UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549



FORM 8-K



CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  February 1, 2022 (January 31, 2022)



WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
 
001-31486
 
06-1187536
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
 
(Commission File Number)
 
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

200 Elm Street, Stamford, Connecticut  06902
(Address and zip code of principal executive offices)

203-578-2202
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)



Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:


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

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

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

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

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class
Trading Symbol
Name of Exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
WBS
New York Stock Exchange
Depositary Shares, each representing 1/1000th interest in a share of 5.25% Series F Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock
WBS-PrF
New York Stock Exchange
Depositary Shares, each representing 1/40th interest in a share of 6.50% Series G Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock
WBS-PrG
New York Stock Exchange


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.


Item 2.01. Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

Effective January 31, 2022 (the “Closing Date”), Webster Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Webster”), completed its previously announced merger with Sterling Bancorp, a Delaware corporation (“Sterling”), pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 18, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and between Webster and Sterling.

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (i) on the Closing Date, Sterling merged with and into Webster, with Webster continuing as the surviving corporation (the “Merger”), and (ii) following the Merger, on February 1, 2022, Sterling National Bank, a national bank and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sterling, merged with and into Webster Bank, National Association, a national bank and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Webster (“Webster Bank”), with Webster Bank continuing as the surviving bank (the “Bank Merger”).

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), each share of the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Sterling (“Sterling Common Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than certain shares held by Webster and Sterling, was converted into the right to receive 0.4630 of a share (the “Exchange Ratio” and such shares, the “Merger Consideration”) of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Webster (“Webster Common Stock”).  Each holder of shares of Webster Common Stock converted pursuant to the Merger who would otherwise have been entitled to receive a fraction of a share of Webster Common Stock (after taking into account all shares held by such holder) will instead receive cash (without interest) in lieu of such fractional share in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.  Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time, each share of 6.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, par value $0.01 per share, of Sterling (“Sterling Preferred Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time was converted into the right to receive a share of 6.50% Series G Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Webster (“Webster Series G Preferred Stock”).  In addition, at the Effective Time, each outstanding Sterling depositary share representing a 1/40th interest in a share of Sterling Preferred Stock was converted into a Webster depositary share representing a 1/40th interest in a share of Webster Series G Preferred Stock (each, a “Webster Depositary Share”).

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time, each outstanding Sterling equity award granted under Sterling’s equity compensation plans, other than unvested Sterling restricted stock awards held by non-employee directors, was converted into a corresponding award with respect to Webster Common Stock, with the number of shares underlying such award (and, in the case of stock options, the applicable exercise price) adjusted based on the Exchange Ratio.  Each such converted Webster equity award continues to be subject to the same terms and conditions as applied to the corresponding Sterling equity award immediately prior to the Effective Time, except that, in the case of Sterling performance awards, the number of shares underlying the converted Webster equity award was determined with any performance goals deemed satisfied at the higher of the target level of performance and actual performance through the latest practicable date prior to the Effective Time.  At the Effective Time, each outstanding unvested restricted stock award held by a non-employee director of Sterling vested and was converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration in respect of each share of Sterling Common Stock subject to such Sterling restricted stock award immediately prior to the Effective Time.

The foregoing description of the Merger and the Merger Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 2.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

The total aggregate consideration payable in the Merger was approximately 90 million shares of Webster Common Stock.  The issuance of shares of Webster Common Stock in connection with the Merger was registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-257035) filed by Webster with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and declared effective on July 8, 2021 (the “Registration Statement”).  The joint proxy statement/prospectus included in the Registration Statement (the “Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus”) contains additional information about the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby.


Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

In connection with the Merger, on the Closing Date, Webster assumed Sterling’s obligations with respect to:  (i) $274 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.00% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due 2029 (the “2029 Notes”) issued by Sterling on December 16, 2019, and (ii) $225 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.875% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due 2030 (the “2030 Notes” and together with the 2029 Notes, the “Notes”) issued by Sterling on October 30, 2020.

The supplemental indenture pursuant to which Webster assumed the Notes, as well as the original indentures pursuant to which the Notes were issued, have not been filed herewith pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(v) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.  Webster agrees to furnish a copy of such indentures to the Commission upon request.

Item 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

In connection with the Merger, Webster filed a certificate of designations (the “Certificate of Designations”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Secretary of State”) establishing the powers, preferences, privileges and rights of the Webster Series G Preferred Stock.  The Certificate of Designations became effective on January 31, 2022, immediately prior to the Effective Time.  At the Effective Time, Webster issued 135,000 shares of Webster Series G Preferred Stock to former holders of Sterling Preferred Stock.  The Webster Series G Preferred Stock is collectively represented by 5,400,000 Webster Depositary Shares.  Each holder of a Webster Depositary Share will be entitled to the proportional rights of a share of Webster Series G Preferred Stock represented by the Webster Depositary Share.  The Webster Depositary Shares are evidenced by Receipts issued under the Deposit Agreement, dated as of March 19, 2013 (the “Original Deposit Agreement”), by and among Astoria Financial Corporation, Computershare Shareowner Services, LLC, as Depositary, and the holders from time to time of the depositary receipts described therein, as amended by (i) the First Amendment to Deposit Agreement, dated as of October 2, 2017 (the “First Amendment to the Deposit Agreement”), by and among Sterling, successor in interest to Astoria Financial Corporation, and Computershare Inc. (“Computershare”), successor in interest to Computershare Shareowner Services, LLC, and (ii) the Second Amendment to Deposit Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2022 (the “Second Amendment to the Deposit Agreement” and the Original Deposit Agreement as so amended, the “Deposit Agreement”), by and among Webster, Sterling, Computershare and Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc. Pursuant to the Second Amendment to the Deposit Agreement, Webster assumed the obligations of Sterling and Broadridge assumed the obligations of Computershare under the Deposit Agreement.

Webster Series G Preferred Stock ranks, with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, (i) on a parity with Webster’s 5.25% Series F Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and liquidation value per share of $25,000 (“Webster Series F Preferred Stock”), and (ii) senior to Webster Common Stock and any other class or series of capital stock Webster may issue in the future, the terms of which do not expressly provide that it ranks on a parity with or senior to Webster Series G Preferred Stock as to dividends and distributions upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of Webster (collectively, the “Junior Securities”).

Under the terms of Webster Series G Preferred Stock, with certain limited exceptions, unless full dividends for the most recently completed dividend period have been declared and paid (or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set aside) on all outstanding shares of Webster Series G Preferred Stock and Webster is not in default on its obligation to redeem any shares of Webster Series G Preferred Stock that have been called for redemption, Webster may not (i) declare, pay or set aside dividends or distributions on, or redeem, repurchase or acquire, Webster Common Stock or other Junior Securities during such dividend period or (ii) repurchase, redeem or acquire Webster Series F Preferred Stock during such dividend period, subject to certain limited exceptions.

The foregoing descriptions of the terms of Webster Series G Preferred Stock and the Webster Depositary Shares are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Certificate of Designations, the Original Deposit Agreement, the First Amendment to the Deposit Agreement, the Second Amendment to the Deposit Agreement and the Form of Global Receipt, which are included as Exhibit 3.3, Exhibit 4.1, Exhibit 4.2, Exhibit 4.3 and Exhibit 4.4, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.


Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Board of Directors

In accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement and the Bylaw Amendment (as defined below), as of the Effective Time, the size of the Webster Board of Directors (the “Board”) and the Board of Directors of Webster Bank (the “Bank Board”) was increased to consist of a total of 15 directors, including eight of the directors of Webster as of immediately prior to the Effective Time and seven former directors of Sterling.

Resignation of Directors

In connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, Elizabeth E. Flynn tendered her resignation as a member of the Board and the Bank Board and from all committees of the Board and the Bank Board on which she formerly served, effective as of the Effective Time.  Such resignation was not the result, in whole or in part, of any disagreement with Webster or Webster’s management.  Ms. Flynn’s outstanding Webster equity awards vested in full at the Effective Time in connection with her resignation.

Continued Service of Directors; Election of Directors

The eight directors designated by Webster pursuant to the Merger Agreement and the Bylaw Amendment, each of whom previously served, and continues to serve, as a member of the Board and the Bank Board, in each case effective from and after the Effective Time, are as follows:  John R. Ciulla, William L. Atwell, E. Carol Hayles, Linda H. Ianieri, Laurence C. Morse, Karen R. Osar, Mark Pettie and Lauren C. States.

The seven directors designated by Sterling pursuant to the Merger Agreement and the Bylaw Amendment, each of whom previously served as a member of the board of directors of Sterling and was appointed by the Board and the Bank Board, in each case effective as of the Effective Time, are as follows:  Jack L. Kopnisky, Mona Aboelnaga Kanaan, John P. Cahill, James J. Landy, Maureen B. Mitchell, Richard L. O’Toole and William E. Whiston (each, a “New Director” and, collectively, the “New Directors”).  The sister of Mr. Cahill is employed by Webster and receives compensation from Webster established prior to Mr. Cahill’s appointment to the Board and in accordance with Webster’s compensation practices applicable to employees with comparable qualifications and responsibilities and holding similar positions.

In addition, the Board reconstituted the committees of the Board and formed a Technology Committee, in each case effective as of the appointment of the New Directors to the Board, as follows:

Executive
Audit
Compensation
Nominating and Corporate Governance
Risk
Technology
Jack L. Kopnisky (Chair)
E. Carol Hayles (Chair)
Laurence C. Morse (Chair)
Richard L. O’Toole (Chair)
Mark Pettie (Chair)
Mona Aboelnaga Kanaan (Chair)
Mona Aboelnaga Kanaan
Linda H. Ianieri
William L. Atwell
William L. Atwell
Mona Aboelnaga Kanaan
E. Carol Hayles
William L. Atwell
James J. Landy
John P. Cahill
John P. Cahill
James J. Landy
Maureen B. Mitchell
John R. Ciulla
Maureen B. Mitchell
Karen R. Osar
Linda H. Ianieri
Karen R. Osar
Mark Pettie
E. Carol Hayles
William E. Whiston
Richard L. O’Toole
Laurence C. Morse
Lauren C. States
Lauren C. States
Laurence C. Morse
     
William E. Whiston
 
Richard L. O’Toole
         
Mark Pettie
         



Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Bylaw Amendment and the Kopnisky Letter Agreement (as defined below), effective as of the Effective Time, Mr. Kopnisky, the Chief Executive Officer of Sterling prior to the Effective Time, was appointed Executive Chairman of the Board and the Bank Board.

Other than the Merger Agreement and, with respect to Mr. Kopnisky, the Kopnisky Letter Agreement, there are no arrangements between the New Directors and any other person pursuant to which the New Directors were selected as directors.  Non-employee members of the Board and the Bank Board will be compensated for such service as described in the proxy statement filed by Webster in connection with its 2021 annual meeting of stockholders on March 19, 2021, and in any information that Webster files with the Commission that updates or supersedes that information.  Biographies of the New Directors can be found in the proxy statement filed by Sterling in connection with its 2021 annual meeting of stockholders on May 26, 2021.

Officer Appointments and Compensatory Arrangements

As of the Effective Time, the Board and Bank Board appointed Luis Massiani as Chief Operating Officer of Webster and Webster Bank.  Other than the Massiani Retention Agreement (as defined below), there are no arrangements between Mr. Massiani and any other person pursuant to which he was selected as Chief Operating Officer, and Mr. Massiani does not have any family relationships among any of Webster’s directors and executive officers or any transactions requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.  The information required by Item 401(e) with respect to Mr. Massiani can be found in the proxy statement filed by Sterling in connection with its 2021 annual meeting of stockholders on May 26, 2021.

At the Effective Time, the retention agreements with each of Mr. Ciulla (the “Ciulla Retention Agreement”) and Glenn I. MacInnes (the “MacInnes Retention Agreement”) previously described in Webster’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 23, 2021 and the section in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus entitled “The Merger—Interests of Webster’s Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger” became effective.

In addition, as previously described in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, Mr. Kopnisky has entered into a letter agreement with Webster (the “Kopnisky Letter Agreement”) and Mr. Massiani has entered into a retention agreement with Webster (the “Massiani Retention Agreement”), in each case with respect to the terms of his service and employment with Webster, respectively, following the consummation of the Merger.  For descriptions of the Kopnisky Letter Agreement and the Massiani Retention Agreement, see the section in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus entitled “The Merger—Interests of Sterling’s Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger.”

