George E. Irwin, Highlands Bancorp’s Chairman of the Board, added: “In addition to sharing a commitment to providing first class customer service, we each bring complementary products and services to the combined company that we believe will be well received by our customers, and ultimately benefit our shareholders.”
Lakeland Bank operates 53 branch offices throughout Bergen, Essex, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, and Union counties in New Jersey including one branch in Highland Mills, New York; six New Jersey regional commercial lending centers in Bernardsville, Jackson, Montville, Newton, Teaneck and Waldwick; and one New York commercial lending center to serve the Hudson Valley region. Lakeland also has a commercial loan production office serving Middlesex and Monmouth counties in New Jersey. Lakeland Bank offers an extensive suite of financial products and services for businesses and consumers. As of June 30, 2018, Lakeland Bancorp had consolidated total assets, total loans, total deposits and total stockholders’ equity of $5.53 billion, $4.28 billion, $4.40 billion and $597.9 million, respectively.
Highlands State Bank is a full service community bank headquartered and maintaining its main office in Vernon, New Jersey with additional branch offices in Sparta, Totowa and Denville, New Jersey. Highlands State Bank provides deposit and loan banking services to consumers and businesses in northern New Jersey. As of June 30, 2018, Highlands Bancorp had consolidated total assets, total loans, total deposits and total stockholders’ equity of $487.9 million, $427.3 million, $404.2 million and $30.3 million, respectively.
The Boards of Directors of both companies have approved the mergers. Closing is subject to receipt of approvals from regulators, approval of the holding company merger by Highlands Bancorp’s shareholders and other customary conditions. No approval is required from Lakeland Bancorp’s shareholders. The closing is expected to occur early in 2019.
Highlands Bancorp’s directors and certain of its executive officers, owning in the aggregate approximately 12.65% of Highlands Bancorp’s outstanding shares, have signed voting agreements pursuant to which they have agreed to vote their shares in favor of the holding company merger.
Sandler O’Neill + Partners, L.P. is acting as financial advisor to Lakeland Bancorp. FIG Partners, L.P. is acting as financial advisor to Highlands Bancorp. Lowenstein Sandler LLP is acting as Lakeland Bancorp’s legal advisor. Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP is acting as Highlands Bancorp’s legal advisor.
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