Santander to buy Webster; holders get $48.75 cash + 2.0548 ADS (BCDRF)
Banco Santander proposes to acquire Webster Financial Corporation through a two-step transaction consisting of a reincorporation merger into a Virginia subsidiary and a statutory share exchange.
Under the exchange, each Webster share will convert into 2.0548 Santander ADSs plus $48.75 cash. The exchange consideration was valued at $75.63 per Webster share based on Santander ordinary share prices as of February 2, 2026, and at approximately $72.11–$72.20 per share based on prices as of March 11, 2026. Santander expects to issue approximately 329,337,145 ordinary shares in ADS form and to fund aggregate cash consideration of about $7.9 billion. Closing is subject to shareholder approvals and regulatory clearances and is expected in the second half of 2026.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Insights
Transaction structure uses a Delaware-to-Virginia reincorporation plus statutory share exchange.
The transaction is structured in two legally linked steps: a merger of Webster into its Virginia subsidiary followed immediately by a statutory share exchange under the transaction agreement. The agreement contains standard conditions, non-solicitation covenants and a $489.0 million termination fee provision.
Regulatory and shareholder approvals are material closing conditions; timing risk centers on obtaining requisite regulatory clearances (including the Federal Reserve Board and the ECB). Parties may face consent or change-of-control consequences under third-party contracts that could affect post-closing integration.
Offer combines equity consideration and a substantial cash component funded from Santander cash on hand.
Each Webster share converts into 2.0548 ADSs plus $48.75 cash; Santander estimates issuing ~329,337,145 ordinary shares via ADSs and paying ~$7.9 billion cash. The offer implied per‑share values ranged from $72.11 to $75.63 on quoted dates.
Key financial watchpoints: ADS market price and EUR/USD movements will determine realized per‑share value for Webster holders, and integration costs and regulatory conditions may affect projected synergies and timeline.
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Kingdom of Spain (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | 6029 (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) | Not applicable (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) | ||||
Michael J. Willisch Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP Paseo de la Castellana, 41 28046 Madrid, Spain +34-91-768-9600 Marc O. Williams Lee Hochbaum Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP 450 Lexington Avenue New York, New York 10017 United States of America +1 (212) 450-4000 | Kristy Berner Executive Vice President and General Counsel Webster Financial Corporation 200 Elm Street Stamford, Connecticut 06902 +1 (203) 578-2202 | Edward Herlihy Matthew Guest Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz 51 West 52nd Street New York, New York 10019 +1 (212) 403-1000 | ||||
If applicable, place an X in the box to designate the appropriate rule provision relied upon in conducting this transaction: | |||
Exchange Act Rule 13e-4(i) (Cross-Border Issuer Tender Offer) | ☐ | ||
Exchange Act Rule 14d-1(d) (Cross-Border Third-Party Tender Offer) | ☐ | ||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933. | |||
Emerging growth company ☐ | |||
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Banco Santander, S.A. New York Branch 437 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10022 Attention: Investor Relations Telephone: +1 (212) 350-3500 Email: investor@gruposantander.com www.santander.com | Webster Financial Corporation 200 Elm Street Stamford, Connecticut 06902 Attention: Investor Relations Telephone: + 1 (212) 309-7646 www.websterbank.com | ||
or | |||
Banco Santander, S.A. Ciudad Grupo Santander Avenida de Cantabria, s/n Edificio Pereda, 1a planta 28660 Boadilla del Monte Madrid, Spain Attention: Investor Relations Telephone: +34-91-289-9239 Email: investor@gruposantander.com | |||
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• | “$” and “U.S. dollar” each refer to the United States dollar; and |
• | “€” and “euro” each refer to the euro, the single currency established for members of the European Economic and Monetary Union since January 1, 1999. |
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• | a proposal to approve and adopt the transaction agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby (the “transaction proposal”); |
• | a proposal to approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the compensation payments that will or may be paid to Webster’s named executive officers in connection with the transaction (the “compensation proposal”); and |
• | a proposal to approve the adjournment or postponement of the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if, immediately prior to such adjournment, there are not sufficient votes to approve the transaction proposal or to ensure that any supplement or amendment to the accompanying document is timely provided (the “adjournment proposal”). |
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Page | |||
Questions And Answers About the Transaction | i | ||
Summary | 1 | ||
Recent Developments | 11 | ||
Comparative per Share Market Price and Dividend Information | 12 | ||
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements | 13 | ||
Risk Factors | 14 | ||
The Special Meeting of Webster’s Stockholders | 21 | ||
The Transaction | 27 | ||
Background of the Transaction | 27 | ||
Webster’s Reasons for the Transaction; Recommendation of the Webster Board | 30 | ||
Opinion of J.P. Morgan, Financial Advisor to Webster | 34 | ||
Santander’s Reasons for the Transaction | 39 | ||
Certain Unaudited Prospective Financial Information | 40 | ||
Interests of Webster’s Executive Officers and Directors in the Transaction | 40 | ||
Financing of the Transaction | 47 | ||
Regulatory Approvals Required for the Transaction | 47 | ||
Regulatory Approvals in Europe and Spain | 50 | ||
Timing of the Transaction | 51 | ||
Accounting Treatment | 51 | ||
Listing of Santander Ordinary Shares and Santander ADSs | 51 | ||
Appraisal Rights | 51 | ||
Post-Closing Transactions | 56 | ||
The Transaction Agreement | 57 | ||
Explanatory Note Regarding the Transaction Agreement | 57 | ||
The Reincorporation Merger of Webster into Webster Virginia | 57 | ||
The Share Exchange | 58 | ||
Effective Time and Closing of the Transaction | 59 | ||
Consideration to Be Received in the Transaction | 59 | ||
Conversion of Shares; Exchange of Certificates | 61 | ||
Representations and Warranties | 62 | ||
Conduct of Business Pending the Share Exchange | 63 | ||
Reasonable Best Efforts | 65 | ||
No Solicitation of Alternative Transactions | 66 | ||
Employee Matters | 68 | ||
Indemnification and Insurance | 69 | ||
Webster Virginia Shareholder Vote | 69 | ||
Corporate Governance | 69 | ||
Conditions to Closing of the Transaction | 70 | ||
Termination of the Transaction Agreement | 70 | ||
Amendment of the Transaction Agreement | 72 | ||
Fees and Expenses | 72 | ||
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations | 73 | ||
Exchange of Shares of Webster Common Stock for Santander ADSs and Cash Consideration Pursuant to the Transaction | 74 | ||
Taxation of Distributions on Santander ADSs | 74 | ||
Sale and Other Disposition of Santander ADSs | 75 | ||
Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules | 75 | ||
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting | 76 | ||
Spanish Tax Considerations | 77 | ||
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Page | |||
Information About the Companies | 80 | ||
Santander | 80 | ||
Webster | 80 | ||
Webster Virginia | 80 | ||
Webster Common Stock Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers | 81 | ||
Comparison of Your Rights as a Holder of Shares of Webster Common Stock and Your Rights as a Potential Holder of Santander ADSs | 83 | ||
Description of Santander Ordinary Shares | 99 | ||
Description of Santander American Depositary Shares | 106 | ||
Santander Market Activities Involving Santander Ordinary Shares | 116 | ||
Additional Information | 117 | ||
Legal Experts | 117 | ||
Experts | 117 | ||
Enforceability of Civil Liabilities Under U.S. Securities Laws | 117 | ||
Where You Can Find More Information | 118 | ||
Transaction Agreement | A-1 | ||
Plan of Merger | B-1 | ||
Plan of Share Exchange | C-1 | ||
Opinion of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC | D-1 | ||
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Q: | Why am I receiving these materials? |
A: | You are receiving this document because Webster has entered into the transaction agreement with Webster Virginia and Santander, a copy of which is attached as Annex A to this document, pursuant to which all outstanding shares of Webster common stock will be acquired by Santander in two steps. First, in order to effectuate a reincorporation of Webster in Virginia, Webster will merge with and into Webster Virginia, with each outstanding share of Webster common stock being converted into one share of Webster Virginia common stock, and with Webster Virginia continuing as the surviving corporation in such merger. The reincorporation merger will be effected pursuant to a Plan of Merger in the form attached to the transaction agreement and as Annex B to this document. Second, immediately following the completion of the reincorporation merger, Santander will acquire all outstanding shares of Webster Virginia common stock through a statutory share exchange, and each share of Webster Virginia common stock will be converted into the right to receive (i) 2.0548 Santander ADSs and (ii) $48.75 in cash, without interest. The share exchange will be effected pursuant to a Plan of Share Exchange in the form attached to the transaction agreement and as Annex C to this document. All references to the “transaction agreement” herein shall mean the transaction agreement and the Plan of Merger and Plan of Share Exchange attached thereto and as Annexes A, B and C to this document, respectively. We refer to the closing of the transaction as the “closing” and the date on which the closing occurs as the “closing date.” |
Q: | What matters will be considered at the special meeting? |
A: | At the special meeting, Webster’s stockholders will be asked to vote in favor of (i) the transaction proposal, (ii) the compensation proposal and (iii) the adjournment proposal. |
Q: | When and where is the special meeting? |
A: | The special meeting of holders of shares of Webster common stock will be held virtually, solely by means of remote communication, on , 2026 at , Eastern Time. |
Q: | What will Webster’s stockholders receive in the transaction? |
A: | As described above, pursuant to the transaction agreement, each share of Webster Virginia common stock will be converted into the right to receive (i) 2.0548 Santander ADSs and (ii) $48.75 in cash, without interest. You will have the option to exchange any Santander ADSs you receive in the transaction for Santander ordinary shares at no charge to you during a specified period following closing of the transaction. |
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Q: | What constitutes a quorum? |
A: | Holders of one-third of the Webster capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the special meeting must be present virtually via the special meeting website or represented by proxy, to constitute a quorum at the special meeting. If you fail to submit a proxy prior to the special meeting or to vote at the special meeting via the special meeting website, your shares of Webster common stock will not be counted towards a quorum. Abstentions are considered present for purposes of establishing a quorum. |
Q: | What vote is required to approve each proposal at the special meeting? |
A: | The transaction proposal: Approval of the transaction proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Webster common stock entitled to vote on the transaction agreement. Adoption of the transaction proposal is a condition to closing of the transactions contemplated by the transaction agreement. Shares of Webster common stock not present virtually or by proxy, and shares present virtually or by proxy and not voted, whether by broker non-vote, abstention or otherwise, will have the same effect as votes cast “AGAINST” the transaction proposal. |
Q: | Why am I being asked to consider and vote on a proposal to approve, by advisory (non-binding) vote, the transaction-related compensation? |
A: | Under SEC rules, Webster is required to seek an advisory (non-binding) vote with respect to the compensation that may be paid or become payable to its named executive officers that is based on, or otherwise relates to, the transactions contemplated by the transaction agreement. |
Q: | What happens if the compensation proposal is not approved? |
A: | Approval of the compensation proposal is not a condition to closing of the transaction, and because the vote on the compensation proposal is advisory only, it will not be binding on Webster. Accordingly if the transaction proposal is approved and the other conditions to closing are satisfied or waived, the transaction will be closed even if the compensation proposal is not approved. If the transaction is closed, the transaction-related compensation will be paid to Webster’s named executive officers to the extent payable in accordance with the terms of the compensation agreements and arrangements even if holders of shares of Webster common stock fail to approve the advisory vote regarding the transaction-related compensation. |
Q: | How does the Webster board recommend that I vote? |
A: | The Webster board unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the transaction proposal, “FOR” the |
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Q: | Who is entitled to vote at the special meeting? |
A: | The record date for the special meeting is , 2026. Only holders of record of shares of Webster common stock as of the close of business on the record date are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the special meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Holders of Webster preferred stock and depositary shares representing Webster preferred stock are not entitled to, and are not requested to, vote at the special meeting. |
Q: | What do I need to do now in order to vote? How do I vote my shares of Webster common stock if my shares are held in “street name”? |
A: | Holders of shares of Webster common stock may vote now by proxy. If you hold your shares of Webster common stock in your name as a holder of record, to submit a proxy, you, as a holder of shares of Webster common stock, may use one of the following methods: |
• | By telephone: by calling the toll-free number indicated on the accompanying proxy card and following the recorded instructions. |
• | Through the Internet: by visiting the website indicated on the accompanying proxy card and following the instructions. |
• | By mail: by completing and returning the accompanying proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. The envelope requires no additional postage if mailed in the United States. |
Q: | What happens if I sell my shares of Webster common stock after the record date but before the special meeting? |
A: | The record date is earlier than the date of the special meeting and earlier than the date that the transaction is expected to close. If you sell or otherwise transfer your shares of Webster common stock after the record date |
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Q: | What if I fail to submit a proxy, fail to vote at the special meeting or abstain from voting? |
A: | Shares of Webster common stock not present virtually or by proxy, and shares present virtually or by proxy and not voted, whether by broker non-vote, abstention or otherwise, will (i) have the same effect as a vote cast “AGAINST” the transaction proposal and (ii) assuming a quorum is present, have no effect on the compensation proposal and the adjournment proposal. |
Q: | How can I attend the special meeting? |
A: | The special meeting may be accessed via the special meeting website, where Webster’s stockholders will be able to listen to the special meeting and vote online. You are entitled to attend the special meeting via the special meeting website only if you were a stockholder of record at the close of business on the record date or you held your Webster shares beneficially in the name of a bank, broker, trustee or other nominee as of the record date, or you hold a valid proxy for the special meeting. If you were a stockholder of record at the close of business on the record date and wish to attend the special meeting via the special meeting website, you will need the control number on your proxy card. If a bank, broker, trustee or other nominee is the record owner of your shares of Webster common stock, you will need to obtain your specific control number and further instructions from your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee. |
Q: | What if during the check-in time or during the special meeting I have technical difficulties or trouble accessing the special meeting website? |
A: | Technical assistance will be available for stockholders who experience an issue accessing the special meeting. Contact information for technical support will appear on the special meeting website prior to the start of the special meeting. |
Q: | Can I vote my shares of Webster common stock at the special meeting? |
A: | If you are a holder of record of shares of Webster common stock as of the close of business on the record date, you may vote your shares of Webster common stock at the special meeting via the special meeting website. Even if you currently plan to attend the special meeting, we recommend that you also submit your proxy following the instructions provided in this document so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to, or are unable to, attend the special meeting. |
Q: | Why is my vote important? |
A: | If you do not vote, it will be more difficult for Webster to obtain the necessary quorum to hold the special meeting. In addition, shares of Webster common stock not present virtually or by proxy, and shares present |
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Q: | What if I want to change my vote after I have delivered my proxy card? |
A: | If you are a holder of record of shares of Webster common stock as of the close of business on the record date, you may revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted by: |
• | voting by telephone or the Internet before , Eastern Time, on the day before the special meeting; |
• | attending virtually and voting at the special meeting via the special meeting website; |
• | granting a subsequently dated proxy by mail that is received prior to the special meeting; or |
• | submitting a written notice of revocation to Webster by mail at Webster Financial Corporation, 200 Elm Street, Stamford, Connecticut 06902, that is received prior to the special meeting. |
• | contacting your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee and following the instructions provided to you by your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee; or |
• | attending and voting your shares of Webster common stock at the special meeting virtually via the special meeting website if you have your specific control number, which is included on your proxy card or the voting instruction from your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee. Please contact your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee to obtain further instructions. |
Q: | Will Webster be required to submit the transaction agreement to Webster’s stockholders even if the Webster board has withdrawn or modified the Webster board recommendation? |
A: | Yes. Unless the transaction agreement is terminated before the special meeting, Webster is required to submit the transaction agreement to Webster’s stockholders even if the Webster board has withdrawn or modified the Webster board recommendation. |
Q: | Should I send in my Webster common stock certificates with my proxy card? |
A: | No. Please DO NOT send your Webster common stock certificates with your proxy card. You will be provided at a later date a letter of transmittal and instructions regarding the surrender of your Webster common stock certificates. The letter of transmittal will also provide a telephone number where you can obtain information about how to exchange any Santander ADSs you receive in the transaction for Santander ordinary shares at no charge to you during a specified period following closing of the transaction. |
Q: | Have Webster’s directors and officers entered into any voting agreements with Santander? |
A: | No. Webster’s directors and officers have not entered into any voting agreements with Santander. |
Q: | Are there risks associated with the transaction that I should consider in deciding how to vote? |
A: | Yes. There are a number of risks related to the transaction for both Santander and Webster that are discussed in this document and in other documents incorporated by reference in this document. Please read with particular |
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Q: | How will Santander pay the cash consideration? |
A: | As described above, pursuant to the transaction, each share of Webster common stock will in two steps be converted into the right to receive $48.75 in cash, without interest, in addition to the share consideration. |
Q: | Will the value of the share consideration change between the date of this document and closing of the transaction? |
A: | Yes. Although the number of Santander ADSs that Webster’s stockholders will receive is fixed, the value of the share consideration will fluctuate between the date of this document and closing of the transaction based on the market value of such Santander ADSs. Any fluctuation in the market price of Santander ADSs after the date of this document will change the value of the Santander ADSs that Webster’s stockholders will receive. Neither Webster nor Santander is permitted to terminate the transaction agreement as a result, in and of itself, of any increase or decrease in the respective market prices of the Santander ADSs, Santander ordinary shares or Webster common stock. |
Q: | If shares of Webster common stock are allocated to my account(s) under the Webster Bank Retirement Savings Plan (the “Retirement Plan”) will I be allowed to vote such shares in connection with the transaction? |
A: | If you are receiving this document as a result of your participation in the Retirement Plan, you must provide voting instructions with respect to your shares of Webster common stock held under this plan to the plan trustee in order to vote such shares. A proxy and voting instruction form have been provided so that you may instruct the trustee how to vote your shares held under this plan. |
Q: | What will happen to my equity-based awards? |
A: | For information regarding the vesting and/or conversion of equity-based awards prior to or at closing of the transaction, see “The Transaction Agreement—Consideration to Be Received in the Transaction—Equity-Based Awards.” |
Q: | Do I have appraisal rights in connection with the transaction? |
A: | Yes, you may perfect your rights of appraisal within the meaning of Section 262 of the DGCL in connection with the transaction. See “The Transaction—Appraisal Rights” for further information. |
Q: | When do you currently expect to close the transaction? |
A: | We expect to close the transaction in the second half of 2026. However, Santander and Webster cannot assure you when or if the transaction will close. The obligations of Santander and Webster to close the transaction are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions contained in the transaction agreement, including the receipt of required approvals of Webster’s stockholders and Santander’s shareholders and the requisite regulatory approvals (as defined herein). As a result, closing of the transaction may take place several weeks after the special meeting or thereafter. If the transaction has not occurred on or before the end date (as defined herein), either Santander or Webster may terminate the transaction agreement, unless the failure to close the transaction by such date is because of a breach of the transaction agreement caused by the party seeking termination. |
