

 

In determining the provision for loan and lease losses, management considers historical loan loss experience, changes in composition and volume of the portfolio, the level and composition of non-performing loans, the adequacy of the allowance for loan and lease losses, and prevailing economic conditions.

 

The provision for loan losses increased to $926,000 for the third quarter of 2004 compared to $750,000 for the same period last year. During the third quarter of 2004, the Company charged off loans of $1.9 million and recovered $106,000 in

 

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previously charged off loans compared to $3.8 million and $99,000, respectively, during the same period in 2003. Charge-offs in third quarter 2003 included a $3.4 million charge-off on a commercial lease pool made pursuant to a settlement agreement. For more information regarding the determination of the provision, see “Risk Elements” under “Financial Condition.”

 

Noninterest Income

 

Noninterest income, exclusive of gains on securities sold, increased $487,000 or 17% from third quarter 2003 to third quarter 2004, including $430,000 from the newly acquired Newton branches. The gains on securities sold totaled $204,000 in the third quarter of 2004 compared to $934,000 for the same period last year. Noninterest income, including gains on sales of securities, decreased $243,000 or 6.3% to $3.6 million in third quarter 2004. Management discloses noninterest income excluding gains/losses on securities sold (as well as including gains/losses on securities sold) to distinguish between those types of noninterest income that are recurring compared to income that is nonrecurring. Service charges on deposit accounts increased $141,000 or 7% from the $1.9 million from third quarter last year which included $215,000 from the newly acquired Newton branches. Commissions and fees increased $119,000 or 15% to $911,000 in the same time period, primarily due to increased loan fees collected and increased investment commission income. Income on bank owned life insurance increased from $187,000 in third quarter 2003 to $303,000 in 2004 resulting from $5.0 million in additional policies acquired in the Newton acquisition and $2.6 million in policies acquired in the CSB acquisition. The increase in other income from $42,000 in third quarter 2003 to $153,000 in third quarter 2004 results from increases on gains on sales of loans and leases and from the income received on the Company’s investment in the common stock of the Trusts that are described in further detail in Note 6 – Variable Interest Entities.

 

Noninterest Expense

 

Noninterest expense increased from $9.7 million in the third quarter of 2003 to $13.0 million in 2004, an increase of $3.4 million or 35%. Salaries and employee benefits increased $1.7 million from $5.2 million in the third quarter 2003 to $7.0 million in 2004 as a result of additional salaries incurred from the 34 additional employees from the CSB acquisition in mid third quarter 2003, the 119 additional employees from the Newton Financial acquisition in the beginning of third quarter 2004, and normal salary and benefit increases. Net occupancy expense and furniture and equipment expense increased from third quarter 2003 to third quarter 2004 by $223,000 and $199,000, respectively, primarily as a result of costs related to the four branches acquired in the CSB acquisition and the ten branches and administration building acquired in the Newton acquisition. Legal fees increased from $388,000 in the third quarter of 2003 to $417,000 in the third quarter of 2004 resulting from the litigation related to the purchased lease pools previously discussed in Note 11. Marketing expense increased from $244,000 in third quarter 2003 to $450,000 in 2004 resulting from expenses incurred to advertise in the Bergen County area, the market the Company has entered into as a result of the CSB acquisition, and expenses related to the Newton acquisition. Other expenses increased from $1.6 million in third quarter 2003 to $2.6 million in third quarter 2004, an increase of $914,000. The increase in other expenses results from increased core deposit intangible amortization of $70,000 resulting from the CSB acquisition, $201,000 in core deposit amortization from the Newton acquisition, other increased costs resulting from both acquisitions and increased audit and consulting expense related to the Company’s compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

(First nine months of 2004 compared to first nine months of 2003)

 

Net Income

 

Net income for the first nine months of 2004 was $11.8 million, compared to $11.1 million in Net Income for the same period in 2003. Diluted earnings per share decreased from $0.73 in the first nine months of 2003 to $0.66 in the first nine months of 2004. Return on Average Assets was 0.91% and Return on Average Equity was 11.43% for the first nine months of 2004.