The referenced descriptions of the Ciulla Retention Agreement, the MacInnes Retention Agreement, the Kopnisky Letter Agreement and the Massiani Retention Agreement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Ciulla Retention Agreement, the MacInnes Retention Agreement, the Kopnisky Letter Agreement and the Massiani Retention Agreement, which are attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1, Exhibit 10.2, Exhibit 10.3 and Exhibit 10.4, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

Synergy Awards

On February 1, 2022, the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) granted long-term incentive time and performance-vesting restricted share awards of Webster Common Stock (the “Synergy Awards”) to each of Mr. Ciulla, Mr. Kopnisky, Mr. MacInnes and Mr. Massiani, in order to incentivize their efforts to promote the integration of Webster and Sterling.  One-third of the Synergy Awards will be eligible to vest each year, in an amount ranging from 50% to 100% of target, based on achievement of performance metrics in each of the February 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022, January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024 performance periods and generally subject to the grantee’s continued employment through the annual anniversary of grant immediately following the end of the applicable performance period.


Webster Performance Share Awards

On January 28, 2022, the Compensation Committee analyzed the impact of the Merger on Webster’s long-term incentive program and, contingent on the closing of the Merger, determined the level of achievement of the performance goals based on the actual achievement of performance through the Closing Date for the open performance periods applicable to the outstanding Webster performance share awards (the “Webster Performance Awards”), including those held by the named executive officers of Webster as of immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger.  The Webster Performance Awards will remain subject to the other terms and conditions, including time-based vesting conditions, applicable to such awards as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.

Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

In connection with the completion of the Merger and in accordance with the Merger Agreement, Webster’s certificate of incorporation was amended to increase the number of authorized shares of Webster Common Stock from 200,000,000 shares to 400,000,000 shares (the “Charter Amendment”), effective as of January 31, 2022, immediately prior to the Effective Time.

In connection with the completion of the Merger and in accordance with the Merger Agreement, Webster filed the Certificate of Designations with the Delaware Secretary of State, establishing the Webster Series G Preferred Stock consisting of 135,000 authorized shares.  The Certificate of Designations became effective on January 31, 2022, immediately prior to the Effective Time.  For a description of the Certificate of Designations, see the section in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus entitled “Description of New Webster Preferred Stock.”

In addition, in connection with the completion of the Merger and in accordance with the Merger Agreement, the bylaws of Webster were amended to provide for certain governance arrangements for the combined company and the combined bank (such amendment, the “Bylaw Amendment”), effective as of the Effective Time.

The Bylaw Amendment provides that from and after the Effective Time and until the date of Webster’s 2024 annual meeting of stockholders (the “Expiration Date”), the number of directors that comprises the entire Board and Bank Board will be 15 and no vacancy on the Board or Bank Board created by the cessation of service of a director will be filled by the Board or Bank Board, respectively, and the Board and Bank Board, as applicable, may not nominate any individual to fill such vacancy, unless (i) such individual would be an independent director of Webster or Webster Bank, as applicable (unless such predecessor director was not an independent director), (ii) in the case of a vacancy created by the cessation of service as a Continuing Sterling Director (as defined below), not less than a majority of the Continuing Sterling Directors have approved the appointment or nomination (as applicable) of the individual appointed or nominated (as applicable) to fill such vacancy, and (iii) in the case of a vacancy created by the cessation of service of a Continuing Webster Director (as defined below), not less than a majority of the Continuing Webster Directors have approved the appointment or nomination (as applicable) of the individual appointed or nominated (as applicable) to fill such vacancy.  In addition, any appointment pursuant to clauses (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph must be made in accordance with applicable law and the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (or other national securities exchange on which Webster’s securities are listed).  The terms “Continuing Sterling Directors” and “Continuing Webster Directors” mean, respectively, the directors of Sterling and Webster who are selected to be directors of Webster and Webster Bank by Sterling or Webster, as applicable, as of the Effective Time, pursuant to the Merger Agreement (as described above), and any directors of Webster or Webster Bank, as applicable, who are subsequently appointed or nominated and elected to fill a vacancy created by the cessation of service of any such director (or any successor thereto) pursuant to the Bylaw Amendment.


The Bylaw Amendment also provides that as of the Effective Time, Mr. Kopnisky will serve as Executive Chairman of the Board and the Bank Board, Mr. Ciulla will serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Webster and Webster Bank and as a member of the Board and the Bank Board and Mr. Atwell will serve as the Lead Independent Director of the Board and the Bank Board.  Effective as of the 24-month anniversary of the Effective Time or any earlier date as of which Mr. Kopnisky ceases for any reason to serve in the position of Executive Chairman (the “Chairman Succession Date”), (i) Mr. Ciulla will be the successor to Mr. Kopnisky as the Chairman of the Board and the Bank Board, and will continue as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Webster and Webster Bank, and (ii) Mr. Kopnisky will cease to serve as a member of the Board and Bank Board and will serve as a strategic consultant to Webster and Webster Bank until the 36-month anniversary of the Effective Time or until such earlier time as of which Mr. Kopnisky ceases for any reason to serve as a consultant.  From the Effective Time until the Chairman Succession Date, the Lead Independent Director of the Board and the Bank Board will be an independent director chosen from among the Continuing Webster Directors.  From and after the Chairman Succession Date until the Expiration Date, the Lead Independent Director of the Board and the Bank Board will be an independent director chosen from among the Continuing Sterling Directors.

In accordance with the Bylaw Amendment, the headquarters and main office of Webster and Webster Bank have been relocated to Stamford, Connecticut.

Prior to the Expiration Date, any amendment to the provisions of the Bylaw Amendment implementing, and any other provision of Webster’s bylaws or other resolution relating to, the governance arrangements described above, will require the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the full Board.

The foregoing summaries and referenced descriptions of the Charter Amendment, the Certificate of Designations  and the Bylaw Amendment do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Charter Amendment, the Certificate of Designations and the Bylaw Amendment, copies of which are filed as Exhibit 3.2, Exhibit 3.3 and Exhibit 3.5, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 8.01 Other Events

On February 1, 2022, Webster and Sterling jointly issued a press release announcing the completion of the Merger and the Bank Merger, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a) Financial statements of businesses acquired.

The financial information required by this Item 9.01(a) of Form 8-K will be filed by an amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K no later than 71 calendar days after the date on which this Current Report on Form 8-K was required to be filed.

(b) Pro forma financial information.

The pro forma financial information required by this Item 9.01(b) of Form 8-K will be filed by an amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K no later than 71 calendar days after the date on which this Current Report on Form 8-K was required to be filed.


(d)          Exhibits.

Exhibit No.
Description
2.1
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 18, 2021, by and between Sterling Bancorp and Webster Financial Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Webster Financial Corporation’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 23, 2021).
3.1
Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Webster Financial Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Webster Financial Corporation’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 29, 2016).
3.2
Certificate of Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Webster Financial Corporation, effective as of January 31, 2022.
3.3
Certificate of Designations of 6.50% Series G Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock of Webster Financial Corporation, effective as of January 31, 2022.
3.4
Bylaws of Webster Financial Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Webster Financial Corporation’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 17, 2020).
3.5
Amendment to Bylaws of Webster Financial Corporation, effective as of January 31, 2022.
4.1
Deposit Agreement, dated as of March 19, 2013, by and among Astoria Financial Corporation, Computershare Shareholder Services, LLC, as depositary, and the holders from time to time of the depositary receipts described therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Sterling Bancorp’s Form S-4 filed with the Commission on April 5, 2017 (Commission File No. 333-217153)).
4.2
First Amendment to the Deposit Agreement, effective as of October 2, 2017, by and between Sterling Bancorp (as successor in interest to Astoria Financial Corporation) and Computershare Inc. (as successor in interest to Computershare Shareowner Services LLC) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Sterling Bancorp’s Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on November 3, 2017 (Commission File No. 001-35385)).
4.3
Second Amendment to Deposit Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2022, by and among Webster Financial Corporation, Sterling Bancorp, Computershare Inc. and Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc.
4.4
Form of Global Receipt (included as Exhibit A of Exhibit 4.3).
Retention Agreement, dated as of April 18, 2021, by and between Webster Financial Corporation and John R. Ciulla.
Retention Agreement, dated as of April 18, 2021, by and between Webster Financial Corporation and Glenn I. MacInnes.
Letter Agreement, dated as of April 18, 2021, by and between Webster Financial Corporation and Jack L. Kopnisky.
Retention Agreement, dated as of April 18, 2021, by and between Webster Financial Corporation and Luis Massiani.
Joint Press Release, dated February 1, 2022.
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL document)



SIGNATURES

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

 
WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
     
     
 
By:
/s/ John R. Ciulla
   
John R. Ciulla
   
President and Chief Executive Officer


Dated:  February 1, 2022



Exhibit 3.2

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
TO THE
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION

_______________________

Pursuant to Section 242 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware

_______________________

Webster Financial Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the state of Delaware (the “Corporation”), does hereby certify that:


1.
The first sentence of Article 4 of the Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation shall be amended and restated in its entirety to state:

The total number of shares of all classes of the capital stock which the Corporation has authority to issue is four hundred three million (403,000,000), of which four hundred million (400,000,000) shall be common stock, par value $.01 per share, amounting in the aggregate to four million dollars ($4,000,000), and three million (3,000,000) shall be serial preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, amounting in the aggregate to thirty thousand dollars ($30,000).


2.
This Certificate of Amendment has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.


3.
This Certificate of Amendment shall become effective at 11:30 p.m., Eastern Time, on January 31, 2022.



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Amendment to be executed by its duly authorized officer this 28th day of January, 2022.

 
WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
     
 
By:
/s/ John R. Ciulla
   
Name:  John R. Ciulla
   
Title:  President and Chief Executive Officer

[Signature Page to Certificate of Amendment]

Exhibit 3.3

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS

of

6.50% SERIES G NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK

of

WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION

The undersigned, John R. Ciulla, President and Chief Executive Officer of Webster Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies that, in accordance with Sections 103, 141 and 151(g) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, a duly authorized committee (the “Authorized Committee”) of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) hereby makes this Certificate of Designations and hereby states and certifies that pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board by the Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as such may be amended, modified or restated from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and the duly adopted joint resolutions of the Board and the Board of Directors of Webster Bank, National Association (the “Joint Resolutions”), the Board classified 135,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation, as “6.50% Series G Non‑Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock” (“Series G Preferred Stock”), and pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Authorized Committee by the Bylaws of the Corporation (as such may be amended, modified or restated from time to time, the “Bylaws”) and by the Joint Resolutions, the Authorized Committee duly adopted the following resolutions on January 28, 2022:

WHEREAS, the Authorized Committee desires to determine the preferences, designations, rights and other terms of the Series G Preferred Stock, and to approve the execution, acknowledgment and filing of the related Certificate of Designations.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law, the designation and number of shares of the Series G Preferred Stock, and the voting and other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, all as follows, are hereby approved and adopted in all respects;

Section 1. Designation and Number of Shares.  There is hereby created out of the authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock of the Corporation a series of Preferred Stock designated as the “6.50% Series G Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock”, initially consisting of 135,000 shares.  The number of shares constituting the Series G Preferred Stock may from time to time be increased (but not in excess of the total number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock) or decreased (but not below the number of shares of Series G Preferred Stock then outstanding) by the Board (or a duly authorized committee of the Board), without the vote or consent of the holders of Series G Preferred Stock in accordance with law; provided, that any such additional shares are not treated as “disqualified preferred stock” within the meaning of Section 1059(f)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code and such additional shares are otherwise treated as fungible with the Series G Preferred Stock for U.S. federal income tax purposes.  Shares of Series G Preferred Stock shall be dated the date of issue.  In the event that the Corporation issues additional Series G Preferred Stock after the original issue date, dividends on such additional shares may accrue from the original issue date or any other date the Corporation specifies at the time such additional shares are issued.  Shares of outstanding Series G Preferred Stock that are redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall, after such redemption, purchase or acquisition, be cancelled and shall revert to authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock undesignated as to series until such shares are once more designated as part of a particular series by the Board.

