VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP
8-K, 1999-06-17
NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS
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                       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)    June 10, 1999


                             VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP
                             -----------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                   New Jersey
                                   ----------
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

              0-11179                             22-2477875
       ------------------------        ---------------------------------
       (Commission File Number)        (IRS Employer Identification No.)

                                1455 Valley Road
                             Wayne, New Jersey 07470
                             -----------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                 (973) 305-8800
                                 --------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


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<PAGE>


Item 5.  Other Events
- -------  ------------

         On June 11, 1999,  Valley  National  Bancorp  completed its  previously
announced  acquisition of Ramapo Financial Corporation and Ramapo's wholly owned
banking  subsidiary,  The Ramapo Bank. The  acquisition was completed by merging
Ramapo with and into  Valley and The Ramapo  Bank with and into Valley  National
Bank, Valley's banking subsidiary,  pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger
dated as of December 17, 1998,  among Valley,  Ramapo,  Valley National Bank and
The Ramapo Bank. In the merger,  each share of Ramapo common stock was converted
into 0.44625  shares of Valley  common stock.  As of March 31, 1999,  Ramapo had
total assets of $334,868,000,  total deposits of $293,674,000 and  stockholders'
equity of  $34,909,000.  A copy of the press  release  dated June 11,  1999 with
respect to the merger is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this form 8-K.

         On June 10, 1999,  Valley's Board of Directors rescinded its previously
announced  repurchase  program after 1,427,957 shares of Valley Common Stock had
been  repurchased.  1,322,043  shares  had not yet been  repurchased  under  the
authorization.   Rescinding  the  remaining  authorization  was  undertaken,  in
connection  with Valley's  acquisition of Ramapo,  to comply with certain of the
pooling-of-intersts  accounting rules as recently  interpreted by the Securities
and Exchange  Commission.  A copy of the press  release dated June 10, 1999 with
respect to  Valley's  Board of  Directors  decision  to rescind  its  repurchase
program is attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this Form 8-K.


Item 7.   Exhibits
- -------   --------


     99.1      Press Release dated June 11, 1999

     99.2      Press Release dated June 10, 1999



                                   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 thereunto duly authorized.

                                       VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP


Dated:  June 16, 1999               By: ALAN D. ESKOW
                                       -----------------------------
                                       Alan D. Eskow
                                       Corporate Secretary



<PAGE>


                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Exhibit No.              Description
- ----------               -----------


     99.1      Press Release dated June 11, 1999

     99.2      Press Release dated June 10, 1999






Contact: Alan D. Eskow
         Senior Vice President and Controller
         Valley National Bancorp
         973-305-4003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:     Friday, June 11, 1999


                 VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP COMPLETES RAMAPO MERGER


         Wayne, NJ - Valley National Bancorp (NYSE:VLY) completed its previously
announced  merger with Ramapo  Financial  Corporation  (RMPO),  effective at the
close of business today.

         "The merger with Ramapo is consistent with Valley's  strategy of growth
within New Jersey through acquisitions of other strong financial  institutions,"
said Gerald H. Lipkin, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Valley
National Bancorp. "The merger will expand Valley's substantial branch network in
Passaic, Essex and Morris counties."

         As a result of the merger,  Ramapo  shareholders  will receive  0.44625
shares of Valley  common  stock (as adjusted  for the 5 percent  stock  dividend
issued on May 18, 1999) for each share of Ramapo common stock they own.  Ramapo
has 8,896,708  outstanding shares of common stock,  resulting in the issuance of
3,970,155 shares of Valley common stock, less fractional shares paid out in cash
at $27.58.

         In  conjunction  with  the  merger,  Valley  expects  to incur a second
quarter charge of  approximately  $2.1 million,  net of tax, for one-time merger
related and  restructuring  charges  including costs related to branch closings,
officers' compensation and professional and investment banking fees.



<PAGE>


         The Ramapo Bank,  the principal  subsidiary of Wayne,  NJ-based  Ramapo
Financial  Corporation,  has  approximately  $343 million in assets and operates
eight branch offices in Essex, Morris and Passaic counties. The merger increases
Valley's  total assets to  approximately  $6.1 billion and its branch network to
114 branches in 10 counties.

         This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of
the Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are not
historical  facts and include  expressions  about  management's  confidence  and
strategies and  management's  expectations  about new and existing  programs and
products,  relationship opportunities,  technology and market conditions.  These
statements may be identified by such  forward-thinking  terminology as "expect,"
"look,"  "believe,"   "anticipate,"  "may,"  "will"  or  similar  statements  or
variations of such terms. Such forward-thinking statements involve certain risks
and  uncertainties.  These include,  but are not limited to, to the direction of
interest  rates,  continued  levels  of loan  quality  and  origination  volume,
continued  relationships  with  major  customers  including  sources  for loans,
successful  completion of the implementation of Year 2000 technology changes, as
well as the effects of economic conditions and legal and regulatory barriers and
structure.  Actual  results  may  differ  materially  from such  forward-looking
statements.  Valley National Bancorp assumes no obligation for updating any such
forward-looking statements at any time.







FOR:  Valley National Bancorp                  Contact:  Alan Eskow
      1455 Valley Road                                   Senior Vice President
      Wayne, New Jersey 07470                            and Controller
                                                         (973) 305-4003


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 1999


         WAYNE,  NJ,  June  10,  1999  --  Valley  National  Bancorp  (NYSE:VLY)
announced the termination of its stock repurchase plan, effective June 10, 1999.
Valley's  Board of Directors had authorized on Apirl 28, 1999, the repurchase of
up to 2,750,000 shares of the Company's  outstanding stock. As of June 10, 1999,
the Company had repurchased  1,427,957  shares.  The balance of 1,322,043 shares
have not been  repurchased.  The Board,  effective  June 10, 1999  rescinded the
authorization for the Company to repurchase the remaining shares.


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