 

Net Interest Income

 

Net interest income on a tax equivalent basis for the first nine months of 2004 was $45.4 million, representing a $7.4 million or 19% increase from the $38.1 million earned in 2003. The increase in net interest income results primarily from an

 

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increase in interest income due to an increase in average interest-earning assets outstanding. The net interest margin decreased from 4.20% in the first nine months of 2003 to 3.84% for the same period in 2004 for reasons that will be explained in more detail below.

 

CONSOLIDATED STATISTICS ON A TAX EQUIVALENT BASIS

 

     For the nine months ended,
September 30, 2004


    For the nine months ended,
September 30, 2003


 
     Average
Balance


    Interest
Income/
Expense


   Average
rates
earned/
paid


    Average
Balance


    Interest
Income/
Expense


   Average
rates
earned/
paid


 
     (dollars in thousands)  

Assets

                                          

Interest-earning assets:

                                          

Loans (A)

   $ 947,242     $ 41,906    5.91 %   $ 742,284     $ 35,406    6.38 %

Taxable investment securities

     535,068       15,184    3.78 %     375,117       10,849    3.86 %

Tax-exempt securities

     82,316       3,637    5.89 %     70,779       3,298    6.21 %

Federal funds sold (B)

     15,783       93    0.79 %     24,317       193    1.06 %
    


 

  

 


 

  

Total interest-earning assets

     1,580,409       60,820    5.14 %     1,212,497       49,746    5.48 %

Noninterest-earning assets:

                                          

Allowance for loan and lease losses

     (17,834 )                  (18,788 )             

Other assets

     174,603                    112,622               
    


              


            

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 1,737,178                  $ 1,306,331               
    


              


            

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

                                          

Interest-bearing liabilities:

                                          

Savings accounts

   $ 316,902     $ 1,284    0.54 %   $ 275,574     $ 1,412    0.69 %

Interest-bearing transaction accounts

     572,001       4,704    1.10 %     392,563       3,371    1.15 %

Time deposits

     304,732       4,858    2.13 %     256,586       4,965    2.58 %

Borrowings

     124,919       4,525    4.83 %     61,442       1,909    4.14 %
    


 

  

 


 

  

Total interest-bearing liabilities

     1,318,554       15,371    1.56 %     986,165       11,657    1.58 %
    


 

  

 


 

  

Noninterest-bearing liabilities:

                                          

Demand deposits

     272,350                    220,146               

Other liabilities

     7,882                    5,910               

Stockholders’ equity

     138,392                    94,110               
    


              


            

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

   $ 1,737,178                  $ 1,306,331               
    


              


            

Net interest income/spread

             45,449    3.58 %             38,089    3.90 %

Tax equivalent basis adjustment

             1,273                    1,154       
            

                

      

NET INTEREST INCOME

           $ 44,176                  $ 36,935       
            

                

      

Net interest margin (C)

                  3.84 %                  4.20 %
                   

                


(A) Includes non-accrual loans, the effect of which is to reduce the yield earned on loans, and deferred loan fees.
(B) Includes interest-bearing cash accounts.
(C) Net interest income divided by interest-earning assets.

 

Interest income on a tax equivalent basis increased from $49.7 million in the first nine months of 2003 to $60.8 million in 2004, an increase of $11.1 million or 22%. Average earning assets increased $367.9 million or 30% from $1.212 billion in the first nine months of 2003 to $1.580 billion in the first nine months of 2004. The increase in earning assets included $125.2 million in average earning assets acquired in the purchase of Newton Financial Corp. The impact of the increase in earning assets was offset by the impact of a decline in the yield on earning assets from 5.48% in the first nine months of 2003 to 5.14% in the first nine months of 2004, a 34 basis point decrease. The yield on earning assets declined as a result of loan and investment security prepayments being reinvested at lower rates, as well as a change in the mix of earning assets. Total investment securities as a percent of earning assets increased from 37% for the first nine months of 2003 to 39% during the same period in 2004 while loans as a percent of earning assets declined from 61% to 60% during the same time period.

 

Total interest expense increased from $11.7 million in the first nine months of 2003 to $15.4 million in the same period of 2004, an increase of $3.7 million. The issuance of trust preferred debt in the second and fourth quarters of 2003 contributed $2.4 million to this increase. Average interest bearing liabilities increased $332.4 million, while the cost of funds decreased 2 basis points to 1.56%. Without the impact of the trust preferred debt, the cost of funds would have been 1.32%. The cost of funds was influenced by a decline in average rates paid from the first nine months of 2003 to the same period in 2004.