Section 2. Definitions.  As used herein with respect to the Series G Preferred Stock:

(a)          Appropriate Federal Banking Agency” means the “appropriate Federal banking agency” with respect to the Corporation as defined in Section 3(q) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. Sec. 1813(q)), or any successor provision.

(b)          Board” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

(c)          Business Day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

(d)          Bylaws” means the amended bylaws of the Corporation, as such may be amended, modified or restated from time to time,

(e)          Certificate of Designations” means this certificate of designations relating to the Series G Preferred Stock, as it may be amended from time to time.

(f)          Certificate of Incorporation” means the Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as such may be amended, modified or restated from time to time.

(g)          Closing Date” means January 31, 2022.

(h)          Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation.

(i)          Corporation” means Webster Financial Corporation.

(j)          Dividend Parity Stock” means the Series F Preferred Stock and any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation now or hereafter authorized, issued or outstanding that, by its terms, expressly provides that it ranks pari passu with the Series G Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends (regardless of whether such capital stock bears dividends on a non-cumulative or cumulative basis).

(k)          Dividend Payment Date” means January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing with the first such Dividend Payment Date to occur after the Closing Date; provided, however, that if any such date falls on a day other than a Business Day, then such date shall nevertheless be a Dividend Payment Date, but dividends on the Series G Preferred Stock, when, as and if declared, shall be paid on the next succeeding Business Day (without adjustment in the amount of the dividend per share of Series G Preferred Stock).



(l)          Dividend Period” means the period from and including a Dividend Payment Date to, but excluding, the next Dividend Payment Date, except that the initial Dividend Period shall commence on and include January 15, 2022.

(m)          Dividend Record Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

(n)          DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, together with its successors and assigns.

(o)          FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

(p)          Junior Stock” means (1) the Common Stock and (2) any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation now or hereafter authorized, issued or outstanding, other than the Series F Preferred Stock, that, by its terms, does not expressly provide that it ranks pari passu with or senior to the Series G Preferred Stock as to (i) payment of dividends and (ii) distributions upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation.

(q)          Liquidation Junior Stock” means any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation now or hereafter authorized, issued or outstanding, other than the Series F Preferred Stock, that, by its terms, does not expressly provide that it ranks pari passu with or senior to the Series G Preferred Stock as to distributions upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation.

(r)          Liquidation Parity Stock” means the Series F Preferred Stock and any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation now or hereafter authorized, issued or outstanding that, by its terms, expressly provides that it ranks pari passu with the Series G Preferred Stock as to the payment of distributions upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation.

(s)          Liquidation Preference” means, with respect to any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, the amount otherwise payable upon such class or series of capital stock in connection with any distribution upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation (assuming no limitation on the assets of the Corporation available for such distribution), including an amount equal to any declared but unpaid dividends (and in the case of any holder of capital stock on which dividends accrue on a cumulative basis, an amount equal to any unpaid, accrued, cumulative dividends, whether or not declared, as applicable).

(t)          Nonpayment Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(c)(1).

(u)          Preferred Stock” means any and all series of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation, including the Series G Preferred Stock.

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(v)          Preferred Stock Directors” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(c)(1).

(w)          Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(b).

(x)          Redemption Depository” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(e).

(y)          Redemption Price” means an amount equal to the Series G Liquidation Amount plus (except as provided herein) the per share amount of any declared and unpaid dividends (without accumulation of any undeclared dividends) on the Series G Preferred Stock prior to the Redemption Date (but with no amount in respect of any dividends that have not been declared prior to the Redemption Date).

(z)          Regulatory Capital Treatment Event” means the good faith determination by the Corporation that, as a result of:

(1)          any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision of or in the United States that is enacted or becomes effective (or will become effective) after the initial issuance of any share of the Series G Preferred Stock;

(2)          any proposed change in those laws or regulations that is announced or becomes effective (or will become effective) after the initial issuance of any share of the Series G Preferred Stock; or

(3)          any official administrative decision or judicial decision or administrative action or other official pronouncement interpreting or applying those laws or regulations that is announced after the initial issuance of any share of the Series G Preferred Stock; there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Corporation will not be entitled to treat the full liquidation value of the shares of the Series G Preferred Stock then outstanding as “Tier 1 Capital” (or its equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines or regulations promulgated by the FRB (or, as and if applicable, the capital adequacy guidelines or regulations of any successor Appropriate Federal Banking Agency), as then in effect and applicable, for as long as any share of the Series G Preferred Stock is outstanding.

(aa)          Series F Preferred Stock” means the 5.25% Series F Non–Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation.

(bb)          Series G Liquidation Amount” means $1,000 per share of Series G Preferred Stock.

(cc)          Series G Preferred Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.

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(dd)          Voting Parity Stock” means any and all series of Dividend Parity Stock having voting rights to elect directors upon a Nonpayment Event.

(ee)          Voting Preferred Stock” means, with regard to any matter as to which the holders of Series G Preferred Stock are entitled to vote as specified in Section 6 of this Certificate of Designations, any and all series of Dividend Parity Stock having voting rights equivalent to those described in Section 6(c).

Section 3. Dividends.

(a)          Rate and Payment.  Holders of Series G Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board (or a duly authorized committee of the Board), out of assets legally available under the Delaware General Corporation Law, non-cumulative cash dividends at a rate equal to 6.50% of the Series G Liquidation Amount per annum, payable in arrears, on each Dividend Payment Date with respect to the Dividend Period (or portion thereof) ending on the day preceding such respective Dividend Payment Date.  Dividends that are payable on the Series G Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date shall be payable to holders of record of Series G Preferred Stock as they appear on the Corporation’s stock register on the applicable record date, which shall be the 15th calendar day before the applicable Dividend Payment Date, or such other record date, no more than 60 calendar days nor less than 10 calendar days before the applicable Dividend Payment Date, as shall be fixed by the Board (or a duly authorized committee of the Board) (the “Dividend Record Date”).  A Dividend Record Date established for the Series G Preferred Stock need not be a Business Day.  Dividends payable on Series G Preferred Stock shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.  Dollar amounts resulting from that calculation shall be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent being rounded upward.  Dividends on the Series G Preferred Stock shall cease to accrue on the Redemption Date, if any, as described in Section 5, unless the Corporation defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price of the shares of the Series G Preferred Stock called for redemption.  The Corporation shall not pay interest or any sum of money instead of interest on any dividend payment that may be in arrears on the Series G Preferred Stock.

(b)          Dividends Non-Cumulative.  Dividends on the Series G Preferred Stock will not be cumulative and will not be mandatory.  If the Board (or a duly authorized committee of the Board) does not declare a dividend on the Series G Preferred Stock in respect of a Dividend Period, then no dividend shall be deemed to have accrued for such Dividend Period, no dividend shall be payable on the applicable Dividend Payment Date, and the Corporation shall have no obligation to pay any dividend for such Dividend Period, whether or not the Board (or a duly authorized committee of the Board) declares a dividend for any future Dividend Period with respect to the Series G Preferred Stock or at any future time with respect to any other class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock.

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(c)          Priority Regarding Dividends.  So long as any share of Series G Preferred Stock remains outstanding, unless (A) the full dividends for the most recently completed Dividend Period have been declared and paid (or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set aside) on all outstanding shares of Series G Preferred Stock and (B) the Corporation is not in default on its obligation to redeem any shares of Series G Preferred Stock that have been called for redemption:

(1)          no dividend shall be declared, paid or set aside for payment, and no distribution shall be declared, made or set aside for payment on any Junior Stock, other than (i) a dividend payable solely in Junior Stock or (ii) any dividend in connection with the implementation of a stockholders’ rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of any rights under any such plan;

(2)          no shares of Junior Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, other than (i) as a result of a reclassification of Junior Stock for or into other Junior Stock, (ii) the exchange or conversion of Junior Stock for or into other Junior Stock, (iii) through the use of the proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Junior Stock, (iv) purchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of Junior Stock in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of employees, officers, directors or consultants, (v) purchases of shares of Junior Stock pursuant to a contractually binding requirement to buy Junior Stock existing prior to the date of issuance of the Series G Preferred Stock, including under a contractually binding stock repurchase plan (including a so-called Rule 10b5-1(c) purchase plan), or (vi) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of Junior Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such stock or the security being converted or exchanged, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such securities by the Corporation; and

(3)          no shares of Dividend Parity Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, other than (i) pursuant to pro rata offers to purchase all, or a pro rata portion, of the Series G Preferred Stock and such Dividend Parity Stock, (ii) as a result of a reclassification of Dividend Parity Stock for or into other Dividend Parity Stock, (iii) the exchange or conversion of Dividend Parity Stock for or into other Dividend Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (iv) through the use of the proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Dividend Parity Stock, (v) purchases of shares of Dividend Parity Stock pursuant to a contractually binding requirement to buy Dividend Parity Stock existing prior to the date of issuance of the Series G Preferred Stock, including under a contractually binding stock repurchase plan (including a so-called Rule 10b5-1(c) purchase plan), or (vi) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of Dividend Parity Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such stock or the security being converted or exchanged, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such securities by the Corporation.

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When dividends are not paid in full upon the shares of Series G Preferred Stock and any Dividend Parity Stock, all dividends paid or declared for payment on a dividend payment date with respect to the Series G Preferred Stock and the Dividend Parity Stock shall be shared based on the ratio between the then-current dividends due on shares of Series G Preferred Stock and (i) in the case of any series of non-cumulative Dividend Parity Stock, the aggregate of the current and unpaid dividends due on such series of preferred stock and (ii) in the case of any series of cumulative Dividend Parity Stock, the aggregate of the current and accumulated and unpaid dividends due on such series of preferred stock.

(d)          Dividends Generally.  Subject to Section 3(c), and not otherwise, dividends (payable in cash, securities or otherwise) as may be determined by the Board (or a duly authorized committee of the Board) may be declared and paid on any class or series of Junior Stock or Dividend Parity Stock from time to time out of any assets legally available therefor, and the holders of Series G Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividend.  Holders of Series G Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to receive any dividends not declared by the Board (or a duly authorized committee of the Board) and no interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend not so declared.

(e)          Limitations Under Applicable Law.  Dividends on the Series G Preferred Stock shall not be declared, paid or set aside for payment, if the Corporation fails to comply, or if and to the extent such act would cause the Corporation to fail to comply, with applicable laws and regulations, including any capital adequacy guidelines or regulations of the FRB (or, as and if applicable, the capital adequacy guidelines or regulations of any successor Appropriate Federal Banking Agency).

Section 4. Liquidation.

(a)          Voluntary or Involuntary Liquidation.  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, holders of Series G Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive out of assets of the Corporation or proceeds thereof available for distribution to stockholders of the Corporation, after satisfaction of liabilities and obligations to creditors and subject to the rights of holders of any securities ranking senior to Series G Preferred Stock with respect to distributions upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of common stock or any Liquidation Junior Stock, a liquidating distribution in an amount equal to (1) the Series G Liquidation Amount plus (2) the per share amount of any declared and unpaid dividends on the Series G Preferred Stock prior to the date of payment of such liquidating distribution (but without any amount in respect of dividends that have not been declared prior to such payment date).  After payment of the full amount of such liquidating distribution, the holders of Series G Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of assets of the Corporation.

(b)          Partial Payment.  In any distribution described in Section 4(a), if the assets of the Corporation or proceeds thereof are not sufficient to pay in full the Liquidation Preference to all holders of Series G Preferred Stock and all holders of Liquidation Parity Stock, the amounts paid to the holders of Series G Preferred Stock and to the holders of all Liquidation Parity Stock shall be paid pro rata in accordance with the respective aggregate Liquidation Preferences of the Series G Preferred Stock and all other series of Liquidation Parity Stock.

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(c)          Residual Distributions.  If the Liquidation Preference has been paid in full to all holders of Series G Preferred Stock and all corresponding amounts have been paid in full on all Liquidation Parity Stock, if any, the holders of any Liquidation Junior Stock shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Corporation or proceeds thereof according to their respective rights and preferences.

(d)          Merger; Consolidation.  For purposes of this Section 4, the merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any other entity, including a merger or consolidation in which the holders of Series G Preferred Stock receive cash, securities or property for their shares, or the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation (for cash, securities or other property), shall not constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation.

Section 5. Redemption.