Q: | What happens if the transaction is not closed? |
A: | If the transaction is not closed, Webster’s stockholders will not receive the exchange consideration. Instead, Webster and Santander will remain independent public companies and their shares of common stock or ordinary shares, respectively, will continue to be listed and traded separately. If the transaction agreement is terminated under |
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Q: | What are the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the transaction? |
A: | The transaction will be a taxable event to U.S. holders (as defined in the discussion under the heading “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”) of shares of Webster common stock. See “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” for more information. |
Q: | Who pays for the cost of proxy preparation and solicitation? |
A: | Webster will pay for the cost of proxy preparation and solicitation, including the reasonable charges and expenses of brokers, banks or other nominees for forwarding proxy materials to street name holders. Webster has retained Sodali & Co. to assist Webster with soliciting proxies, and Sodali & Co. will receive customary fees plus reimbursement of expenses. Webster and its proxy solicitor may also request banks, brokers, trustees and other intermediaries holding shares of Webster common stock beneficially owned by others to send this document to, and obtain proxies from, the beneficial owners and may reimburse such record holders for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in so doing. Solicitation of proxies by mail may be supplemented by telephone and other electronic means, advertisements and personal solicitation by the directors, officers or employees of Webster. No additional compensation will be paid to Webster’s directors, officers or employees for solicitation of proxies. |
Q: | Whom can I call with questions about the special meeting or the transaction? |
A: | If you have questions about the special meeting or the transaction, need additional copies of this document, have questions about the process for voting or need a replacement proxy card, you should contact: |
Q: | Where can I find more information about the companies? |
A: | You can find more information about Santander and Webster from the various sources described under “Where You Can Find More Information.” |
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• | on February 2, 2026, the last full trading day prior to the announcement of the transaction, the implied value per share of Webster common stock of the exchange consideration was $75.63; and |
• | on March 11, 2026, the last practicable trading date before the date of this document, the implied value per share of Webster common stock of the exchange consideration was $72.20. |
• | on February 2, 2026, the implied value per share of Webster common stock of the exchange consideration was $75.59; and |
• | on March 11, 2026, the implied value per share of Webster common stock of the exchange consideration was $72.11. |
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• | prior to the effective time of the reincorporation merger, (i) all outstanding time-based restricted stock awards of Webster (“Webster RSAs”) held by non-employee directors, (ii) 50% of outstanding Webster RSAs granted prior to the date of the transaction agreement that are not held by non-employee directors and remain unvested as of such time and (iii) all outstanding performance-based restricted stock awards of Webster (“Webster PSAs”) will fully vest and become shares of Webster common stock, subject to all required withholding taxes. Like other Webster common stock, these shares will be converted into shares of Webster Virginia common stock, which will be converted into the exchange consideration on a per share basis. The performance goals for the Webster PSAs will be deemed satisfied at the greater of target and actual performance (as determined by the compensation committee of the Webster board prior to the effective time of the reincorporation merger in consultation with Santander); |
• | at the effective time of the reincorporation merger, (i) the remaining 50% of outstanding Webster RSAs granted prior to the date of the transaction agreement that are not held by non-employee directors and remain unvested as of such time and (ii) all outstanding Webster RSAs granted on or after the date of the transaction agreement that are not held by non-employee directors will be converted into time-based restricted stock awards covering shares of Webster Virginia common stock (together, “Converted RSAs”); and |
• | at the effective time of the share exchange, all Converted RSAs will be cancelled for the right to receive time-based restricted stock awards covering Santander ordinary shares (“Converted Santander RSAs”), with the number of Santander ordinary shares underlying such awards calculated based on the value of the exchange consideration (with the cash consideration component converted into a number of shares based on the volume weighted average trading price of Santander ordinary shares on the Spanish Stock Exchanges for the five consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately preceding the closing date of the transaction). The Converted Santander RSAs will otherwise continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as applied to the corresponding Webster RSAs immediately prior to the effective time of the reincorporation merger. |
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• | Each of Webster’s non-employee directors holds Webster RSAs, which will fully vest prior to the effective time of the reincorporation merger and entitle the holder to receive the exchange consideration at the effective time of the share exchange. |
• | Each of Webster’s executive officers holds unvested Webster RSAs, a portion of which will fully vest prior to the effective time of the reincorporation merger, subject to all required withholding taxes, and entitle the holder to receive the exchange consideration at the effective time of the share exchange, and the remaining portion of which will become Converted Santander RSAs, subject to the same terms and conditions as applied to the corresponding Webster RSAs immediately prior to the effective time of the reincorporation merger (including “double-trigger” vesting acceleration as described under “The Transaction—Interests of Webster’s Directors and Executive Officers in the Transaction—Treatment of Outstanding Webster Equity Awards”). |
• | Each of Webster’s executive officers holds unvested Webster PSAs, which will fully vest prior to the effective time of the reincorporation merger, subject to all required withholding taxes, and entitle the holder to receive the exchange consideration at the effective time of the share exchange. The performance goals will be deemed earned based on the greater of target and actual performance (as determined by the compensation committee of the Webster board prior to the effective time of the reincorporation merger in consultation with Santander). |
• | Each of Webster’s executive officers is party to a change in control agreement with Webster that provides for severance payments and benefits in connection with a termination of employment without cause or for good reason within two years following the effective time of the reincorporation merger. |
• | Concurrently with the execution of the transaction agreement, Santander entered into letter agreements with each of Messrs. Ciulla and Massiani, which provide for specified compensation and benefits for their employment with Santander following closing of the transaction. |
• | Webster’s directors and executive officers are entitled to continued indemnification and directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage under the transaction agreement. |
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• | the approval by Santander’s shareholders of the capital increase of Santander necessary for effecting the transaction and the approval of the transaction proposal by Webster’s stockholders; |
• | the absence of any applicable law which prohibits or makes illegal the consummation of the reincorporation merger or the share exchange; |
• | the effectiveness of the registration statement with respect to the Santander ordinary shares underlying the Santander ADSs to be issued to Webster’s stockholders and the absence of any stop order or proceedings initiated or threatened by the SEC for that purpose and not withdrawn; |
• | the filing of an exemption document, or the verification and registration of a prospectus for the purposes of Regulation (EU) No. 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of June 14, 2017, on the prospectus to be published when securities are offered to the public or admitted to trading on a regulated market (the “Prospectus Regulation”), relating to the issuance of Santander ordinary shares with the Spanish National Securities Market Commission (Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores, the “CNMV”); |
• | the receipt by Santander of the necessary report of an independent expert appointed by the Commercial Registry of Santander validating the valuation of Webster Virginia’s common stock that will be acquired by Santander as a result of the share exchange used to set the exchange ratio; |
• | the capital increase of Santander necessary for effecting the transaction having been granted before a Spanish public notary; |
• | the approval of the listing of Santander ADSs to be issued in the transaction on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance; |
• | the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the other party contained in the transaction agreement generally as of the date on which the transaction agreement was executed and as of the closing date, subject to certain materiality and material adverse effect standards contained in the transaction agreement, and the receipt by each party of a certificate signed on behalf of the other party confirming such accuracy; |
• | the performance by the other party in all material respects of the obligations required to be performed by it under the transaction agreement at or prior to the effective time of the share exchange, and the receipt by each party of a certificate signed on behalf of the other party confirming such performance; and |
• | all permits, consents, orders, approvals, waivers, non-objections and authorizations (and the expiration or termination of all statutory waiting periods in respect thereof) from (i) the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”) under the U.S. Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHC Act”), (ii) the ECB under the Spanish Royal Decree 84/2015, and/or to the extent it is already in force, under the relevant Spanish law implementing Directive 2024/1619, of May 31 (CRDVI), (iii) if required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the “HSR Act”), the U.S. Federal Trade Commission or the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and |
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• | by mutual written agreement of Webster and Santander; |
• | by either Webster or Santander if: |
• | the transaction has not occurred on or before February 3, 2027 (the “end date”) (other than because of a breach of the transaction agreement caused by the party seeking termination); |
• | any governmental authority required to grant a requisite regulatory approval has denied approval of either the reincorporation merger or the share exchange and such denial has become final and nonappealable or there has been any applicable law that (i) makes the consummation of the reincorporation merger and/or the share exchange illegal or otherwise prohibited or (ii) enjoins Webster, Santander or Webster Virginia from consummating the reincorporation merger and/or the share exchange and such injunction has become final and nonappealable; |
• | the approval by Webster’s stockholders of the transaction proposal has not been obtained upon a vote taken at the special meeting or at any adjournment or postponement thereof; |
• | the approval by Santander’s shareholders of the capital increase and the delegation to the board of directors of Santander (the “Santander board”) for the execution of such capital increase has not been obtained upon a vote taken at the relevant Santander shareholders’ meeting or at any adjournment or postponement thereof; or |
• | the other party has breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in the transaction agreement (or any such representation or warranty has ceased to be true), which breach or failure to be true or failure to perform, either individually or in the aggregate with all other breaches by the breaching party (or failures of such representations or warranties to be true), (i) would give rise to the failure of certain of the conditions to closing set forth in the transaction agreement to be satisfied and (ii) is either incurable or, if curable, was not cured by |
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• | prior to the special meeting, an adverse recommendation change has occurred or there has been an intentional and material breach by Webster of its non-solicitation obligations under the transaction agreement; or |
• | prior to the effective time of the reincorporation merger, any governmental authority required to grant a requisite regulatory approval has denied approval of the transactions contemplated in the transaction agreement and such denial has become final and nonappealable or any governmental authority of competent jurisdiction has issued a final and nonappealable order, injunction, decree or other legal restraint or prohibition permanently enjoining or otherwise prohibiting or making illegal closing of the transaction (or on a final and nonappealable basis has determined not to grant such approval without the imposition of a materially burdensome regulatory condition). |
• | if (i) the transaction agreement is terminated by (1) either Webster or Santander because closing of the transaction has not occurred by the end date without the approval of the transaction proposal by Webster’s stockholders having been obtained, (2) Santander, because the approval of the transaction proposal by Webster’s stockholders has not been obtained (other than in the circumstances contemplated in the bullet below), or (3) Santander, because Webster has breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in the transaction agreement (or any such representation or warranty has ceased to be true), which breach or failure to be true or failure to perform, either individually or in the aggregate with all other breaches by Webster (or failures of such representations or warranties to be true), (a) would give rise to the failure of certain of the conditions to closing set forth in the transaction agreement to be satisfied and (b) is either incurable or, if curable, was not cured by Webster by the earlier of (A) 30 days following receipt by Webster of written notice of such breach or failure and (B) the end date; provided that, at the time of delivery of such written notice, Santander shall not be in a material breach of its obligations under the transaction agreement, (ii) prior to such termination, a bona fide Acquisition Proposal (as defined herein) has been publicly announced or otherwise communicated to the Webster board, senior management of Webster or Webster’s stockholders (and not withdrawn at least two business days prior to the special meeting), and (iii) within 12 months of the date of such termination, Webster or any of its subsidiaries enters into a definitive agreement with respect to, or consummates, an Acquisition Proposal (whether or not the same Acquisition Proposal as that referred to above), or |
• | if the transaction agreement is terminated by Santander because, prior to the special meeting, an adverse recommendation change has occurred or there has been an intentional and material breach by Webster of its non-solicitation obligations under the transaction agreement, or if the transaction agreement is terminated by Webster or Santander because the approval by Webster’s stockholders of the transaction proposal has not been obtained upon a vote taken at the special meeting or at any adjournment or postponement thereof at a time when the transaction agreement was terminable by Santander because, prior to the special meeting, an adverse recommendation change had occurred or there had been an intentional and material breach by Webster of its non-solicitation obligations under the transaction agreement. |
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• | the transaction proposal; |
• | the compensation proposal; and |
• | if necessary or appropriate, the adjournment proposal. |
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Santander | Webster | ||||||||
Ordinary Shares | ADSs | Common Stock | |||||||
February 2, 2026 | €11.05(1) | $13.06 | $66.00 | ||||||
(1) | Equivalent to $13.08 based on the exchange rate published by the ECB on February 2, 2026. |
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• | Webster could be required to pay the termination fee to Santander under certain circumstances; |
• | if the transaction agreement is terminated and the Webster board seeks another business combination, Webster’s stockholders cannot be certain that Webster will be able to find a party willing to enter into a transaction on terms equivalent to or more attractive than the terms included in the transaction agreement; |
• | time and resources, financial and other, committed by Webster’s management to matters relating to the transaction could otherwise have been devoted to pursuing other beneficial opportunities for Webster; |
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• | Webster may experience negative reactions from the financial markets, including a decline in the market price of Webster common stock to the extent that the current market price reflects a market assumption that the transaction will be closed, or from its customers, suppliers or employees; and |
• | Webster will be required to pay certain costs relating to the transaction, such as legal, accounting, financial advisory and other fees, whether or not the transaction is closed. |
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• | the transaction proposal; |
• | the compensation proposal; and |
• | if necessary or appropriate, the adjournment proposal. |
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• | Vote required: Approval of the transaction proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Webster common stock entitled to vote on the transaction agreement. Adoption of the transaction proposal is a condition to closing of the transactions contemplated by the transaction agreement. |
• | Effect of abstentions, failures to vote and broker non-votes: If you mark “ABSTAIN” on your proxy, fail to submit a proxy or vote at the special meeting via the special meeting website or fail to instruct your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee how to vote with respect to the transaction proposal, it will have the same effect as a vote cast “AGAINST” the transaction proposal. |
• | Vote required: Approval of the compensation proposal requires the affirmative vote of the majority of votes cast on the compensation proposal. Approval of the compensation proposal is not a condition to closing of the transactions contemplated by the transaction agreement. If the transaction is closed, the transaction-related compensation will be paid to Webster’s named executive officers to the extent payable in accordance with the terms of the compensation agreements and arrangements even if holders of shares of Webster common stock fail to approve the advisory vote regarding the transaction-related compensation. |
• | Effect of abstentions, failures to vote and broker non-votes: If you mark “ABSTAIN” on your proxy, fail to submit a proxy or vote at the special meeting via the special meeting website or fail to instruct your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee how to vote with respect to the compensation proposal, your shares will not be deemed to be a vote cast at the special meeting and it will have no effect on the compensation proposal, assuming a quorum is present. |
• | Vote required: Approval of the adjournment proposal requires the affirmative vote of the majority of votes cast on the adjournment proposal. Approval of the adjournment proposal is not a condition to closing of the transactions contemplated by the transaction agreement. |
• | Effect of abstentions, failures to vote and broker non-votes: If you mark “ABSTAIN” on your proxy, fail to submit a proxy or vote at the special meeting via the special meeting website or fail to instruct your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee how to vote with respect to the adjournment proposal, your shares will not be deemed to be a vote cast at the special meeting and it will have no effect on the adjournment proposal, assuming a quorum is present. |
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• | By telephone: by calling the toll-free number indicated on the accompanying proxy card and following the recorded instructions. |
• | Through the Internet: by visiting the website indicated on the accompanying proxy card and following the instructions. |
• | By mail: by completing and returning the accompanying proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. The envelope requires no additional postage if mailed in the United States. |
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• | voting by telephone or the Internet before , Eastern Time, on the day before the special meeting; |
• | attending virtually and voting at the special meeting via the special meeting website; |
• | granting a subsequently dated proxy by mail that is received prior to the special meeting; or |
• | submitting a written notice of revocation to Webster by mail at Webster Financial Corporation, 200 Elm Street, Stamford, Connecticut 06902, that is received prior to the special meeting. |
• | contacting your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee and following the instructions provided to you by your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee; or |
• | attending and voting your shares of Webster common stock at the special meeting virtually via the special meeting website if you have your specific control number, which is included on your proxy card or the voting instruction from your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee. Please contact your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee to obtain further instructions. |
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• | Webster’s business, operations, financial condition, asset quality, earnings and prospects; |
• | the belief that the exchange consideration per share of Webster common stock provides Webster’s stockholders with an attractive value for their shares of Webster common stock in light of a number of factors, including: |
• | the exchange consideration per share of Webster common stock represented a 16% premium to Webster’s common stock’s 10-day volume weighted average stock price prior to announcement of the transaction and a 9% premium to Webster’s all-time high closing stock price, and is greater than 2.0x Webster’s fourth quarter 2025 period-end tangible book value per share of Webster common stock; |
• | a significant portion of the exchange consideration per share of Webster common stock is in cash, without interest, which enables Webster to realize value that has been created at Webster at a consideration level significantly in excess of Webster’s all-time trading high, while mitigating market trading risk and long-term business and execution risk; |