 

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Provision for Loan and Lease Losses

 

The provision for loan losses increased to $2.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 compared to $2.3 million for the same period last year. During the first nine months of 2004, the Company charged off loans of $3.5 million and recovered $358,000 in previously charged off loans compared to $5.5 million and $917,000, respectively, during the same period in 2003. For more information, see “Risk Elements” under “Financial Condition.”

 

Noninterest Income

 

Noninterest income, exclusive of gains on securities sold, increased $1.3 million or 17% from year-to-date 2003 to year-to-date 2004, including $430,000 from the newly acquired Newton branches. The gains on securities sold totaled $620,000 for the first nine months of 2004 compared to $1.7 million for the same period last year. Noninterest income, including gains on sales of securities, increased $185,000 or 2% to $9.8 million for the first nine months of 2004. Management discloses noninterest income excluding gains/losses on securities sold (as well as including gains/losses on securities sold) to distinguish between those types of noninterest income that are recurring compared to income that is nonrecurring. Service charges on deposit accounts increased $525,000 or 10% to $5.8 million in the first nine months of 2004 as a result of higher retention of overdraft and return item charges. Increases in commissions and fees and other income were due to the same factors noted in the comparison of noninterest income between third quarter 2004 and third quarter 2003. Income on bank owned life insurance increased from $581,000 for the first nine months of 2003 to $833,000 for the first nine months of 2004 due to policies acquired in the CSB and Newton acquisitions and the Company’s purchase of $7.0 million in policies late in second quarter of 2003.

 

Noninterest Expense

 

Noninterest expense increased from $28.0 million in the first nine months of of 2003 to $33.9 million in 2004, an increase of $5.9 million or 21%. The same factors noted in the comparison of third quarter 2004 noninterest expenses to those of the third quarter 2003 contributed to the increase in noninterest expenses in the first nine months.

 

Financial Condition

 

The Company’s total assets increased $462.6 million or 29% from $1.585 billion at December 31, 2003, to $2.048 billion at September 30, 2004. Total assets included $316.4 million acquired from the Newton acquisition on July 1, 2004. Total deposits increased from $1.326 billion on December 31, 2003 to $1.702 billion on September 30, 2004, an increase of $376.0 million or 28%. Total deposits included $266.9 million from the Newton acquisition.

 

Loans

 

Gross loans increased from $852.4 million on December 31, 2003 to $1.153 million on September 30, 2004, an increase of $301.0 million, or 35%. The largest growth was seen in commercial loans and leases, which increased $196.2 million or 49% from $399.5 million at year-end to $595.7 million on September 30, 2004. The increase in commercial loans included a purchase of an asset based lending portfolio of $25.5 million in third quarter of 2004. Real Estate construction loans which include commercial and residential construction loans increased from $20.5 million at year-end 2003 to $54.9 million on September 30, 2004, an increase of $34.4 million. Consumer and home equity loans and residential mortgage loans showed increases of $32.6 million and $37.7 million, respectively. The Newton merger contributed $138.4 million in commercial loans, $15.5 million in commercial and residential construction loans, $20.3 million in consumer and home equity loans and $27.3 million in residential mortgage loans. Total loans without the impact of the Newton merger increased $99.5 million or 12% from December 31, 2003 to September 30, 2004.

 

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Risk Elements

 

The following schedule sets forth certain information regarding the Company’s non-accrual, past due and renegotiated loans and other real estate owned on the dates presented:

 

(in thousands)    September 30,
2004


   December 31,
2003


   September 30,
2003


Non-performing loans:

                    

Non-accrual loans

   $ 17,205    $ 16,653    $ 18,729

Renegotiated loans

     —        —        —  
    

  

  

TOTAL NON-PERFORMING LOANS

     17,205      16,653      18,729

Other real estate owned

     850      —        195
    

  

  

TOTAL NON-PERFORMING ASSETS

   $ 18,055    $ 16,653    $ 18,924
    

  

  

Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing

   $ 679    $ 1,248    $ 1,090
    

  

  

 

Non-accrual loans increased from $16.7 million on December 31, 2003 to $17.2 million, or 0.84% of total assets, on September 30, 2004. The increase in non-performing loans included $2.8 million from the Newton acquisition. Of the overall total of loans on non-accrual, $10.4 million or 0.51% of total assets represent the purchased leases that were placed on a non-accrual status in 2002 that are currently being litigated. For more information see Note 11 - Commitments and Contingencies in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Loans past due ninety days or more and still accruing at September 30, 2004 decreased $569,000 to $679,000. Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing are those loans that are both well-secured and in process of collection.

