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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">UNITED STATES</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Washington, D.C. 20549</font></b></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">FORM&nbsp;8-K</font></b></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">CURRENT REPORT</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d)&nbsp;of the</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Securities Exchange Act of 1934</font></b></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date of Report (date of earliest event reported):<b> April&nbsp;3, 2013</b></font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">PROVIDENT NEW YORK BANCORP</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Delaware</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">001-35385</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">80-0091851</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(State or Other   Jurisdiction of <br>   Incorporation)</font></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(IRS Employer   Identification<br>   Number)</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">400 Rella Boulevard,   Montebello, New York</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">10901</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code: <b>(845) 369-8040</b></font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Not Applicable</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Check the appropriate box below if the Form&nbsp;8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrants under any of the following provisions (<i>see</i> General Instruction A.2. below):</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .25in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">x</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Written communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) </font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .25in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) </font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .25in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b)&nbsp;under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) </font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .25in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c)&nbsp;under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) </font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 1.01.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement</font></b></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">On April&nbsp;3, 2013, Provident New York Bancorp, a Delaware corporation (&#147;Provident&#148;), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the &#147;Merger Agreement&#148;) with Sterling Bancorp, a New York corporation (&#147;Sterling&#148;).&#160; The Merger Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Sterling will merge with and into Provident (the &#147;Merger&#148;), with Provident as the surviving corporation in the Merger.&#160; Provident&#146;s certificate of incorporation will be amended at the effective time of the Merger (the &#147;Effective Time&#148;) to change its name to Sterling Bancorp and increase the number of authorized shares of Provident Common Stock.&#160; At the Effective Time, Provident will become a registered bank holding company and will elect to become a financial holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended.&#160; Immediately following the Merger, Provident&#146;s wholly owned subsidiary, Provident Bank, will convert into a national bank, and Sterling&#146;s wholly owned subsidiary, Sterling National Bank, will merge with and into Provident Bank (the &#147;Bank Merger&#148;).&#160; Provident Bank will be the surviving association in the Bank Merger and will change its name to Sterling National Bank.&#160; The Merger Agreement was unanimously approved and adopted by the Board of Directors of each of Provident and Sterling.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time, Sterling stockholders will have the right to receive 1.2625 shares (the &#147;Exchange Ratio&#148;) of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Provident (&#147;Provident Common Stock&#148;) for each share of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of Sterling (&#147;Sterling Common Stock&#148;).&#160; At the Effective Time, each option granted by Sterling to purchase shares of Sterling Common Stock will be converted into an option to purchase Provident Common Stock on the same terms and conditions as were applicable prior to the Merger (taking into account any acceleration or vesting by reason of the consummation of the Merger and its related transactions), subject to adjustment of the exercise price and the number of shares of Provident Common Stock issuable upon exercise of such option based on the Exchange Ratio.&#160; Each restricted share of Sterling Common Stock will be converted at the Effective Time into a restricted share of Provident Common Stock on the same terms and conditions as were applicable prior to the Merger (taking into account any acceleration or vesting by reason of the consummation of the Merger and its related transactions), adjusted based on the Exchange Ratio.</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The Merger Agreement also provides, among other things, that at the Effective Time Jack Kopnisky, the current President and Chief Executive Officer of Provident, will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the combined company, and Louis J. Cappelli, the current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sterling, will serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the combined company.&#160; In addition, the Board of Directors of the combined company will be comprised of thirteen directors, of which seven will be former members of the Board of Directors of Provident, including Jack Kopnisky, and of which six will be former members of the Board of Directors of Provident, including Louis J. Cappelli and John Millman, Sterling&#146;s current President.</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Simultaneous with the execution of the Merger Agreement, Provident entered into employment agreements or agreements for services with certain key individuals of Sterling, including Messrs.&nbsp;Cappelli and Millman (collectively, the &#147;Key Individual Agreements&#148;), in each case, to be effective as of and subject to the occurrence of the Effective Time.&#160; The Key Individual Agreements set forth the terms and conditions of each such individual&#146;s employment or other relationship with Provident following the Effective Time and, when effective, supersede and replace any prior employment, retention, change of control or other similar agreement with such individual.&#160; In connection with its entry into the Merger Agreement, Provident also entered into an amendment to the employment agreement with Mr.&nbsp;Kopnisky, which is described in Item&nbsp;5.02 below.