• | the Webster board’s perspective on Santander as one of the largest and highest-performing European banks, and that the exchange consideration per share of Webster common stock includes a share consideration component which allows Webster’s stockholders to benefit from potential valuation upside in Santander after closing of the transaction; |
• | the transaction would create, and enable the holders of shares of Webster common stock to become shareholders of, a banking franchise with enhanced scale, a diversified geographic footprint and enhanced and diversified product capabilities that will create opportunities for future growth; and |
• | the Webster board considered the financial analyses presented by J.P. Morgan to the Webster board and the February 2, 2026 oral opinion delivered by J.P. Morgan to the Webster board, which was subsequently confirmed by delivery of its written opinion dated February 3, 2026, to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion, and based upon and subject to the various assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations on the review undertaken by J.P. Morgan in preparing its opinion, the exchange consideration to be paid to the holders of Webster common stock (other than Santander and its affiliates) in the transaction was fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders, as more fully described below under “—Opinion of J.P. Morgan, Financial Advisor to Webster;” the full text of the written opinion of J.P. Morgan, dated February 3, 2026 is attached as Annex D to this document and is incorporated herein by reference; the summary of the opinion of J.P. Morgan set forth in this document is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of such opinion; |
• | the strategic rationale for the transaction, including (i) that, following closing of the transaction, Santander is expected to be within the top-three most efficient U.S. banks and top-five most profitable by 2028, based on Visible Alpha consensus of 2028 return on average tangible common equity at announcement of the transaction for the top-25 listed U.S. retail and commercial banks with more than $50 billion total assets, (ii) that the transaction will help drive incremental returns and organic growth above Santander’s and Webster’s current respective strategic plans and (iii) the anticipated pro forma financial impact of the transaction on Santander, including the expected positive impact on certain financial metrics, and, in each case, that Webster’s stockholders will be able to participate in the upside posed by these factors through the share consideration per share of Webster common stock; |
• | the belief that the exchange consideration per share of Webster common stock compares favorably to the potential long-term value of Webster common stock if Webster were to remain as a standalone business, after taking into account the risks and uncertainties associated with remaining a standalone business, including Webster’s business, competitive position and current industry and financial conditions. Specifically, among other things, the Webster board considered: |
• | its assessment of Webster’s business, assets and prospects, its competitive position and historical and prospective financial performance; |
• | its understanding of the current and prospective environment in which Webster and Santander operate, including economic conditions, the interest rate environment, the accelerating pace of technological change in the banking industry, increased operating costs resulting from regulatory and compliance |
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• | the challenges of operating as a standalone public company, including balancing the competing needs for improved or stable shareholder returns on a quarter-to-quarter basis, on the one hand, with the need for increased spending to advance implementation of Webster’s long-term strategic plan, on the other hand; |
• | the execution risks associated with achieving future operating and financial performance goals, including the risks relating to implementation of key systems, the risk that expenses will be greater than those projected and the risk that Webster is unable to retain key talent; and |
• | the fact that Webster’s common stock had never in Webster’s history traded at a price higher than the exchange consideration per share of Webster common stock and that the exchange consideration per share of Webster common stock represents a 9% premium to Webster’s all-time high closing stock price; |
• | the terms of the transaction agreement and the fact that the exchange ratio for the share consideration is fixed, with no adjustment thereto to be received by holders of shares of Webster common stock as a result of possible increases or decreases in the trading price of Webster common stock or Santander ordinary shares or Santander ADSs following the announcement of the transaction, which the Webster board believed was consistent with market practice for transactions of this type and with the strategic purpose of the transaction; |
• | the availability of alternative transactions, including that no institution, other than Santander, submitted a proposal regarding a potential acquisition or strategic business combination to Webster, the attractiveness and strategic fit of Santander as a potential transaction partner, the view of the Webster board, based on advice received from Webster’s financial and legal advisors, of the low likelihood of any actionable alternative transaction emerging on terms and conditions, including with respect to certainty of closing, as beneficial to Webster and Webster’s stockholders as those proposed by Santander, and the terms of the transaction agreement that give Webster the right, subject to certain conditions, to provide nonpublic information in response to, and to discuss and negotiate, certain bona fide unsolicited Acquisition Proposals made to Webster before Webster’s stockholders approve the transaction proposal; |
• | the evaluation of the Webster board, with the assistance of Webster’s management and Webster’s financial and legal advisors, of Webster’s stand-alone plan and other strategic alternatives available to Webster for enhancing value over the long term and the potential risks, rewards and uncertainties associated with Webster’s stand-alone plan and such other alternatives, and the belief of the Webster board that the transaction offered greater benefits, with reduced risks, as compared to the value that could reasonably be expected to be obtained from Webster’s stand-alone plan and other alternatives available to Webster; |
• | the fact that following closing of the transaction Webster’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, John Ciulla, and Webster’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Luis Massiani, will have continued roles in SHUSA (as defined herein) and Santander Bank, including leadership roles in respect of the integration of Webster into SHUSA, which the Webster board believed would enhance the likelihood that the strategic benefits Webster expects to achieve as a result of the transaction would be realized; |
• | the fact that following closing of the transaction the respective board of directors of SHUSA and Santander Bank will include Messrs. Ciulla and Massiani together with two legacy Webster directors, which the Webster board believed would enhance the likelihood that the strategic benefits Webster expects to achieve as a result of the transaction would be realized; |
• | Webster’s due diligence examination of the operations, financial condition and prospects of Santander; |
• | the belief that, following closing of the transaction, Santander would be more profitable than Webster would be on a stand-alone basis; |
• | the complementary nature of the products, services, customers and markets of Webster and Santander, which the Webster board believed would provide the opportunity to mitigate risks and increase potential returns; |
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• | the current and prospective business climate in the banking industry, including the position of current and likely competitors of Webster and Santander; |
• | the fact that Santander would continue Webster’s long-standing support of its Connecticut communities following closing of the transaction; |
• | the regulatory and other approvals required in connection with the transaction and the expectation that such approvals would be received in a timely manner and without unacceptable conditions; |
• | the Webster board’s review with Webster’s outside legal advisor, Wachtell Lipton, of the terms of the transaction agreement, including the representations and warranties, covenants, deal protection and termination provisions, tax treatment and closing conditions; and |
• | the caliber of Santander’s executive management team and the Santander board together with the caliber of Messrs. Ciulla and Massiani, who will have continued roles in the combined organization. |
• | the regulatory and other approvals required in connection with the transaction and the risk that such regulatory approvals may not be received in a timely manner or at all or may impose unacceptable conditions; |
• | the possibility of encountering difficulties in achieving anticipated synergies and cost savings in the amounts estimated or in the time frame contemplated; |
• | the possibility of encountering difficulties in successfully maintaining existing customer and employee relationships; |
• | the possibility of encountering difficulties in successfully integrating Webster’s and Santander’s businesses, operations and workforce; |
• | that the majority of the exchange consideration per share of Webster common stock will be paid in cash, without interest, and therefore Webster’s stockholders will have more limited ongoing equity participation in Santander following closing of the transaction than if the exchange consideration per share of Webster common stock was paid fully in equity; |
• | the risk of losing key Webster employees during the pendency of the transaction and thereafter; |
• | the possible diversion of management attention and resources from the operation of Webster’s business or other strategic opportunities towards closing of the transaction; |
• | the fact that the exchange ratio for the share consideration per share of Webster common stock provides for a fixed number of Santander ADSs and, as such, Webster’s stockholders cannot be certain, at the time of the special meeting, of the market value of the share consideration they will receive, and the possibility that Webster’s stockholders could be adversely affected by a decrease in the market price of Santander ADSs before closing; |
• | the fact that the transaction agreement places certain restrictions on the conduct of Webster’s business prior to closing of the transaction, which are customary for public company merger agreements involving financial institutions, but which, subject to specific exceptions, could delay or prevent Webster from undertaking business opportunities that might arise or any other action it would otherwise take with respect to the operations of Webster absent the pending closing of the transaction; |
• | certain anticipated transaction-related costs that Webster expects to incur, including a number of non-recurring costs in connection with the transaction even if the transaction is not ultimately consummated, including a potential $489.0 million termination fee if the transaction agreement is terminated under certain circumstances (see “The Transaction Agreement—Termination of the Transaction Agreement—Termination Fee”); |
• | the other numerous risks and uncertainties that could adversely affect Webster’s and Santander’s respective operating performance and financial results; |
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• | the potential for legal claims challenging the transaction; |
• | the fact that the receipt of the exchange consideration per share of Webster common stock pursuant to the share exchange will be a taxable transaction for many of Webster’s stockholders; |
• | the fact that the transaction agreement provides that, if Santander determines, at least ten business days before the effective time of the reincorporation merger, after consultation with the Depositary of Santander ADSs, that is not reasonably practicable to permit such an election, then solely Santander ADSs will be delivered to holders of shares of Webster Virginia common stock as share consideration in the transaction; |
• | considerations with respect to the trading of Santander ADSs and Santander ordinary shares and potential impacts on the trading price thereof as a result of, or relating to, the closing of the transaction; and |
• | the other risks described under the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” |
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• | reviewed a draft, dated January 29, 2026, of the transaction agreement; |
• | reviewed certain publicly available business and financial information concerning Webster and the industries in which it operates; |
• | compared the financial and operating performance of Webster with publicly available information concerning certain other companies J.P. Morgan deemed relevant and reviewed the current and historical market prices of the Webster common stock and certain publicly traded securities of such other companies; |
• | reviewed certain internal financial analyses and forecasts prepared by Webster’s management relating to the business of Webster, as discussed more fully in the section entitled “Certain Unaudited Prospective Financial Information—Webster Prospective Financial Information Used by J.P. Morgan;” and |
• | performed such other financial studies and analyses and considered such other information as J.P. Morgan deemed appropriate for the purposes of the J.P. Morgan opinion. |
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First Horizon Corporation | ||
SouthState Bank Corporation | ||
UMB Financial Corporation | ||
Valley National Bancorp | ||
Columbia Banking System, Inc. | ||
Zions Bancorporation, National Association | ||
Old National Bancorp | ||
Independent Bank Corp. (Mass.) | ||
Eastern Bankshares, Inc. | ||
F.N.B. Corporation | ||
• | the multiple of price to its estimated earnings per share for fiscal year 2026 (referred to in this section as “Price/2026E EPS”); and |
• | a regression analysis (referred to in this section as “P/TBV regression”) to review the relationship between (i) the multiple of price to tangible book value per share (referred to in this section as “P/TBV”) and (ii) the 2026 estimated return on average tangible common equity (referred to in this section as “2026E ROATCE”). |
Multiple Reference Range | |||
Price/2026E EPS | 9.4x to 11.7x | ||
P/TBV regression | 1.71x to 1.90x | ||
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Implied Equity Value Per Share | |||
Price/2026E EPS | $62.00 to $76.95 | ||
P/TBV regression | $63.50 to $70.65 | ||
• | The estimates provided by Webster’s management (as described in the section entitled “Certain Unaudited Prospective Financial Information—Webster Prospective Financial Information Used by J.P. Morgan”); |
• | Terminal value based on estimated net income for fiscal year 2031 at a price to next-twelve-months earnings multiple range of 9.0x to 11.0x; |
• | Cost of equity range of 8.00% to 10.00%; and |
• | Common Equity Tier 1 target ratio of 10.5%, as provided by Webster’s management. |
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• | The transaction is expected to create a top-ten retail and commercial bank in the United States by assets (which are expected to increase from $243 billion to $327 billion based on total assets as of December 31, 2025) and a top-five deposit franchise in the Northeast of the United States (with deposits expected to increase from $103 billion to $172 billion based on total deposits as of December 31, 2025, and a market share in the Northeast of the United States of approximately 8% based on June 30, 2025 data), reinforcing and strengthening Santander’s long-term commitment to the U.S. market. |
• | The transaction is also expected to establish Santander within the top-three most efficient U.S. banks and top-five most profitable by 2028, based on Visible Alpha consensus of 2028 return on average tangible common equity at announcement of the transaction for the top-25 listed U.S. retail and commercial banks with more than $50 billion total assets. |
• | The transaction is expected to result in a high quality and complementary franchise with a strong cultural fit that enhances Santander’s diversification and improves its funding mix. Pursuant to the transaction, Webster will contribute a complementary loan mix (expected to result in a more balanced loan portfolio for Santander) and a high-quality and low cost deposit base (mainly from commercial banking and consumer customers), that will complement Santander’s consumer credit origination capabilities in the United States. In this sense Santander’s cost of risk and loan-to-deposit ratio (calculated as net loans (including reverse repos) divided by deposits (including repos)) are expected to decrease from 1.6% to 1.3% and from 109% to 100%, respectively, based on December 31, 2025 figures. |
• | The transaction is expected to result in significant cost synergies underpinned by Santander’s proven integration track record and experienced management team. In particular, the transaction is expected to result in approximately $800 million (before taxes) of cost synergies, mainly as a result of overhead cost |
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• | The transaction is expected to accelerate Santander’s U.S. strategy by adding scale and lowering funding costs, which is expected to help lift its U.S. return on tangible equity to 18% by 2028 (from 10% in 2025) and generate incremental returns and growth above plan. |
• | The transaction is expected to deliver attractive financial returns for Santander with no impact on shareholder remuneration. In particular, the transaction is expected to deliver approximately 7 to 8% earnings per share accretion and approximately a 15% return on invested capital by 2028. |
($ in millions) | 2026 Estimated | 2027 Estimated | 2028 Estimated | 2029 Estimated | 2030 Estimated | 2031 Estimated | ||||||||||||
Net income to common stock | 1,022 | 1,079 | 1,122 | 1,167 | 1,214 | 1,262 | ||||||||||||
Total assets | 88,445 | 93,014 | 96,735 | 100,604 | 104,628 | 108,813 | ||||||||||||
Risk-weighted assets | 60,816 | 63,958 | 66,516 | 69,177 | 71,944 | 74,821 | ||||||||||||
2026 Estimated | 2027 Estimated | |||||
Earnings per share ($) | 6.60 | 7.32 | ||||
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• | the relevant price per share of Webster common stock is $72.51, which is the average closing price per share of Webster common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange over the first five business days following the public announcement of the transaction on February 3, 2026; |
• | the effective time of the reincorporation merger as referenced in this section occurs on March 10, 2026, which is the assumed date of the effective time of the reincorporation merger solely for the purposes of the disclosure in this section (the “Assumed Closing Date”); and |
• | the employment of each executive officer was terminated by Webster or Santander without “cause” or by the executive officer for “good reason” (as such terms are defined in the relevant plans and agreements), in either case immediately following the transaction and on the Assumed Closing Date. |
• | Each of Webster’s executive officers holds unvested Webster RSAs, a portion of which will fully vest prior to the effective time of the reincorporation merger, subject to all required withholding taxes, and entitle the holder to receive the exchange consideration at the effective time of the share exchange, and the remaining portion of which will become Converted Santander RSAs, subject to the same terms and conditions as applied to the corresponding Webster RSAs immediately prior to the effective time of the reincorporation merger (including “double-trigger” vesting acceleration as described below). |
• | Each of Webster’s executive officers holds unvested Webster PSAs, which will fully vest prior to the effective time of the reincorporation merger, subject to all required withholding taxes, and entitle the |
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• | Each of Webster’s non-employee directors holds Webster RSAs, which will fully vest prior to the effective time of the reincorporation merger and entitle the holder to receive the exchange consideration at the effective time of the share exchange. |
• | A lump-sum cash severance amount payable within 30 days of the termination date, equal to the sum of the following: |
○ | a prorated target annual bonus; |
○ | two times (three times for Messrs. Ciulla, Holland, Massiani and Motl) the sum of the executive officer’s annual base salary plus target annual bonus; |
○ | two times (three times for Messrs. Ciulla, Holland, Massiani and Motl) the sum of the annual COBRA premiums for coverage under Webster’s health care plans and the annual premium for coverage under Webster’s life insurance plans; and |
○ | all employer contributions the executive officer would receive under Webster’s qualified and supplemental defined contribution plans in which the executive officer participates if the executive officer’s employment had continued for two years after the date of termination (three years for Messrs. Ciulla, Holland, Massiani and Motl). |
• | For Messrs. Holland and Schugel, vesting of any account balance the executive officer has under Webster’s qualified and supplemental defined contribution plans. |
• | Outplacement services at Webster’s expense, up to an aggregate limit of $50,000 per person and ending no later than the last day of the second calendar year after termination. |
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• | a lump-sum cash payment equal to the base salary Mr. Ciulla would have received had he remained employed through the remainder of the employment term (the “Remaining Base Salary”); |
• | a prorated annual bonus based on actual performance, to be paid at the ordinary time that annual bonuses are paid to other executive officers of Santander Bank and SHUSA (subject to any delay of payment due to the CRD Policies); |
• | immediate vesting and payment of the remaining 50% of the cash sign-on bonus; |
• | immediate vesting of all outstanding Converted Santander RSAs (the “CEO LTI Benefits”); |
• | continued vesting and payment/settlement of any deferrals that Mr. Ciulla received during the employment term in accordance with the original vesting schedule and subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plan (the “CEO Deferral Benefits”); and |
• | a lump-sum cash payment equal to 18 months of COBRA premiums. |
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• | severance benefits payable under the Santander US Severance Policy (which provides a cash severance of one times Mr. Massiani’s base salary payable in a lump sum, COBRA continuation coverage for three months following the termination date and outplacement services at Santander’s expense for up to 12 months); |
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• | a prorated annual bonus based on actual performance, to be paid at the ordinary time that annual bonuses are paid to other executive officers of Santander Bank and SHUSA (subject to any delay of payment due to the CRD Policies); |
• | immediate vesting and payment of the unpaid portion of the cash sign-on bonus and cash integration award; |
• | immediate vesting of all outstanding Converted Santander RSAs; and |
• | continued vesting and payment/settlement of any deferrals that Mr. Massiani received during the employment term in accordance with the original vesting schedule and subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plan. |
Named Executive Officer | Cash ($)(1) | Equity($)(2) | Pension/NQDC ($)(3) | Perquisite/ Benefits($)(4) | Total ($) | ||||||||||
John R. Ciulla | 9,434,924 | 8,894,937 | — | 50,000 | 18,379,862 | ||||||||||
Neal Holland | 5,361,211 | 2,844,407 | 45,547 | 50,000 | 8,301,166 | ||||||||||