 

On September 30, 2004, the Company had $16.4 million in impaired loans (including $16.0 million in non-accrual loans) compared to $16.3 million at year-end 2003. For more information on these loans see Note 5 in Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The impairment of the loans is measured using the present value of future cash flows on certain impaired loans and is based on the fair value of the underlying collateral for the remaining loans. Based on such evaluation, $6.6 million has been allocated to the allowance for loan and lease losses for impairment at September 30, 2004. At September 30, 2004, the Company also had $12.9 million in loans that were rated substandard and not classified as non-performing or impaired.

 

There were no loans at September 30, 2004, other than those designated non-performing, impaired, or substandard, where the Company was aware of any credit conditions of any borrowers or obligors that would indicate a strong possibility of the borrowers not complying with present terms and conditions of repayment and which may result in such loans being included as non-accrual, past due or renegotiated at a future date.

 

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The following table sets forth for the periods presented, the historical relationships among the allowance for loan and lease losses, the provision for loan losses, the amount of loans charged-off and the amount of loan recoveries:

 

(dollars in thousands)    September 30,
2004


    December 31,
2003


    September 30,
2003


 

Balance of the allowance at the beginning of the year

   $ 16,899     $ 17,940     $ 17,940  
    


 


 


Loans charged off:

                        

Commercial

     2,237       4,100       4,100  

Home Equity and consumer

     1,215       1,817       1,403  

Real estate–mortgage

     —         —         —    
    


 


 


Total loans charged off

     3,452       5,917       5,503  
    


 


 


Recoveries:

                        

Commercial

     109       653       634  

Home Equity and consumer

     249       350       283  

Real estate–mortgage

     1       1       —    
    


 


 


Total Recoveries

     359       1,004       917  
    


 


 


Net charge-offs:

     3,093       4,913       4,586  

Addition related to acquisition of banks

     2,301       872       872  

Provision for loan and lease losses charged to operations

     2,676       3,000       2,250  
    


 


 


Ending balance

   $ 18,783     $ 16,899     $ 16,476  
    


 


 


Ratio of net charge-offs to average loans outstanding

     0.44 %     0.64 %     0.82 %

Ratio of allowance at end of period as a percentage of period end total loans

     1.63 %     1.98 %     2.01 %

 

The ratio of the allowance for loan and lease losses to loans outstanding reflects management’s evaluation of the underlying credit risk inherent in the loan portfolio. The determination of the adequacy of the allowance for loan and lease losses and periodic provisioning for estimated losses included in the consolidated financial statements is the responsibility of management and the Board of Directors. The evaluation process is undertaken on a quarterly basis.

 

Methodology employed for assessing the adequacy of the allowance for loan and lease losses consists of the following criteria:

 

  The establishment of reserve amounts for all specifically identified criticized loans that have been designated as requiring attention by the Company or its external loan review consultant.

 

  The establishment of reserves for pools of homogeneous types of loans not subject to specific review, including 1 – 4 family residential mortgages and consumer loans.

 

  The establishment of reserve amounts for the non-criticized loans in each portfolio based upon the historical average loss experience of these portfolios.

 

Consideration is given to the results of ongoing credit quality monitoring processes, the adequacy and expertise of the Company’s lending staff, underwriting policies, loss histories, delinquency trends, and the cyclical nature of economic and business conditions. Since many of the Company’s loans depend on the sufficiency of collateral as a secondary means of repayment, any adverse trend in the real estate markets could affect underlying values available to protect the Company against loss.

