Form 10-Q for period 9/30/2006
Table of Contents

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

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, 2006

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 a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act: (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  ¨        Accelerated filer  x        Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.):

Yes  ¨    No  x

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 October 31, 2006 there were 22,013,935 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, 2006 (unaudited) and December 31, 2005

   1
  

Consolidated Income Statements - Unaudited Three Months and Unaudited Nine Months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005

   2
  

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income- Unaudited Three Months and Unaudited Nine Months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005

   2
  

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity - Nine months ended September 30, 2006 (unaudited) and 12 months ended December 31, 2005

   3
  

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Unaudited Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006 and 2005

   4
  

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

   5

Item 2.

  

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

   13

Item 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   23

Item 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

   24
   Part II Other Information   

Item 1

  

Legal Proceedings

   25

Item 1A.

  

Risk Factors

   25

Item 2.

  

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

   27

Item 3.

  

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

   27

Item 4.

  

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

   27

Item 5.

  

Other Information

   27

Item 6.

  

Exhibits

   27

Signatures

   28

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 Subsidiary

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

ASSETS    September 30, 2006
(unaudited)
    December 31,
2005
 
     (dollars in thousands)  

Cash

   $38,840     $42,639  

Federal funds sold and Interest-bearing deposits due from banks

   19,049     10,176  
            

Total cash and cash equivalents

   57,889     52,815  

Investment securities available for sale

   388,952     515,903  

Investment securities held to maturity; fair value of $136,549 in 2006 and $151,637 in 2005

   139,063     154,569  

Loans, net of deferred costs

   1,502,816     1,312,767  

Less: allowance for loan and lease losses

   13,067     13,173  
            

Net loans

   1,489,749     1,299,594  

Premises and equipment - net

   32,424     32,428  

Accrued interest receivable

   8,580     8,851  

Goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets

   92,351     93,395  

Bank owned life insurance

   36,399     35,479  

Other assets

   12,282     12,999  
            

TOTAL ASSETS

   $2,257,689     $2,206,033  
            

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

LIABILITIES:

    

Deposits:

    

Noninterest bearing

   $296,098     $312,529  

Savings and interest-bearing transaction accounts

   1,035,876     1,038,038  

Time deposits under $100 thousand

   287,040     293,293  

Time deposits $100 thousand and over

   231,206     154,300  
            

Total deposits

   1,850,220     1,798,160  

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase

   50,463     103,199  

Long-term debt

   91,851     45,061  

Subordinated debentures

   56,703     56,703  

Other liabilities

   11,761     11,129  
            

TOTAL LIABILITIES

   2,060,998     2,014,252  
            

Commitments and contingencies

    

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Common stock, no par value; authorized shares, 40,000,000; issued shares, 23,563,463 at September 30, 2006 and 23,564,454 at December 31, 2005; outstanding shares, 22,013,935 at September 30, 2006 and 22,178,020 at December 31, 2005

   242,619     226,322  

Accumulated deficit

   (17,447 )   (9,514 )

Treasury stock, at cost, 1,549,528 shares in 2006 and 1,386,434 shares in 2005

   (22,685 )   (20,176 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

   (5,796 )   (4,851 )
            

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

   196,691     191,781  
            

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

   $2,257,689     $2,206,033  
            

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

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Table of Contents

Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS

 

     For the three months ended September 30,     For the nine months ended September 30,  
     2006   2005     2006     2005  
     (In thousands, except per share data)     (In thousands, except per share data)  

INTEREST INCOME

        

Loans and fees

   $24,629   $19,650     $68,477     $55,623  

Federal funds sold and interest-bearing deposits with banks

   304   283     538     503  

Taxable investment securities

   4,928   5,659     15,723     17,394  

Tax-exempt investment securities

   928   894     2,936     2,670  
                      

TOTAL INTEREST INCOME

   30,789   26,486     87,674     76,190  
                      

INTEREST EXPENSE

        

Deposits

   10,837   6,510     28,967     16,959  

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase

   1,407   758     3,691     2,144  

Long-term debt

   1,915   1,491     5,117     4,326  
                      

TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE

   14,159   8,759     37,775     23,429  
                      

NET INTEREST INCOME

   16,630   17,727     49,899     52,761  

Provision for loan and lease losses

   337   304     988     1,414  
                      

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES

   16,293   17,423     48,911     51,347  

NONINTEREST INCOME

        

Service charges on deposit accounts

   2,732   2,698     7,996     6,939  

Commissions and fees

   1,048   798     2,862     2,264  

Gains on the sales of investment securities

   271   4     349     132  

Income on bank owned life insurance

   311   303     918     905  

Leasing income

   113   44     576     704  

Other income

   97   135     672     291  
                      

TOTAL NONINTEREST INCOME

   4,572   3,982     13,373     11,235  
                      

NONINTEREST EXPENSE

        

Salaries and employee benefits

   7,617   7,408     22,922     21,655  

Net occupancy expense

   1,323   1,289     4,047     4,048  

Furniture and equipment

   1,232   1,122     3,517     3,332  

Stationery, supplies and postage

   416   467     1,231     1,373  

Legal fees

   28   178     270     625  

Marketing expense

   363   390     1,197     1,265  

Core deposit intangible amortization

   297   303     898     909  

Other expenses

   2,103   2,253     6,507     7,107  
                      

TOTAL NONINTEREST EXPENSE

   13,379   13,410     40,589     40,314  
                      

Income before provision for income taxes

   7,486   7,995     21,695     22,268  

Provision for income taxes

   2,379   2,637     6,841     7,205  
                      

NET INCOME

   $5,107   $5,358     $14,854     $15,063  
                      

EARNINGS PER SHARE

        

Basic

   $0.23   $0.24     $0.67     $0.67  
                      

Diluted

   $0.23   $0.24     $0.67     $0.66  
                      
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME  
     For the three months ended September 30,     For the nine months ended September 30,  
     2006   2005     2006     2005  
     (in thousands)     (in thousands)  

NET INCOME

   $5,107   $5,358     $14,854     $15,063  

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME NET OF TAX:

        

Unrealized securities gains (losses) arising during period

   4,246   (3,239 )   (510 )   (4,666 )

Less: reclassification for gains included in net income

   184   3     237     86  

Decrease in minimum pension liability, net

   0   0     (198 )   0  
                      

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

   4,062   (3,242 )   (945 )   (4,752 )
                      

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

   $9,169   $2,116     $13,909     $10,311  
                      

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

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Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary

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, 2004

   21,374,570    $208,933     ($3,847 )   ($10,878 )   $340     $194,548  

Net Income 2005

        20,221         20,221  

Other comprehensive loss net of tax

            (5,191 )   (5,191 )

Exercise of stock options

      (192 )     800       608  

Stock dividend

   1,067,767    17,581     (17,581 )       —    

Cash dividends

        (8,307 )     —       (8,307 )

Purchase of treasury stock

          (10,098 )     (10,098 )
                                   