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The Merger Agreement contains customary representations and warranties from both Provident and Sterling, and each party has agreed to customary covenants, including, among others, covenants relating to (1)&nbsp;the conduct of its business during the interim period between the execution of the Merger Agreement and the Effective Time, (2)&nbsp;its obligation to call a meeting of its stockholders to adopt the Merger Agreement, and, subject to certain exceptions, to recommend that its stockholders adopt the Merger Agreement, and (3)&nbsp;its non-solicitation obligations relating to alternative acquisition proposals.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The completion of the Merger is subject to customary conditions, including (1)&nbsp;adoption of the Merger Agreement by Sterling&#146;s stockholders and by Provident&#146;s stockholders, (2)&nbsp;authorization for listing on the New York Stock Exchange of the shares of Provident Common Stock to be issued in the Merger, (3)&nbsp;the receipt of required regulatory approvals, including the approval of the Federal Reserve Board and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, (4)&nbsp;</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">effectiveness of the registration statement on Form&nbsp;S-4</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">for the Provident Common Stock to be issued in the Merger, and (5)&nbsp;the absence of any order, injunction or other legal restraint preventing the completion of the Merger or making the completion of the Merger illegal.&#160; Each party&#146;s obligation to complete the Merger is also subject to certain additional customary conditions, including (1)&nbsp;subject to certain exceptions, the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the other party, (2)&nbsp;performance in all material respects by the other party of its obligations under the Merger Agreement and (3)&nbsp;receipt by such party of an opinion from its counsel to the effect that the Merger will qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section&nbsp;368(a)&nbsp;of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The Merger Agreement provides certain termination rights for both Provident and Sterling and further provides that a termination fee of $13,250,000 will be payable by either Provident or Sterling, as applicable, upon termination of the Merger Agreement under certain circumstances.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit&nbsp;2.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.&#160; The representations, warranties and covenants of each party set forth in the Merger Agreement have been made only for purposes of, and were and are solely for the benefit of the parties to, the Merger Agreement, may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties, including being qualified by confidential disclosures made for the purposes of allocating contractual risk between the parties to the Merger Agreement instead of establishing these matters as facts, and may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting parties that differ from those applicable to investors.&#160; Accordingly, the representations and warranties may not describe the actual state of affairs at the date they were made or at any other time, and investors should not rely on them as statements of fact.&#160; In addition, such representations and warranties (1)&nbsp;will not survive consummation of the Merger, unless otherwise specified therein, and (2)&nbsp;were made only as of the date of the Merger Agreement or such other date as is specified in the Merger Agreement.&#160; Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of the representations and warranties may change after the date of the Merger Agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in the parties&#146; public disclosures.&#160; Accordingly, the Merger Agreement is included with this filing only to provide investors with information regarding the terms of the Merger Agreement, and not to provide investors with any other factual information regarding Provident or Sterling, their respective affiliates or their respective businesses.&#160; The Merger Agreement should not be read alone, but should instead be read in conjunction with the other information regarding Provident, Sterling, their respective affiliates or their respective businesses, the Merger Agreement and the Merger that will be contained in, or incorporated by reference into, the Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-4 that will include a Joint Proxy Statement of Provident and Sterling and a prospectus of Provident, as well as in the Forms 10-K, Forms 10-Q and other filings that each of Provident and Sterling make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (&#147;SEC&#148;).</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 5.02.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.</font></b></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">As noted above, in connection with its execution of the Merger Agreement, Provident entered into an amendment to the employment agreement with Mr.&nbsp;Kopnisky (the &#147;Employment Agreement Amendment&#148;).&#160; The Employment Agreement Amendment, which will be effective as of and subject to the occurrence of the Effective Time of the Merger, extends the term of Mr.&nbsp;Kopnisky&#146;s employment agreement until the third anniversary of the date on which the Effective Time occurs and gives effect to certain provisions of Provident&#146;s Bylaws, as amended as described in Item 5.03 below, relating to the President and Chief Executive Officer positions of the combined company at the Effective Time.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The foregoing description of the Employment Agreement Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Employment Agreement Amendment, which is attached hereto as Exhibit&nbsp;10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 5.03.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.</font></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">On April&nbsp;3, 2013, in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the Board of Directors of Provident adopted a resolution amending Provident&#146;s Bylaws (the &#147;Bylaw Amendment&#148;), effective as of the Effective Time, to, among other things, give effect to the provisions of the Merger Agreement described above concerning the composition of the Board </font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3<a name="PB_3_005759_5335"></a></font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">of Directors and the Chairman and President and Chief Executive Officer positions of the combined company at the Effective Time.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The foregoing description of the Bylaw Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Bylaw Amendment, which is attached hereto as Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information</font></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">This Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K contains forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 giving Provident&#146;s or Sterling&#146;s expectations or predictions of future financial or business performance or conditions.