In Brief: Shareholder Pressure Leads to Deal in N.J.

Yielding to the pressure of an activist shareholder, New Jersey's 1st Bergen Bancorp said it would sell to Kearny (N.J.) Federal Savings Bank for $61 million in cash.

Based in Wood-Ridge, 1st Bergen is the $300 million-asset holding company of South Bergen Savings Bank. After the sale, privately held Kearny would have $1.1 billion of assets and nine branches in northern New Jersey.

The deal, set to close during the first quarter of 1999, calls for $794 million-asset Kearny to pay $24 cash for each share of 1st Bergen. Shares of 1st Bergen closed Thursday at a 52-week high of $22.0625, up $3.8125. At midday Friday it was trading at $22.

In August, shareholder Lawrence B. Seidman filed a document with the Securities and Exchange Commission advising 1st Bergen management either to rethink its business strategy or to find a buyer. This is the third New Jersey thrift that Mr. Seidman has pressured into selling this year. IBS Financial Corp. of Cherry Hill, and Wayne (N.J.) Bancorp both announced deals to sell this summer after run-ins with the feisty investor.

--Louis Whiteman

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