Luis R. Massiani | 6,679,356 | 4,653,427 | — | 50,000 | 11,382,784 | ||||||||||
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Named Executive Officer | Cash ($)(1) | Equity($)(2) | Pension/NQDC ($)(3) | Perquisite/ Benefits($)(4) | Total ($) | ||||||||||
Christopher J. Motl | 6,010,926 | 3,472,562 | — | 50,000 | 9,533,488 | ||||||||||
Kristy Berner | 2,255,621 | 1,550,886 | 50,000 | 3,856,507 | |||||||||||
(1) | Cash. Consists of a lump-sum cash payment equal to the sum of (i) three times (two times for Ms. Berner) the named executive officer’s base salary plus target annual bonus; (ii) a prorated bonus based on the greater of target and actual performance measured through the latest practicable date prior to the effective time of the reincorporation merger (assuming, for the purpose of this quantification, actual performance at target); (iii) three times (two times for Ms. Berner) the sum of the annual COBRA premiums for coverage under Webster’s health care plans and the annual premium for coverage under Webster’s life insurance plans; and (iv) all employer contributions the named executive officer would receive under Webster’s qualified and supplemental defined contribution plans if their employment had continued for three years after the date of termination (two years for Ms. Berner) (the “SERP Payment”). The cash severance is “double-trigger” (i.e., triggered by a change in control for which payment is conditioned upon the executive officer’s termination without cause or resignation for good reason within a limited time period following the change in control). See “—Change in Control Agreements” above for additional details. |
Named Executive Officer | Cash Severance ($) | Prorated Bonus ($) | COBRA Payment ($) | SERP Payment ($) | Total ($) | ||||||||||
John R. Ciulla | 8,475,000 | 320,425 | 129,099 | 510,401 | 9,434,924 | ||||||||||
Neal Holland | 4,927,500 | 172,500 | 111,420 | 149,792 | 5,361,211 | ||||||||||
Luis R. Massiani | 6,075,000 | 212,671 | 96,373 | 295,313 | 6,679,356 | ||||||||||
Christopher J. Motl | 5,400,000 | 189,041 | 106,885 | 315,000 | 6,010,926 | ||||||||||
Kristy Berner | 1,995,000 | 89,322 | 74,280 | 97,019 | 2,255,621 | ||||||||||
(2) | Equity. Consists of the value of unvested Webster RSAs and Webster PSAs (along with accrued but unpaid cash dividends with respect to the Webster PSAs). 50% of the unvested Webster RSAs held by the named executive officers granted prior to the date of the transaction agreement and all Webster PSAs will vest no later than four business days prior to the effective time of the reincorporation merger (with performance goals deemed satisfied at the greater of target and actual performance) and constitute “single-trigger” benefits. 50% of the unvested Webster RSAs held by the named executive officers granted prior to the date of the transaction agreement and all unvested Webster RSAs held by the named executive officers granted on or after the date of the transaction agreement will be converted into Converted Santander RSAs, which will vest upon a qualifying termination of employment within two years (or, for Converted Santander RSAs converted from Webster RSAs granted on or after the date of the transaction agreement, during the remaining vesting period) following the closing date and constitute “double-trigger” benefits. For the purposes of this quantification, the value of Webster PSAs was calculated assuming that actual performance is equal to target performance. See “—Treatment of Outstanding Webster Equity Awards” above for additional details. |
Named Executive Officer | Webster RSAs ($) | Webster PSAs* ($) | Total ($) | ||||||
John R. Ciulla | 2,205,682 | 6,689,256 | 8,894,937 | ||||||
Neal Holland | 1,840,884 | 1,003,524 | 2,844,407 | ||||||
Luis R. Massiani | 1,093,233 | 3,560,194 | 4,653,427 | ||||||
Christopher J. Motl | 826,687 | 2,645,876 | 3,472,562 | ||||||
Kristy Berner | 593,494 | 957,392 | 1,550,886 | ||||||
* | Includes the value of accrued but unpaid cash dividends. |
(3) | Pension/NQDC. The estimated amounts listed in this column represent the value of the acceleration of any account balance the named executive officer has under Webster’s qualified and supplemental defined contribution plans, which constitutes “double-trigger” benefits. See “—Change in Control Agreements” above for additional details. |
(4) | Perquisites/Benefits. Consists of the estimated value of outplacement services for each named executive officer. Such benefits are “double-trigger.” See “—Change in Control Agreements” above for additional details. |
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• | prior to the effective time of the reincorporation merger, (i) all outstanding Webster RSAs held by non-employee directors, (ii) 50% of outstanding Webster RSAs granted prior to the date of the transaction agreement that are not held by non-employee directors and remain unvested as of such time and (iii) all outstanding Webster PSAs will fully vest and become shares of Webster common stock, subject to all required withholding taxes. Like other Webster common stock, these shares will be converted into shares of Webster Virginia common stock, which will be converted into the exchange consideration on a per share basis. The performance goals for the Webster PSAs will be deemed satisfied at the greater of target and actual performance (as determined by the compensation committee of the Webster board prior to the effective time of the reincorporation merger in consultation with Santander); |
• | at the effective time of the reincorporation merger, (i) the remaining 50% of outstanding Webster RSAs granted prior to the date of the transaction agreement that are not held by non-employee directors and (ii) all outstanding Webster RSAs granted on or after the date of the transaction agreement that are not held by non-employee directors will be converted into Converted RSAs; and |
• | at the effective time of the share exchange, all Converted RSAs will be cancelled for the right to receive Converted Santander RSAs, with the number of Santander ordinary shares underlying such awards calculated based on the value of the exchange consideration (with the cash consideration component converted into a number of shares based on the volume weighted average trading price of Santander ordinary shares on the Spanish Stock Exchanges for the five consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately preceding the closing date of the transaction). The Converted Santander RSAs will otherwise continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as applied to the corresponding Webster RSAs immediately prior to the effective time of the reincorporation merger. |
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• | corporate matters, including due organization and qualification; |
• | authority relative to execution and delivery of the transaction agreement and the absence of conflicts with, or violations of, organizational documents or other obligations as a result of the transaction; |
• | governmental filings and consents necessary to close the transaction; |
• | financial statements; |
• | litigation; |
• | the absence of certain changes or events; |
• | brokers’ fees payable in connection with the transaction; and |
• | the accuracy of information supplied in public filings, and for inclusion in this document and other similar documents. |
• | capitalization; |
• | employee matters and benefit plans; |
• | anti-money laundering and customer information security matters; |
• | loans extended by Webster; |
• | the absence of undisclosed liabilities; |
• | the receipt of a fairness opinion from one of its financial advisors; |
• | derivative instruments; |
• | insurance coverage; |
• | compliance with applicable laws; |
• | intellectual property; |
• | tax matters; |
• | the timely filing of regulatory reports; |
• | matters relating to certain contracts; |
• | investment securities; |
• | real property; |
• | environmental liabilities; and |
• | the absence of related party transactions. |
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• | changes, after the date of the transaction agreement, in GAAP or regulatory accounting requirements; |
• | changes, after the date of the transaction agreement, in laws, rules or regulations of general applicability; |
• | changes, after the date of the transaction agreement, in global, national or regional political conditions or general economic or market conditions (including changes in prevailing interest rates, currency exchange rates, and price levels or trading volumes in the United States or foreign securities markets); |
• | a decline in the trading price of such party’s common stock or the failure, in and of itself, to meet earnings projections or internal financial forecasts, but not, in either case, including any underlying causes thereof; |
• | the public disclosure or consummation of the transactions contemplated by the transaction agreement or of the transaction agreement or actions expressly required by the transaction agreement or that are taken with the prior written consent of Santander, subject to certain exceptions; |
• | any outbreak or escalation, after the date of the transaction agreement, of hostilities, declared or undeclared acts of war or terrorism; or |
• | changes, after the date of the transaction agreement, resulting from hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados, floods, wildfires or other natural disasters or from any outbreak of any disease, epidemic, pandemic or other public health event; |
• | amend its articles of incorporation, bylaws or other similar organizational documents; |
• | with certain exceptions, make, declare, pay or set a record date for any dividends or other distributions on, or directly or indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire (including under any share repurchase program of Webster or any of its subsidiaries), any share of its capital stock or other equity or voting securities or any securities or obligations convertible (whether currently convertible or convertible only after the passage of time or the occurrence of certain events) or exchangeable into or exercisable for any shares of its capital stock or other equity or voting securities; |
• | (i) issue, sell, transfer, encumber or otherwise permit to become outstanding any shares of capital stock or voting securities or equity interests or securities convertible (whether currently convertible or convertible only after the passage of time of the occurrence of certain events) or exchangeable into, or exercisable for, any shares of its capital stock or other equity or voting securities, including any its or any of its subsidiaries’ securities, or any options, warrants, or other rights of any kind to acquire any shares of capital stock or other equity or voting securities, including any of its or any of its subsidiaries’ securities, except pursuant to the exercise of stock options or the vesting or settlement of equity compensation awards in accordance with their terms, (ii) adjust, split, combine or reclassify any capital stock or (iii) amend any term of any security of Webster or any of its subsidiaries (in each case, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise); |
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• | grant any stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance shares, restricted stock units, performance stock units, phantom stock units, restricted shares or other equity-based awards or interests, or grant any person any right to acquire any of its or any of its subsidiaries’ shares of capital stock or other equity or voting securities; |
• | with certain exceptions, make any capital expenditures; |
• | with certain exceptions, make any investment in or acquisition of any other person or the property or assets of any other person; |
• | sell, lease, mortgage, dispose or otherwise transfer, encumber, or create or incur any lien on, its or its subsidiaries’ assets, securities, properties, interests or businesses (other than intellectual property), to any individual, corporation or other entity (other than a wholly-owned subsidiary of Webster), or cancel, release or assign any indebtedness to any such person or any claims held by any such person, in each case other than (i) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, and (ii) up to a maximum aggregate amount of $15,000,000 per calendar quarter; |
• | sell, lease, license, sublicense, modify, terminate, abandon or permit to lapse, transfer or dispose of, create or incur any lien (other than a permitted lien) on, or otherwise fail to take any action necessary to maintain, enforce or protect any material owned intellectual property, other than non-exclusive licenses granted to customers in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; |
• | with certain exceptions, make or acquire any loans or issue a commitment or renew or extend an existing commitment for any loan, or amend or modify in any material respect any existing loan; |
• | with certain exceptions, incur any indebtedness for borrowed money; |
• | assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise as an accommodation become responsible for the obligations of any other individual, corporation or other entity; |
• | outside the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices, enter into any material contract, or terminate, amend or modify in any material respect, any material contract, or otherwise waive, release or assign any of its or any of its subsidiaries’ material rights, claims or benefits; |
• | except as required by an employee plan, (i) grant or increase any severance or termination pay (or amend any existing severance or termination arrangement with), (ii) enter into any employment, consultancy, deferred compensation, severance, change in control, retention, transaction bonus or incentive, retirement or other similar agreement or arrangement (or amend any such existing agreement or arrangement), (iii) increase compensation, bonus or other benefits payable to any of its or its subsidiaries’ employees who either (1) is at the level of Senior Managing Director or above and has a base salary of $300,000 or more or (2) has a total annual target compensation of $800,000 or more, (iv) grant any new awards, or amend or modify the terms of any outstanding awards, under any employee plan or take any action to accelerate the vesting or lapsing of restrictions or payment, or fund or in any other way secure the payment, of compensation or benefits under any employee plan; (v) establish, adopt or amend (except as required by applicable law) any collective bargaining, bonus, profit-sharing, thrift, pension, retirement, deferred compensation, equity-based compensation or other benefit plan or arrangement covering any of its subsidiaries’ directors, officers, employees or independent contractors or (vi) hire or terminate (other than for cause) any employee who either (1) is at the level of Senior Managing Director or above and has a base salary of $300,000 or more or (2) has a total annual target compensation of $800,000 or more; |
• | implement or adopt any change in its methods of accounting, except as required by generally accepted accounting principles or certain other regulatory guidelines, as agreed to by Webster’s independent public accountants; |
• | settle any material claim, suit, action or proceeding, except involving solely monetary remedies in an amount and for consideration not in excess of $1,000,000 individually or $3,000,000 in the aggregate (in each case net of insurance proceeds) and that would not impose any material restriction on, or create any adverse precedent that would be material to, the business of Webster, Webster Virginia or their respective subsidiaries; |
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• | make or change any material tax election, change any annual tax accounting period, adopt or change any material method of tax accounting, materially amend any tax returns or file claims for material tax refunds, enter into any closing agreement as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. law), settle or compromise any material tax claim, audit or assessment, or surrender any right to claim a material tax refund, offset or other reduction in tax liability; |
• | materially restructure or materially change its investment securities portfolio or its derivatives portfolios or interest rate exposure or gap position except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice (and in consultation with Santander), through purchases, sales or otherwise, or the manner in which the portfolio is classified or reported; |
• | make any material changes not in the ordinary course of business in its policies and practices with respect to (i) underwriting, pricing, originating, acquiring, selling, servicing, or buying or selling rights to service, loans, credit, facilities, extensions of credit or other products or transactions that generate credit, counterparty credit, or market risk exposures, (ii) its investment securities portfolio, hedging practices and policies or its policies with respect to the classification or reporting of such portfolios, or (iii) its deposits and other main categories of funding sources, in each case except as required by law or requested by a regulatory agency; |
• | enter into any material new line of business, exit any material existing line of business, or materially change its lending, investment, underwriting, risk, asset liability management or other banking or operating policies, securitization or servicing policies (including any change in the maximum ratio or similar limits as a percentage of its capital exposure applicable with respect to its loan portfolio or any segment thereof) outside of the ordinary course of business, except as required by applicable law or policies imposed by any governmental authority; |
• | make an application for the opening, relocation or closing of any, or open, relocate or close any, branch office, loan production office or other significant office or operations facility of Webster or its subsidiaries, or to acquire or sell or agree to acquire or sell, any branch office, loan production office, or other significant office or operations facility or any deposit liabilities in connection therewith; or |
• | agree, resolve or commit to do any of the actions prohibited by the preceding bullets. |
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• | solicit, initiate, or take any action to facilitate or encourage the submission of any Acquisition Proposal by a third party or otherwise initiate any process that is intended to, or is reasonably likely to lead to the making of an Acquisition Proposal by any third party; |
• | enter into, engage or participate in any discussion or negotiations with, furnish any information relating to Webster or any of its subsidiaries or afford any access to the business, properties, assets, books or records of Webster or any of its subsidiaries to, otherwise cooperate in any way with, or knowingly assist, participate in, facilitate or encourage in any manner any effort by any third party that is seeking to make, or has made, an Acquisition Proposal; |
• | fail to make, withdraw, qualify or modify in a manner adverse to Santander, the Webster board recommendation (or (i) fail to publicly confirm the Webster board recommendation within five business days of a written request by Santander to do so, or (ii) recommend an Acquisition Proposal made by a third party) (an “adverse recommendation change”); |
• | grant to any third party any waiver under, or any release from, any standstill or similar agreement; |
• | exempt any transaction (except the transactions contemplated by the transaction agreement) or person (other than Santander or its affiliates) from any takeover statute; |
• | enter into any agreement in principle, letter of intent, term sheet, merger agreement, purchase agreement, option agreement or other similar instrument relating to an Acquisition Proposal (other than a confidentiality agreement entered into in accordance with the transaction agreement); or |
• | agree or commit to take any of the actions described above. |
• | Webster may, following receipt of an unsolicited bona fide Acquisition Proposal that the Webster board determines in good faith, after consultation with financial and legal advisors, constitutes or is reasonably likely to result in, a Superior Proposal (as defined below), Webster, directly or indirectly, may furnish nonpublic information to, or enter into discussions with, any third party in connection with such Acquisition Proposal if and only to the extent that (i) Webster is not then in breach of its non-solicitation obligations under the transaction agreement, and (ii) prior to furnishing such nonpublic information to, or entering into discussions or negotiations with, such third party, the Webster board receives from such third party an executed confidentiality agreement containing confidentiality provisions that are not less restrictive on such third party than the confidentiality agreement between Webster and Santander and that permits Webster to comply with its notice obligations under the transaction agreement; provided that all such information (to the extent that such information has not been previously provided or made available to Santander) is provided or made available to Santander, as the case may be, prior to or substantially concurrently with the time it is provided or made available to such third party; and |
• | the Webster board may make an adverse recommendation change, but only following (i) receipt of a Superior Proposal or (ii) the occurrence of an Intervening Event (as defined below); provided that the Webster board may not make such adverse recommendation change unless (1) Webster promptly notifies |
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• | not to take any of the actions referred to in the two preceding bullets unless it notifies Santander of its intention to take such action; |
• | to notify Santander promptly (but in no event later than 24 hours) after receipt by it or any of its officers, directors, employees, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants, consultants or other agents or advisors of any Acquisition Proposal, any inquiry which could reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal or any request for information relating to it or any of its subsidiaries or for access to its or any of its subsidiaries’ business, properties, assets, books or records by any third party in connection with an Acquisition Proposal or which could reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal; and |
• | to provide to Santander relevant information regarding any Acquisition Proposal or request for information. |
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• | the approval by Santander’s shareholders of the capital increase of Santander necessary for effecting the transaction and the approval of the transaction proposal by Webster’s stockholders; |
• | the absence of any applicable law which prohibits or makes illegal the consummation of the reincorporation merger or the share exchange; |
• | the effectiveness of the registration statement with respect to the Santander ordinary shares underlying the Santander ADSs to be issued to Webster’s stockholders and the absence of any stop order or proceedings initiated or threatened by the SEC for that purpose and not withdrawn; |
• | the filing of an exemption document, or the verification and registration of a prospectus for the purposes of the Prospectus Regulation, relating to the issuance of Santander ordinary shares with the CNMV; |
• | the receipt by Santander of the necessary report of an independent expert appointed by the Commercial Registry of Santander validating the valuation of Webster Virginia’s common stock that will be acquired by Santander as a result of the share exchange used to set the exchange ratio; |
• | the capital increase of Santander necessary for effecting the transaction having been granted before a Spanish public notary; |
• | the approval of the listing of Santander ADSs to be issued in the transaction on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance; |