(a)          No Mandatory Redemption; No Sinking Fund.  The Series G Preferred Stock is perpetual and has no maturity date.  The Series G Preferred Stock is not subject to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or other similar provisions.  The holders of the Series G Preferred Stock shall not have the right to require the redemption or repurchase of the Series G Preferred Stock.

(b)          Optional Redemption.  The Corporation may, at its option, subject to Section 5(f), through a resolution duly adopted by the Board (or a duly authorized committee of the Board), redeem the Series G Preferred Stock at a price per share equal to the Redemption Price (1) in whole or in part, from time to time, on October 15, 2022, or any Dividend Payment Date occurring thereafter or (2) in whole, but not in part, at any time following the occurrence of a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event.  Holders of Series G Preferred Stock shall have no right to require the redemption or repurchase of the Series G Preferred Stock.  The Redemption Price shall be payable to the holder of any shares of Series G Preferred Stock redeemed on the date fixed for such redemption (the “Redemption Date”) against the surrender of the certificate(s) evidencing such shares to the Corporation or its agent, if the shares of Series G Preferred Stock are issued in certificated form.  Any declared but unpaid dividends payable on a Redemption Date that occurs subsequent to the Dividend Record Date for a Dividend Period shall not be paid to the holder of Series G Preferred Stock entitled to receive the Redemption Price on the Redemption Date, but rather shall be paid to the holder of record of the redeemed shares on such Dividend Record Date relating to the Dividend Payment Date as provided in Section 3.

(c)          Notice of Redemption.  If any shares of Series G Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, a notice of redemption shall be given by first class mail to the holders of record of Series G Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the books of the Corporation (provided, that if Series G Preferred Stock is held in book-entry form through DTC, the Corporation may give such notice in any manner permitted by DTC).  Such notice shall be mailed at least 30 days and no more than 60 days before the applicable Redemption Date for such shares.  Each such notice of redemption shall include a statement setting forth:  (1) the Redemption Date for such shares of Series G Preferred Stock; (2) the number of shares of Series G Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if less than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (3) the Redemption Price; and (4) the place or places where the certificates evidencing shares of Series G Preferred Stock are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price.  Any notice of redemption mailed or otherwise delivered as provided in this Section 5(c) shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not any holder of Series G Preferred Stock receives such notice.  Failure to duly give notice by mail or otherwise pursuant to this Section 5(c), or any defect in such notice, to any holder of shares of Series G Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of Series G Preferred Stock.

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(d)          Partial Redemption.  In case of any redemption of only part of the shares of Series G Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares of Series G Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata, by lot or in such other manner as the Corporation, through a resolution duly adopted by the Board (or a duly authorized committee of the Board), may determine to be fair and equitable.

(e)          Effectiveness of Redemption.  If notice of redemption has been duly given and if on or before the Redemption Date specified in such notice all funds necessary for the redemption have been set aside by the Corporation, separate and apart from its other assets, in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares of Series G Preferred Stock called for redemption, so as to be and continue to be available therefor, or deposited by the Corporation with a bank or trust company doing business in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, and having a capital surplus of at least $500 million and selected by the Board (or any duly authorized committee of the Board) (the “Redemption Depository”) in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after the Redemption Date all shares of Series G Preferred Stock called for redemption shall cease to be outstanding, all dividends with respect to such shares of Series G Preferred Stock shall cease to accrue on and after such Redemption Date, and all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith on such Redemption Date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders thereof to receive the amount payable on such redemption from the Redemption Depository at any time after the applicable Redemption Date from the funds so deposited, without interest.  The Corporation shall be entitled to receive, from time to time, from the Redemption Depository any interest accrued on such funds, and the holders of any shares called for redemption shall have no claim to any such interest.  Any funds so deposited and unclaimed at the end of three years from the applicable Redemption Date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be released or repaid to the Corporation, and in the event of such repayment to the Corporation, the holders of record of the shares of Series G Preferred Stock called for redemption shall be deemed to be unsecured creditors of the Corporation for an amount equivalent to the amount deposited as stated herein for the redemption of such shares and so repaid to the Corporation, but shall in no event be entitled to any interest.

(f)          Limitations Under Applicable Law.  If then required under the capital adequacy guidelines or regulations of the FRB (or, if and as applicable, the capital adequacy guidelines or regulations of any successor Appropriate Federal Banking Agency), any redemption of all or part of the Series G Preferred Stock is subject to the receipt by the Corporation of any required prior approval by the FRB (or such successor Appropriate Federal Banking Agency) and to the satisfaction of any condition set forth in the capital guidelines or regulations of the FRB (or such successor Appropriate Federal Banking Agency) applicable to such redemption.

Section 6. Voting Rights.

(a)          General.  Except as provided herein or as expressly required by law, the holders of shares of Series G Preferred Stock shall have no voting power, and no right to vote on any matter at any time, either as a separate series or class or together with any other series or class of shares of capital stock of the Corporation, and shall not be entitled to call a meeting of the holders of any one or more series or classes of capital stock of the Corporation for any purpose, nor shall they be entitled to participate in any meeting of the holders of the Common Stock.  Each holder of Series G Preferred Stock shall have one vote per share (except as set forth otherwise in this Section 6) on any matter on which holders of Series G Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, including when acting by written consent.

(b)          Supermajority Voting Rights.  So long as any shares of Series G Preferred Stock remain outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent of stockholders required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of all of the shares of Series G Preferred Stock at the time outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, voting separately as a single class, shall be required to:

(1)          authorize or increase the authorized amount of, or issue shares of, any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking senior to the Series G Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or as to distributions upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase, any such class or series of capital stock of the Corporation;

(2)          amend the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, including the Certificate of Designations creating the Series G Preferred Stock or any other series of preferred stock, or the Bylaws so as to materially and adversely affect the special powers, preferences, privileges or rights of Series G Preferred Stock, taken as a whole; or

(3)          for the period following the date of issuance of the Series G Preferred Stock until but excluding October 15, 2022, consummate a binding share exchange or reclassification involving the Series G Preferred Stock, or of a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into another corporation or other entity, unless in each case (x) the shares of Series G Preferred Stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Corporation is not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (y) such shares remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions thereof, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions thereof, of Series G Preferred Stock immediately prior to such consummation, taken as a whole;

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provided, however, that, for all purposes of this Section 6(b), the authorization, creation and issuance of, or an increase in the authorized or issued amount of, Junior Stock or any series of Preferred Stock that ranks pari passu with the Series G Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or noncumulative) and as to distributions upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Junior Stock or any series of Preferred Stock that ranks pari passu with the Series G Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) and as to distributions upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, shall not be deemed to adversely affect the powers, preferences, privileges or rights of, and shall not require the affirmative vote or consent of, the holders of any outstanding shares of Series G Preferred Stock.

(c)          Election of Directors under Certain Circumstances.

(1)          If and when dividends on the Series G Preferred Stock have not been declared and paid in an aggregate amount in full for at least six quarterly Dividend Periods (whether or not consecutive) (a “Nonpayment Event”), the authorized number of directors then constituting the Board shall automatically be increased by two and the holders of Series G Preferred Stock, together with the holders of any outstanding shares of Voting Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be entitled to elect the two additional directors (the “Preferred Stock Directors”) at any annual or special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected or any special meeting of the holders of the Series G Preferred Stock and any Voting Parity Stock for which dividends have not been paid; provided, that it shall be a qualification for election for any such Preferred Stock Director that the election of such director shall not cause the Corporation to violate the corporate governance requirements of the New York Stock Exchange (or any other securities exchange or other trading facility on which securities of the Corporation may then be listed or traded) that listed or traded companies must have a majority of independent directors; and provided, further, that the Board of Directors shall at no time include more than two such Preferred Stock Directors, including all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to their voting rights.

(2)          In the event that the holders of Series G Preferred Stock and, if applicable, such other holders of Voting Preferred Stock shall be entitled to vote for the election of the Preferred Stock Directors following a Nonpayment Event, such directors shall be initially elected following such Nonpayment Event only at a special meeting called at the request of the holders of record of at least 20% of the aggregate number of shares of Series G Preferred Stock and each other series of Voting Preferred Stock which then have the right to exercise voting rights similar to those described herein then outstanding (unless such request for a special meeting is received less than 90 days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, in which event such election shall be held only at such next annual or special meeting of stockholders), and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation.  Such request to call a special meeting for the initial election of the Preferred Stock Directors after a Nonpayment Event shall be made by written notice, signed by the requisite holders of Series G Preferred Stock or Voting Preferred Stock, and delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation in such manner as provided for in Section 10, or as may otherwise be required by applicable law.  If the Secretary of the Corporation fails to call a special meeting for the election of the Preferred Stock Directors within 20 days of receiving proper notice, any holder of Series G Preferred Stock may call such a meeting at the Corporation’s expense, upon notice as provided for herein, solely for the election of the Preferred Stock Directors, and for this purpose only such Series G Preferred Stock holder shall have access to the Corporation’s stock ledger.  The Preferred Stock Directors elected at any such special meeting shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the stockholders if such office shall not have previously terminated as herein provided.

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(3)          When dividends have been paid in full on the Series G Preferred Stock for four consecutive Dividend Periods after a Nonpayment Event, then the right of the holders of Series G Preferred Stock to elect the Preferred Stock Directors shall cease (but subject always to the same provisions for the vesting of such voting rights in the case of any future Nonpayment Event), and, if and when any rights of holders of Series G Preferred Stock and Voting Preferred Stock to elect the Preferred Stock Directors shall have ceased, the terms of office of all the Preferred Stock Directors shall forthwith terminate and the number of directors constituting the Board shall automatically be reduced accordingly.

(4)          Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time without cause by the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series G Preferred Stock and Voting Preferred Stock (voting together as a single class), when they have the voting rights described herein.  In case any vacancy shall occur among the Preferred Stock Directors, a successor shall be elected by the Board to serve until the next annual meeting of the stockholders upon the nomination of the then remaining Preferred Stock Director or, if no Preferred Stock Director remains in office, by the vote of the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series G Preferred Stock and such Voting Preferred Stock for which dividends have not been paid, voting as a single class.  The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter that shall come before the Board for a vote.

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(d)          Changes after Provision for Redemption.  The voting rights provided in this Section 6 shall not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote or consent would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding shares of Series G Preferred Stock have been redeemed or called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds for the redemption have been set aside in accordance with Section 5.

(e)          Changes for Clarification.  Without the consent of the holders of Series G Preferred Stock, so long as such action does not adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions thereof, of the Series G Preferred Stock, the Corporation may amend, alter, supplement or repeal any terms of the Series G Preferred Stock:

(1)          to cure any ambiguity, or to cure, correct or supplement any provision contained in this Certificate of Designations that may be defective or inconsistent; or

(2)          to make any provision with respect to matters or questions arising with respect to the Series G Preferred Stock that is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Certificate of Designations.

(f)          Procedures for Voting and Consents.  The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of Series G Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by any rules the Board, in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, applicable law and any national securities exchange or other trading facility on which the Series G Preferred Stock is listed or traded at the time.  Whether the vote or consent of the holders of a plurality, majority or other portion of the shares of Series G Preferred Stock and any Voting Preferred Stock has been cast or given on any matter on which the holders of shares of Series G Preferred Stock are entitled to vote shall be determined by the Corporation by reference to the respective specified liquidation amounts of the shares of Series G Preferred Stock and Voting Preferred Stock voted or covered by the consent.

Section 7. Conversion Rights.  The holders of shares of Series G Preferred Stock shall not have any rights to convert such shares into shares of any other class or series of securities of the Corporation.

Section 8. Preemptive Rights.  The holders of shares of Series G Preferred Stock shall have no preemptive rights with respect to any shares of the Corporation’s capital stock or any of its other securities convertible into or carrying rights or options to purchase any such capital stock.

- 11 -


Section 9. Record Holders.  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation and the transfer agent for the Series G Preferred Stock may deem and treat the record holder of any share of Series G Preferred Stock as the true and lawful owner thereof for all purposes, and neither the Corporation nor such transfer agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

Section 10. Notices.  All notices or communications in respect of the Series G Preferred Stock shall be sufficiently given if given in writing and delivered in person or by first class mail or if giving in such other manner as may be permitted herein, in the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws or by applicable law.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if shares of Series G Preferred Stock or depositary shares representing an interest in shares of Series G Preferred Stock are issued in book-entry form through DTC, such notices may be given to the holders of the Series G Preferred Stock in any manner permitted by DTC.