&#160; Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as &#147;believe,&#148; &#147;expect,&#148; &#147;anticipate,&#148; &#147;intend,&#148; &#147;target,&#148; &#147;estimate,&#148; &#147;continue,&#148; &#147;positions,&#148; &#147;prospects&#148; or &#147;potential,&#148; by future conditional verbs such as &#147;will,&#148; &#147;would,&#148; &#147;should,&#148; &#147;could&#148; or &#147;may&#148;, or by variations of such words or by similar expressions. &#160;Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the business combination transaction involving Sterling and Provident, including future financial and operating results, the combined company&#146;s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts.&#160; These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties which change over time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and neither Provident nor Sterling assumes any duty to update forward-looking statements.&#160; In addition to factors previously disclosed in Provident&#146;s and Sterling&#146;s&#160; reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements: ability to obtain regulatory approvals and meet other closing conditions to the merger, including approval by Provident and Sterling shareholders, on the expected terms and schedule; delay in closing the merger; difficulties and delays in integrating the Provident and Sterling businesses or fully realizing cost savings and other benefits; business disruption following the proposed transaction; changes in asset quality and credit risk; the inability to sustain revenue and earnings growth; changes in interest rates and capital markets; inflation; customer borrowing, repayment, investment and deposit practices; customer disintermediation; the introduction, withdrawal, success and timing of business initiatives; competitive conditions; the inability to realize cost savings or revenues or to implement integration plans and other consequences associated with mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; economic conditions; changes in Provident&#146;s stock price before closing, including as a result of the financial performance of Sterling prior to closing; the reaction to the transaction of the companies&#146; customers, employees and counterparties; and the impact, extent and timing of technological changes, capital management activities, and other actions of the Federal Reserve Board and legislative and regulatory actions and reforms.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Annualized, pro forma, projected and estimated numbers are used for illustrative purpose only, are not forecasts and may not reflect actual results.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Additional Information for Stockholders</font></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with the proposed merger, Provident will file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-4 that will include a joint proxy statement of Provident and Sterling and a prospectus of Provident, as well as other relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction.&#160; Provident and Sterling will mail the joint proxy statement/prospectus to their stockholders.&#160; <b>STOCKHOLDERS OF PROVIDENT AND STERLING ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING THE PROPOSED MERGER WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.</b>&#160; Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement/prospectus (when available) and other filings containing information about Provident and Sterling&#160; at the SEC&#146;s website at www.sec.gov.&#160; The joint proxy statement/prospectus (when available) and the other filings may also be obtained free of charge at Provident&#146;s website at www.providentbanking.com under the tab &#147;Investor Relations,&#148; and then under the heading &#147;SEC Filings&#148; or at Sterling&#146;s website at www.snb.com under the tab &#147;Investor Relations,&#148; and then under the heading &#147;SEC Filings.&#148;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Provident, Sterling and certain of their respective directors and executive officers, under the SEC&#146;s rules,</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4<a name="PB_4_005817_5796"></a></font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of Provident&#146;s and Sterling&#146;s stockholders in connection with the proposed merger.&#160; Information about the directors and executive officers of Provident and their ownership of Provident common stock is set forth in the proxy statement for Provident&#146;s 2013 annual meeting of stockholders, as filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A on January&nbsp;10, 2013.&#160; Information about the directors and executive officers of Sterling and their ownership of Sterling common stock is set forth in the proxy statement for Sterling&#146;s 2012 annual meeting of stockholders, as filed with the SEC on a Schedule 14A on April&nbsp;3, 2012.&#160;&#160;&#160; Additional information regarding the interests of those participants and other persons who may be deemed participants in the transaction may be obtained by reading the joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed merger when it becomes available. Free copies of this document may be obtained as described in the preceding paragraph.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item&nbsp;9.01.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Financial Statements and Exhibits</font></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(d)&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Exhibits.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit&nbsp;No.</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Description</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<td width="8%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.58%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2.1</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Agreement and Plan   of Merger, dated as of April&nbsp;3, 2013, by and between Sterling Bancorp   and Provident New York Bancorp (the schedules have been omitted pursuant to   Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K).</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.58%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3.1</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Amendment, adopted   April&nbsp;3, 2013, to the Bylaws of Provident New York Bancorp.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.58%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">10.1</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="88%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:88.34%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Amendment, dated   April&nbsp;3, 2013, to the Employment Agreement with Jack Kopnisky.&#134;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.58%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#134;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Management   compensatory plan or arrangement.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">5<a name="PB_5_005842_2897"></a></font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SIGNATURE</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">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.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">PROVIDENT NEW YORK   BANCORP</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date: April&nbsp;9,   2013</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By:</font></p>    </td>