• | the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the other party contained in the transaction agreement generally as of the date on which the transaction agreement was executed and as of the closing date, subject to certain materiality and material adverse effect standards contained in the transaction agreement, and the receipt by each party of a certificate signed on behalf of the other party confirming such accuracy; |
• | the performance by the other party in all material respects of the obligations required to be performed by it under the transaction agreement at or prior to the effective time of the share exchange, and the receipt by each party of a certificate signed on behalf of the other party confirming such performance; and |
• | all requisite regulatory approvals having been obtained and remaining in full force and effect and all statutory waiting periods in respect thereof having expired, and with respect to Santander’s obligation to close the transaction, the absence of a materially burdensome regulatory condition. |
• | by mutual written agreement of Webster and Santander; |
• | by either Webster or Santander if: |
• | the transaction has not occurred on or before the end date (other than because of a breach of the transaction agreement caused by the party seeking termination); |
• | any governmental authority required to grant a requisite regulatory approval has denied approval of either the reincorporation merger or the share exchange and such denial has become final and nonappealable or there has been any applicable law that (i) makes the consummation of the |
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• | the approval by Webster’s stockholders of the transaction proposal has not been obtained upon a vote taken at the special meeting or at any adjournment or postponement thereof; |
• | the approval by Santander’s shareholders of the capital increase and the delegation to the Santander board for the execution of such capital increase has not been obtained upon a vote taken at the relevant Santander shareholders’ meeting or at any adjournment or postponement thereof; or |
• | the other party has breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in the transaction agreement (or any such representation or warranty has ceased to be true), which breach or failure to be true or failure to perform, either individually or in the aggregate with all other breaches by the breaching party (or failures of such representations or warranties to be true), (i) would give rise to the failure of certain of the conditions to closing set forth in the transaction agreement to be satisfied and (ii) is either incurable or, if curable, was not cured by the breaching party by the earlier of (1) 30 days following receipt by the breaching party of written notice of such breach or failure and (2) the end date; provided that, at the time of delivery of such written notice, the non-breaching party shall not be in a material breach of its obligations under the transaction agreement. |
• | prior to the special meeting, an adverse recommendation change has occurred or there has been an intentional and material breach by Webster of its non-solicitation obligations under the transaction agreement; or |
• | prior to the effective time of the reincorporation merger, any governmental authority required to grant a requisite regulatory approval has denied approval of the transactions contemplated in the transaction agreement and such denial has become final and nonappealable or any governmental authority of competent jurisdiction has issued a final and nonappealable order, injunction, decree or other legal restraint or prohibition permanently enjoining or otherwise prohibiting or making illegal closing of the transaction (or on a final and nonappealable basis has determined not to grant such approval without the imposition of a materially burdensome regulatory condition). |
• | if (i) the transaction agreement is terminated by (1) either Webster or Santander because closing of the transaction has not occurred by the end date without the approval of the transaction proposal by Webster’s stockholders having been obtained, (2) Santander, because the approval of the transaction proposal by Webster’s stockholders has not been obtained (other than in the circumstances contemplated in the bullet |
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• | if the transaction agreement is terminated by Santander because, prior to the special meeting, an adverse recommendation change has occurred or there has been an intentional and material breach by Webster of its non-solicitation obligations under the transaction agreement, or if the transaction agreement is terminated by Webster or Santander because the approval by Webster’s stockholders of the transaction proposal and the transaction has not been obtained upon a vote taken at the special meeting or at any adjournment or postponement thereof at a time when the transaction agreement was terminable by Santander because, prior to the special meeting, an adverse recommendation change had occurred or there had been an intentional and material breach by Webster of its non-solicitation obligations under the transaction agreement. |
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• | the applicable Spanish Tax Form (as of the date of this document, Form 210), |
• | the certificate of tax residence referred to in the preceding section, and |
• | evidence that NRIT was withheld with respect to the Qualifying Stockholder. |
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• | each of the Webster’s directors; |
• | each of Webster’s executive officers; |
• | all of Webster’s directors and executive officers as a group; and |
• | each person or group known to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Webster common stock. |
Name of Beneficial Owner | Shares of Webster Common Stock Beneficially Owned | Percent of Common Stock | ||||
Directors | ||||||
William L. Atwell | 30,915 | * | ||||
John P. Cahill | 26,335 | * | ||||
William D. Haas | 4,665 | * | ||||
Frederick J. Crawford | 1,515 | * | ||||
E. Carol Hayles | 12,389 | * | ||||
Mona Aboelnaga Kanaan | 14,216 | * | ||||
Maureen B. Mitchell | 15,535 | * | ||||
Laurence C. Morse | 25,237 | * | ||||
Richard O’Toole | 37,193 | * | ||||
Mark Pettie | 34,397 | * | ||||
Lauren C. States | 14,345 | * | ||||
William E. Whiston | 21,032 | * | ||||
Executive Officers | ||||||
John R. Ciulla | 249,290 | * | ||||
Neal Holland | 30,570 | * | ||||
Luis R. Massiani | 114,838 | * | ||||
Christopher J. Motl | 71,598 | * | ||||
Kristy Berner | 15,987 | * | ||||
Jason Schugel | 5,296 | * | ||||
Elzbieta Cieslik | 15,482 | * | ||||
Javier L. Evans | 20,710 | * | ||||
James Griffin | 26,958 | * | ||||
Benjamin Krynick | 11,929 | * | ||||
Vikram Nafde | 25,085 | * | ||||
Jason Soto | 34,366 | * | ||||
Marissa Weidner | 13,714 | * | ||||
Charles L. Wilkins | 35,173 | * | ||||
All current directors and executive officers as a group (26 persons) | 908,770 | * | ||||
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Name of Beneficial Owner | Shares of Webster Common Stock Beneficially Owned | Percent of Common Stock | ||||
Other Principal Holders (1) | ||||||
The Vanguard Group | 18,123,598 | 10.55% | ||||
BlackRock, Inc. | 15,387,792 | 8.4% | ||||
FMR LLC | 9,906,975 | 5.8% | ||||
* | Less than one percent. |
(1) | Based on information in the most recent Schedule 13D or 13G (or amendment thereto) filed with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act, unless otherwise indicated. Beneficial ownership has been determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act. |
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Webster | Santander | ||
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | |||
Webster’s fourth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as further amended from time to time (the “Webster charter”), its amended and restated bylaws (the “Webster bylaws”) and the DGCL govern the rights of holders of shares of Webster common stock. | The rights attached to Santander ordinary shares are governed by Santander’s bylaws, its rules and regulations for the shareholders’ meeting and the Spanish Companies Act, as amended from time to time. | ||
AUTHORIZED CAPITAL STOCK | |||
Authorized Shares. At March 11, 2026, the total number of authorized shares of Webster capital stock was 403,000,000 shares, consisting of 400,000,000 shares of Webster common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 3,000,000 shares of Webster preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. | Issued Shares. Santander’s share capital is represented by Santander ordinary shares with a par value of €0.50 each. All Santander ordinary shares belong to the same class and series, and carry the same rights, including as to voting and dividends. | ||
The Webster charter provides that the Webster board is authorized, by resolution or resolutions, from time to time, adopted and by filing a certificate pursuant to the applicable provisions of the DGCL, to provide for the issuance of serial preferred stock in series and to fix and state the voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of the shares of each such series and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof. | At March 11, 2026, Santander had a share capital of €7,344,659,751 represented by 14,689,319,502 Santander ordinary shares. All ordinary shares are fully paid, nonassessable and represented in book-entry form only. | ||
Under Spanish law, the authority to increase share capital rests with Santander’s shareholders. However, Santander’s shareholders may delegate to the Santander board the authority to execute capital increases in accordance with Article 297.1(a) of the Spanish Companies Act. | |||
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Webster | Santander | ||
Additionally, under Article 297.1(b) of the Spanish Companies Act, Santander’s shareholders may delegate to the board of directors the authority to approve, on one or more occasions, capital increases, for cash consideration, up to no more than 50% of Santander’s share capital, subject to certain limits established under the Spanish Companies Act. | |||
Santander’s bylaws are fully aligned with Spanish law, and do not establish any different conditions for share capital increases. | |||
VOTING RIGHTS. ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT | |||
Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Webster common stock are entitled to one vote per share on each matter properly submitted to stockholders for their vote. | Voting Rights. Each ordinary share of Santander entitles its holder to one vote at the Santander shareholders’ meeting. Santander’s bylaws do not contain provisions regarding cumulative voting. | ||
Action by Written Consent. The Webster charter permits stockholder action by unanimous written consent. | Action by Written Consent. The Spanish Companies Act does not permit matters reserved to the shareholders’ meeting to be decided without convening a meeting. | ||
AMENDMENT TO THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION | |||
Under Delaware law, amendments to a corporation’s certificate of incorporation must be approved by a resolution of the board of directors declaring the advisability of the amendment, and by the affirmative vote of a majority of outstanding shares entitled to vote. If an amendment would increase or decrease the number of authorized shares of such class, increase or decrease the par value of the shares of such class or alter or change the powers, preferences or other special rights of a class of outstanding shares so as to affect the class adversely, then a majority of shares of that class also must approve the amendment. Delaware law also permits a corporation to require in its certificate of incorporation a greater proportion of voting power to approve a specified amendment. | Not applicable. Under the Spanish Companies Act, the provisions set out in the articles of incorporation (escritura de constitución), which regulate a company throughout its existence, are incorporated into and reflected in its bylaws. | ||
The Webster charter provides that the amendment of the charter requires the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then in office at a duly constituted meeting of the Webster board called for such purpose and, thereafter, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the shares entitled to vote thereon at a duly called annual or special meeting. | |||
The Webster charter provides that any amendment to the provisions set forth in the articles entitled “Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation” or “Certain Business Combinations” requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the shares entitled to vote thereon rather | |||
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than a majority. | |||
The Webster charter provides that any amendment to the provisions set forth in the articles entitled “Directors,” “Bylaws,” “Special Meetings,” “Approval for Acquisitions of Control and Offers to Acquire Control,” “Criteria for Evaluating Certain Officers,” “Anti-Greenmail” or “Shareholder Action” requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the shares entitled to vote thereon rather than a majority. | |||
AMENDMENT TO THE BYLAWS | |||
The Webster charter and the Webster bylaws provide that the Webster board or Webster’s stockholders may amend the Webster bylaws. Such action by the Webster board requires the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then in office at a duly constituted meeting of the Webster board called for such purpose. Such action by Webster’s stockholders requires the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the total votes eligible to be voted at a duly constituted meeting of shareholders called for such purpose. | Under the Spanish Companies Act, shareholders have the authority to amend any provision of a company’s bylaws. | ||
In general, the board of directors may not amend a company’s bylaws. However, Santander’s bylaws allow the Santander board to make certain limited amendments, such as relocating the registered office within the same municipality or modifying, deleting or transferring the corporate website. | |||
Amendments to Santander’s bylaws, as well as other matters such as the issuance of debentures, capital increases or reductions, or the transformation, merger, split-off, or assignment of assets and liabilities, require at the relevant Santander shareholders’ meeting (i) a quorum of at least 50% of the subscribed voting capital on first call, or at least 25% on second call; and (ii) the favorable vote of more than half of the votes corresponding to the Santander ordinary shares represented in person or by proxy, except when on second call shareholders representing less than 50% of the subscribed share capital with the right to vote are in attendance, in which case the favorable vote of two-thirds of the share capital represented in person or by proxy is required. | |||
Any amendments to the bylaws of a Spanish bank must be submitted to the ECB for approval. As an exception, the following amendments do not require approval and only need to be notified: (i) a relocation of registered office within Spain; (ii) a capital increase; (iii) amendments to align the bylaws with mandatory legislation; and (iv) other amendments that the ECB or the Bank of Spain have deemed unnecessary to request approval for, following a previous consultation. | |||
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RIGHT TO DIVIDENDS | ||||||
The holders of shares of Webster common stock and any class or series of stock entitled to participate with the holders of shares of Webster common stock are entitled to receive dividends declared by the Webster board out of any assets legally available for distribution. The Webster board may not declare, and Webster may not pay, dividends or other distributions, unless Webster has paid or the Webster board has declared or set aside all accumulated dividends and any sinking fund, retirement fund or other retirement payments on any class of stock having preference as to payments of dividends over shares of Webster common stock. | Santander shareholders are entitled to participate in any dividend distribution, or any other form of shareholders remuneration, in proportion to the paid-in capital represented by their ordinary shares. | |||||
Santander is not required to distribute any mandatory dividends to its shareholders. | ||||||
APPRAISAL / SEPARATION RIGHTS | ||||||
Under the DGCL, a stockholder may dissent from, and receive payments in cash for, the fair value of his or her shares as appraised by the Delaware Court of Chancery in the event of certain mergers and consolidations. However, stockholders do not have appraisal rights if the shares of stock they hold, at the record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting of stockholders to act upon the merger or consolidation, or on the record date with respect to action by written consent, are either (i) listed on a national securities exchange or (ii) held of record by more than 2,000 holders. Further, no appraisal rights are available to stockholders of the surviving corporation if the merger did not require the vote of the stockholders of the surviving corporation. | Separation Rights. Under the Spanish Companies Act, shareholders do not generally have the right to require a company to purchase their shares. As an exception, in limited circumstances (such as a material change in the corporate purpose or the relocation of the registered office to another country) shareholders who did not vote in favor of the corresponding resolution may request that the company purchase their shares. For listed shares, the purchase price shall be the average market price of the shares over the preceding quarter. | |||||
Notwithstanding the foregoing, appraisal rights are available if stockholders are required by the terms of the applicable transaction agreement to accept for their shares anything other than (i) shares of stock of the surviving corporation, (ii) shares of stock of another corporation that will either be listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by more than 2,000 holders, (iii) cash instead of fractional shares or (iv) any combination of clauses (i) – (iii). Appraisal rights are also available under the DGCL in certain other circumstances, including in certain parent-subsidiary corporation mergers and in certain circumstances where the certificate of incorporation so provides. The Webster charter does not provide for appraisal rights in any additional circumstance. | ||||||
PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS | ||||||
The holders of shares of Webster common stock have no preemptive rights to subscribe for a proportionate share of any additional securities issued by Webster before such securities are offered to others. | In the event of a capital increase by means of cash contributions, each shareholder has a preferential right by operation of law to subscribe for Santander ordinary shares in proportion to its shareholding. The same right | |||||
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is vested in shareholders upon the issuance of convertible debt. However, preemptive rights of shareholders may be excluded under certain circumstances by specific approval at the Santander shareholders’ meeting (or, upon its delegation, by the Santander board) and preemptive rights are deemed excluded by operation of law for certain share issuances, including, among others, when in the relevant capital increase when Santander’s shareholders approve: | |||
• capital increases following conversion of convertible bonds into Santander ordinary shares; | |||
• capital increases due to the absorption of another company or the absorption of spun-off assets of another company, provided the new Santander ordinary shares are issued in exchange for such other company or spun-off assets; or | |||
• capital increases due to Santander’s tender offer for securities using Santander ordinary shares as all or part of the consideration. | |||
If capital is increased by the issuance of new Santander ordinary shares in return for capital from certain reserves, the resulting new Santander ordinary shares are distributed pro rata to existing shareholders. | |||
ATTENDANCE AND VOTING AT MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS/SHAREHOLDERS | |||
Every holder of record of shares of Webster common stock as of the applicable record date has the right to notice of, and to vote, in person or by proxy, at any stockholders’ meeting. | Each Santander ordinary share entitles its holder to one vote. Registered holders of any number of Santander ordinary shares who are current in the payment of capital calls are entitled to attend the Santander shareholders’ meetings. | ||
Only registered holders of Santander ordinary shares of record at least five days prior to the day on which a meeting is scheduled to be held may attend and vote at the Santander shareholders’ meetings. | |||
Any Santander ordinary share may be voted by proxy. | |||
From the date the notice for the Santander shareholders’ meeting is published, Santander’s corporate website must provide the full text of all resolutions proposed by the Santander board on the different agenda items, along with information on how shareholders may grant representation to an individual or legal entity. The corporate website must also specify the procedures and requirements for electronic delegation and online voting. | |||
In certain circumstances, mandatory voting restrictions may apply to Santander’s ordinary shares if their holders face potential conflicts of interest, as established by the | |||
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Spanish Companies Act or other applicable laws. | |||
SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS/SHAREHOLDERS | |||
The Webster charter provides that special meetings of stockholders may be called at any time but only by the chairman of the Webster board, the president of Webster or the Webster board. | Santander holds its annual shareholders’ meeting during the first six months of each fiscal year on a date fixed by the Santander board. Extraordinary meetings may be called from time to time by the Santander board whenever the Santander board considers it advisable for corporate interests, and whenever so requested by shareholders representing at least 3% of Santander’s outstanding share capital. | ||
Notices of all meetings must be published at least one month prior to the scheduled meeting date, unless a different period is established by law. Such notices must be published in the Official Gazette of the Commercial Registry or in one of the national newspapers with the largest circulation in Spain, as well as on the CNMV’s website and Santander’s website. In addition, under Spanish law, the meeting agenda must be sent to the CNMV and the Spanish Stock Exchanges and published on Santander’s website. | |||
STOCKHOLDER/SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS AND NOMINATIONS | |||
The Webster bylaws establish procedures that stockholders must follow to nominate persons for election to the Webster board or bring business before an annual meeting of stockholders. A stockholder making a nomination or proposing business must provide notice in writing, delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive officers of Webster not less than 30 days nor more than 90 days prior to the corresponding meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that less than 45 days’ notice or prior public disclosure of the date of such meeting is given or made to stockholders, notice by a stockholder to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the 15th day following the day on which such notice of the date of such meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made. A stockholder’s notice for proposing business must set forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (ii) the name and address, as they appear on Webster’s books, of the stockholder proposing such business, (iii) the class and number of shares of Webster which are beneficially owned by the stockholder and (iv) any material interest of the stockholder in such business. | Shareholders representing at least 3% of Santander’s share capital may request the publication of a supplement to the notice convening a Santander shareholders’ meeting, including the addition of one or more items to the agenda. This right must be exercised by verifiable notice received at Santander’s registered office within five days following publication of the original notice of meeting. The supplement to the notice shall be published at least 15 days prior to the date scheduled for the Santander shareholders’ meeting. | ||