Section 11. Stock Certificates.  The Corporation may at its option issue shares of Series G Preferred Stock without certificates.

Section 12. Other Rights.  The Series G Preferred Stock shall not have any powers, preferences, privileges or rights other than as set forth herein or in the Certificate of Incorporation or as provided by applicable law.

Section 13. Effectiveness.  This Certificate of Designations shall become effective at 11:30 p.m., Eastern Time, on January 31, 2022.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

- 12 -


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Designations to be signed by the undersigned as of this 28th day of January, 2022.

 
WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
     
 
By:
/s/ John R. Ciulla
 
Name:
John R. Ciulla
 
Title:
President and Chief Executive Officer

[Signature Page to Certificate of Designations]


Exhibit 3.5

WEBSTER BYLAW AMENDMENT

The Bylaws of Webster Financial Corporation (the “Corporation”), as amended effective March 15, 2020 (the “Bylaws”), having received the requisite approval from the Board of Directors under Article X of the Bylaws, shall be amended as follows, effective as of and subject to the occurrence of the Effective Time (as such term is defined in the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 18, 2021, by and between the Corporation and Sterling Bancorp):

A new Article XI shall be added to the Bylaws, as follows:

ARTICLE XI
CERTAIN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MATTERS

SECTION 1.  Executive Chairman; President and CEO.  Effective as of the Effective Time (for all purposes of this Article XI, as defined in the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 18, 2021, by and between the Corporation and Sterling Bancorp (“Sterling”), as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Merger Agreement”)), (a) Mr. Jack L. Kopnisky shall serve as the Executive Chairman of the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) and of the board of directors of the Corporation’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Webster Bank, National Association (the “Bank”) (the “Bank Board”) and (b) Mr. John R. Ciulla shall serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and of the Bank and as a member of the Board and of the Bank Board.  Effective as of the twenty-four (24) month anniversary of the Effective Time or any earlier date as of which Mr. Kopnisky ceases for any reason to serve in the position of Executive Chairman of the Board and of the Bank Board (such date, the “Chairman Succession Date”), (i) Mr. Ciulla shall be the successor to Mr. Kopnisky as the Chairman of the Board and of the Bank Board, and shall continue as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and of the Bank and (ii) Mr. Kopnisky shall cease to serve as a member of the Board and of the Bank Board and shall serve as a strategic consultant to the Corporation and the Bank until the thirty-six (36) month anniversary of the Effective Time or until such earlier time as of which Mr. Kopnisky ceases for any reason to serve as a consultant (the “Consultant Term”).  The Corporation may enter into or amend appropriate agreements or arrangements with the individuals referenced herein in connection with the subject matter of this Article XI, Section 1.

The following actions shall require the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the full Board:  (A) prior to the twenty-four (24) month anniversary of the Effective Time, the removal of Mr. Kopnisky from, or the failure to appoint, re-elect or re-nominate Mr. Kopnisky to, as applicable, his position as the Executive Chairman of the Board and of the Bank Board; (B) prior to the Chairman Succession Date, the removal of Mr. Ciulla from, or the failure to appoint, re-elect or re-nominate Mr. Ciulla to, as applicable, his positions as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and of the Bank and as a member of the Board and of the Bank Board; (C) from and after the Chairman Succession Date until the Expiration Date, the removal of Mr. Ciulla from, or the failure to appoint, re-elect or re-nominate Mr. Ciulla to, as applicable, his positions as the Chairman of the Board and of the Bank Board and as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and of the Bank; and (D) during the Consultant Term, the removal or termination of Mr. Kopnisky as a strategic consultant to the Corporation and the Bank.



SECTION 2.  Board Size and Composition.  Effective as of the Effective Time, the Board and the Bank Board shall each be comprised of seven (7) Continuing Sterling Directors, including Mr. Kopnisky, and eight (8) Continuing Webster Directors, including Mr. Ciulla.  From and after the Effective Time until the Expiration Date:  (A) the number of directors that comprises the full Board and the full Bank Board shall each be fifteen (15) and (B) no vacancy on the Board or the Bank Board created by the cessation of service of a director shall be filled by the applicable board and the applicable board shall not nominate any individual to fill such vacancy, unless (x) such individual would be an independent director of the Corporation or the Bank, as applicable (unless such predecessor director was not an independent director), (y) in the case of a vacancy created by the cessation of service of a Continuing Sterling Director, not less than a majority of the Continuing Sterling Directors have approved the appointment or nomination (as applicable) of the individual appointed or nominated (as applicable) to fill such vacancy, and (z) in the case of a vacancy created by the cessation of service of a Continuing Webster Director, not less than a majority of the Continuing Webster Directors have approved the appointment or nomination (as applicable) of the individual appointed or nominated (as applicable) to fill such vacancy; provided that any such appointment or nomination pursuant to clause (y) or (z) shall be made in accordance with applicable law and the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (or other national securities exchange on which the Corporation’s securities are listed).  For purposes of this Article XI, the terms “Continuing Sterling Directors” and “Continuing Webster Directors” shall mean, respectively, the initial directors of Sterling and the Corporation who were selected to be directors of the Corporation and of the Bank by Sterling or the Corporation, as applicable, as of the Effective Time, pursuant to Section 6.12(a) of the Merger Agreement, and any directors of the Corporation or the Bank (as applicable) who were subsequently appointed or nominated and elected to fill a vacancy created by the cessation of service of any such director (or any successor thereto) pursuant to this Article XI, Section 2.

SECTION 3.  Lead Independent Director.  Effective as of the Effective Time, Mr. William L. Atwell (or another independent member of the Board, designated by the Corporation prior to the Effective Time) shall serve as the Lead Independent Director of the Board and of the Bank Board.  From the Effective Time until the Chairman Succession Date, the Lead Independent Director of the Board and of the Bank Board shall be an independent director chosen from among the Continuing Webster Directors.  From and after the Chairman Succession Date until the Expiration Date, the Lead Independent Director of the Board and of the Bank Board shall be an independent director chosen from among the Continuing Sterling Directors.

SECTION 4.  Headquarters; Name.  Effective as of and from the Effective Time, (i) the headquarters and main office of the Corporation and the Bank will be located in Stamford, Connecticut and (ii) the name of the Corporation will be “Webster Financial Corporation” and the name of the Bank will be “Webster Bank, National Association”.

SECTION 5.  Amendments; Interpretation.  Effective as of the Effective Time until the date of the Corporation’s 2024 annual meeting of shareholders (the “Expiration Date”), the provisions of this Article XI may be modified, amended or repealed, and any bylaw provision or other resolution (including any proposed corresponding modification, amendment or repeal of any provision of the Corporation’s other constituent documents) inconsistent with this Article XI may be adopted, only by (and any such modification, amendment, repeal or inconsistent bylaw provision or other resolution may be proposed or recommended by the Board for adoption by the shareholders of the Corporation only by) the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the full Board.  In the event of any inconsistency between any provision of this Article XI and any other provision of these bylaws or the Corporation’s other constituent documents, the provisions of this Article XI shall control to the fullest extent permitted by law.

2


Exhibit 4.3

SECOND AMENDMENT TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT

This Second Amendment (this “Amendment”), effective as of January 31, 2022 (the “Effective Date”), by and among Webster Financial Corporation (the “Corporation”), Sterling Bancorp (“Sterling”), Computershare Inc. (“Computershare”) and Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”), amends that certain Deposit Agreement (as amended, the “Agreement”), dated as of March 19, 2013, by and among Astoria Financial Corporation (“Astoria”), Computershare Shareowner Services, LLC, as Depositary, and the holders from time to time of the depositary receipts described therein, and as amended by that certain First Amendment to Deposit Agreement, dated as of October 2, 2017, by and among Sterling, successor in interest to Astoria, and Computershare, successor in interest to Computershare Shareowner Services, LLC. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Agreement.

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 18, 2021, by and between the Corporation and Sterling (the “Merger Agreement”), Sterling will merge with and into the Corporation (the “Merger”) effective as of 11:45 p.m., Eastern Time, on January 31, 2022 (the “Merger Effective Time”);

WHEREAS, the Prospectus (as such term is defined below) contains terms which describe the Treatment of Sterling Series A Preferred Stock (as such term is defined below) and Sterling Depositary Shares (as such term is defined below) pursuant to the Merger Agreement, including that each share of 6.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, par value $0.01 per share, of Sterling (the “Sterling Series A Preferred Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to Merger Effective Time will be automatically converted into the right to receive one (1) share of 6.50% Series G Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation (the “Webster Series G Preferred Stock”), and each depositary share representing a 1/40th interest in a share of the Sterling Series A Preferred Stock (the “Sterling Depositary Shares”) will become a depositary share representing a 1/40th interest in a share of the Webster Series G Preferred Stock;

WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 5.5(b) of the Agreement, Sterling desires to remove Computershare as the Depositary and appoint Broadridge as successor Depositary, in each case effective as of immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time; and

WHEREAS, the parties hereto wish to amend the Agreement to reflect the terms described in the Prospectus and to remove Computershare as Depositary and appoint Broadridge as successor Depositary pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth herein;

NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 
1.
Removal and Appointment. In accordance with Section 5.5(b) of the Agreement, (i) the Corporation hereby removes Computershare as Depositary under the Agreement, (ii) the Corporation hereby appoints Broadridge as successor Depositary under the Agreement, which shall be vested with the same rights, powers, duties and obligations as if it had been originally named as Depositary, and (iii) Broadridge hereby accepts such appointment as Depositary, in each case effective as of immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time.
       
       
 
2.
Assignment and Assumption.
       
   
a.
Effective as of the immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, Computershare hereby assigns, transfers, conveys and delivers to Broadridge all of Computershare's rights, duties and obligations under the Agreement accruing on and after such time; provided, that: (i) Computershare is not assigning any liabilities of Computershare, or (ii) Computershare is not assigning any claims that the Corporation or any other party may have against Computershare arising in connection with the Agreement, and (iii) for avoidance of doubt, Computershare shall remain entitled to indemnity as set forth in Section 5.7 of the Agreement.
       
   
b.
Effective as of the immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, Broadridge hereby accepts such assignment and agrees to assume all of Computershare's rights, duties and obligations under the Agreement accruing on or after such time; provided, that Broadridge is not assuming: (i) any liabilities of Computershare, or (ii) any claims that the Corporation or any other party may have against Computershare arising in connection with the Agreement.
       


 
3.
Amendment to the Agreement.
       
   
a.
Effective as of the immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, the definition of “Registrar” in Section 1.1 of the Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with the following definition:
       
     
“‘Registrar’ shall mean the Depositary or such other successor bank, trust company or regulated Person engaged in the business of registering ownership and transfers of securities, which shall be appointed by the Corporation to register ownership and transfers of Receipts as herein provided.  If a successor Registrar shall be so appointed, all references herein to “the books” of or maintained by the Depositary shall be deemed, as applicable, to refer as well to the register maintained by such Registrar for such purpose.”
       
   
b.
Effective as of the immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, the definition of “Transfer Agent” in Section 1.1 of the Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with the following definition:
       
     
“‘Transfer Agent’ shall mean the Depositary or such other successor bank, trust company or regulated “transfer agent” (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(25) of the Exchange Act), which shall be appointed by the Corporation to transfer the Receipts or the deposited shares of the Series G Preferred Stock, as the case may be, as herein provided.”
       
    c.
Effective as of the immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, the first sentence of Section 5.5(c) of the Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with the following:
       
     
“In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be removed, the Corporation shall, within 60 days after the delivery of the notice of resignation or removal, as the case may be, appoint a successor Depositary, which shall be a Person having its principal office in the United States of America and having either (i) a combined capital and surplus, along with its Affiliates, of at least $50,000,000 or (ii) total assets, along with its Affiliates, of at least $50,000,000.”
       
   
d.
Effective as of the immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, all references in the Agreement to Computershare Inc. or Computershare Shareowner Services LLC as Depositary shall be deemed to refer instead to Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc. as Depositary.
       
   
e.
Effective as of the immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, the definition of “Depositary’s Office” in Section 1.1 of the Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with the following definition:
       
     
“‘Depositary’s Office’ shall mean the office of the Depositary at which at any particular time its depositary receipt business shall be administered, which at the date of this Deposit Agreement is located at 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717.”
       
   
f.
Effective as of the immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, Section 7.4(b) of the Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with the following:
       
     
“Any and all notices, requests, orders, approvals, instructions or directions to be given to the Depositary hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, or by electronic mail, confirmed either by (a) telephone with the recipient of such electronic mail or (b) letter, addressed to the Depositary at:
       
     
Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc.
     