<td width="43%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:43.08%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/ Luis Massiani</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.5%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Name:</font></p>    </td>
<td width="43%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:43.08%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Luis Massiani</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.5%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Title:</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Executive Vice   President, Chief Financial Officer</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">6<a name="PB_6_005927_3020"></a></font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">EXHIBIT&nbsp;INDEX</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit<br>   Number</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="90%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:90.16%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Description</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2.1</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.9%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="90%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:90.16%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Agreement and Plan   of Merger, dated as of April&nbsp;3, 2013, by and between Sterling Bancorp   and Provident New York Bancorp (the schedules have been omitted pursuant to   Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K).</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.92%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3.1</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.9%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Amendment, adopted   April&nbsp;3, 2013, to the Bylaws of Provident New York Bancorp.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Amendment, dated   April&nbsp;3, 2013, to the Employment Agreement with Jack Kopnisky.&#134;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Management   compensatory plan or arrangement.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "PROVIDENT NEW YORK BANCORP", "cik": "0001070154", "assigned-sic": "6036", "irs-number": "800091851", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0930"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-35385", "film-number": "13750523"}, "business-address": {"street1": "400 RELLA BLVD", "city": "MONTEBELLO", "state": "NY", "zip": "10901", "phone": "8453698040"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "400 RELLA BLVD", "city": "MONTEBELLO", "state": "NY", "zip": "10901"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "PROVIDENT BANCORP INC/NY/", "date-changed": "19980910"}}
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported):
April 3, 2013
PROVIDENT NEW YORK BANCORP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
001-35385
80-0091851
(State or Other   Jurisdiction of
Incorporation)
(Commission File   Number)
(IRS Employer   Identification
Number)
400 Rella Boulevard,   Montebello, New York
10901
(Address of   principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(845) 369-8040
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrants under any of the following provisions (
see
General Instruction A.2. below):
x
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 1.01.     Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
On April 3, 2013, Provident New York Bancorp, a Delaware corporation ("Provident"), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") with Sterling Bancorp, a New York corporation ("Sterling").  The Merger Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Sterling will merge with and into Provident (the "Merger"), with Provident as the surviving corporation in the Merger.  Provident's certificate of incorporation will be amended at the effective time of the Merger (the "Effective Time") to change its name to Sterling Bancorp and increase the number of authorized shares of Provident Common Stock.  At the Effective Time, Provident will become a registered bank holding company and will elect to become a financial holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended.  Immediately following the Merger, Provident's wholly owned subsidiary, Provident Bank, will convert into a national bank, and Sterling's wholly owned subsidiary, Sterling National Bank, will merge with and into Provident Bank (the "Bank Merger").  Provident Bank will be the surviving association in the Bank Merger and will change its name to Sterling National Bank.  The Merger Agreement was unanimously approved and adopted by the Board of Directors of each of Provident and Sterling.
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time, Sterling stockholders will have the right to receive 1.2625 shares (the "Exchange Ratio") of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Provident ("Provident Common Stock") for each share of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of Sterling ("Sterling Common Stock").  At the Effective Time, each option granted by Sterling to purchase shares of Sterling Common Stock will be converted into an option to purchase Provident Common Stock on the same terms and conditions as were applicable prior to the Merger (taking into account any acceleration or vesting by reason of the consummation of the Merger and its related transactions), subject to adjustment of the exercise price and the number of shares of Provident Common Stock issuable upon exercise of such option based on the Exchange Ratio.  Each restricted share of Sterling Common Stock will be converted at the Effective Time into a restricted share of Provident Common Stock on the same terms and conditions as were applicable prior to the Merger (taking into account any acceleration or vesting by reason of the consummation of the Merger and its related transactions), adjusted based on the Exchange Ratio.
The Merger Agreement also provides, among other things, that at the Effective Time Jack Kopnisky, the current President and Chief Executive Officer of Provident, will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the combined company, and Louis J. Cappelli, the current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sterling, will serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the combined company.  In addition, the Board of Directors of the combined company will be comprised of thirteen directors, of which seven will be former members of the Board of Directors of Provident, including Jack Kopnisky, and of which six will be former members of the Board of Directors of Provident, including Louis J. Cappelli and John Millman, Sterling's current President.