 

Based upon the process employed and giving recognition to all accompanying factors related to the loan portfolio, management considers the allowance for loan and lease losses to be adequate at September 30, 2004. The preceding statement constitutes a forward-looking statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

 

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Investment Securities

 

For detailed information on the composition and maturity distribution of the Company’s investment security portfolio, see Note 4 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this 10-Q. Total investment securities increased from $600.4 million on December 31, 2003 to $645.7 million on September 30, 2004, an increase of $45.3 million, or 7.5% including $80.5 million from the Newton acquisition. Investment securities available for sale decreased from $557.4 million on December 31, 2003 to $504.1 million on September 30, 2004, a decrease of $53.3 million, or 10%. Investment securities held to maturity increased from $43.0 million on December 31, 2003 to $141.6 million on September 30, 2004, an increase of $98.6 million. Maturities and principal repayments from the Company’s available for sale portfolio were used to fund new loans and purchases in the Company’s held to maturity portfolio.

 

Deposits

 

Total deposits increased from $1.326 billion on December 31, 2003 to $1.702 billion on September 30, 2004, an increase of $376.0 million, or 28%. Total non-interest bearing deposits increased from $242.7 million to $318.6 million, an increase of $75.9 million or 31%. This included $49.4 million from the Newton acquisition. Savings and interest bearing transaction accounts increased from $795.5 million on December 31, 2003 to $1.027 billion on September 30, 2004, an increase of $231.6 million or 29% including $154.5 million from the Newton acquisition. Total core deposits, which comprise non-interest bearing deposits and savings and interest bearing transaction accounts, increased by $307.5 million or 30% to $1.346 billion. Core deposits are 79% of total deposits compared to 78% at year-end. Time deposits under $100,000 increased $58.8 million to $268.1 million, while time deposits $100,000 and over increased $9.6 million to $87.9 million. The Newton acquisition contributed $62.9 million in time deposits including $8.3 million in time deposits $100,000 and over.

 

Liquidity

 

Cash and cash equivalents, totaling $87.8 million on September 30, 2004, increased $41.7 million from year-end. At September 30, 2004, the Company had $37.4 million in federal funds sold and interest bearing deposits due from banks outstanding. Operating activities, principally the result of the Company’s net income, provided $21.0 million in net cash. Investing activities used $69.0 million in net cash, primarily reflecting the use of funds for loans of $101.6 million, including the purchase of a $25.5 million asset based lending portfolio. A decrease in investment securities caused by prepayments, maturities and sales of securities partially offset the use of funds in the loan portfolio. Financing activities provided $89.8 million in net cash, reflecting an increase in deposits of $109.1 million offset partially by a decrease in federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase of $8.0 million. The Company anticipates that it will have sufficient funds available to meet its current loan commitments and deposit maturities. This constitutes a forward-looking statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. At September 30, 2004, the Company had outstanding loan origination commitments of $249.7 million. These commitments include $196.2 million that mature within one year; $16.9 million that mature after one but within three years; $2.0 million that mature after three but within five years and $34.5 million that mature after five years. The Company also had $9.9 million in letters of credit outstanding at September 30, 2004. This included $8.2 million that are maturing within one year and $1.7 million that mature after one but within three years. Time deposits issued in amounts of $100,000 or more maturing within one year total $61.5 million.

 

Capital Resources

 

Stockholders’ equity increased from $111.0 million on December 31, 2003 to $194.5 million on September 30, 2004. Book value per common share increased to $9.35 on September 30, 2004 from $6.96 on December 31, 2003. The increase in stockholders’ equity from December 31, 2003 to September 30, 2004 was primarily due to the issuance of 4,828,733 shares of common stock totaling $76.6 million for the purchase of Newton Financial Corp. Also contributing to the increase in stockholders equity were increases in accumulated other comprehensive income resulting from the increase in the market value of the securities portfolio, and net income, which were partially offset by dividends paid to shareholders.

 

The Company, Lakeland and Newton Trust are subject to various regulatory capital requirements that are monitored by federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can lead to certain supervisory actions by regulators; any supervisory action could have a direct material effect on the Company or its subsidiarys’ financial statements. Management believes, as of September 30, 2004, that the Company, Lakeland and Newton Trust meet all capital adequacy requirements to which they are subject.

