Business Description

The Company is a bank holding company that has elected to be treated as a financial holding company under the BHC Act, incorporated under the laws of Delaware in 1986, and headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. As of December 31, 2025, the Company had $84.1 billion in total consolidated assets. The Bank is a commercial bank with a national bank charter focused on providing financial products and services to businesses, individuals, and families. While its core footprint spans the Northeast from the New York metropolitan area to Rhode Island and Massachusetts, certain businesses operate in extended geographies. The Bank offers three differentiated lines of business: Commercial Banking, Healthcare Financial Services, and Consumer Banking. Proposed Transaction with Banco Santander On February 3, 2026, Webster entered into a Transaction Agreement with Banco Santander and Webster Virginia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Webster incorporated in the State of Virginia. The Transaction Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Banco Santander will acquire Webster in two steps. First, Webster will merge with and into Webster Virginia Corporation, with Webster Virginia Corporation continuing as the surviving corporation in such merger. Second, immediately following the completion of such merger, Banco Santander will acquire all outstanding shares of Webster Virginia Corporation through a statutory share exchange. Based on Banco Santander’s closing stock price on February 2, 2026, the Transaction has an aggregate value of approximately $12.3 billion. Under the terms of the Transaction Agreement, holders of Webster common stock will receive $48.75 in cash and 2.0548 ADSs (or Ordinary Shares in certain circumstances) for each share of Webster common stock that they own. The Transaction Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, covenants, and closing conditions. Completion of the Transaction remains subject to approval by the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, approval by the stockholders of each company, and other customary closing conditions. The Transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026. Joint Venture with Marathon Asset Management On July 19, 2024, the Company, through its subsidiary, MW Advisor Holding, LLC, entered into an agreement with Marathon Asset Management and formed a private credit joint venture, which is designed to deliver direct lending solutions for sponsor-backed middle market companies across the country. Information regarding joint venture activities that occurred during the year ended December 31, 2025, can be found within Note 2: Business Developments in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Part II - Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. On January 26, 2026, CVC Capital Partners, a private markets investment firm, announced that it has agreed to acquire 100% of Marathon Asset Management, which will result in a change in control of Marathon Asset Management. Separately, Webster’s Transaction with Banco Santander will result in a change of control of Webster. Pursuant to the operating agreement for Webster’s joint venture with Marathon Asset Management, within 120 days after the consummation of a change in control, the non-affected member may elect to dissolve the joint venture, which would result in the wind-down of MW Advisor, LLC and Marathon Direct Lending SLP, LLC. Subsidiaries and