Simultaneous with the execution of the Merger Agreement, Provident entered into employment agreements or agreements for services with certain key individuals of Sterling, including Messrs. Cappelli and Millman (collectively, the "Key Individual Agreements"), in each case, to be effective as of and subject to the occurrence of the Effective Time.  The Key Individual Agreements set forth the terms and conditions of each such individual's employment or other relationship with Provident following the Effective Time and, when effective, supersede and replace any prior employment, retention, change of control or other similar agreement with such individual.  In connection with its entry into the Merger Agreement, Provident also entered into an amendment to the employment agreement with Mr. Kopnisky, which is described in Item 5.02 below.
The Merger Agreement contains customary representations and warranties from both Provident and Sterling, and each party has agreed to customary covenants, including, among others, covenants relating to (1) the conduct of its business during the interim period between the execution of the Merger Agreement and the Effective Time, (2) its obligation to call a meeting of its stockholders to adopt the Merger Agreement, and, subject to certain exceptions, to recommend that its stockholders adopt the Merger Agreement, and (3) its non-solicitation obligations relating to alternative acquisition proposals.
The completion of the Merger is subject to customary conditions, including (1) adoption of the Merger Agreement by Sterling's stockholders and by Provident's stockholders, (2) authorization for listing on the New York Stock Exchange of the shares of Provident Common Stock to be issued in the Merger, (3) the receipt of required regulatory approvals, including the approval of the Federal Reserve Board and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, (4)
effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-4
2
for the Provident Common Stock to be issued in the Merger, and (5) the absence of any order, injunction or other legal restraint preventing the completion of the Merger or making the completion of the Merger illegal.  Each party's obligation to complete the Merger is also subject to certain additional customary conditions, including (1) subject to certain exceptions, the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the other party, (2) performance in all material respects by the other party of its obligations under the Merger Agreement and (3) receipt by such party of an opinion from its counsel to the effect that the Merger will qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
The Merger Agreement provides certain termination rights for both Provident and Sterling and further provides that a termination fee of $13,250,000 will be payable by either Provident or Sterling, as applicable, upon termination of the Merger Agreement under certain circumstances.
The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.  The representations, warranties and covenants of each party set forth in the Merger Agreement have been made only for purposes of, and were and are solely for the benefit of the parties to, the Merger Agreement, may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties, including being qualified by confidential disclosures made for the purposes of allocating contractual risk between the parties to the Merger Agreement instead of establishing these matters as facts, and may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting parties that differ from those applicable to investors.  Accordingly, the representations and warranties may not describe the actual state of affairs at the date they were made or at any other time, and investors should not rely on them as statements of fact.  In addition, such representations and warranties (1) will not survive consummation of the Merger, unless otherwise specified therein, and (2) were made only as of the date of the Merger Agreement or such other date as is specified in the Merger Agreement.  Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of the representations and warranties may change after the date of the Merger Agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in the parties' public disclosures.  Accordingly, the Merger Agreement is included with this filing only to provide investors with information regarding the terms of the Merger Agreement, and not to provide investors with any other factual information regarding Provident or Sterling, their respective affiliates or their respective businesses.  The Merger Agreement should not be read alone, but should instead be read in conjunction with the other information regarding Provident, Sterling, their respective affiliates or their respective businesses, the Merger Agreement and the Merger that will be contained in, or incorporated by reference into, the Registration Statement on Form S-4 that will include a Joint Proxy Statement of Provident and Sterling and a prospectus of Provident, as well as in the Forms 10-K, Forms 10-Q and other filings that each of Provident and Sterling make with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").
Item 5.02.     Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
As noted above, in connection with its execution of the Merger Agreement, Provident entered into an amendment to the employment agreement with Mr. Kopnisky (the "Employment Agreement Amendment").  The Employment Agreement Amendment, which will be effective as of and subject to the occurrence of the Effective Time of the Merger, extends the term of Mr. Kopnisky's employment agreement until the third anniversary of the date on which the Effective Time occurs and gives effect to certain provisions of Provident's Bylaws, as amended as described in Item 5.03 below, relating to the President and Chief Executive Officer positions of the combined company at the Effective Time.
The foregoing description of the Employment Agreement Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Employment Agreement Amendment, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.03.     Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
On April 3, 2013, in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the Board of Directors of Provident adopted a resolution amending Provident's Bylaws (the "Bylaw Amendment"), effective as of the Effective Time, to, among other things, give effect to the provisions of the Merger Agreement described above concerning the composition of the Board
3
of Directors and the Chairman and President and Chief Executive Officer positions of the combined company at the Effective Time.