BALANCE DECEMBER 31, 2005

   22,442,337    $226,322     ($9,514 )   ($20,176 )   ($4,851 )   $191,781  

Net Income, first nine months of 2006

        14,854         14,854  

Other comprehensive loss net of tax

            (945 )   (945 )

Exercise of stock options

      (175 )     635       460  

Stock dividend

   1,122,117    16,472     (16,472 )       —    

Cash dividends

        (6,315 )       (6,315 )

Purchase of treasury stock

          (3,144 )     (3,144 )
                                   

BALANCE September 30, 2006 (UNAUDITED)

   23,564,454    $242,619     ($17,447 )   ($22,685 )   ($5,796 )   $196,691  
                                   

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

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Table of Contents

Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS-(UNAUDITED)

 

     For the nine months ended
September 30,
 
     2006     2005  
     (in thousands)  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

    

Net income

   $14,854     $15,063  

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

    

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

   504     889  

Depreciation and amortization

   3,542     3,555  

Provision for loan and lease losses

   988     1,414  

Gain on sales and calls of securities

   (349 )   (132 )

Gain on sale of branch

   (361 )   —    

(Increase) decrease in other assets

   642     (658 )

Increase in other liabilities

   360     2,663  
            

NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

   20,180     22,794  
            

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

    

Proceeds from repayments on and maturity of securities:

    

Available for sale

   65,444     98,027  

Held to maturity

   27,456     27,988  

Proceeds from sales of securities:

    

Available for sale

   84,170     46,366  

Held to maturity

   —       715  

Purchase of securities:

    

Available for sale

   (23,977 )   (99,105 )

Held to maturity

   (12,095 )   (23,541 )

Net increase in loans

   (191,052 )   (91,378 )

Proceeds from sale of branch, net

   (7,326 )   —    

Proceeds from dispositions of premises and equipment

   34     2  

Capital expenditures

   (2,867 )   (2,752 )

Proceeds from sale of other real estate owned

   —       650  
            

NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES

   (60,213 )   (43,028 )
            

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

    

Net increase in deposits

   60,052     78,760  

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

   (52,736 )   (30,003 )

Repayments of long-term debt

   (3,350 )   (7,229 )

Issuance of long-term debt

   50,140     10,000  

Purchase of treasury stock

   (3,144 )   (8,840 )

Exercise of stock options

   406     441  

Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation

   54     —    

Dividends paid

   (6,315 )   (6,188 )
            

NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES

   45,107     36,941  
            

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

   5,074     16,707  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

   52,815     55,346  
            

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD

   $57,889     $72,053  
            

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

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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 subsidiary, Lakeland Bank (Lakeland).

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 three and nine months presented do not necessarily indicate the results that the Company will achieve for all of 2006. 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, 2005.

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.

Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period financial statements to conform to the September 30, 2006 presentation.

Note 2. Stock-Based Compensation

The Company established the 2000 Equity Compensation Program which authorizes the granting of incentive stock options and supplemental stock options to employees of the Company which includes those employees serving as officers and directors of the Company. The plan authorized options to purchase up to 2,149,875 shares of common stock of the Company. All of the Company’s stock option grants expire 10 years from the date of grant, thirty days after termination of service other than for cause, or one year after death or disability of the grantee. The Company has no option awards with market or performance conditions attached to them. Although the Company’s stock option program does allow for the grant of restricted shares, only stock options have been granted under the plan. The Company generally issues shares for option exercises from its treasury stock.

Prior to 2006, the Company followed the provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” SFAS No. 123 permitted entities to account for employee stock options and similar equity instruments under Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued for Employees.” Under SFAS No. 123, entities were 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.

On May 13, 2005, the Company accelerated the vesting of 483,812 stock options, representing all unvested stock options on such date which had exercise prices in excess of the market value of the Company’s common stock on May 13, 2005. The Company’s decision to accelerate the vesting of these options was part of a review by the Board of Directors of the Company’s incentive compensation program and upcoming changes in the accounting for stock options. Compensation expense that would have been recorded absent the accelerated vesting was approximately $1.3 million net of taxes, $644,000 of which would have been recorded in 2006. In December 2005, the Company granted options to purchase 164,308 shares of common stock to key employees at an exercise price of $14.94 per share. These options vested immediately.

The Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payments” on January 1, 2006 using a modified method of prospective application. Under SFAS No. 123(R), all forms of share-based payments to employees, including employee stock options, are 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. SFAS No. 123(R) eliminates the ability to account for share-based compensation transactions using APB Opinion No. 25. All options were fully vested as of December 31, 2005. The Company granted no options in the first nine months of 2006. Because all of the Company’s stock options are fully vested, there was no impact on income from continuing operations, income before taxes, net income or basic and diluted earnings per share from adopting SFAS No. 123(R). Results for 2005 have not been restated.

 

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Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), the Company presented all tax benefits of deductions resulting from the exercise of stock options as operating cash flows in the Statement of Cash Flows. Statement 123(R) requires the cash flows resulting from the tax benefits resulting from tax deductions in excess of the compensation cost recognized for those options (excess tax benefits) to be classified as financing cash flows. A $54,000 excess tax benefit classified as a financing cash inflow would have been classified as an operating cash inflow had the Company not adopted SFAS No. 123(R).

The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share as if the fair value recognition method had been applied for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2005 (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

     For the Three Months
ended September 30,
2005
  

For the nine Months

ended September 30,
2005

Net income, as reported

   $ 5,358    $ 15,063

Add: Stock-based compensation programs recorded as expense, net of tax

         

Deduct: Stock-based compensation costs determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of tax

     4      2,180
             

Pro forma net income

   $ 5,354    $ 12,883
             

Earnings per share:

     

Basic, as reported

   $ 0.24    $ 0.67

Basic, pro forma

   $ 0.24    $ 0.57

Diluted, as reported

   $ 0.24    $ 0.66

Diluted, pro forma

   $ 0.24    $ 0.56

Option activity under the Company’s stock option plans as of September 30, 2006 is as follows:

 

     Number of
shares
    Weighted
average
exercise
price
  

Weighted
average

remaining
contractual
term

(in years)

   Aggregate
intrinsic value

Outstanding, January 1, 2006

   1,218,247     $12.82      

Granted

   0     0.00      

Exercised

   (57,563 )   7.99      

Forfeited

   (10,910 )   15.49      
                

Outstanding at September 30, 2006

   1,149,774     $13.04    6.46    $2,029,288
                    

Options exercisable at September 30, 2006

   1,149,774        6.46    $2,029,288
                  

Vested and expected to vest at September 30, 2006

   1,149,774        6.46    $2,029,288
                  

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value (the difference between the Company’s closing stock price on the last trading day of the third quarter of 2006 and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in the money options).

Stock options outstanding were 1,149,774 and 1,070,580 at September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 was $319,000 and $621,000, respectively. Exercise of stock options during the first nine months of 2006 and 2005 resulted in cash receipts of $460,000 and $441,000, respectively. The total fair value of options that vested in the first nine months of 2005 was $2.3 million.