51 Mercedes Way
     
Edgewood, New York 11717
     
Attn:  Corporate Actions Department
     
Email: BCISCAManagement@broadridge.com
       
     
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
       
     
Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.,
     
2 Gateway Center, Newark, New Jersey 07102
     
Email:  legalnotices@broadridge.com
     
Attn:  General Counsel ”
       
   
g.
Effective as of the Merger Effective Time, the Corporation shall be the legal successor-in-interest to Sterling under the terms of the Agreement, and the Corporation hereby assumes all of the rights and obligations of Sterling under the Agreement.
       


   
h.
Effective as of the Merger Effective Time, the definition of “Series A Preferred Stock” in Section 1.1 of the Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with the following definition:
       
     
“‘Series G Preferred Stock’ shall mean the Corporation’s 6.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series G, par value $0.01 per share.”
       
   
i.
Effective as of the Merger Effective Time, all references in the Agreement to Series A Preferred Stock shall be deemed to refer to Series G Preferred Stock.
       
   
j.
Effective as of the Merger Effective Time, the Section 1.1 definition of “Prospectus” is hereby deleted and replaced with the following definition: “‘Prospectus’ shall mean the joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, filed with the SEC on July 8, 2021, which forms a part of the Registration Statement.”
       
   
k.
Effective as of the Merger Effective Time, the Section 1.1 definition of “Registration Statement” is hereby deleted and replaced with the following definition: “‘Registration Statement’ shall mean the Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-257035), filed with the SEC on June 11, 2021, amended on July 6, 2021 and declared effective by the SEC on July 8, 2021.”
       
 

l.
Effective as of the Merger Effective Time, Section 7.4(a) of the Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with the following:
       
     
“Any and all notices, requests, orders, approvals, instructions or directions to be given to the Corporation hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, or by electronic mail, confirmed either by (a) telephone with the recipient of such electronic mail or (b) letter, addressed to the Corporation at:
       
     
Webster Financial Corporation
     
145 Bank Street
     
Waterbury, Connecticut 06702
     
Attn:  General Counsel”
       
   
m.
Effective as of the Merger Effective Time, Exhibit A of the Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with Exhibit A of this Amendment.
       
 
4.
Instruction to Depositary. The Corporation hereby authorizes and instructs the Depositary to treat the shares of Webster Series G Preferred Stock received by it upon conversion of the Sterling Series A Preferred Stock as newly deposited securities under the Agreement.
       
 
5.
Limited Effect. Except as expressly modified herein, the Agreement shall continue to be and shall remain, in full force and effect and the valid and binding obligation of the parties thereto in accordance with its terms.
       
 
6.
Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed as original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. A signature to this Amendment executed and/or transmitted electronically shall have the same authority, effect, and enforceability as an original signature.
       



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed by their respective officers, hereunto duly agreed and authorized, as of the Effective Date.


COMPUTERSHARE INC.
 
BROADRIDGE CORPORATE
ISSUER SOLUTIONS, INC.
     
By:
/s/ Joseph Varca
 
By:
/s/ John Dunn
Name:
Joseph Varca
 
Name:
John Dunn
Title:
Vice President
 
Title:
Senior Vice President, Sales

WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
 
STERLING BANCORP
     
By:
/s/ Harriet Munrett Wolfe
 
By:
/s/ Jack L. Kopnisky
Name:
Harriet Munrett Wolfe
 
Name:
Jack L. Kopnisky
Title:
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
 
Title:
President and Chief Executive Officer



EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF RECEIPT]

[IF GLOBAL RECEIPT IS ISSUED: UNLESS THIS GLOBAL RECEIPT IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY RECEIPT ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL RECEIPT SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL RECEIPT SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT REFERRED TO BELOW.]

RECEIPT FOR DEPOSITARY SHARES,

EACH REPRESENTING 1/40TH OF ONE SHARE

OF

6.50% NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES G

OF

WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION

CUSIP: 947890 703
SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

Dividend Payment Dates: Beginning April 15, 2022, each January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15.

BROADRIDGE CORPORATE ISSUER SOLUTIONS, INC., as Depositary (the “Depositary”), hereby certifies that [Cede & Co.] is the registered owner of 5,400,000 depositary shares (“Depositary Shares”), each Depositary Share representing 1/40 of one share of 6.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series G, liquidation preference $1,000 per share, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series G Preferred Stock”), of Webster Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), on deposit with the Depositary, subject to the terms and entitled to the benefits of the Deposit Agreement, dated as of March 19, 2013 (as amended, the “Deposit Agreement”), among Astoria Financial Corporation (“Astoria”), Computershare Shareowner Services, LLC, as Depositary, and the Holders from time to time of the Receipts, and as amended by that certain First Amendment to Deposit Agreement, dated as of October 2, 2017, between Sterling Bancorp (“Sterling”), successor-in-interest to Astoria, and Computershare, Inc. (“Computershare”), successor-in-interest to Computershare Shareowner Services, LLC, and by that certain Second Amendment to Deposit Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2022, among Webster Financial Corporation, successor-in-interest to Sterling, Computershare and Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc. By accepting this Depositary Receipt, the Holder hereof becomes a party to and agrees to be bound by all the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement. This Receipt shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose or entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement unless it shall have been executed by the Depositary by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer and, if a Registrar for the Receipts (other than the Depositary) shall have been appointed, countersigned by such Registrar by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer thereof.


 
Dated: [•]
   
 
BROADRIDGE CORPORATE ISSUER SOLUTIONS, INC., as Depositary
     
 
By:
   
   
Authorized Officer
 



[FORM OF REVERSE OF RECEIPT]

THE CORPORATION WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH REGISTERED HOLDER OF RECEIPTS WHO SO REQUESTS A COPY OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT AND A COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS OF 6.50% NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES G, OF WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION. ANY SUCH REQUEST IS TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE DEPOSITARY NAMED ON THE FACE OF THIS RECEIPT.

The Corporation will furnish without charge to each registered holder of a receipt who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof of the Corporation, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. Such request may be made to the Corporation or to the Registrar.

EXPLANATION OF ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations when used in the form of ownership on the face of this certificate shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations. Abbreviations in addition to those appearing below may be used.


Abbreviation
Equivalent Phrase
Abbreviation
Equivalent Phrase
JT TEN
As joint tenants, with right of
survivorship and not as tenants in common
TEN BY ENT
As tenants by the entireties
TEN IN COM
As tenants in common
UNIF GIFT MIN ACT
Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

Abbreviation
Equivalent
Word
Abbreviation
Equivalent
Word
Abbreviation
Equivalent Word
ADM
Administrator(s),
Administratrix
EX
Executor(s),
Executrix
PAR
Paragraph
AGMT
Agreement
FBO
For the benefit of
PL
Public Law
ART
Article
FDN
Foundation
TR
(As) trustee(s), for, of
CH
Chapter
GDN
Guardian(s)
U
Under
CUST
Custodian for
GDNSHP
Guardianship
UA
Under agreement
DEC
Declaration
MIN
Minor(s)
UW
Under will of, Of will
of, Under last will &
testament
EST
Estate, of Estate of
       

For value received, ____________________________ hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto


INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE

Depositary Shares represented by the within Receipt, and do(es) hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ___________________ Attorney to transfer the said Depositary Shares on the books of the within named Depositary with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:

NOTICE: The signature to the assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Receipt in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.

SIGNATURE GUARANTEED

NOTICE: The signature(s) should be guaranteed by a participant in a Medallion Signature Guarantee Program at a guarantee level acceptable to the Corporation’s transfer agent. Guarantees by a notary public are not acceptable.



Exhibit 10.1

April 18, 2021

Mr. John R. Ciulla
At the address on file with the Company

Dear John:

This retention agreement (this “Retention Agreement”) memorializes our agreement regarding the terms of your employment with, and service to, Webster Financial Corporation (the “Company”) following the completion of the merger (the “Merger”) contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger between Sterling Bancorp (“Sterling”) and the Company, dated as of April 18, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”).  Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Retention Agreement have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.

1.          Term

The term of this Retention Agreement will commence on the Closing Date and end on the second anniversary of the Closing Date (the “Term”).  If your employment with the Company terminates for any reason before the Closing or the Merger Agreement is terminated before the Closing in accordance with its terms, this Retention Agreement will automatically terminate and be of no further force or effect, and neither of the parties will have any obligations hereunder.

2.          Position; Reporting; Duties; Location

During the Term, you will serve as the Company’s and the Surviving Bank’s President and Chief Executive Officer, reporting directly to the Board of Directors (the “Board”), and you will have the duties and authority commensurate with your position as President and Chief Executive Officer of a public company.  During the Term, consistent with the Webster Bylaw Amendment, the Board will nominate you to the Board and the Company will appoint you to the of the Board of Directors of the Surviving Bank (the “Bank”, and such board, the “Bank Board”), and on the Chairman Succession Date (as defined in the Webster Bylaw Amendment), the Board will appoint you as Chairman of the Board and of the Bank Board.

Your duties during the Term will be performed at the Company’s headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, subject to reasonable business travel.  You agree that you will be subject to the Company’s and Bank’s policies applicable to similarly situated executives as in effect from time to time, including the Codes of Ethics and Conduct and stock ownership guidelines.

Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, (1) during the Term, your removal as President and Chief Executive Officer, or the failure to appoint, re-elect or re-nominate you to, as applicable, your positions as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board and of the Bank Board and (2) from and after the Chairman Succession Date until the Expiration Date (each as defined in the Webster Bylaw Amendment), your removal from, or the failure to appoint, re-elect or re-nominate you to, as applicable, your position as Chairman of the Board and the Bank Board and as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and of the Bank will, in each case, require the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the Board.



3.          Compensation

Annual Base Salary.  During the Employment Period, your annual base salary (“Annual Base Salary”) will be $1,100,000, payable to you in accordance with the Company’s payroll policies.  Your Annual Base Salary will be reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) and may be increased but not decreased.  The term Annual Base Salary as utilized in this Retention Agreement will refer to Annual Base Salary as in effect from time to time.

Annual Cash Incentive Award Opportunity.  During each year of the Employment Period, you will be eligible to earn an annual cash incentive award with a target opportunity of 125% of Annual Base Salary (the “Target Incentive Payment”), which will be determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board and payable in accordance with the annual cash incentive plan applicable to other senior executives of the Company.

Equity Compensation Opportunity.  During each year of the Employment Period (commencing with the 2022 grant cycle, assuming you have not received a grant in respect of 2022 prior to the Closing Date), you will be granted annual long-term incentive awards with a target grant date fair value of 300% of Annual Base Salary.  The grant timing, form and terms and conditions of your long-term incentive awards will be as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board and no less favorable than those applicable to other senior executives of the Company.

Benefits; Expense Reimbursement.  You will be entitled to employee benefits and perquisites on terms that are no less favorable than those provided to other senior  executives of the Company, as in effect from time to time.  The Company will reimburse your reasonable and documented business expenses in accordance with the Company’s business reimbursement policy applicable to other senior executives of the Company.

Company Change in Control Agreement; Company Non-Competition Agreement.  During the Term, (A) your existing change in control agreement with the Company, dated as of February 26, 2018 (your “Change in Control Agreement”) will remain in effect pursuant to its terms (although you agree that the Merger will not constitute a “Change in Control” under such agreement), and (B) your existing non-competition agreement with the Company, dated as of April 3, 2017 (your “Non-Competition Agreement”) will not apply and be of no force and effect, but upon expiration of the Term will automatically again become effective.

Indemnification.  The Company will indemnify you (including, for the avoidance of doubt, by providing you with advancement of expenses) to the fullest extent permitted by law against any actual or threatened action, suit or proceeding and provide you with directors’ and officers’ insurance coverage, in each case, with respect to your services as an executive officer and director of the Company and the Bank, on terms no less favorable than those applicable to any other executive officers and directors of the Company and the Bank.