The foregoing description of the Bylaw Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Bylaw Amendment, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 giving Provident's or Sterling's expectations or predictions of future financial or business performance or conditions.  Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "target," "estimate," "continue," "positions," "prospects" or "potential," by future conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could" or "may", or by variations of such words or by similar expressions.  Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the business combination transaction involving Sterling and Provident, including future financial and operating results, the combined company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts.  These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties which change over time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and neither Provident nor Sterling assumes any duty to update forward-looking statements.  In addition to factors previously disclosed in Provident's and Sterling's  reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements: ability to obtain regulatory approvals and meet other closing conditions to the merger, including approval by Provident and Sterling shareholders, on the expected terms and schedule; delay in closing the merger; difficulties and delays in integrating the Provident and Sterling businesses or fully realizing cost savings and other benefits; business disruption following the proposed transaction; changes in asset quality and credit risk; the inability to sustain revenue and earnings growth; changes in interest rates and capital markets; inflation; customer borrowing, repayment, investment and deposit practices; customer disintermediation; the introduction, withdrawal, success and timing of business initiatives; competitive conditions; the inability to realize cost savings or revenues or to implement integration plans and other consequences associated with mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; economic conditions; changes in Provident's stock price before closing, including as a result of the financial performance of Sterling prior to closing; the reaction to the transaction of the companies' customers, employees and counterparties; and the impact, extent and timing of technological changes, capital management activities, and other actions of the Federal Reserve Board and legislative and regulatory actions and reforms.
Annualized, pro forma, projected and estimated numbers are used for illustrative purpose only, are not forecasts and may not reflect actual results.
Additional Information for Stockholders
In connection with the proposed merger, Provident will file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that will include a joint proxy statement of Provident and Sterling and a prospectus of Provident, as well as other relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction.  Provident and Sterling will mail the joint proxy statement/prospectus to their stockholders.
STOCKHOLDERS OF PROVIDENT AND STERLING ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING THE PROPOSED MERGER WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement/prospectus (when available) and other filings containing information about Provident and Sterling  at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.  The joint proxy statement/prospectus (when available) and the other filings may also be obtained free of charge at Provident's website at www.providentbanking.com under the tab "Investor Relations," and then under the heading "SEC Filings" or at Sterling's website at www.snb.com under the tab "Investor Relations," and then under the heading "SEC Filings."
Provident, Sterling and certain of their respective directors and executive officers, under the SEC's rules,
4
may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of Provident's and Sterling's stockholders in connection with the proposed merger.  Information about the directors and executive officers of Provident and their ownership of Provident common stock is set forth in the proxy statement for Provident's 2013 annual meeting of stockholders, as filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A on January 10, 2013.  Information about the directors and executive officers of Sterling and their ownership of Sterling common stock is set forth in the proxy statement for Sterling's 2012 annual meeting of stockholders, as filed with the SEC on a Schedule 14A on April 3, 2012.    Additional information regarding the interests of those participants and other persons who may be deemed participants in the transaction may be obtained by reading the joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed merger when it becomes available. Free copies of this document may be obtained as described in the preceding paragraph.
Item 9.01.     Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d)     Exhibits.
Exhibit No.
Description
2.1
Agreement and Plan   of Merger, dated as of April 3, 2013, by and between Sterling Bancorp   and Provident New York Bancorp (the schedules have been omitted pursuant to   Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K).
3.1
Amendment, adopted   April 3, 2013, to the Bylaws of Provident New York Bancorp.
10.1
Amendment, dated   April 3, 2013, to the Employment Agreement with Jack Kopnisky.†
†
Management   compensatory plan or arrangement.
5
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.
PROVIDENT NEW YORK   BANCORP
Date: April 9,   2013
By:
/s/ Luis Massiani
Name:
Luis Massiani
Title:
Executive Vice   President, Chief Financial Officer
6
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
Description
2.1
Agreement and Plan   of Merger, dated as of April 3, 2013, by and between Sterling Bancorp   and Provident New York Bancorp (the schedules have been omitted pursuant to   Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K).
3.1
Amendment, adopted   April 3, 2013, to the Bylaws of Provident New York Bancorp.
10.1
Amendment, dated   April 3, 2013, to the Employment Agreement with Jack Kopnisky.†
†
Management   compensatory plan or arrangement.
7