 

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Note 3. Comprehensive Income

The components of other comprehensive income (loss) are as follows:

 

     September 30, 2006     September 30, 2005  
For the quarter ended:   

Before

tax amount

    Tax Benefit
(Expense)
   

Net of

tax amount

   

Before

tax amount

    Tax Benefit
(Expense)
   

Net of

tax amount

 
     (dollars in thousands)     (dollars in thousands)  

Net unrealized gains(losses) on available for sale securities

            

Net unrealized holding gains(losses) arising during period

   $6,651     ($2,405 )   $4,246     ($4,950 )   $1,711     ($3,239 )

Less reclassification adjustment for net gains arising during the period

   271     (87 )   184     4     (1 )   3  
                                    

Net unrealized gains(losses)

   $6,380     ($2,318 )   $4,062     ($4,954 )   $1,712     ($3,242 )

Change in minimum pension liability

   —       —       —       —       —       —    
                                    

Other comprehensive income (loss), net

   $6,380     ($2,318 )   $4,062     ($4,954 )   $1,712     ($3,242 )
                                    
For the nine months ended:    Before
tax amount
    Tax Benefit
(Expense)
   

Net of

tax amount

    Before
tax amount
    Tax Benefit
(Expense)
   

Net of

tax amount

 
     (dollars in thousands)     (dollars in thousands)  

Net unrealized losses on available for sale securities

            

Net unrealized holding losses arising during period

   ($865 )   $355     ($510 )   ($7,176 )   $2,510     ($4,666 )

Less reclassification adjustment for net gains arising during the period

   349     (112 )   237     132     (46 )   86  
                                    

Net unrealized losses

   ($1,214 )   $467     ($747 )   ($7,308 )   $2,556     ($4,752 )

Change in minimum pension liability

   (304 )   106     (198 )   —       —       —    
                                    

Other comprehensive loss, net

   ($1,518 )   $573     ($945 )   ($7,308 )   $2,556     ($4,752 )
                                    

Note 4. Statement of Cash Flow Information.

 

     For the nine months ended
September 30,
     2006    2005
     (in thousands)

Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities:

     

Cash paid during the period for income taxes

   $6,369    $5,036

Cash paid during the period for interest

   37,200    22,698

Note 5. 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.

 

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All weighted average, actual shares and per share information set forth in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q have been adjusted retroactively for the effects of stock dividends including the stock dividend declared on July 12, 2006, payable on August 16, 2006 to shareholders of record on July 31, 2006. 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)        2006            2005            2006            2005    

Income applicable to common stock

   $5,107    $5,358    $14,854    $15,063

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic

   22,012    22,395    22,045    22,610

Stock options

   148    189    148    179
                   

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

   22,160    22,584    22,193    22,789

Basic earnings per share

   $0.23    $0.24    $0.67    $0.67
                   

Diluted earnings per share

   $0.23    $0.24    $0.67    $0.66
                   

Options to purchase 536,388 shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $15.39 per share were outstanding and were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share in third quarter 2006 because the option price was greater than the average market price. Options to purchase 301,646 shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $15.86 per share were outstanding and were not included in the computations of diluted earnings per share in third quarter 2005.

Options to purchase 536,388 shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $15.39 per share were outstanding and were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share for the first nine months of 2006 because the option price was greater than the average market price. Options to purchase 384,333 shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $15.57 per share were outstanding and were not included in the computations of diluted earnings per share for the first nine months of 2005.

 

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Note 6. Investment Securities

 

AVAILABLE FOR SALE

   September 30, 2006      December 31, 2005

(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

   $95,289      $1      ($2,305 )    $92,985      $160,421      $0      $(3,039 )    $157,382

Mortgage-backed securities

   245,607      7      (7,968 )    237,646      293,179      27      (7,402 )    285,804

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

   29,538      177      (160 )    29,555      45,396      549      (226 )    45,719

Other debt securities

   8,076      23      (297 )    7,802      8,084      13      (166 )    7,931

Other equity securities

   19,064      2,143      (243 )    20,964      16,231      3,069      (233 )    19,067
                                                     
   $397,574      $2,351      $(10,973 )    $388,952      $523,311      $3,658      $(11,066 )    $515,903
                                                     
 

HELD TO MATURITY

   September 30, 2006      December 31, 2005

(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

   $38,249      $0      $(810 )    $37,439      $38,532      $0      $(834 )    $37,698

Mortgage-backed securities

   44,063      22      (1,127 )    42,958      49,277      13      (1,111 )    48,179

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

   55,143      129      (681 )    54,591      64,143      142      (1,116 )    63,169

Other

   1,608           (47 )    1,561      2,617           (26 )    2,591
                                                     
   $139,063      $151      $(2,665 )    $136,549      $154,569      $155      $(3,087 )    $151,637
                                                     
 

 

     September 30, 2006
     Available for Sale      Held to Maturity
     Amortized
Cost
    

Fair

Value

     Amortized
Cost
    

Fair

Value

     (in thousands)

Due in one year or less

   $17,990      $17,921      $12,584      $12,541

Due after one year through five years

   72,184      70,868      42,146      41,288

Due after five years through ten years

   31,163      30,449      29,897      29,422

Due after ten years

   11,566      11,104      10,373      10,340
                         
   132,903      130,342      95,000      93,591

Mortgage-backed securities

   245,607      237,646      44,063      42,958

Other investments

   19,064      20,964          
                         

Total securities

   $397,574      $388,952      $139,063      $136,549
                         

Management has evaluated the securities in the above table and has concluded that none of the securities with losses has impairments that are other-than-temporary. In its evaluation, management considered the types of securities including if the securities were US government issued, and what the credit rating was on the securities. Most of the securities that are in an unrealized loss position are in a loss position because of changes in interest rates since the securities were purchased. These securities include US government agency securities and mortgage backed securities whose market values are sensitive to interest rates. The corporate securities and the obligations of state and political subdivisions listed in the above table all are investment grade securities.

 

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Note 7. Loans.

 

     September 30,
2006
   December 31,
2005
     (in thousands)

Commercial

   $659,370    $589,646

Leases

   161,076    90,194

Real estate-construction

   94,589    68,325

Real estate-mortgage

   266,394    256,621

Installment

   315,552    302,236
         

Total loans

   1,496,981    1,307,022
         

Plus: deferred costs

   5,835    5,745
         

Loans net of deferred costs

   1,502,816    1,312,767
         

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, 2006 and 2005, 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, 2006    $ 4.0 million    $1.0 million    $ 3.6 million
September 30, 2005    $ 3.9 million    $1.0 million    $ 9.5 million

Interest received on impaired loans may be recorded as interest income. However, if management is not reasonably certain that an impaired loan will be repaid in full, or if a specific time frame 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 $107,000 in the first nine months of 2006. Interest that would have accrued had the loans performed under original terms would have been $215,000 for the first nine months of 2006.