In addition, pursuant to the Spanish Companies Act, shareholders whose aggregate shareholdings are equal to or greater than the result of dividing the total share capital by the number of directors are entitled to appoint a corresponding proportion of the members of the board of directors, disregarding fractions. Shareholders who exercise this right may not vote on the appointment of the remaining directors. | |||
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A stockholder’s notice to nominate persons for election to the Webster board must set forth (i) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection, (1) the name, age, business address and residence address of such person, (2) the principal occupation or employment of such person, (3) the class and number of shares of Webster common stock which are beneficially owned by such person and (4) any other information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations or proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act; and (ii) as to the stockholder giving notice, (1) the name and address, as they appear on Webster’s books, of such stockholder and (2) the class and number of shares of Webster which are beneficially owned by such stockholder. At the request of the Webster board, any person nominated by the Webster board for election as a director must furnish to Webster’s Corporate Secretary that information required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice of nomination which pertains to the nominee. | |||
The chairman of a meeting may, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to such meeting that a nomination or other business proposal was not made in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Webster bylaws, and if they should so determine, shall so declare to the meeting such that the defective nomination or other business proposal is disregarded. | |||
STOCKHOLDER/SHAREHOLDER SUITS | |||
Under Delaware law, stockholders may bring derivative actions on behalf of the corporation to enforce the rights of the corporation. Prior to bringing an action, a stockholder plaintiff is required to make a demand on the directors of the corporation to assert the claim, unless it is able to show that making such a demand would be futile. In order to maintain a derivative suit, a person must have been a stockholder at the time of the transaction that is the subject of the suit and must also generally maintain its status as a stockholder throughout the duration of the suit. In certain circumstances, class action lawsuits are available to stockholders. | Pursuant to the Spanish Companies Act, a company may bring a corporate action for liability (acción social de responsabilidad) against its directors upon the approval of a resolution by the Santander shareholders’ meeting to that effect. Such a resolution may be proposed and voted on at any Santander shareholders’ meeting, even if it is not included on the meeting agenda. Notwithstanding the foregoing, pursuant to the Spanish Companies Act, shareholders representing at least 3% of a company’s share capital may jointly initiate such action if: | ||
• such company’s directors have failed to convene a shareholders’ meeting to vote on such action following a request by shareholders representing at least 3% of such company’s share capital; | |||
• such company has not commenced the action within one month after the shareholders’ meeting approved the resolution authorizing such action; or | |||
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• such company’s shareholders’ meeting has resolved not to bring the corporate action for liability. | |||
Moreover, shareholders holding at least 3% of a company’s share capital may directly initiate the action (without needing to request the calling of a shareholders’ meeting) if the action is based on a breach of a director’s duty of loyalty (deber de lealtad). | |||
A corporate action for liability may be brought solely to remedy or restore damage caused by the director(s) to the company and may not be used to seek compensation for individual damage suffered by shareholders. | |||
Under Spanish law, class actions are not available to shareholders pursuing claims against a company’s directors. Pursuant to the Spanish Companies Act, any shareholder whose interests have been directly damaged by acts or resolutions of a company’s directors may bring individual proceedings against such directors (acción individual de responsabilidad) to seek remedy or compensation for such direct or indirect damages. | |||
RIGHTS OF INSPECTION | |||
Under Delaware law, stockholders have the right to inspect during normal business hours the corporation’s stock ledger, a list of the corporation’s stockholders and other books and records of the corporation, after making a written demand stating their purpose so long as the purpose is reasonably related to the person’s interest as a stockholder. The Webster bylaws provide that a list of stockholders entitled to vote at a meeting will be produced and kept at the time and place of such meeting | Under Spanish law, a shareholder is entitled to: | ||
• request information relating to matters included on the agenda of a shareholders’ meeting (i) in writing, up to and including the fifth day prior to the meeting; and/or (ii) verbally during the meeting. Santander’s directors are required to provide the requested information unless disclosure is unnecessary for the protection of shareholders’ rights, or there are | |||
during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any Webster’s stockholder who is present at such meeting. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, the list will be open to the examination of any Webster’s stockholder during the whole time of such meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list will be provided with the notice of the meeting. | objective grounds to believe that it could be used for non-corporate purposes or that it could be detrimental to the company. However, the directors may not refuse to provide such information if the request is supported by shareholders representing at least 25% of such company’s share capital. As a listed company, Santander shareholders may also request, up to and including the fifth day prior to a Santander shareholders’ meeting, additional information or clarification regarding any information made publicly available by Santander and submitted to the CNMV since the last Santander shareholders’ meeting, as well as regarding the report of Santander’s external auditor; | ||
• obtain from the company the annual accounts submitted for approval at the annual shareholders’ meeting; | |||
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• inspect the mandatory reports and information that the board of directors is required to provide in connection with certain corporate actions, such as mergers, split-offs or certain share capital increases, and request that such documents be delivered or sent to them free of charge; | |||
• if applicable, obtain the reasoned proposal for the directors’ remuneration policy, together with the full text of the policy and the specific report issued by the remuneration committee, and request that these be delivered or sent to such shareholder free of charge; and | |||
• access, on the company’s corporate website and at its registered office, to the full text of all other documents and proposed resolutions submitted to the shareholders’ for binding or consultative vote (among others, the annual report on directors’ remuneration). | |||
Santander must publish the resolutions approved by the Santander shareholders’ meeting and the results of the voting on Santander’s corporate website within five days after the meeting. | |||
In addition, shareholders of Santander who, individually or collectively, hold at least 3% of Santander’s share capital, as well as shareholders’ associations representing at least 1% of Santander’s share capital, are entitled to obtain shareholder information (including addresses and contact details) solely for the purpose of exercising their rights and safeguarding their common interests. | |||
Apart from the general right to information described above, shareholders of a Spanish public company do not have the right to inspect the company’s documents, contracts, books or other information. | |||
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Santander’s bylaws grant Santander shareholders the right to inspect the attendance list of the Santander shareholders’ meetings during the meeting. | |||
BOARD OF DIRECTORS | |||
Size and Classification of Board of Directors | |||
The Webster charter and the Webster bylaws provide that the Webster board shall consist of not less than seven nor more than 15 directors. Within such limits, the number of directors is determined by resolution of the Webster board. Currently, the Webster board has 13 directors. All directors are elected annually. | Santander’s bylaws establish that the Santander board shall consist of a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 17 members, with the current board comprising 15 directors. | ||
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Santander’s bylaws provide that a director’s term of office is three years, although directors may be reappointed. Additionally, Santander’s bylaws require that each year the term of office of one-third of Santander’s directors must expire and that such directors must either retire or be reappointed. The directors to retire or be reappointed must be those who have served for a longer time period after their most recent appointment. | |||
Election | |||
Each director of the Webster board is elected by the vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to such director at any meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is present; provided that if the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, the directors are elected by the vote of a plurality of the Webster shares represented in person, by remote communication or by proxy at any such meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. Each share of Webster common stock carries one vote per director to be elected. Holders of shares of Webster common stock are not entitled to cumulate their votes in the election of directors. | Directors are generally appointed by the shareholders’ meeting. | ||
Under Spanish law, shareholders who voluntarily aggregate their shares to reach an amount of share capital equal to or greater than the result of dividing the company’s total share capital by the number of members of the board of directors are entitled to appoint the number of directors corresponding to that proportion, disregarding fractions. Shareholders exercising this right may not vote on the appointment of any remaining directors. | |||
Removal | |||
The Webster charter provides that no director may be removed except by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the total votes eligible to be voted by stockholders at a duly constituted meeting of stockholders called for such purpose. At least 30 days prior to such meeting, written notice must be sent to the director or directors whose removal will be considered at such meeting. | Under Spanish law, shareholders may remove a director at any time without cause by approving the relevant resolution at a shareholders’ meeting. | ||
Vacancies | |||
The Webster charter and the Webster bylaws provide that any vacancy and newly created directorship resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled, for the unexpired term, by the concurring vote of a majority of the directors then in office, whether or not there is a quorum. Any director so chosen will hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until such director’s successor has been elected. | The Santander board has the authority to fill any board vacancies on an interim basis until the next Santander shareholders’ meeting, at which point the shareholders may confirm or revoke the appointment. If a vacancy arises after the notice for a Santander shareholders’ meeting has been issued but before such meeting takes place, the Santander board may appoint a director, and the appointee will serve until the following Santander shareholders’ meeting. | ||
A director appointed to fill a vacancy on an interim basis is not required to be a shareholder of Santander. If the Santander board does not make an interim appointment as described above, or if the Santander shareholders decide to revoke the appointment of a director provisionally appointed by the Santander board, the Santander shareholders may appoint another person to fill the vacancy. | |||
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Board Committees | |||
The Webster bylaws provide that the Webster board may, by a majority vote, designate the chief executive officers and two or more other directors to constitute an executive committee, with the chairman of the board serving as chairman of the executive committee unless a different director is designated as chairman by the Webster board. The Webster bylaws also provide that the Webster board shall establish an audit committee and a stock option committee. The Webster board may establish such other committees that the Webster board determines to be necessary or appropriate for the conduct of business of Webster. As of the date of this document, Webster has, in addition to the executive committee, an audit committee, a compensation and human resources committee, a nominating and corporate governance committee, a risk committee and a technology committee. | Pursuant to Santander’s bylaws, the Santander board may establish an executive committee with delegated general decision-making authority. Such executive committee shall consist of a minimum of five and a maximum of 12 members, with the current executive committee comprising five directors. The Santander board may also create committees with supervisory, advisory, informational and proposal functions in areas within its competence, and shall, in all cases, establish the committees required by applicable law, including a nominations committee, a remuneration committee, a risk, regulation and compliance committee, and an audit committee. As of the date of this document, Santander has, in addition to the executive committee, an audit committee, a nominations committee, a remuneration committee, a risk supervision, regulation and compliance committee, a responsible banking, sustainability and culture committee and an innovation and technology committee. | ||
Director Liability and Indemnification | |||
The Webster charter provides that no director will be personally liable to Webster or Webster’s stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL. | Pursuant to the Spanish Companies Act and Santander’s bylaws, directors of Santander are liable to the company, its shareholders and its creditors for any damage resulting from acts or omissions that breach applicable law, Santander’s bylaws or the duties inherent to their office, provided that such acts or omissions involve willful misconduct (dolo) or negligence (culpa). Santander directors are covered by Santander’s civil liability insurance policy. | ||
The Webster bylaws provide that, subject to certain exceptions provided below, Webster must indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, and any appeal therein, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of Webster) by reason of the fact he is or was a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, association, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, and any appeal therein, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Webster, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding, and any appeals therein, by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, will not, of itself, | |||
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create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Webster, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. Further, subject to certain exceptions provided below, Webster must indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of Webster to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of Webster, or is or was serving at the request of Webster as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against amounts paid in settlement and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Webster; provided, however, that no indemnification may be made against expenses in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person will have been adjudged to be liable to Webster or against amounts paid in settlement unless and only to the extent that there is a determination (as set forth below) that despite the adjudication of liability or the settlement, but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses or amounts paid in settlement. | |||
Any indemnification under the Webster bylaws (unless ordered by a court) may be made by Webster only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, trustee, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because such director, officer, trustee, employee or agent has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Webster bylaws and, if applicable, is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity as set forth in the proviso in the Webster bylaws, as the case may be. Such determination must be made (i) by the Webster board by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, (ii) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (iii) by Webster’s stockholders. To the extent, however, that a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of Webster has been successful on the merits or otherwise | |||
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in defense of any action, suit or proceeding described above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he will be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith, without the necessity of authorization in the specific case. No director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of Webster may be entitled to indemnification in connection with any action, suit or proceeding voluntarily initiated by such person unless the action, suit or proceeding was authorized by a majority of the entire Webster board. | |||
Notwithstanding any contrary determination, any director, officer, trustee, employee or agent may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Delaware for indemnification to the extent otherwise permissible under the Webster bylaws. The basis of such indemnification by a court will be a determination by such court that indemnification of the director, officer, trustee, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standards of conduct set forth in the two immediately preceding paragraphs above. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, unless otherwise required by law, no director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of Webster will be entitled to indemnification in connection with any action, suit or proceeding voluntarily initiated by such person unless the action, suit or proceeding was authorized by a majority of the entire Webster board. | |||
Expenses incurred in connection with a threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding may be paid by Webster in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director, officer, trustee, employee or agent to repay such amount if it is determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by Webster as authorized in the Webster bylaws. Webster may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of Webster, or is or was serving at the request of Webster as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, association, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not Webster would have the power or the obligation to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of the Webster bylaws. | |||
Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary, no indemnification may be paid by Webster if such indemnification violates the application restrictions on indemnification set forth in Section 18(k) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. | |||
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ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS | |||
Business Combinations | |||
Webster has not opted out of Section 203 of the DGCL, which provides that a corporation may not engage in certain business combinations, including mergers, sales and leases of assets, issuances of securities and other similar transactions, with any stockholder that owns 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of a corporation (for purposes of this paragraph, an “interested stockholder”) for three years following the date such stockholder became an interested stockholder unless one of the following exceptions applies: (i) the Webster board approved the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the person becoming an interested stockholder prior to the time that the person became an interested stockholder, (ii) upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the person becoming an interested stockholder such person owned at least 85% of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation, excluding, for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding, voting stock owned by directors who are also officers and certain employee stock plans or (iii) the transaction is approved by the Webster board and by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder. An “interested stockholder” also includes the affiliates and associates of a 15% or more owner and any affiliate or associate of the corporation who was the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock within the preceding three-year period (subject to certain exceptions). | Not applicable. | ||
In addition, subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Webster charter, the Webster charter requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the total number of outstanding shares of voting stock for certain business combinations with any stockholder that is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power of the then-outstanding voting stock of Webster, or is an affiliate of Webster and at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power of the then-outstanding voting stock of Webster. | |||
When evaluating offers for certain business combinations, including mergers, consolidations, sales of assets and tender or exchange offers for shares of Webster common stock, the Webster board is required to give due consideration to all relevant factors, including without limitation the economic effects of acceptance of such offer on (i) depositors, borrowers and employees of | |||
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the insured institution subsidiary or subsidiaries of Webster, and on the communities in which such subsidiary or subsidiaries operate or are located and (ii) the ability of such subsidiary or subsidiaries to fulfill the objectives of an insured institution under applicable federal statutes and regulations. | |||
Mandatory Tender Offer | |||
Not applicable. | Under Spanish law, a mandatory tender offer at a price established by law shall be launched for all shares of the target company, as well as any other securities that may directly or indirectly confer the right to subscribe for or acquire such shares (including convertible and exchangeable bonds), whenever any person acquires control of a Spanish company listed on the Spanish Stock Exchanges. As an exception, takeover regulations shall not apply to acquisitions of control resulting from the exercise of any resolution tools provided under the applicable regulations on the recovery and resolution of credit institutions. | ||