 

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The capital ratios for the Company, Lakeland and Newton Trust at September 30, 2004, and the minimum regulatory guidelines for such capital ratios for qualification as a well-capitalized institution are as follows:

 

    

Tier 1 Capital
to Total Average
Assets Ratio
September 30,

2004


 

Tier 1 Capital
to Risk-Weighted
Assets Ratio
September 30,

2004


 

Total Capital
to Risk-Weighted
Assets Ratio
September 30,

2004


Capital Ratios:

            

The Company

     8.02%   12.29%     13.54%

Lakeland Bank

     6.33%     9.91%     11.17%

Newton Trust Company

   10.21%   14.17%     15.15%

“Well capitalized” institution under FDIC Regulations

     5.00%     6.00%   10.00%

 

ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

The Company manages interest rate risk and market risk by identifying and quantifying interest rate risk exposures using simulation analysis, economic value at risk models and gap analysis. At September 30, 2004, the cumulative one-year gap was $30.0 million or 1.5% of total assets compared to a ($90.3) million or (5.6%) of assets at December 31, 2003. The change in the Company’s gap position primarily resulted from an increase in floating rate loans, a decrease in the weighted average lives of the investment portfolio and a reduction in short-term borrowed funds.

 

The Company uses net interest income simulation because the Company’s Asset/Liability Management Committee believes that the interest rate sensitivity modeling more accurately reflects the effects and exposure to changes in interest rates. Net interest income simulation considers the relative sensitivities of the balance sheet including the effects of interest rate caps on adjustable rate mortgages and the relatively stable aspects of core deposits. As such, net interest simulation is designed to address the probability of interest rate changes and the behavioral response of the balance sheet to those changes. Market Value of Portfolio Equity represents the fair value of the net present value of assets, liabilities and off-balance-sheet items. The Company’s Market Value of Portfolio Equity at September 30, 2004 was $284.2 million.

 

Based on its simulation models, the Company estimates that for a 200 basis point rate shock increase, the Company’s Market Value of Portfolio Equity would decline 10.7% and would decline 3.7% for a 200 basis point rate shock decrease. The simulation model also shows that for a 200 basis point rate shock increase, the Company’s projected net interest income for the next 12 months would decrease 1.7%, and would decline 3.5% for a 150 basis point rate shock decrease. The above information is based on significant estimates and assumptions and constitutes a forward-looking statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For more information regarding the Company’s market risk and assumptions used in the Company’s simulation models, please refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.

 

ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures

 

(a) Disclosure controls and procedures. As of the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) covered by this report, the Company carried out an evaluation, with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-15. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

 

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(b) Changes in internal controls over financial reporting. There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s last fiscal quarter to which this report relates that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

c) Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, beginning with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004, the Company will be required to furnish a report by management on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Such report will contain, among other matters, an assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, including a statement as to whether or not the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective. This assessment must include disclosure of any material weaknesses in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting identified by management. Such report must also contain a statement that the Company’s auditors have issued an attestation report on management’s assessment of such internal controls. Public Company Oversight Board Auditing Standard No. 2 provides the professional standards and related performance guidance for auditors to attest to, and report on, management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting under Section 404.

 

While the Company currently believes that its internal control over financial reporting is effective, the Company is still performing the system and process documentation and evaluation needed to comply with Section 404, which is both costly and challenging. During this process, if the Company’s management identifies one or more material weaknesses in the Company’s internal control, over financial reporting, the Company will be unable to assert that such internal control is effective. If the Company is unable to assert that its internal control over financial reporting is effective as of December 31, 2004 (or if the Company’s auditors are unable to attest that the Company’s management’s report is fairly stated or are unable to express an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls), the Company could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of its financial reports, which could have an adverse effect on the Company’s stock price.

 

While we currently anticipate being able to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 in a timely fashion, we cannot be certain as to the timing of completion of our evaluation, testing and any required remediation due in large part to the fact that there is no precedent available by which to measure compliance with the new Auditing Standard No. 2.

 

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PART II OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

Reference is made to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, and quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2004 and June 30, 2004, for a description of litigation concerning various pools of commercial leases that Lakeland purchased from Commercial Money Center, Inc. (“CMC”), which has filed for bankruptcy protection, and the surety bonds issued by surety companies to guarantee the income stream of those leases. As of September 30, 2004, $10.4 million of the leases were on non-accrual. Based on its examination of these matters and discussions with legal counsel, Lakeland continues to believe that it has substantial and meritorious positions and claims in these matters and intends to vigorously exercise all its rights and remedies to obtain the required payments.