Note 8. 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,
 
     2006    2005          2006    2005  
     (in thousands)          (in thousands)  

Service cost

   $0    $17        $0    $47  

Interest cost

   0    11        0    31  

Expected return on plan assets

   0               

Amortization of prior service cost

   0    (2 )      0    (6 )

Amortization of unrecognized net actuarial loss

   0    11        0    35  

Amortization of transition obligation

   0    2        0    4  
                         

Net periodic benefit expense

   $0    $39        $0    $111  
                         

 

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In December 2005, the Company terminated its post retirement benefit plan; therefore, there will be no contribution in 2006.

Note 9. 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,
     2006    2005    2006    2005
     (in thousands)    (in thousands)

Service cost

   $6    $6    $18    $16

Interest cost

   12    12    35    36

Amortization of prior service cost

   12    11    35    35
                   

Net periodic benefit expense

   $30    $29    $88    $87
                   

The Company made contributions of $37,000 to the plan in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and does not expect to make any more contributions in 2006.

Note 10. Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation

As the Company has disclosed in its periodic reports filed with the SEC, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 (the “10-K”), the Company was involved in legal proceedings concerning four separate portfolios of predominately commercial leases which Lakeland purchased from Commercial Money Center, Inc. (“CMC”). CMC obtained surety bonds from three surety companies to guarantee each lessee’s performance. Relying on these bonds, the Company and other investors purchased the leases and CMC’s right to payment under the various surety bonds. CMC (and a related entity, Commercial Servicing Corp. (“CSC”)) eventually stopped forwarding to the Company the required amounts.

On July 20, 2005, Lakeland entered into a settlement agreement with RLI Insurance Company and one remaining party in Lakeland’s claims related to the CMC matter. Pursuant to the settlement agreements Lakeland was paid an aggregate of $3,315,000 and the parties executed mutual releases. As a result of the settlements, Lakeland’s nonperforming assets were reduced by $6.4 million and no additional loan loss provision was required. A charge-off of $3.0 million was recorded in the third quarter of 2005.

Reference is made to the 10-K for a description of a case captioned Ronnie Clayton dba Clayton Trucking, et al v. Ronald Fisher, et al.

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.

Note 11. Common Stock

On June 16, 2005, the Company announced a stock buyback plan for the purchase of up to 826,875 shares over the following year. The Company purchased 641,814 shares at an average price of $14.39 per share under this plan through its expiration. The plan expired on June 16, 2006. On July 12, 2006, the Company announced a stock buyback plan for the purchase of up to 500,000 shares over the following year.

 

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Note 12. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (FIN No. 48). FIN No. 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” FIN No. 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. FIN No. 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of FIN No. 48 will have on its consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” which is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and for interim periods within those years. This statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands the related disclosure requirements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of SFAS No. 157 will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans-an Amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R)”. This statement requires balance sheet recognition of the overfunded or underfunded status of pension and postretirement benefit plans. Under SFAS No. 158, actuarial gains and losses, prior service costs or credits, and any remaining transition assets or obligations that have not been recognized under previous accounting standards must be recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, net of tax effects, until they are amortized as a component of net periodic benefit cost. In addition, the measurement date, the date at which plan assets and benefit obligations are measured, must be a company’s fiscal year end. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of SFAS No. 158 will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In September 2006, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements.” SAB 108 was issued to provide consistency between how registrants quantify financial statement misstatements.

Historically, there have been two widely-used methods for quantifying the effects of financial statement misstatements. These methods are referred to as the “roll-over” and “iron curtain” method. The roll-over method quantifies the amount by which the current year income statement is misstated. Exclusive reliance on an income statement approach can result in the accumulation of errors on the balance sheet that may not have been material to any individual income statement, but which may misstate one or more balance sheet accounts. The iron curtain method quantifies the error as the cumulative amount by which the current year balance sheet is misstated. Exclusive reliance on a balance sheet approach can result in disregarding the effects of errors in the current year income statement that results from the correction of an error existing in previously issued financial statements. The Company currently uses the iron curtain method for quantifying identified financial statement misstatements.

SAB 108 established an approach that requires quantification of financial statement misstatements based on the effects of the misstatement on each of a company’s financial statements and the related financial statement disclosures. This approach is commonly referred to as the “dual approach” because it requires quantification of errors under both the roll-over and iron curtain methods.

SAB 108 allows registrants to initially apply the dual approach either by (1) retroactively adjusting prior financial statements as if the dual approach had always been used or (2) recording the cumulative effect of initially applying the dual approach as adjustments to the carrying values of assets and liabilities as of January 1, 2006 with an offsetting adjustment recorded to the opening balance of retained earnings. Use of this “cumulative effect” transition method requires detailed disclosure of the nature and amount of each individual error being corrected through the cumulative adjustment and how and when it arose.

The Company is evaluating the impact that the adoption of SAB 108 will have on its financial statements. Because the Company is not aware of any material misstatements, it does not believe that the adoption of SAB 108 will have a material effect on its financial statements.

 

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Note 13. Subsequent Events

On October 5, 2006, the Company filed a registration statement related to an approximately $50 million underwritten public offering of its common stock. On November 3, the Company announced that its Board of Directors decided not to proceed with the offering because of current market conditions.

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, 2005. All weighted average, actual shares and per share information set forth in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q has been adjusted retroactively for the effects of stock dividends, including the five percent stock dividend declared on July 12, 2006 payable on August 16, 2006 to shareholders of record on July 31, 2006.

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; 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 or elsewhere on such markets; 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.

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, Lakeland Investment Corp. and Lakeland NJ Investment Corp. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

 

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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 analysis of goodwill impairment and the Company’s deferred tax asset. 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. All of the factors considered in the analysis of the adequacy of the allowance for loan and lease losses may be subject to change. To the extent actual outcomes differ from management estimates, additional provisions for loan and lease losses may be required that would adversely impact earnings in future periods.

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, 2005 and determined that it is not impaired.

 

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Table of Contents

Results of Operations

(Third Quarter 2006 Compared to Third Quarter 2005)

Net Income

Net income for the third quarter of 2006 was $5.1 million, $251,000 less than what was reported for the same period in 2005. Diluted earnings per share were $0.23 for the third quarter of 2006 compared to $0.24 for the same period last year. Return on Average Assets was 0.90% and Return on Average Equity was 10.60% for the third quarter 2006.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income on a tax equivalent basis for third quarter 2006 was $17.1 million, representing a $1.1 million or 6% decrease from the $18.2 million earned in the third quarter of 2005. The decrease in net interest income primarily results from an increase in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities from 2.12% in the third quarter of 2005 to 3.22% in 2006. The net interest margin declined from 3.71% in the third quarter of 2005 to 3.32% in the third quarter of 2006 because the yield on interest earning assets did not increase as much as the cost of interest-bearing liabilities. Due to the current market environment, short-term borrowing and short-term deposit rates have increased more than loan rates. There has also been a shift in deposits from lower yielding core deposits to higher costing time deposits.

Given the shape of the yield curve, we may elect to sell certain low yielding or other investment securities in the fourth quarter of 2006 and utilize the proceeds to fund loan growth, reduce borrowings and/or reinvest in other securities. We have not yet determined whether we will take such action, nor have we determined the scope of any such balance sheet restructuring. However, we anticipate that if we elect to sell such securities, we would do so in order to achieve a positive long-term impact on our net interest margin. We expect that if we make such an election, we would sell between $50 million and $100 million of investment securities at a pre-tax loss ranging between $2.0 million and $4.0 million.

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%.

 

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CONSOLIDATED STATISTICS ON A TAX EQUIVALENT BASIS

 

     For the three months ended,
September 30, 2006
    For the three months ended,
September 30, 2005
 
     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)

   $1,445,461     $24,629    6.76 %   $1,232,518     $19,650    6.33 %

Taxable investment securities

   474,902     4,928    4.15 %   581,026     5,659    3.90 %

Tax-exempt securities

   101,549     1,428    5.62 %   97,733     1,375    5.63 %

Federal funds sold (B)

   23,614     304    5.15 %   34,924     283    3.24 %
                                  

Total interest-earning assets

   2,045,526     31,289    6.08 %   1,946,201     26,967    5.51 %

Noninterest-earning assets:

              

Allowance for loan and lease losses

   (13,078 )        (14,815 )     

Other assets

   217,581          231,470       
                      

TOTAL ASSETS

   $2,250,029          $2,162,856       
                      

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

              

Interest-bearing liabilities:

              

Savings accounts

   $332,328     $1,177    1.41 %   $334,108     $467    0.55 %

Interest-bearing transaction accounts

   702,359     4,936    2.79 %   703,632     3,120    1.76 %

Time deposits

   470,299     4,724    4.02 %   418,578     2,923    2.79 %

Borrowings

   240,469     3,322    5.53 %   189,800     2,249    4.74 %
                                  

Total interest-bearing liabilities

   1,745,455     14,159    3.22 %   1,646,118     8,759    2.12 %
                                  

Noninterest-bearing liabilities:

              

Demand deposits

   300,916          313,106       

Other liabilities

   12,448          12,356       

Stockholders’ equity

   191,210          191,276       
                      

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

   $2,250,029          $2,162,856       
                      

Net interest income/spread

     17,130    2.86 %     18,208    3.39 %

Tax equivalent basis adjustment

     500        481   
                  

NET INTEREST INCOME

     $16,630        $17,727   
                  

Net interest margin (C)

        3.32 %        3.71 %
                      

(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 $27.0 million in third quarter 2005 to $31.3 million in 2006, an increase of $4.3 million or 16%. The increase in interest income was due to an increase in average interest-earning assets of $99.3 million or 5% and to a 57 basis point increase in the yield on interest-earning assets. The yield on interest-earning assets increased from 5.51% in third quarter 2005 to 6.08% in third quarter 2006 as a result of the increasing rate environment and because of a change in mix in interest-earning assets. Loans as a percent of interest-earning assets increased from 63% in third quarter 2005 to 71% in 2006 while investment securities as a percent of interest-earning assets decreased from 35% in third quarter 2005 to 28% in third quarter 2006.

Total interest expense increased from $8.8 million in third quarter 2005 to $14.2 million in third quarter 2006, an increase of $5.4 million. Average interest-bearing liabilities increased $99.3 million, and the cost of funds increased 110 basis points to 3.22% due to the increasing rate environment and a change in the mix of interest-bearing liabilities. Liabilities shifted from lower cost core deposits to higher cost time deposits. Average interest-bearing transaction accounts as a percent of interest-bearing liabilities decreased from 43% in third quarter 2005 to 40% in third quarter 2006. Average time deposits as a percent of total interest-bearing liabilities increased from 25% of total interest-bearing deposits to 27% during the same period in 2006. Borrowings as a percent of total interest-bearing liabilities increased from 12% to 14% over the same time period. Time deposits and borrowings generally pay higher rates than core deposits. Additionally, average noninterest-bearing deposit accounts declined $12.2 million from $313.1 million in third quarter 2005 to $300.9 million in 2006.

 

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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 $337,000 for the third quarter of 2006 from $304,000 for the same period last year as a result of management’s evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for loan and lease losses. During the third quarter of 2006, the Company charged off loans of $575,000 and recovered $238,000 in previously charged off loans compared to $3.6 million and $442,000, respectively, during the same period in 2005. Charge-offs in third quarter 2005 included a $3.0 million charge-off related to the settlement of litigation concerning the remaining commercial lease pool discussed in Note 10. For more information regarding the determination of the provision, see “Risk Elements” under “Financial Condition.”

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income increased $590,000 or 15% from third quarter 2005 to third quarter 2006. Commissions and fees increased from $798,000 in third quarter 2005 to $1.0 million in third quarter 2006 due to an increase in investment services brokerage income from $76,000 in third quarter 2005 to $310,000 in 2006. In 2005, Lakeland received commission income on the sales of investment services net of commission expense paid to the licensed sales representatives. In 2006, Lakeland employed its own licensed sales representatives, and as a result, has recorded gross commission income received on the sales of investments and recorded $134,000 in commission expense paid to its sales representatives in salaries and benefits expense. There were $271,000 in gains sales of securities in third quarter 2006 compared to $4,000 in gains in third quarter 2005. Leasing income increased from $44,000 in third quarter 2005 to $113,000 in 2006 primarily as a result of an increase in fees from brokered transactions.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense remained substantially the same from the third quarter of 2005 to the third quarter of 2006 at $13.4 million. Salaries and employee benefits increased $209,000 from $7.4 million in the third quarter 2005 to $7.6 million in 2006 as a result of normal salary and benefit increases and staff increases including the licensed investment sales representatives referred to above. Furniture and equipment expense increased from $1.1 million to $1.2 million as a result of upgrades in technology. Stationery, supplies and postage expense declined from $467,000 in third quarter 2005 to $416,000 in third quarter 2006 primarily as a result of decreased supply expenses resulting from the merger of Newton into Lakeland. Legal fees decreased from $178,000 in the third quarter of 2005 to $28,000 in the third quarter of 2006 resulting from a recovery of litigation costs from the Company’s insurance carrier related to the purchased lease pools previously discussed in Note 10. Marketing expense decreased from $390,000 in third quarter 2005 to $363,000 in 2006 resulting from management’s decision to decrease its cable television advertising during 2006. Other expenses decreased $150,000 from $2.3 million to $2.1 million as a result of decreases in personnel recruitment expenses and audit fees and as a result of a merging Newton into Lakeland in late 2005.

(First Nine Months of 2006 Compared to First Nine Months of 2005)

Net Income

Net income for the first nine months of 2006 was $14.9 million, $209,000 less than the $15.1 million reported for the same period in 2005. Diluted earnings per share were $0.67 for the first nine months of 2006, a $0.01 increase over what was reported for the same period last year. Return on Average Assets was 0.90% and Return on Average Equity was 10.45% for the first nine months of 2006.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income on a tax equivalent basis for the first nine months of 2006 was $51.5 million, representing a $2.7 million or 5.0% decrease from the $54.2 million earned in the first nine months of 2005. The decrease in net interest income primarily results from an increase in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities from 1.92% in the first nine months of 2005 to 2.94%

 

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in 2006. The net interest margin declined from 3.78% in the first nine months of 2005 to 3.42% in the first nine months of 2006 because the yield on interest earning assets did not increase as much as the cost of interest-bearing liabilities. The components of net interest income will be discussed in greater detail below.

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%.

CONSOLIDATED STATISTICS ON A TAX EQUIVALENT BASIS

 

     For the nine months ended,
September 30, 2006
    For the nine months ended,
September 30, 2005
 
     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)

   $1,379,925     $68,477    6.63 %   $1,201,964     $55,623    6.19 %

Taxable investment securities

   510,354     15,723    4.11 %   600,114     17,394    3.86 %

Tax-exempt securities

   107,434     4,517    5.61 %   96,084     4,108    5.70 %

Federal funds sold (B)

   14,553     538    4.93 %   20,521     503    3.27 %
                                  

Total interest-earning assets

   2,012,266     89,255    5.93 %   1,918,683     77,628    5.41 %

Noninterest-earning assets:

              

Allowance for loan and lease losses

   (12,983 )        (16,134 )     

Other assets

   217,254          235,111       
                      

TOTAL ASSETS

   $2,216,537          $2,137,660       
                      

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

              

Interest-bearing liabilities:

              

Savings accounts

   $335,895     $3,062    1.22 %   $347,233     $1,404    0.54 %

Interest-bearing transaction accounts

   700,912     13,380    2.55 %   684,984     7,986    1.56 %

Time deposits

   457,942     12,525    3.65 %   400,129     7,569    2.52 %

Borrowings

   223,145     8,808    5.26 %   193,975     6,470    4.45 %
                                  

Total interest-bearing liabilities

   1,717,894     37,775    2.94 %   1,626,321     23,429    1.92 %
                                  

Noninterest-bearing liabilities:

              

Demand deposits

   296,382          307,748       

Other liabilities

   12,141          11,297       

Stockholders’ equity

   190,120          192,294       
                      

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

   $2,216,537          $2,137,660       
                      

Net interest income/spread

     51,480    2.99 %     54,199    3.49 %

Tax equivalent basis adjustment

     1,581        1,438   
                  

NET INTEREST INCOME

     $49,899        $52,761   
                  

Net interest margin (C)

        3.42 %        3.78 %
                      

(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 $77.6 million in the first nine months of 2005 to $89.3 million in 2006, an increase of $11.6 million or 15%. The increase in interest income was due to an increase in average interest-earning assets of $93.6 million or 5% and to a 52 basis point increase in the yield on interest-earning assets. The yield on interest-earning assets increased from 5.41% in the first nine months of 2005 to 5.93% in the first nine months of 2006 as a result of the increasing rate environment and a change in mix in interest-earning assets similar to the change in mix described above in the comparison of the results of operations between third quarter 2006 and third quarter 2005.

 

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Total interest expense increased from $23.4 million in the first nine months of 2005 to $37.8 million in the first nine months of 2006, an increase of $14.3 million. Average interest-bearing liabilities increased $91.6 million, and the cost of funds increased 102 basis points to 2.94% due to the increasing rate environment and a change in the mix of interest-bearing liabilities. Savings and interest-bearing deposit accounts as a percent of interest-bearing liabilities declined while time deposits and borrowings as a percent of interest-bearing liabilities increased.

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 decreased to $988,000 for the first nine months of 2006 from $1.4 million for the same period last year as a result of management’s evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for loan and lease losses. During the first nine months of 2006, the Company charged off loans of $2.2 million and recovered $1.1 million in previously charged off loans compared to $5.4 million and $1.0 million, respectively, during the same period in 2005. Charge-offs in the first nine months of 2005 included a $3.0 million charge-off related to the settlement of litigation concerning the remaining commercial lease pool discussed in Note 10. The lower provision reflects lower net charge-offs during the first nine months of 2006 and an improvement in asset quality from the first nine months of 2005 to the first nine months of 2006. For more information regarding the determination of the provision, see “Risk Elements” under “Financial Condition.”

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income increased $2.1 million or 19% from the first nine months of 2005 to the first nine months of 2006. Service charges on deposit accounts increased $1.1 million or 15.0% from $6.9 million for the first nine months of 2005 to $8.0 million for the same period in 2006 as a result of fee income received from implementing an overdraft protection product in May 2005. Increases in commissions and fees resulted from the same factors noted in the comparison of non-interest income between third quarter 2006 and third quarter 2005. Gains on sales of investment securities increased from $132,000 in the first nine months of 2005 to $349,000 in 2006. The Company sold $84.2 million in securities during the first nine months of 2006 compared to $47.1 million during the first nine months in 2005. Leasing income decreased from $704,000 in the first nine months of 2005 to $576,000 in 2006 primarily as a result of a decline in fees from brokered transactions from the first nine months of 2005 to the first nine months of 2006. Other income increased from $291,000 to $672,000 primarily as a result of a $361,000 gain on the sale of a branch office of Lakeland during the first quarter of 2006.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense increased from $40.3 million in the first nine months of 2005 to $40.6 million in the first nine months of 2006, an increase of $275,000 or 1%. Increases in salaries and employee benefits, in furniture and equipment expense and stationery, supplies and postage expense resulted from the same factors noted in the comparison of noninterest expense between third quarter 2006 and third quarter 2005. Legal fees declined $355,000 to $270,000 from the first nine months of 2005 to the same period in 2006 resulting from a decline in litigation costs related to the purchased lease pools previously discussed in Note 10. Other expenses decreased $600,000 or 8% to $6.5 million which included declines in audit expense, expense related to the operation of our ATMs, and telephone expense. These expenses declined as a result of the renegotiation of certain costs and upgrades in technology. Other expenses also declined as a result of merging Newton into Lakeland in late 2005 and from the resulting closure of three branches at the end of 2005.

Financial Condition

The Company’s total assets increased $51.7 million or 2% from $2.206 billion at December 31, 2005, to $2.258 billion at September 30, 2006. Total deposits increased from $1.798 billion on December 31, 2005 to $1.850 billion on September 30, 2006, an increase of $52.1 million or 3%. The increase in deposits included an $8 million decline related to the sale of one of Lakeland’s branch offices. Additionally, customer repurchase agreements increased $8.9 million from December 31, 2005 to September 30, 2006. Federal funds sold and securities sold under repurchase agreements declined $52.7 million funded by the issuance of long-term Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings.

 

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Loans

Gross loans increased from $1.307 billion on December 31, 2005 to $1.497 billion on September 30, 2006, an increase of $190.0 million, or 15%. The growth in the loan portfolio was primarily in commercial loans and leases. Commercial loans increased $69.7 million or 12% to $659.4 million on September 30, 2006. Leases increased $70.9 million to $161.1 million on September 30, 2006. Real estate – construction which includes both residential and commercial construction increased $26.3 million to $94.6 million. For more information on the loan portfolio, see Note 7 in Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Risk Elements

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

 

(in thousands)    September 30,
2006
   December 31,
2005
   September 30,
2005

Non-performing loans:

        

Non-accrual loans

   $3,782    $3,907    $4,194

Renegotiated loans

        
              

TOTAL NON-PERFORMING LOANS

   3,782    3,907    4,194

Other real estate owned

        
              

TOTAL NON-PERFORMING ASSETS

   $3,782    $3,907    $4,194
              

Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing

   $442    $5,127    $359
              

Non-accrual loans decreased from $3.9 million on December 31, 2005 or 0.18% of total assets to $3.8 million, or 0.17% of total assets, on September 30, 2006. Loans past due ninety days or more and still accruing on September 30, 2006 decreased $4.7 million to $442,000 from $5.1 million on December 31, 2005 resulting from the renewal of a credit line that was categorized as past due over 90 days on December 31, 2005. 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, 2006, the Company had $4.0 million in impaired loans (including $3.6 million in non-accrual loans) compared to $3.7 million at year-end 2005. For more information on these loans see Note 7 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, $1.0 million has been allocated to the allowance for loan and lease losses for impairment at September 30, 2006. At September 30, 2006, the Company also had $11.4 million in loans that were rated substandard and not classified as non-performing or impaired which was comparable to what was reported on December 31, 2005.

There were no loans at September 30, 2006, 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,
2006
    December 31,
2005
    September 30,
2005
 

Balance of the allowance at the beginning of the year

   $ 13,173     $ 16,638     $ 16,638  
                        

Loans charged off:

      

Commercial

     1,153       837       494  

Leases*

     0       3,513       3,504  

Home Equity and consumer

     1,049       1,923       1,367  

Real estate—mortgage

                  
                        

Total loans charged off

     2,202       6,273       5,365  
                        

Recoveries:

      

Commercial

     631       552       458  

Leases

     82       201       197  

Home Equity and consumer

     395       499       368  

Real estate—mortgage

           1       1  
                        

Total Recoveries

     1,108       1,253       1,024  
                        

Net charge-offs:

     1,094       5,020       4,341  

Provision for loan and lease losses

     988       1,555       1,414  
                        

Ending balance

   $ 13,067     $ 13,173     $ 13,711  
                        

Ratio of annualized net charge-offs to average loans outstanding

     0.11 %     0.41 %     0.48 %

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

     0.87 %     1.00 %     1.08 %

* Charge-offs in 2005 include $3.0 million in charge-offs related to the settlement of litigation concerning the commercial lease pools further discussed in Note 10.

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 classified 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-classified 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, 2006. 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 6 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this Form 10-Q. Total investment securities decreased from $670.5 million on December 31, 2005 to $528.0 million on September 30, 2006, a decrease of $142.5 million, or 21% which included sales and maturities of securities used to fund loan growth.

Deposits

Total deposits increased from $1.798 billion on December 31, 2005 to $1.850 billion on September 30, 2006, an increase of $52.1 million including the sale of a branch with $8.0 million in deposits. Noninterest-bearing demand deposits decreased from $312.5 million on December 31, 2005 to $296.1 million on September 30, 2006, a decline of $16.4 million or 5%. Savings and interest-bearing transaction accounts decreased from $1.038 billion on December 31, 2005 to $1.036 billion on September 30, 2006, a decrease of $2.2 million. Total core deposits, which consist of noninterest-bearing deposits and savings and interest-bearing transaction accounts, decreased by $18.6 million to $1.332 billion. Time deposits under $100,000 decreased $6.3 million from $293.3 million on December 31, 2005 to $287.0 million on September 30, 2006. Time deposits $100,000 and over increased $76.9 million from $154.3 million on December 31, 2005 to $231.0 million on September 30, 2006 as a result of an increase in municipal time deposits and from the Company accepting $30.0 million in brokered deposits.

Liquidity

Cash and cash equivalents, totaling $57.9 million on September 30, 2006, increased $5.1 million from December 31, 2005. Operating activities, principally the result of the Company’s net income, provided $20.1 million in net cash. Investing activities used $60.2 million in net cash, primarily reflecting the use of funds for investment security purchases and loan originations exceeded sales and maturities of investment securities. Financing activities provided $45.2 million in net cash, reflecting an increase in deposits of $52.1 million (net of the deposit outflows from the sale of the branch) and increases of long-term borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank. 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, 2006, the Company had outstanding loan origination commitments of $388.3 million. These commitments include $336.5 million that mature within one year; $25.2 million that mature after one but within three years; $3.0 million that mature after three but within five years and $23.6 million that mature after five years. The Company also had $9.3 million in letters of credit outstanding at September 30, 2006. This included $7.6 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 $215.1 million.

Capital Resources

Stockholders’ equity increased from $191.8 million on December 31, 2005 to $196.7 million on September 30, 2006. Book value per common share increased to $8.93 on September 30, 2006 from $8.65 on December 31, 2005. The increase in stockholders’ equity from December 31, 2005 to September 30, 2006 was primarily due to net income, which was partially offset by dividends paid to shareholders. Also offsetting the impact of net income on stockholders’ equity was the increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss from ($4.9) million on December 31, 2005 to ($5.8) million on September 30, 2006 resulting from a decline in the market value of the Company’s available for sale portfolio. Also contributing to a decline in equity is an increase in treasury stock from $20.2 million on December 31, 2005 to $22.8 million on September 30, 2006, resulting from purchasing shares under the Company’s stock buyback program.

The Company and Lakeland 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 subsidiaries’ financial statements. Management believes, as of September 30, 2006, that the Company and Lakeland meet all capital adequacy requirements to which they are subject.

 

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The capital ratios for the Company and Lakeland at September 30, 2006, 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,
2006
  Tier 1 Capital
to Risk-Weighted
Assets Ratio
September 30,
2006
  Total Capital
to Risk-Weighted
Assets Ratio
September 30,
2006

Capital Ratios:

      

The Company

   7.61%   10.58%   11.42%

Lakeland Bank

   6.72%   9.34%   10.18%

“Well capitalized” institution under FDIC Regulations

   5.00%   6.00%   10.00%

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

As further discussed in Note 2 – Stock Based Compensation, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payments” on January 1, 2006 using a modified method of prospective application. Prior to adopting SFAS No. 123(R), the Company followed the provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” SFAS No. 123 permitted entities to account for employee stock options and similar equity instruments under Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued for Employees.” Under SFAS No. 123, entities were 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.

On May 13, 2005, the Company accelerated the vesting of 483,812 stock options, representing all unvested stock options on such date which had exercise prices in excess of the market value of the Company’s common stock on May 13, 2005. The Company’s decision to accelerate the vesting of these options was part of a review by the Board of Directors of the Company’s incentive compensation program and upcoming changes in the accounting for stock options. Compensation expense that would have been recorded absent the accelerated vesting was approximately $1.3 million net of taxes, $644,000 of which would have been recorded in 2006.