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4.          Termination of Employment other than for Cause, Death, or Disability or for Good Reason

If, during the Term, the Company terminates your employment other than for Cause (as defined below) and other than by reason of your death or disability (as defined in the Company’s long-term disability plan or policy that covers you), or you resign your employment with Good Reason (as defined below), the Company shall pay or provide to you the following:


(1)
as soon as reasonably practicable following the Date of Termination (as defined below) and in no event later than 30 days thereafter, (A) a lump sum cash payment consisting of any (i) accrued Annual Base Salary, (ii) any annual cash incentive award earned by you and awarded by the Compensation Committee for a completed fiscal year (with any portion of such incentive award that was previously deferred to be paid in accordance with the applicable deferral arrangement and any election thereunder), (iii) unused vacation accrued through the Date of Termination, and (iv) any unreimbursed expenses incurred through the Date of Termination that are subject to reimbursement pursuant to the Company’s policies, in each case to the extent unpaid (the “Accrued Obligations”), and (B) to the extent not theretofore paid or provided, any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided or which you are eligible to receive under any plan, program, policy, practice, contract, or agreement of the Company through the Date of Termination, with any amounts or benefits that constitute non-qualified deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), including the applicable regulations thereunder (“Section 409A”) to be paid or settled at the earliest permissible date for purposes of Section 409A (collectively, the “Other Benefits”);


(2)
a lump sum cash payment equal to the product of (A) the sum of the Annual Base Salary and Target Incentive Payment and (B) three, paid as soon as reasonably practicable after the Release (as defined below) effective date (without revocation by you) and no later than the 60th calendar day following the Date of Termination;


(3)
a prorated annual cash incentive award for the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs based upon the period of time elapsed during such fiscal year prior to the Date of Termination, calculated on a basis no less favorable than is applicable to other senior executives of the Company and assuming that any individual performance goals are satisfied in full, payable at the time that annual incentive awards are paid to other senior executives of the Company (with any portion of such incentive award that was previously deferred to be paid in accordance with the applicable deferral arrangement and any election thereunder);


(4)
a lump sum equal to the product of (A) the sum of (x) the annual premium for coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 in effect as of the Date of Termination for the level of coverage in effect for you under the Company’s group health plan and (y) the annual premium for coverage (based on the rate paid by the Company for active employees) under the Company’s life insurance plans and (B) three, paid as soon as reasonably practicable after the Release effective date (without revocation by you) and no later than the 60th calendar day following the Date of Termination (the “Benefits Continuation Payment”);

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(5)
the amount equal to the sum of all Company contributions to which you are eligible as of immediately prior to the Date of Termination under the Company’s qualified defined contribution plans and any excess or supplemental defined contribution plans that you would be eligible to receive as if your employment continued for three years after the Date of Termination, assuming for this purpose that (A) your benefits under such plans are fully vested, (B) your eligible compensation for purposes of such plans in each of the three years is that set forth in Section 3 of this Retention Agreement and that such amounts are paid in equal monthly installments over such three-year period, (C) to the extent that the Company contributions are determined based on your deferrals, that your contribution or deferral elections, as appropriate, are those in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination, and (D) to the extent that the Company contributions are discretionary, assuming such contributions are made at the rate of any discretionary contributions made by the Company during the plan year immediately preceding the Date of Termination, paid as soon as reasonably practicable after the Release effective date (without revocation by you) and no later than the 60th calendar day following the Date of Termination; and


(6)
any outstanding long-term incentive awards granted to you will vest in full with respect to any service vesting requirement, with any performance-vesting awards to remain outstanding and be eligible to be earned based on the level of performance achieved as determined on a basis no less favorable than that applicable to other senior executives of the Company, as if you had remained employed for the full performance period, without proration and without regard to any applicable one year holding period, and with any such vested awards that constitute deferred compensation subject to Section 409A to be settled at the earliest permissible date for purposes of Section 409A.

The payments and benefits provided under this Section 4 (other than the Accrued Obligations and the Other Benefits) are subject to your: (i) execution, delivery to the Company, and non-revocation within the period after the Date of Termination specified in a release of claims substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Release”).  In the event you breach the terms of Section 5, all payments and benefits provided under this Section 4 (other than the Accrued Obligations and the Other Benefits) will, to the extent unpaid, be subject to forfeiture by you and, to the extent paid, be subject to clawback and recoupment by the Company.  If you become entitled to payments or benefits under the Change in Control Agreement during the Term, in no event shall you have a right to payments and benefits under the Change in Control Agreement that are duplicative of any payments or benefits under this Retention Agreement.

For purposes of this Retention Agreement and your outstanding equity awards granted prior to, on or after the Closing Date, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

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Cause” means your failure or refusal to substantially perform your duties hereunder (after notice from the Company and a reasonable opportunity to cure), willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, breach of the Company’s or the Bank’s Code of Ethics, material violation of the Sarbanes-Oxley requirements for officers of public companies that in the reasonable opinion of the Board will likely cause substantial financial harm or substantial injury to the reputation of the Company or the Bank, willfully engaging in actions that in the reasonable opinion of the Board will likely cause substantial financial harm or substantial injury to the business reputation of the Company or the Bank, willful violation of any law, rule or regulation (other than routine traffic violations or similar offenses) or final cease-and-desist order, or material breach of any provision of this Retention Agreement.  The cessation of your employment shall not be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to you a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the Board consistent with the Washington Bylaw Amendment at a meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to you and you are given an opportunity with your counsel to be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, you are guilty of the conduct constituting Cause, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail. For purposes hereof, no act or failure to act, on your part, shall be considered “willful” unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by you in bad faith or without reasonable belief that your action or omission was in the best interests of the Company and the Bank.  Any act, or failure to act, based upon the direction of the Board or the Bank Board or the advice of counsel for the Company or the Bank shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by you in good faith and in the best interests of the Company or the Bank.

Date of Termination” means the date of your termination of employment with the Company and its affiliates.

Good Reason” means the occurrence of any of the following events without your consent: (1) a material reduction of any element of the compensation required to be provided to you in accordance with any of the provisions of this Retention Agreement; (2) a material adverse change in your title or duties with the Company and the Bank from those set forth in this Retention Agreement, which change would cause your position to become one of materially lesser responsibility, importance or scope; (3) the Company requiring you to be based at any office or location other than as provided in this Retention Agreement resulting in an increase in your commute of 50 miles or more; or (4) a material breach of this Retention Agreement by the Company or the Bank (including the failure to appoint, re-elect or re-nominate you to, as applicable, the positions set forth in Section 2 hereof at the times specified therein).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such event shall constitute “Good Reason” unless (a) you shall have given written notice of such event to the Company within 90 days after the initial occurrence thereof, (b) the Company and the Bank shall have failed to cure the situation within 30 days following the delivery of such notice (or such longer cure period as may be agreed upon by the parties) (the “Cure Period”), and (c) you terminate employment within 30 days after expiration of such Cure Period.

5.          Restrictive Covenants

A.          General

You acknowledge that the restrictions of this Section 5, including, without limitation, the scope and duration of such restrictions, are reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the Company.  In view of your importance to the success of the Merger, if you compete with the Company after your services with the Company cease, the Company will likely suffer significant and irreparable harm.  For purposes of this Section 5, all references to the Company shall include the Company, Sterling or any of their respective affiliates, including their predecessor and successor entities, and the scope of any such restrictions shall relate to the business of the Company, including Sterling, as it exists prior to, on or after the Closing Date.

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B.          Confidential Information

While providing services to the Company and thereafter, you shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company and its businesses, which shall have been obtained by you during your service with the Company and which shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by you or representatives of you in violation of this Retention Agreement).  After termination of your services with the Company for any reason, you shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, (1) communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it; or (2) use to your advantage or to the detriment of the Company any such information, knowledge or data.  The restrictions in this Section 5.B shall not apply to any information to the extent that you are required to disclose such information by law; provided that you (x) notify the Company of the existence and terms of such obligation; (y) give the Company a reasonable opportunity to seek a protective or similar order to prevent or limit such disclosure; and (z) disclose only that information actually required to be disclosed.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Retention Agreement to the contrary, nothing contained herein is intended to, or shall be interpreted in a manner that does, limit or restrict you from exercising any legally protected whistleblower rights (including pursuant to Rule 21F under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).  At the end of your provision of services to the Company, you shall return to the Company all confidential information in any form (including all copies and reproductions thereof) and all other property whatsoever of the Company in your possession or under your control.

C.          Non-Solicitation/No Hire of Employees

During the period of your service with the Company and the additional period ending on the date that is one year after the date of termination of your service with the Company in all capacities for any reason (the “Non-Solicitation Period”), you shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, in any manner, on your own behalf or on behalf of any other person, corporation, partnership, firm, institution or other business entity, (1) offer employment (or a consulting, agency,  independent contractor or other similar position) to, or otherwise hire, any person who is (or was at any time during the six months prior to such offer or hiring) an employee, consultant, representative, officer or director of the Company, or (2) Solicit (as defined below) any such person to (x) accept employment (or any aforesaid position) with any company or entity with which you are then employed, providing services or otherwise affiliated, or (y) cease his or her relationship with the Company for any reason.  This Section 5.C shall not apply to solicitation, recruitment, encouragement, inducement or termination during the period of your service with the Company on behalf of the Company.

D.          Non-Solicitation of Clients or Customers

During the Non-Solicitation Period, you shall not, directly or indirectly, in any manner, on your own behalf or on behalf of any other person, corporation, partnership, firm, institution or other business entity, Solicit a Client (as defined below) to (1) transact business with a Competitive Enterprise (as defined below but without regard to the geographic limitations therein), (2) reduce the amount of business that any Client has customarily done or contemplates doing with the Company or (3) cease or refrain from doing business with the Company, or, in any manner, interfere with or damage (or attempt to interfere with or damage) any relationship between the Company and a Client.

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E.          Non-Competition

During the period of your service with the Company and the additional period ending on the date that is two years after the date of termination of your service with the Company in all capacities for any reason, you shall not, directly or indirectly, in any manner, associate with or provide services to, in any capacity (including, without limitation, as an officer, agent, employee, partner, director, consultant or advisor and whether or not for compensation), any Competitive Enterprise (as defined below).  For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing restrictions shall restrict you from associating with or providing services in any capacity to a private equity firm, hedge fund or equity sponsor, in each case that invests or seeks to invest (at any time during your association with or provision of services to such entity) in a business enterprise that is a Competitive Enterprise.

F.          Cooperation

During the period of your service with the Company in any capacity and following the cessation of your service for any reason, you shall, upon reasonable notice, (1) furnish such information and assistance to the Company, as may reasonably be requested by the Company, with respect to any matter, project, initiative or effort for which you are or were responsible or have relevant knowledge or had substantial involvement in while providing services to the Company, and (2) cooperate with the Company during the course of all third-party proceedings arising out of the Company’s business about which you have knowledge or information; provided, however, that you shall not be required to provide information or assistance with respect to any litigation between you and the Company.

G.          Definitions

For purposes of this Retention Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(1)          Client” means any client, customer or business relation, whether a person or entity, and whether current, former (within the 12 month period after such relationship has been terminated) or prospective (meaning such person or entity is reasonably anticipated to become a customer or client or commence such business relationship, provided that there are demonstrable efforts or plans to establish such relationship) of the Company.

(2)          Competitive Enterprise” means any person, firm, corporation, other entity or business enterprise in whatever form that engages in, or owns or controls a significant interest in any entity that engages in, (A) the provision of depository, administrative or other services or products relating to health savings accounts, in the Unites States, or (B) any other activity in which the Company is engaged, in the states comprising the New England region or any other state in the United States in which the Company has a business presence (as of your date of termination, in the case of your termination of services with the Company).  The activities covered by clause (B) of the previous sentence include, without limitation, the solicitation and acceptance of deposits of money or commercial paper, the solicitation and funding of loans and the provision of other banking services, including business and consumer lending, asset-based financing, residential mortgage funding, mortgage warehouse lending, equipment financing, commercial and residential mortgage lending and brokerage, deposit services (including municipal deposit services), trade financing, the sale of annuities, life and health insurance products, title insurance services, private banking, wealth management and investment advisory services, the sale or servicing of banking and financial products and services, factoring/accounts receivable management services and real estate investment trusts.  Nothing herein shall prohibit you from being a passive owner of not more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding equity interest in any entity which is publicly traded, so long as you have no active participation in the business of such entity.
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(3)          Solicit” means any direct or indirect communication of any kind whatsoever, regardless of by whom initiated, inviting, inducing, advising or encouraging (or attempting to do the foregoing) or requesting, any person or entity, in any manner, to take or refrain from taking any action.