For these purposes, control of a target company is considered to be acquired, whether individually or jointly, if any person or group of persons acquires, directly or indirectly (i) 30% or more of the voting rights in the company, or (ii) less than 30% of the voting rights in the company but, within 24 months of the acquisition, has been responsible for appointing more than half of the target company’s board of directors. In addition, voluntary public tender offers for the acquisition of shares in Spanish listed companies (that is, offers that do not result in the acquisition of control of the target company or trigger an obligation to launch a mandatory public tender offer) are also subject to the authorization of the CNMV and to the provisions of the Securities Markets and Investment Services Law and Royal Decree 1066/2007, although, among other exceptions, they are not subject to the requirement to set a regulated price. | |||
If a tender offer for all the shares of a listed company is accepted by holders of 90% or more of the voting rights attached to the shares to which the offer was addressed, and the offeror consequently holds 90% or more of the target company’s voting capital, holders of the remaining ordinary shares may require the offeror to acquire all such outstanding shares, and the offeror may require these shareholders to sell their shares to the offeror, at a price regulated by Spanish law. | |||
DUTIES OF DIRECTORS | |||
The board of directors is responsible for managing the business and affairs of a corporation under Delaware | Under Spanish law, the board of directors is responsible for the management and representation of a company, | ||
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Webster | Santander | ||
law. In discharging that responsibility, directors of Delaware corporations owe a duty of care and a duty of loyalty to the corporation, as well as to its stockholders. The Delaware courts have made clear that directors are required to exercise an informed business judgment in the performance of their duties. To do so, directors must have informed themselves of all material information reasonably available to them. | although certain matters are reserved for the shareholders’ meeting, which may also grant mandates to the board of directors regarding management matters. In line with Santander’s internal rules and regulations and corporate governance best practices, the Santander board also has a general duty of supervision. Directors are required to comply with the duties established by law, the company’s bylaws and the regulations governing the shareholders’ meeting and the board of directors. These duties include the following: | ||
• to act with diligence in the management of the company. In particular, directors must perform their duties with the care of an “orderly businessperson” (ordenado empresario), taking into account the nature of their position and the duties assigned to them. A director shall devote sufficient time to the company, adopt appropriate measures to manage and supervise its affairs and diligently request and obtain from the company the information necessary to fulfill such director’s duties; and | |||
• to comply with their duty of loyalty (deber de lealtad). In particular, directors must carry their responsibilities with the loyalty of a “faithful representative” (fiel representante), acting in good faith and in the best interest of the company. The Spanish Companies Act establishes certain obligations and prohibitions as part of this duty, including (i) not using their powers as director for purposes other than those for which they were granted, (ii) maintaining the confidentiality of non-public information, even after leaving office, except in cases where disclosure is permitted or required by law, and (iii) taking the necessary measures to prevent conflicts of interests between their personal interests and those of the company or their duties as director. In addition, the Spanish Companies Act sets out certain actions that directors are prohibited from taking to comply with their duty to avoid conflicts of interest. | |||
Under the Spanish Companies Act, certain specific obligations related to conflicts of interest, which form part of the duties of loyalty, may be waived by the board of directors or the shareholders’ meeting (depending on the specific prohibition and the circumstances of the case) provided that certain conditions are met. | |||
In addition to the foregoing, Spanish banking regulations require directors to meet standards of professional and commercial integrity, as well as possess the relevant knowledge and expertise. | |||
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• | the issuance of debentures; |
• | the increase or reduction of Santander’s share capital, the exclusion or limitation of pre-emptive rights, or the relocation of the registered office to another country; |
• | the transformation, merger, split-off, or assignment of assets and liabilities; and |
• | any other amendment of Santander’s bylaws. |
• | Authorized capital to 2027: Shareholders at the 2024 Santander shareholders’ meeting granted authorization to the Santander board to increase Santander’s share capital on one or more occasions by up to €3,956,394,643 (50% of Santander’s share capital at the time of such shareholders’ meeting). The Santander board can issue Santander ordinary shares for cash consideration with or without pre-emptive rights for shareholders. The Santander board was granted this authorization for a period of three years (until March 22, 2027). |
• | Capital increases approved for contingent conversion of CCPS: Santander issued CCPS that qualify as regulatory Additional Tier 1 (AT1) instruments which would be converted into newly-issued Santander ordinary shares if the CET1 ratio fell below a predetermined threshold. Each issue was backed by a capital increase approved under the authorization granted to the Santander board by Santander’s shareholders. |
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• | The repurchase must be previously authorized by Santander’s shareholders in a resolution establishing the maximum number of Santander ordinary shares to be acquired, the ownership title for the acquisition, the minimum and maximum acquisition price (if not pursuant to a gift or inheritance) and the duration of the authorization, which may not exceed five years from the date of the resolution. |
• | The repurchase, including the Santander ordinary shares already acquired and currently held by Santander, or any person or company acting in Santander’s name or on its behalf, must not bring Santander net equity below the aggregate amount of Santander share capital and legal or non-distributable reserves. For these purposes, net equity means the amount resulting from the application of the criteria used to draw up the financial statements, subtracting the amount of profits directly allocated to such net equity, and adding the amount of share capital subscribed but not called and the share capital par value and issue premium recorded in the accounts as liabilities. |
• | The aggregate par value of the Santander ordinary shares directly or indirectly repurchased, together with the aggregate par value of the Santander ordinary shares already held by Santander, must not exceed 10% of the total outstanding capital stock of Santander. |
• | Santander ordinary shares repurchased for valuable consideration must be fully paid up. A repurchase shall be considered null and void if (i) the Santander ordinary shares are partially paid up, except in the case of free repurchase, or (ii) the Santander ordinary shares entail ancillary obligations. |
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• | Treasury shares lack voting and economic rights (for example, the right to receive dividends and other distributions and liquidation rights). Such economic rights, except the right to receive bonus shares, will accrue proportionately to all the shareholders. Treasury shares are counted for purposes of establishing the quorum for shareholders’ meetings as well as for the majority voting requirements to pass resolutions at shareholders’ meetings. |
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• | capital increases following conversion of convertible bonds into Santander ordinary shares; |
• | capital increases due to the absorption of another company or the absorption of spun-off assets of another company, provided the new Santander ordinary shares are issued in exchange for such other company or spun-off assets; or |
• | capital increases due to Santander’s tender offer for securities using Santander ordinary shares as all or part of the consideration. |
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• | On July 4, 2025, asset manager BlackRock Inc. reported a significant shareholding of 6.861% of voting Santander ordinary shares, reflecting a decrease from its previous reporting of 6.875%. |
• | Regulation (EU) 1024/2013 of the Council of October 15, 2013, conferring specific tasks on the ECB relating to the prudential supervision of credit institutions. |
• | Act 10/2014, of June 26, on the organization, supervision and solvency of credit institutions and its implementing regulation, Spanish Royal Decree 84/2015, of February 13. |
• | Act 6/2023, of March 17, on the Securities Markets and on Investment Services. |
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1. | Whenever Santander intends to distribute to the holders of Deposited Securities property other than cash, Santander ordinary shares or rights to purchase additional Santander ordinary shares, Santander shall give timely notice thereof to the Depositary and shall indicate whether or not it wishes such distribution to be made to holders of Santander ADSs. Upon receipt of a notice indicating that Santander wishes such distribution to be made to holders of Santander ADSs, the Depositary shall consult with Santander, and Santander shall assist the Depositary, to determine whether such distribution to holders is lawful and reasonably practicable. The Depositary shall not make such distribution unless (i) Santander shall have requested the Depositary to make such distribution to holders, (ii) the Depositary shall have received satisfactory documentation within the terms of Section 5.7 of the deposit agreement, and (iii) the Depositary shall have determined that such distribution is reasonably practicable. |
2. | Upon receipt of satisfactory documentation and the request of Santander to distribute property to holders of Santander ADSs and after making the requisite determinations set forth in (1) above, the Depositary shall distribute the property so received to the holders of record, as of the Santander ADS record date, in proportion to the number of Santander ADSs held by them respectively and in such manner as the Depositary may reasonably deem practicable for accomplishing such distribution (i) upon receipt of payment or net of the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and (ii) net of any applicable taxes required to be withheld. The Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of the property so distributed and deposited, in such amounts and in such manner (including public or private sale) as the Depositary may deem reasonably practicable or necessary to satisfy any taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) or other governmental charges applicable to the distribution. |
3. | If (i) Santander does not request the Depositary to make such distribution to holders or requests the Depositary not to make such distribution to holders, (ii) the Depositary does not receive satisfactory documentation within the terms of Section 5.7 of the deposit agreement, or (iii) the Depositary determines that all or a portion of such distribution is not reasonably practicable, the Depositary shall sell or cause such property to be sold in a public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem practicable and shall (i) cause the proceeds of such sale, if any, to be converted into U.S. dollars and (ii) distribute the proceeds of such conversion received by the Depositary (net of applicable (a) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes) to the holders as of the Santander ADS record date upon the terms of Section 4.1 of the deposit agreement. If the Depositary is unable to sell such property, the Depositary may dispose of such property for the account of the holders in any way it deems reasonably practicable under the circumstances. |
4. | Neither the Depositary nor Santander shall be liable for (i) any failure to accurately determine whether it is lawful or practicable to make the property described in Section 4.5 of the deposit agreement available to holders in general or any holders in particular, nor (ii) any loss incurred in connection with the sale or disposal of such property. |
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Service | Fees | ||
Issuance of Santander ADSs (e.g., an issuance of Santander ADSs upon a deposit of Santander ordinary shares, upon a change in the Santander ADS(s)-to-Santander ordinary shares ratio, or for any other reason), excluding Santander ADS issuances as a result of distributions of Santander ordinary shares | Up to U.S. 5¢ per Santander ADS issued | ||
Cancellation of Santander ADSs (e.g., a cancellation of Santander ADSs for delivery of Deposited Property, upon a change in the Santander ADS(s)-to-Santander ordinary shares ratio, or for any other reason) | Up to U.S. 5¢ per Santander ADS cancelled | ||
Distribution of cash dividends or other cash distributions (e.g., upon a sale of rights and other entitlements) | Up to U.S. 5¢ per Santander ADS held | ||
Distribution of Santander ADSs pursuant to (i) stock dividends or other free stock distributions, or (ii) exercise of rights to purchase additional Santander ADSs | Up to U.S. 5¢ per Santander ADS held | ||
Distribution of securities other than Santander ADSs or rights to purchase additional Santander ADSs (e.g., upon a spin-off) | Up to U.S. 5¢ per Santander ADS held | ||
ADS Services | Up to U.S. 5¢ per Santander ADS held on the applicable Santander record date(s) established by the Depositary | ||
Registration of Santander ADSs transfers (e.g., upon a registration of the transfer of registered ownership of Santander ADSs, upon a transfer of Santander ADSs into DTC and vice versa, or for any other reason) | Up to U.S. 5¢ per Santander ADS (or fraction thereof) transferred | ||
Conversion of Santander ADSs of one series for Santander ADSs of another series (e.g., upon conversion of Partial Entitlement Santander ADSs for Full Entitlement Santander ADSs, or upon conversion of Restricted Santander ADSs (each as defined in the deposit agreement) into freely transferable Santander ADSs, and vice versa). | Up to U.S. 5¢ per Santander ADS (or fraction thereof) converted | ||
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Santander SEC Filings (File No. 001-12518; CIK No. 0000891478) | Period or Date Filed | ||
Annual Report on Form 20-F | Year ended December 31, 2025 (Filed on February 27, 2026) | ||
Report on Form 6-K containing certain information regarding Santander’s share buy-back program (the “Santander 2026 Share Buy-Back Program 6-K”) | Furnished to the SEC on February 4, 2026 | ||
Report on Form 6-K containing certain information regarding Santander’s annual general shareholders’ meeting (Accession No. 0000950103-26-002603) (the “Santander 2026 AGM 6-K”) | Furnished to the SEC on February 25, 2026 | ||
Webster SEC Filings (File No. 001-31486; CIK No. 0000801337) | Period or Date Filed | ||
Annual Report on Form 10-K | Year ended December 31, 2025 (Filed on February 27, 2026) | ||
Current Reports on Form 8-K | January 9, 2026, January 23, 2026, February 3, 2026, and February 6, 2026 (other than the portions of those documents not deemed to be filed) | ||
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ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS | ||||||
Section 1.01. | Definitions | A-5 | ||||
Section 1.02. | Other Definitional and Interpretative Provisions | A-13 | ||||
ARTICLE 2 THE REINCORPORATION MERGER | ||||||
Section 2.01. | The Reincorporation Merger | A-13 | ||||
Section 2.02. | Effective Time | A-14 | ||||
Section 2.03. | Effect Of Reincorporation Merger | A-14 | ||||
Section 2.04. | Conversion Of Shares | A-14 | ||||
Section 2.05. | Company Equity Awards | A-15 | ||||
Section 2.06. | Company ESPP | A-16 | ||||
Section 2.07. | Articles of Incorporation | A-16 | ||||
Section 2.08. | Bylaws | A-16 | ||||
Section 2.09. | Board of Directors; Management | A-16 | ||||
Section 2.10. | Dissenting Shares | A-16 | ||||
Section 2.11. | Tax Consequences | A-17 | ||||
ARTICLE 3 THE SHARE EXCHANGE | ||||||
Section 3.01. | The Share Exchange | A-17 | ||||
Section 3.02. | Exchange Effective Time | A-17 | ||||
Section 3.03. | Effects of the Share Exchange | A-18 | ||||
Section 3.04. | Exchange Of Company Virginia Sub Common Stock | A-18 | ||||
Section 3.05. | Parent Capital Stock | A-19 | ||||
Section 3.06. | Company Virginia Sub Preferred Stock | A-19 | ||||
Section 3.07. | Post-Closing Transactions | A-19 | ||||
ARTICLE 4 EXCHANGE OF SHARES | ||||||
Section 4.01. | Deposit of Consideration | A-19 | ||||
Section 4.02. | Exchange Of Shares | A-20 | ||||
Section 4.03. | Withholding Rights | A-21 | ||||
ARTICLE 5 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY | ||||||
Section 5.01. | Corporate Existence and Power | A-22 | ||||
Section 5.02. | Corporate Authorization | A-22 | ||||
Section 5.03. | Governmental Authorization | A-23 | ||||
Section 5.04. | Non-contravention | A-23 | ||||
Section 5.05. | Capitalization | A-23 | ||||
Section 5.06. | Subsidiaries | A-24 | ||||
Section 5.07. | Company Virginia Sub | A-25 | ||||
Section 5.08. | Reports | A-26 | ||||
Section 5.09. | Financial Statements | A-27 | ||||
Section 5.10. | Disclosure Documents | A-28 | ||||
Section 5.11. | Absence of Certain Changes | A-28 | ||||
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Section 5.12. | No Undisclosed Material Liabilities | A-28 | ||||
Section 5.13. | Compliance with Laws and Court Orders | A-28 | ||||
Section 5.14. | Litigation | A-30 | ||||
Section 5.15. | Properties | A-30 | ||||
Section 5.16. | Intellectual Property | A-30 | ||||
Section 5.17. | Taxes | A-32 | ||||
Section 5.18. | Employees and Employee Benefits Plans | A-34 | ||||
Section 5.19. | Environmental Matters | A-36 | ||||
Section 5.20. | Material Contracts | A-36 | ||||
Section 5.21. | Insurance | A-37 | ||||
Section 5.22. | Agreements With Regulatory Authorities | A-37 | ||||
Section 5.23. | Investment Securities and Commodities | A-38 | ||||
Section 5.24. | Derivative Instruments | A-38 | ||||
Section 5.25. | Customer Relationships | A-38 | ||||
Section 5.26. | Insurance Subsidiaries; No Broker-Dealer Subsidiary | A-39 | ||||
Section 5.27. | Related Party Transactions | A-39 | ||||
Section 5.28. | Loans | A-39 | ||||
Section 5.29. | HSA Business | A-40 | ||||
Section 5.30. | Investment Advisory Business | A-40 | ||||
Section 5.31. | Finders’ Fees | A-42 | ||||
Section 5.32. | Opinion of Financial Advisor | A-42 | ||||
Section 5.33. | Antitakeover Statutes | A-42 | ||||
Section 5.34. | No Reliance | A-42 | ||||
ARTICLE 6 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT | ||||||
Section 6.01. | Corporate Existence and Power | A-42 | ||||
Section 6.02. | Corporate Authorization | A-43 | ||||
Section 6.03. | Governmental Authorization | A-43 | ||||
Section 6.04. | Non-contravention | A-43 | ||||
Section 6.05. | Disclosure Documents | A-44 | ||||
Section 6.06. | Financial Statements | A-44 | ||||
Section 6.07. | SEC Filings | A-44 | ||||
Section 6.08. | Finders’ Fees | A-45 | ||||
Section 6.09. | Litigation | A-45 | ||||
Section 6.10. | Available Funds | A-45 | ||||
Section 6.11. | Absence of Certain Changes | A-45 | ||||
Section 6.12. | No Reliance | A-45 | ||||
ARTICLE 7 COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY | ||||||
Section 7.01. | Conduct of the Company | A-45 | ||||
Section 7.02. | Access to Information | A-48 | ||||
Section 7.03. | No Solicitation; Change of Recommendation | A-49 | ||||
ARTICLE 8 COVENANTS OF PARENT | ||||||
Section 8.01. | Director and Officer Liability | A-51 | ||||
Section 8.02. | Employee Matters | A-51 | ||||
Section 8.03. | Governance Matters | A-53 | ||||
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ARTICLE 9 COVENANTS OF PARENT AND THE COMPANY | ||||||
Section 9.01. | Regulatory Matters | A-53 | ||||
Section 9.02. | Stockholder Meetings | A-55 | ||||
Section 9.03. | Public Announcements | A-56 | ||||
Section 9.04. | Further Assurances | A-56 | ||||
Section 9.05. | Notices of Certain Events | A-56 | ||||
Section 9.06. | Takeover Statutes | A-57 | ||||
Section 9.07. | Exemption From Liability Under Section 16(b) | A-57 | ||||
Section 9.08. | Litigation | A-57 | ||||
Section 9.09. | Change of Method | A-57 | ||||
Section 9.10. | Treatment of Company Indebtedness | A-57 | ||||
Section 9.11. | Quarterly or Annual Reporting | A-57 | ||||
ARTICLE 10 CONDITIONS TO THE REINCORPORATION MERGER AND THE SHARE EXCHANGE | ||||||
Section 10.01. | Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party | A-58 | ||||
Section 10.02. | Conditions to Obligations of Parent | A-58 | ||||
Section 10.03. | Condition to Obligations of the Company | A-59 | ||||
ARTICLE 11 TERMINATION | ||||||
Section 11.01. | Termination | A-59 | ||||
Section 11.02. | Effect of Termination | A-60 | ||||
ARTICLE 12 MISCELLANEOUS | ||||||
Section 12.01. | Notices | A-61 | ||||
Section 12.02. | Survival | A-62 | ||||
Section 12.03. | Amendments and Waivers | A-62 | ||||
Section 12.04. | Expenses | A-63 | ||||
Section 12.05. | Disclosure Schedule References | A-63 | ||||
Section 12.06. | Binding Effect; Benefit; Assignment | A-63 | ||||
Section 12.07. | Governing Law | A-63 | ||||
Section 12.08. | Jurisdiction | A-63 | ||||
Section 12.09. | Waiver of Jury Trial | A-63 | ||||
Section 12.10. | Counterparts; Effectiveness | A-64 | ||||
Section 12.11. | Entire Agreement | A-64 | ||||
Section 12.12. | Severability | A-64 | ||||
Section 12.13. | Specific Performance | A-64 | ||||
Section 12.14. | Confidential Supervisory Information | A-64 | ||||
Section 12.15. | Delivery by Electronic Transmission | A-64 | ||||
Exhibits | |||
Exhibit A – Form of Plan of Merger | A-66 | ||
Exhibit B – Form of Plan of Share Exchange | A-69 | ||
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Term | Section | ||
Accelerated Pre-Signing Award | 2.05(a) | ||
Accelerated Awards | 2.05(a) | ||
Accounts | 5.29 | ||
Adverse Recommendation Change | 7.03 | ||
Adviser Compliance Policies | 5.30(f) | ||
Agreement | Preamble | ||
Anti-Money Laundering Laws | 5.13(f) | ||
Bank Merger | 3.07 | ||
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Term | Section | ||
Board Report | 9.01(b) | ||
Capital Increase | 6.04 | ||
Cash Consideration | 3.04(b) | ||
Chosen Courts | 12.08 | ||
Closing | 2.01 | ||
Closing Date | 2.01 | ||
Code | Preamble | ||
Commercial Registry | 3.03 | ||
Company | Preamble | ||
Company Advisory Agreement | 5.30(g) | ||
Company Advisory Client | 5.30(g) | ||
Company Advisory Entity | 5.30(a) | ||
Company Agent | 5.26(a)(i) | ||
Company Board | Preamble | ||
Company Board Recommendation | 5.02 | ||
Company Common Certificate | 2.04 | ||
Company Common Stock | 2.04 | ||
Company Compensation Committee | 2.05(a) | ||
Company Disclosure Documents | 5.10 | ||
Company ESPP | 2.06 | ||
Company Insurance Subsidiary | 5.26(a)(i) | ||
Company Meeting | 9.02(a) | ||
Company Performance-Based Restricted Stock Award | 2.05(c) | ||
Company Real Property | 5.15 | ||
Company Restricted Stock Award | 2.05(a) | ||
Company SEC Documents | 5.08 | ||
Company Securities | 5.05 | ||
Company Series F Preferred Stock | 2.04 | ||
Company Series F Preferred Stock Certificate | 2.04(d) | ||
Company Series G Preferred Stock | 2.04(c) | ||
Company Series G Preferred Stock Certificate | 2.04(d) | ||
Company Shareholder Approval | 5.02 | ||
Company Subsidiary Securities | 5.06 | ||
Company Virginia Exchange Certificate | 3.02 | ||
Company Virginia Sub | Preamble | ||
Company Virginia Sub Articles | 2.07 | ||
Company Virginia Sub Board | Preamble | ||
Company Virginia Sub Bylaws | 2.08 | ||
Company Virginia Sub Certificates | 2.04 | ||
Company Virginia Sub Common Stock | 2.04 | ||
Company Virginia Sub Series F Preferred Stock | 2.04 | ||
Company Virginia Sub Series G Preferred Stock | 2.04(c) | ||
Confidentiality Agreement | 7.02 | ||
Continuing Employees | 8.02(a) | ||
Converted Parent Award | 2.05(c) | ||
Converted Restricted Stock Award | 2.05(a) | ||
CNMV | 3.03 | ||
Data Breach | 5.16(i) | ||
Deed of Capital Increase | 3.03 | ||
Depositary | 3.04(c) | ||
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Term | Section | ||
Derivative Transactions | 5.24 | ||
Director Restricted Stock Award | 2.05(a) | ||
DGCL | 2.01(a) | ||
Dissenting Shares | 2.10 | ||
End Date | 11.01 | ||
Enforceability Exceptions | 5.02(a) | ||
Exchange Agent | 4.01 | ||
Exchange Consideration | 3.04(b) | ||
Exchange Effective Time | 3.02 | ||
Exchange Fund | 4.01 | ||
Exemption Document | 3.03 | ||
F-4 | 5.03 | ||
Final Exercise Date | 2.06 | ||
HSAs | 5.29 | ||
IHC Merger | 3.07 | ||
Indemnified Person | 8.01 | ||
Independent Expert Report | 3.03 | ||
Investment Advisers Act | 5.30(a) | ||
Investment Advisory Services | 5.30(a) | ||
Lease | 5.15 | ||
Letter of Transmittal | 4.02 | ||
Loans | 5.28(a) | ||
Material Contract | 5.20 | ||
Material Network Partner | 5.29 | ||
Materially Burdensome Regulatory Condition | 9.01(c) | ||
Parent | Preamble | ||
Parent ADSs | 3.04 | ||
Parent Bylaws | 6.01 | ||
Parent Meeting | 3.03 | ||
Parent Ordinary Shares | 3.04 | ||
Parent SEC Documents | 6.07 | ||
Parent Shareholder Approval | 6.04 | ||
PBGC | 5.18(c) | ||
Permits | 5.13 | ||
Permitted Lien | 5.15 | ||
Prospectus | 5.03 | ||
Prospectus Regulation | 6.03 | ||
Proxy Statement | 5.03 | ||
Registered Intellectual Property | 5.16(a) | ||
Regulatory Agencies | 5.08(a) | ||
Regulatory Agreement | 5.22 | ||
Reincorporation Effective Time | 2.02 | ||
Reincorporation Merger | Preamble | ||
Reports | 5.08(a) | ||
Representatives | 7.02(a) | ||
Requisite Regulatory Approval | 10.02(c) | ||
SCL | 3.01 | ||
Share Consideration | 3.04 | ||
Share Exchange | Preamble | ||
Subsidiaries | 5.19 | ||
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Term | Section | ||
Superior Proposal | 7.03 | ||
Surviving Corporation | 2.01 | ||
Takeover Statutes | 5.02 | ||
Tax | 5.17 | ||
Tax Return | 5.17 | ||
Tax Sharing Agreements | 5.17 | ||
Taxing Authority | 5.17 | ||
Termination Fee | 11.02(b) | ||
Transaction | Preamble | ||
Transfer Agent | 3.03 | ||
VSCA | Preamble | ||
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if to Parent, to: | ||||||
Banco Santander, S.A. | ||||||
Ciudad Grupo Santander | ||||||
Avda de Cantabria, s/n | ||||||
28660 Boadilla del Monte | ||||||
Madrid, Spain | ||||||
Attention: | José Luis de Mora Gil-Gallardo Javier Illescas | |||||
Email: | [redacted] | |||||
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with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to: | ||||||
Banco Santander, S.A. | ||||||
Ciudad Grupo Santander | ||||||
Avda de Cantabria, s/n | ||||||
28660 Boadilla del Monte | ||||||
Madrid, Spain | ||||||
Attention: | Corporate Legal | |||||
Email: | [redacted] | |||||
and | ||||||
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP | ||||||
450 Lexington Avenue | ||||||
New York, New York 10017 | ||||||
Attention: | Marc O. Williams Lee Hochbaum | |||||
E-mail: | [redacted] | |||||
if to the Company or Company Virginia Sub, to: | ||||||
Webster Financial Corporation | ||||||
200 Elm Street | ||||||
Stamford, Connecticut 06902 | ||||||
Attention: | John Ciulla Kristy Berner | |||||
Email: | [redacted] | |||||
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: | ||||||
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz | ||||||
51 West 52nd Street | ||||||
New York, New York 10019 | ||||||
Attention: | Edward D. Herlihy Matthew M. Guest | |||||
E-mail: | [redacted] | |||||
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BANCO SANTANDER, S.A. | |||||||||
By: | /s/ José Luis de Mora Gil-Gallardo | ||||||||
Name: | José Luis de Mora Gil-Gallardo | ||||||||
Title: | Head of Corporate Development and Financial Planning | ||||||||
By: | /s/ Javier Illescas | ||||||||
Name: | Javier Illescas | ||||||||
Title: | Head of Legal | ||||||||
WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION | |||||||||
By: | /s/ John R. Ciulla | ||||||||
Name: | John R. Ciulla | ||||||||
Title: | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||
WEBSTER VIRGINIA CORPORATION | |||||||||
By: | /s/ Luis Massiani | ||||||||
Name: | Luis Massiani | ||||||||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer, President and Treasurer | ||||||||
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(a) | “Applicable Law” means, with respect to any Person (as hereinafter defined), any U.S. or non-U.S. federal, state or local law (statutory, common or otherwise), constitution, treaty, convention, ordinance, code, rule, regulation, order, injunction, judgment, decree, ruling or other similar requirement enacted, adopted, promulgated or applied by a Governmental Authority that is binding upon or applicable to such Person, as amended unless expressly specified otherwise. |
(b) | “Governmental Authority” means any transnational, U.S. or non-U.S. federal, state or local, governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, department, court, agency, bureau, office, board, instrumentality, commission or official, including any political subdivision thereof, or any non-governmental self-regulatory agency, commission or authority. |
(c) | “Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, bank, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a Governmental Authority, government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof. |
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(a) | “Applicable Law” means, with respect to any Person, any U.S. or non-U.S. federal, state or local law (statutory, common or otherwise), constitution, treaty, convention, ordinance, code, rule, regulation, order, injunction, judgment, decree, ruling or other similar requirement enacted, adopted, promulgated or applied by a Governmental Authority that is binding upon or applicable to such Person, as amended unless expressly specified otherwise. |
(b) | “BHC Act” means the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. |
(c) | “Business Day” means a day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York or Madrid, Spain are authorized or required by Applicable Law to close; provided that, solely for purposes of determining the Closing Date, the term “Business Day” shall also not include any day on which the Secretary of State for the State of Delaware or the Virginia State Corporation Commission is closed. |
(d) | “Closing” means the closing of the Share Exchange. |
(e) | “Closing Date” means the date on which the Closing occurs. |
(f) | “Company Common Certificates” means the certificates representing shares of Company Common Stock. |
(g) | “Company Common Stock” means common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company. |
(h) | “Company Virginia Sub Certificates” means the certificates representing that number of shares of Company Virginia Sub Common Stock into which such shares of Company Common Stock represented by Company Common Certificates are converted in the Reincorporation Merger (as hereinafter defined) pursuant to the Transaction Agreement after all of the shares of Company Common Stock are converted into shares of Company Virginia Sub Common Stock. |
(i) | “Exchange Agent Agreement” means the Exchange Agent Agreement between Parent and the Exchange Agent. |
(j) | “Exchange Ratio” means 2.0548. |
(k) | “Governmental Authority” means any transnational, U.S. or non-U.S. federal, state or local, governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, department, court, agency, bureau, office, board, instrumentality, commission or official, including any political subdivision thereof, or any non-governmental self-regulatory agency, commission or authority. |
(l) | “Iberclear” means Sociedad de Gestión de los Sistemas de Registro, Compensación y Liquidación de Valores, S.A. Unipersonal. |
(m) | “Parent Board” means the Board of Directors of Parent or, as the case may be, any committee or director of Parent to whom the Board of Directors has delegated sufficient authority to take the relevant action required of the Board of Directors. |
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(n) | “Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, bank, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a Governmental Authority, government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof. |
(o) | “Reincorporation Effective Time” means the time that the Reincorporation Merger becomes effective. |
(p) | “Reincorporation Merger” means the merger in which the Company will merge with and into Company Virginia Sub, with Company Virginia Sub surviving such merger. |
(q) | “SCL” means the Spanish Corporation Law of 2010 (Texto Refundido de la Ley de Sociedades de Capital aprobado por el Real Decreto Legislativo 1/2010), as amended. |
(r) | “Subsidiary” means, at any time with respect to any Person, any entity of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions are at such time directly or indirectly owned by such Person or is otherwise directly or indirectly controlled by such Person, including control as defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, the BHC Act. |
(s) | “Tax” means (i) any tax, governmental fee or other like assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever (including withholding on amounts paid to or by any Person), together with any interest, penalty, addition to tax or additional amount imposed by any Governmental Authority (a “Taxing Authority”) responsible for the imposition of any such tax (domestic or foreign), and any liability for any of the foregoing as transferee, (ii) in the case of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, liability for the payment of any amount of the type described in clause (i) as a result of being or having been before the Exchange Effective Time a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group, or a party to any agreement or arrangement, as a result of which liability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to a Taxing Authority is determined or taken into account with reference to the activities of any other Person, and (iii) liability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the payment of any amount as a result of being party to any Tax Sharing Agreement or with respect to the payment of any amount imposed on any person of the type described in (i) or (ii) as a result of any existing express or implied agreement or arrangement (including an indemnification agreement or arrangement). |
(t) | “Tax Sharing Agreements” means all existing agreements or arrangements (whether or not written) binding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that provide for the allocation, apportionment, sharing or assignment of any Tax liability or benefit, or the transfer or assignment of income, revenues, receipts, or gains for the purpose of determining any Person’s Tax liability (excluding (A) any agreements or arrangements exclusively between or among the Company and its Subsidiaries or (B) any indemnification agreement or arrangement with third parties made in the ordinary course of business the principal subject of which does not pertain to Tax). |
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(a) | “Applicable Law” means, with respect to any Person (as hereinafter defined), any U.S. or non-U.S. federal, state or local law (statutory, common or otherwise), constitution, treaty, convention, ordinance, code, rule, regulation, order, injunction, judgment, decree, ruling or other similar requirement enacted, adopted, promulgated or applied by a Governmental Authority that is binding upon or applicable to such Person, as amended unless expressly specified otherwise. |
(b) | “Governmental Authority” means any transnational, U.S. or non-U.S. federal, state or local, governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, department, court, agency, bureau, office, board, instrumentality, commission or official, including any political subdivision thereof, or any non-governmental self-regulatory agency, commission or authority. |
(c) | “Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, bank, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a Governmental Authority, government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof. |
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(a) | “Applicable Law” means, with respect to any Person, any U.S. or non-U.S. federal, state or local law (statutory, common or otherwise), constitution, treaty, convention, ordinance, code, rule, regulation, order, injunction, judgment, decree, ruling or other similar requirement enacted, adopted, promulgated or applied by a Governmental Authority that is binding upon or applicable to such Person, as amended unless expressly specified otherwise. |
(b) | “BHC Act” means the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. |
(c) | “Business Day” means a day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York or Madrid, Spain are authorized or required by Applicable Law to close; provided that, solely for purposes of determining the Closing Date, the term “Business Day” shall also not include any day on which the Secretary of State for the State of Delaware or the Virginia State Corporation Commission is closed. |
(d) | “Closing” means the closing of the Share Exchange. |
(e) | “Closing Date” means the date on which the Closing occurs. |
(f) | “Company Common Certificates” means the certificates representing shares of Company Common Stock. |
(g) | “Company Common Stock” means common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company. |
(h) | “Company Virginia Sub Certificates” means the certificates representing that number of shares of Company Virginia Sub Common Stock into which such shares of Company Common Stock represented by Company Common Certificates are converted in the Reincorporation Merger (as hereinafter defined) pursuant to the Transaction Agreement after all of the shares of Company Common Stock are converted into shares of Company Virginia Sub Common Stock. |
(i) | “Exchange Agent Agreement” means the Exchange Agent Agreement between Parent and the Exchange Agent. |
(j) | “Exchange Ratio” means 2.0548. |
(k) | “Governmental Authority” means any transnational, U.S. or non-U.S. federal, state or local, governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, department, court, agency, bureau, office, board, instrumentality, commission or official, including any political subdivision thereof, or any non-governmental self-regulatory agency, commission or authority. |
(l) | “Iberclear” means Sociedad de Gestión de los Sistemas de Registro, Compensación y Liquidación de Valores, S.A. Unipersonal. |
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(m) | “Parent Board” means the Board of Directors of Parent or, as the case may be, any committee or director of Parent to whom the Board of Directors has delegated sufficient authority to take the relevant action required of the Board of Directors. |
(n) | “Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, bank, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a Governmental Authority, government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof. |
(o) | “Reincorporation Effective Time” means the time that the Reincorporation Merger becomes effective. |
(p) | “Reincorporation Merger” means the merger in which the Company will merge with and into Company Virginia Sub, with Company Virginia Sub surviving such merger. |
(q) | “SCL” means the Spanish Corporation Law of 2010 (Texto Refundido de la Ley de Sociedades de Capital aprobado por el Real Decreto Legislativo 1/2010), as amended. |
(r) | “Subsidiary” means, at any time with respect to any Person, any entity of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions are at such time directly or indirectly owned by such Person or is otherwise directly or indirectly controlled by such Person, including control as defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, the BHC Act. |
(s) | “Tax” means (i) any tax, governmental fee or other like assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever (including withholding on amounts paid to or by any Person), together with any interest, penalty, addition to tax or additional amount imposed by any Governmental Authority (a “Taxing Authority”) responsible for the imposition of any such tax (domestic or foreign), and any liability for any of the foregoing as transferee, (ii) in the case of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, liability for the payment of any amount of the type described in clause (i) as a result of being or having been before the Exchange Effective Time a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group, or a party to any agreement or arrangement, as a result of which liability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to a Taxing Authority is determined or taken into account with reference to the activities of any other Person, and (iii) liability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the payment of any amount as a result of being party to any Tax Sharing Agreement or with respect to the payment of any amount imposed on any person of the type described in (i) or (ii) as a result of any existing express or implied agreement or arrangement (including an indemnification agreement or arrangement). |
(t) | “Tax Sharing Agreements” means all existing agreements or arrangements (whether or not written) binding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that provide for the allocation, apportionment, sharing or assignment of any Tax liability or benefit, or the transfer or assignment of income, revenues, receipts, or gains for the purpose of determining any Person’s Tax liability (excluding (A) any agreements or arrangements exclusively between or among the Company and its Subsidiaries or (B) any indemnification agreement or arrangement with third parties made in the ordinary course of business the principal subject of which does not pertain to Tax). |
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Number | Description | Incorporated by Reference to Filings Indicated | ||||
2.1 | Transaction Agreement dated as of February 3, 2026, by and between Webster and Banco Santander, S.A. (included as Annex A to the document forming part of this registration statement) | * | ||||
3.1 | Bylaws (estatutos) of Banco Santander, S.A., as amended, with English translation | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to the Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, filed on February 27, 2026 | ||||
4.1 | Form of Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement (including form of American Depositary Receipt) | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a) to registration statement on Form F-6 (File No. 333-259373), filed on September 7, 2021 | ||||
5.1 | Opinion of Uría Menéndez as to the validity of the Santander ordinary shares | ** | ||||
21.1 | List of subsidiaries of Banco Santander, S.A. | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 8.1 to the Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, filed on February 27, 2026 | ||||
23.1 | Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditores, S.L. (for Santander) | * | ||||
23.2 | Consent of KPMG LLP (for Webster) | * | ||||
23.3 | Consent of Uría Menéndez (included in Exhibit 5.1) | ** | ||||
24.1 | Powers of attorney (included in the signature pages of this registration statement) | * | ||||
99.1 | Opinion of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (included as Annex D to the document forming part of this registration statement) | * | ||||
99.2 | Consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC | * | ||||
99.3 | Form of Proxy Card for Special Meeting | ** | ||||
107.1 | Filing Fee Table | * | ||||
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(a) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: |
(1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
(i) | To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; |
(ii) | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Filing Fee Tables” in the effective registration statement; |
(iii) | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement. |
(2) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
(3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
(4) | To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. |
(5) | That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
(7) | (i) To respond to requests for information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to Items 4, 10(b), 11 or 13 of Form F-4, within one business day of receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or other equally prompt means. This includes information contained in documents filed subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through the date of responding to the request. |
(8) | To supply by means of a post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and included in the registration statement when it became effective. |
(b) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being |
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BANCO SANTANDER, S.A. | |||
By: | /s/ José Luis de Mora Gil-Gallardo | ||
Name: José Luis de Mora Gil-Gallardo Title: Head of Corporate Development and Financial Planning | |||
By: | /s/ Javier Illescas | ||
Name: Javier Illescas Title: Head of Legal | |||
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Signature | Title | Date | |||||
/s/ Ana Botín | Chairman of the Board of Directors | March 12, 2026 | |||||
Ana Botín | |||||||
/s/ Héctor Grisi | Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) | March 12, 2026 | |||||
Héctor Grisi | |||||||
/s/ José G. Cantera | Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) | March 12, 2026 | |||||
José G. Cantera | |||||||
Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors | March 12, 2026 | ||||||
Glenn Hutchins | |||||||
/s/ José Antonio Álvarez | Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors | March 12, 2026 | |||||
José Antonio Álvarez | |||||||
Director | March 12, 2026 | ||||||
Homaira Akbari | |||||||
/s/ Juan Carlos Barrabés | Director | March 12, 2026 | |||||
Juan Carlos Barrabés | |||||||
/s/ Germán de la Fuente | Director | March 12, 2026 | |||||
Germán de la Fuente | |||||||
/s/ Sol Daurella | Director | March 12, 2026 | |||||
Sol Daurella | |||||||
Director | March 12, 2026 | ||||||
Henrique de Castro | |||||||
Director | March 12, 2026 | ||||||
Gina Díez Barroso | |||||||
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Signature | Title | Date | ||||
/s/ Luis Isasi Fernández de Bobadilla | Director | March 12, 2026 | ||||
Luis Isasi Fernández de Bobadilla | ||||||
/s/ Belén Romana | Director | March 12, 2026 | ||||
Belén Romana | ||||||
Director | March 12, 2026 | |||||
Antonio Weiss | ||||||
Director | March 12, 2026 | |||||
Pamela Ann Walkden | ||||||
/s/ Javier Botín | Director | March 12, 2026 | ||||
Javier Botín | ||||||
/s/ Jaime Pérez Renovales | General Counsel and Secretary of the Board | March 12, 2026 | ||||
Jaime Pérez Renovales | ||||||
/s/ Manuel Preto | Group Chief Accounting Officer (principal accounting officer) | March 12, 2026 | ||||
Manuel Preto | ||||||
/s/ Christiana Riley | Authorized Representative of Banco Santander, S.A. in the United States | March 12, 2026 | ||||
Christiana Riley | ||||||
FAQ
What will Webster (BCDRF) shareholders receive in the Santander transaction?
How large is the cash component Santander will pay to Webster holders?
How many Santander shares are expected to be issued in the deal?
What ownership stake will Webster shareholders hold in Santander after closing?
When is the transaction expected to close and what approvals are required?

