SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 1, 2007
PROVIDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 1-31566 42-1547151
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(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission File No.) (IRS Employer
incorporation) Identification No.)
830 Bergen Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey 07306-4599
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (201) 333-1000
Not Applicable
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of
Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory
Arrangements of Certain Officers
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Effective April 1, 2007, and in accordance with the merger
agreement between First Morris Bank & Trust ("First Morris")
and Provident Financial Services, Inc. (the "Company"), the
Company has appointed Katharine Laud, a former director of
First Morris, as a director of the Company and its subsidiary,
The Provident Bank (the "Bank"). Ms. Laud, whose service on
the boards of directors of the Company and the Bank will
commence at the next respective board meetings, is expected to
join the Trust Committee of the board of directors of the
Bank. Ms. Laud is eligible to participate in any compensation
and benefit plans applicable to directors of the Company and
the Bank.
Ms. Laud's father is a partner at the law firm of Wiley,
Malehorn & Sirota. This firm provided legal services to First
Morris during 2006, and it is anticipated that the firm will
continue to provide legal services to the Bank following the
merger. Legal fees to be paid to the firm during 2007 may
exceed $120,000. In addition, the law firm is a party to a
lease agreement with First Morris relating to office space,
pursuant to which the law firm makes annual lease payments of
approximately $197,000. As a result of the merger of First
Morris into the Bank, the Bank has assumed this lease.
Item 8.01 Other Events
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On April 1, 2007, the Company consummated the transactions
under the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated October 15, 2006
with First Morris and completed the merger of First Morris
into the Bank. The combined company has assets of
approximately $6.3 billion and a network of 84 branches
serving customers in ten counties throughout northern and
central New Jersey. The Company will issue approximately 3.3
million shares of its common stock and pay approximately $62
million in cash to First Morris' stockholders in the
transaction. A press release announcing the completion of the
merger is attached as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
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(a) Financial Statements of businesses acquired: Not Applicable.
(b) Pro forma financial information: Not Applicable.
(c) Shell company transactions: Not Applicable
(d) Exhibits:
The following Exhibit is attached as part of this report:
99.1 Press Release dated April 2, 2007
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
PROVIDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
DATE: April 3, 2007 By: /s/ Paul M. Pantozzi
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Paul M. Pantozzi
Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer