Form 8-K

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) March 5, 2008

 

 

VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

New Jersey   1-11277   22-2477875

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

   (Commission File Number)  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

1455 Valley Road, Wayne, New Jersey   07470
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

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

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT

 

Item 4.01 Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant

Effective March 5, 2008, Valley National Bancorp (the “Company”), pursuant to the approval of the Company’s Audit and Risk Committee, dismissed Ernst & Young LLP (“E&Y”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and engaged KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

The reports of E&Y on the Company’s financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2007 do not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and are not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

During the years ended December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2007 and through March 5, 2008, there were no disagreements with E&Y on any matters of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to E&Y’s satisfaction, would have caused E&Y to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its audit report on the Company’s financial statements for such year, and there were no reportable events as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

During the years ended December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2007 and through March 5, 2008, the Company did not consult with KPMG regarding any of the matters or events set forth in Item 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-K.

The Company requested E&Y to furnish a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether it agrees with the above statements. A copy of the letter is filed as Exhibit 16 to this Form 8-K.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

(c) Exhibits.

 

  16 Letter of Ernst & Young LLP regarding change in certifying accountant

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated: March 7, 2008   VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP
  By:  

/s/ Alan D. Eskow

    Alan D. Eskow
    Executive Vice President,
    Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

16

   Letter of Ernst & Young LLP regarding change in certifying accountant