Because the Company’s options are fully vested, there was no impact on compensation expense or net income for the third quarter or first nine months of 2006. The Company did not grant any stock options in the first nine months of 2006.

When the Company does issue stock options, it anticipates that it will use the Black-Scholes method of pricing stock options and will recognize compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award.

The Company is still considering whether it will continue to issue incentive stock options, or whether it will issue an alternative compensation vehicle such as restricted stock.

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, 2006, the cumulative one-year gap was $(291.5) million or (13%) of total assets.

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, 2006 was $308.8 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 (13.5%) and would increase 5.8% for a 200 basis point rate shock decrease. The simulation model also shows that for a 200 basis point rate increase, the Company’s projected net interest income for the next 12 months would decrease (5.1%), and would increase 5.2% for a 200 basis point rate decrease. The information provided for net

 

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interest income over the next 12 months assumes that changes in interest rates of plus 200 basis points and minus 200 basis points change gradually in equal increments over the following 12 month period. 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, 2005.

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.

(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.

 

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PART II OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings                                              Not Applicable

Item 1A. Risk Factors

The following risk factors related to our business are disclosed in our Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC on October 5, 2006:

We are subject to interest rate risk and variations in interest rates may negatively affect our financial performance.

We are unable to predict actual fluctuations of market interest rates. Rate fluctuations are influenced by many factors, including:

 

    inflation or recession;

 

    a rise or fall in unemployment;

 

    tightening or expansion of the money supply;

 

    domestic and international disorder; and

 

    instability in domestic and foreign financial markets.

Both increases and decreases in the interest rate environment may reduce our profits. We expect that we will continue to realize income from the difference or “spread” between the interest we earn on loans, securities and other interest-earning assets, and the interest we pay on deposits, borrowings and other interest-bearing liabilities. Our net interest spreads are affected by the differences between the maturities and repricing characteristics of our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. Our interest-earning assets may not reprice as slowly or rapidly as our interest-bearing liabilities. Changes in market interest rates could materially and adversely affect our net interest spread, asset quality, levels of prepayments, cash flows, the market value of our securities portfolio, loan and deposit growth, costs and yields on loans and deposits and our overall profitability.

Lakeland Bank’s ability to pay dividends is subject to regulatory limitations which, to the extent that our holding company requires such dividends in the future, may affect our holding company’s ability to pay its obligations and pay dividends to shareholders.

As a bank holding company, Lakeland Bancorp is a separate legal entity from Lakeland Bank and its subsidiaries, and we do not have significant operations of our own. We currently depend on Lakeland Bank’s cash and liquidity to pay our operating expenses and dividends to shareholders. The availability of dividends from Lakeland Bank is limited by various statutes and regulations. The inability of Lakeland Bancorp to receive dividends from Lakeland Bank could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and prospects and Lakeland Bancorp’s ability to pay dividends.

Our allowance for loan and lease losses may not be adequate to cover actual losses.

Like all commercial banks, we maintain an allowance for loan and lease losses to provide for loan and lease defaults and non-performance. If our allowance for loan and lease losses is not adequate to cover actual loan and lease losses, we may be required to significantly increase future provisions for loan and lease losses, which could materially and adversely affect our operating results. Our allowance for loan and lease losses is determined by analyzing historical loan and lease losses, current trends in delinquencies and charge-offs, plans for problem loan and lease resolution, the opinions of our regulators, changes in the size and composition of the loan and lease portfolio and industry information. We also consider the possible effects of economic events, which are difficult to predict. The amount of future losses is affected by changes in economic, operating and other conditions, including changes in interest rates, many of which are beyond our control. These losses may exceed our current estimates. Federal regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, review our loans and the allowance for loan and lease losses. While we believe that our allowance for loan and lease losses in relation to our current loan portfolio is adequate to cover current losses, we cannot assure you that we will not need to increase our allowance for loan and lease losses or that regulators will not require us to increase this allowance. An increase in our allowance for loan and lease losses could materially and adversely affect our earnings and profitability.

 

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We are subject to various lending and other economic risks that could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Economic, political and market conditions, trends in industry and finance, legislative and regulatory changes, changes in governmental monetary and fiscal policies and inflation affect our business. These factors are beyond our control. A deterioration in economic conditions, particularly in New Jersey, could have the following consequences, any of which could materially adversely affect our business:

 

    loan and lease delinquencies may increase;

 

    problem assets and foreclosures may increase;

 

    demand for our products and services may decrease; and

 

    collateral for loans made by us may decline in value, in turn reducing the borrowing ability of our customers.

A downturn in the real estate market, particularly in New Jersey, could hurt our business. If there is a significant decline in real estate values in New Jersey, our ability to recover on defaulted loans by selling the underlying real estate would be reduced, and we would be more likely to suffer losses on defaulted loans.

We may suffer losses in our loan portfolio despite our underwriting practices.

We seek to mitigate the risks inherent in our loan portfolio by adhering to specific underwriting practices. Although we believe that our underwriting criteria are appropriate for the various kinds of loans that we make, we may incur losses on loans that meet our underwriting criteria, and these losses may exceed the amounts set aside as reserves in our allowance for loan and lease losses.

Factors outside our control could have an adverse effect on our liquidity and operating results.

Like all commercial banking institutions, we rely on deposits as one of our sources of funds to make loans and meet our other liquidity needs. We believe that recently, a more competitive interest rate environment has caused a flow of funds away from financial institutions such as Lakeland Bank into investments in equity securities, real estate, money market funds and other investments where the potential returns and liquidity characteristics may be more appealing to certain depositors. In addition, a significant amount of our deposits are from municipalities, which typically withdraw funds periodically. This results in more volatility in our level of deposits than would otherwise be the case. If we are unable to continue to attract new deposits, our liquidity could be adversely affected. If we are required to pay higher rates on deposits to attract and retain them, our operating results could be adversely affected.

We face strong competition from other financial institutions, financial service companies and other organizations offering services similar to the services that we provide.

Many competitors offer the types of loans and banking services that we offer. These competitors include other state and national banks, savings associations, regional banks and other community banks. We also face competition from many other types of financial institutions, including finance companies, brokerage firms, insurance companies, credit unions, mortgage banks and other financial intermediaries. Many of our competitors have greater financial resources than we do, which may enable them to offer a broader range of services and products, and to advertise more extensively, than we do. Our inability to compete effectively would adversely affect our business.

If we do not successfully integrate any banks that we may acquire in the future, the combined company may be adversely affected.

If we make acquisitions in the future, we will need to integrate the acquired entities into our existing business and systems. We may experience difficulties in accomplishing this integration or in effectively managing the combined company after any future acquisition. Any actual cost savings or revenue enhancements that we may anticipate from a future acquisition will depend on future expense levels and operating results, the timing of certain events and general industry, regulatory and business conditions. Many of these events will be beyond our control, and we cannot assure you that if we make any acquisitions in the future, we will be successful in integrating those businesses into our own.

 

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Item 2.

   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    Not Applicable

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   

 

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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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.

 

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, 2006

Date

 

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