 

Also as previously disclosed in the Company’s SEC filings, a complaint captioned Ronnie Clayton dba Clayton Trucking, et al v. Ronald Fisher, et al was filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court against Lakeland and others. The complaint alleges that CMC was never licensed as a lender in California and therefore could not legally charge interest on any loans which it may have orginated. The plaintiffs’ second amended complaint was dismissed by the court, which held that the trustee in the CMC bankruptcy was a necessary and indispensable party to the claims against Lakeland and other investor institutions. The plaintiffs sought permission from the bankruptcy court to join the trustee in the state court action. That permission was not given. The plaintiffs then filed a third amended complaint without joining the trustee. Lakeland asked the court to dismiss the complaint on the ground that the trustee in bankruptcy was not joined. On November 1, 2004, the court denied the motion to dismiss thus allowing the case to proceed.

 

From time to time, the Company and its subsidiaries are defendants in legal proceedings relating to their respective businesses. While the ultimate outcome of the above mentioned matter cannot be determined at this time, management does not believe that the outcome of any pending legal proceeding will materially affect the consolidated financial position of the Company, but could possibly be material to the results of operations of any one period.

 

Item 2. Change in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

In January 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a stock buyback plan for the purchase of up to 250,000 shares of the Company’s currently issued and outstanding common stock in 2004. Purchases under the stock buyback program may be made in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. On July 15, 2004, the amount of shares purchasable in the stock buyback plan was increased to 500,000 to be purchased over the following year. Through September 30, 2004, the Company purchased 66,000 shares under this plan.

 

Information concerning the 2004 stock repurchases is set forth below.

 

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Period


   (a) Total number of
Shares (or Units)
Purchased


  

(b) Average Price

Paid per Share

(or Unit)


  

(c) Total Number of

Shares (or Units)

Purchased as Part

of Publicly
Announced

Plans or

programs


  

(d) Maximum Number

(or Approximate

Dollar Value) of

Shares (or Units)

that May Yet Be

Purchased Under

the Plans or

Programs


Month 1: January 1 through 31, 2004

   5,000    $ 16.20    5,000    245,000

Month 2: February 1 through 29, 2004

   6,000    $ 16.58    6,000    239,000

Month 3: March 1 through 31, 2004

   none                 

Month 4: April 1 through 30, 2004

   none                 

Month 5: May 1 through 31, 2004

   none                 

Month 6: June 1 through 30, 2004

   none                 

Month 7: July 1 through 31, 2004

   50,000    $ 16.09    50,000    450,000

Month 8: August 1 through 31, 2004

   5,000    $ 15.90    5,000    445,000

Month 9: September 1 through 30, 2004

   none                 

 

Item 3.    Defaults Upon Senior Securities   Not Applicable
Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.   Not Applicable
Item 5.    Other Information   Not Applicable

 

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports of Form 8-K

 

  (a) Exhibits

 

  2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 24, 2003, among the Company and Newton Financial Corp., is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 on the registrant’s Form 8-K filed October 29, 2003.

 

  31.1 Certification by Roger Bosma pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act.

 

  31.2 Certification by Joseph F. Hurley pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act.

 

  32.1 Certification by Roger Bosma and Joseph F. Hurley pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act.

 

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  (b) Current Reports on form 8-K filed during the quarter ended September 30, 2004.

 

An 8-K was filed on July 1, 2004 announcing the completion of the acquisition of Newton Financial Corporation.

 

An 8-K was filed on July 15, 2004 announcing an increase in the Company’s stock buyback program.

 

An 8-K was filed on July 16, 2004 regarding the acquisition of Newton Financial Corporation and filing Newton’s December 31, 2003 financial statements.

 

An 8-K/A was filed on August 6, 2004 amending Item 7 to the original 8-K that was filed on July 16, 2004.

 

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SIGNATURE

 

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 thereunto duly authorized.

 

Lakeland Bancorp, Inc.
(Registrant)

/s/ Roger Bosma


Roger Bosma

President and Chief Executive Officer

/s/ Joseph F. Hurley


Joseph F. Hurley

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

November 8, 2004

Date

 

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