H.          Remedies; Judicial Modification

You acknowledge and agree that the terms of this Section 5:  (1) are reasonable in light of all of the circumstances, (2) are sufficiently limited to protect the legitimate interests of the Company, (3) impose no undue hardship on you and (4) are not injurious to the public.  You further acknowledge and agree that:  (x) your breach of the provisions of this Section 5 will cause the Company irreparable harm, which likely cannot be adequately compensated by money damages, and (y) if the Company elects to prevent you from breaching such provisions by obtaining an injunction against you, there is a reasonable probability of the Company’s eventual success on the merits.  You consent and agree that if you commit any such breach or threaten to commit any breach, the Company shall be entitled to temporary, preliminary, and/or permanent injunctive relief from a court of competent jurisdiction, without posting any bond or other security and without the necessity of proof of actual damage, in addition to, and not in lieu of, such other remedies as may be available to the Company for such breach, including cessation of its obligation to pay you the compensation and benefits provided under this Retention Agreement, the right to recoup any such compensation or benefits previously paid under this Retention Agreement and the recovery of money damages.  If any of the provisions of this Section 5 are determined to be wholly or partially unenforceable, you hereby agree that this Retention Agreement or any provision hereof may be reformed so that it is enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law, and in the case when such provision is not capable of being reformed, it shall be severed and all remaining provisions of this Retention Agreement shall be enforced.  If any of the provisions of this Section 5 are determined to be wholly or partially unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such determination shall not be a bar to or in any way diminish the Company’s right to enforce any such covenant in any other jurisdiction.

I.          Jurisdiction

You agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Connecticut and the Federal courts of the United States of America located in Connecticut in respect to the interpretation and enforcement of the provisions under this Section 5, and waive as a defense in any action, suit or proceeding for the interpretation or enforcement under this Section 5, that you are not subject thereto or that such action, suit or proceeding may not be brought or is not maintainable in said courts or that this Retention Agreement may not be enforced in or by said courts or that venue is improper.

6.          Section 409A.

It is the intent of the parties that the payments and benefits under this Retention Agreement will be exempt from or otherwise comply with the provisions of Section 409A, and each payment under this Retention Agreement will be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A.  In no event may you, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of payment.  The parties intend that the terms and provisions of this Retention Agreement will be interpreted and applied in a manner that satisfies the requirements and exemptions of Section 409A.  All reimbursements of costs and expenses or in-kind benefits provided under this Retention Agreement will be made or provided in accordance with Section 409A, including, where applicable, that the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits will not be subject to liquidation and may not be exchanged for any other benefit, the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement (or in-kind benefits paid) in one year will not affect amounts reimbursable or provided as in-kind benefits in any subsequent year, and all expense reimbursements that are taxable income to you will in no event be paid later than the end of the calendar year next following the year in which you incur the expense.

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Notwithstanding any other provision of this Retention Agreement to the contrary, if you are considered a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A (as determined in accordance with the methodology established by the Company as in effect on the date of termination), any payment that constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A that is otherwise due to you under this Retention Agreement during the six-month period following your separation from service (as determined in accordance with Section 409A) on account of your separation from service will be accumulated and paid to you on the first business day of the seventh month following your separation from service (the “Delayed Payment Date”).  If you die during the postponement period, the amounts and entitlements delayed on account of Section 409A will be paid to the personal representative of your estate on the first to occur of the Delayed Payment Date or 30 calendar days after the date of your death.

7.          Limitation on Payments under Certain Circumstances.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Retention Agreement, in the event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by you in connection with the Merger or a “change in ownership or control” (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code) of the Company occurring following the Closing Date (whether pursuant to the terms of this Retention Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement) (collectively, the “Total Benefits”) would be subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), the Total Benefits shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Benefits is subject to the Excise Tax; provided, however, that no such reduction in the Total Benefits shall be made if by not making such reduction, your Retained Amount (as defined below) would be greater than your Retained Amount if the Total Benefits are so reduced.

All determinations required to be made under this Section 7 shall be made by Golden Parachute Tax Solutions LLC or another mutually agreed nationally recognized certified public accounting firm or other professional organization that is a certified public accounting firm recognized as an expert in determinations and calculations for purposes of Section 280G of the Code selected by the Company prior to a change in control (the “Accounting Firm”), which determinations shall be conclusive and binding on you and the Company absent manifest error.  All fees and expenses of Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company.  Prior to any reduction in the Total Benefits pursuant to this Section 7, the Accounting Firm shall provide you and the Company with a report setting forth its calculations and containing related supporting information.  In the event that any such reduction is required, the Total Benefits shall be reduced in the following order: (i) the Benefits Continuation Payment, (ii) the payment under Section 4(2), (iii) any other portion of the Total Benefits that are not subject to Section 409A (other than the Total Benefits resulting from any accelerated vesting of equity awards), (iv) the Total Benefits that are subject to Section 409A in reverse order of payment, and (v) the Total Benefits that are not subject to Section 409A and arise from any accelerated vesting of equity awards.  The parties hereby elect to use the applicable federal rate that is in effect on the date that this Retention Agreement is entered into for purposes of determining the present value of any payments provided for hereunder for purposes of Section 280G of the Code.

For purposes of this Retention Agreement, “Retained Amount” shall mean the present value (as determined in accordance with Sections 280G(b)(2)(A)(ii) and 280G(d)(4) of the Code) of the Total Benefits net of all federal, state and local taxes imposed on you with respect thereto.  In connection with making determinations under this Section 7, the Accounting Firm shall take into account the value of any reasonable compensation for services to be rendered by you before or after the change in ownership or control, including the noncompetition provisions set forth in this Retention Agreement or that may otherwise apply to you, and the Company shall cooperate in the valuation of any such services, including any noncompetition provisions.

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8.          Miscellaneous.

This Retention Agreement is personal to you and, without the prior written consent of the Company, shall not be assignable by you.  This Retention Agreement and any rights and benefits hereunder will inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by your legal representatives, heirs, or legatees.  This Retention Agreement and any rights and benefits hereunder will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.

This Retention Agreement will be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Connecticut, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereof.  This Retention Agreement may not be amended or modified other than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives.

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Retention Agreement will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Retention Agreement, and this Retention Agreement will be construed as if such invalid or unenforceable provision were omitted (but only to the extent that such provision cannot be appropriately reformed or modified).

The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Retention Agreement such federal, state, local, or foreign taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

The Company’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this Retention Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder will not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, defense, or other claim, right, or action that the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates may have against you or others, except as provided in this Retention Agreement related to compliance with the covenants in Section 5.  In no event will you be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to you under any of the provisions of this Retention Agreement, and such amounts will not be reduced regardless of whether you obtain other employment.

Upon the expiration or termination of this Retention Agreement or your services, the respective rights and obligations of the parties hereto, including your obligations under Section 5, shall survive such expiration or termination consistent with the terms of this Retention Agreement and otherwise to the extent necessary to carry out the intentions of the parties hereunder.

Any notices given under this Retention Agreement (1) by the Company to you will be in writing and will be given by hand delivery or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to you at your address listed above or (2) by you to the Company will be in writing and will be given by hand delivery or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the General Counsel of the Company at the Company’s corporate headquarters.

This Retention Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and supersedes any other agreement or understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, excluding the Change in Control Agreement but, during the Term, including the Non-Competition Agreement as set forth in the relevant paragraph of Section 3.  This Retention Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Retention Agreement by electronic transmission, including in portable document format (.pdf), shall be deemed as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Retention Agreement.

[Signature Page Follows]

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If this Retention Agreement correctly describes our understanding, please execute and deliver a counterpart of this signature page, which will become a binding agreement on our receipt.

 
Sincerely,
     
 
WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
     
 
By:
/s/ William L. Atwell
 
Name:
William L. Atwell
 
Title:
Lead Independent Director

Accepted and Agreed

I hereby agree with and accept the terms
and conditions of this Retention Agreement:

/s/ John R. Ciulla
 
Name:  John R. Ciulla
 
Date: April 18, 2021
 

[Signature Page to Retention Agreement]


EXHIBIT A

RELEASE AGREEMENT

THIS RELEASE AGREEMENT (hereinafter this “Agreement”) is made and entered into on the [__] day of [_______], 20[__] by and among  Webster Bank, National Association (the “Bank”) and Webster Financial Corporation (“Webster”) and John R. Ciulla (hereinafter referred to as “you” and “your”).  The Bank and Webster are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Company” and you and the Company are hereinafter referred to as the “parties”.

WHEREAS, the Company and you are parties to a Retention Agreement, dated as of April 18, 2021 (the “Retention Agreement”), pursuant to which you are eligible, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Retention Agreement, to receive certain compensation and benefits in connection with certain terminations of your services to the Company.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the Company agreeing to provide the compensation and benefits under Section 4 of the Retention Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties, it is agreed as follows:

1.          Release and Waiver of Claims.

A.          In exchange for the consideration referenced above, you hereby completely, irrevocably, and unconditionally releases and forever discharges the Company, and any of its predecessor or affiliated companies, and each and all of their officers, agents, directors, supervisors, employees, representatives, and their successors and assigns, and all persons acting by, through, under, for, or in concert with them, or any of them, in any and all of their capacities (hereinafter individually or collectively, the “Released Parties”), from any and all charges, complaints, claims, and liabilities of any kind or nature whatsoever, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected (hereinafter referred to as “claim” or “claims”) which you at any time heretofore had or claimed to have or which you may have or claim to have regarding events that have occurred as of the Effective Date (as defined below) of this Agreement, including, without limitation, those based on:  any employee welfare benefit or pension plan governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (provided that this release does not extend to any vested benefits to which you are entitled under Company’s pension and welfare benefit plans as of the date of your termination of services); the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (race, color, religion, sex and national origin discrimination and harassment); the Civil Rights Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. § 1981) (discrimination); the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (hereinafter “ADEA”); the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, as amended; the Americans With Disabilities Act, as amended; § 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended (wage and hour matters); the Family and Medical Leave Act, as amended (family leave matters); any other federal, state, or local laws or regulations regarding employment discrimination or harassment, wages, insurance, leave, privacy or any other matter; any negligent or intentional tort; any contract, policy or practice (implied, oral, or written); or any other theory of recovery under federal, state, or local law, and whether for compensatory or punitive damages, or other equitable relief, including, but not limited to, any and all claims which you may now have or may have had, arising from or in any way whatsoever connected with your employment, service, or contacts, with the Company or any other of the Released Parties.

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B.          Notwithstanding the foregoing, the released claims do not include, and this Agreement does not release:  (a) any rights to compensation and benefits provided under Section 4 of the Retention Agreement; (b) any benefit to which you are entitled under any tax qualified pension plan of the Company, COBRA continuation coverage benefits, vested benefits under any other benefit plans of the Company or its affiliates or any other welfare benefits required to be provided pursuant to the terms of the applicable plan; (c) any rights to indemnification that you may have under applicable law, the bylaws or certificate of incorporation of the Company, any applicable director and officer liability policy or under the Retention Agreement, as a result of having served as an officer or director of the Company or any of its affiliates; (d) any claim that you may have as the holder or beneficial owner of securities of the Company or other rights relating to securities or equity awards in respect of the common stock of the Company; and (e) any claims that you may not by law release through a settlement agreement such as this.

C.          To the extent permitted by law, you agree that you will not cause or encourage any future legal proceedings to be maintained or instituted against any of the Released Parties.  This Agreement is not intended to prevent you from filing a charge with, or participating in an investigation conducted by, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any comparable state human rights agency, or the United States Securities and Exchange Commission; provided, however, you expressly waive and relinquish any right you may have to recover damages or other relief, whether equitable or legal, in any such proceeding concerning events or actions that arose on or before the Effective Date other than as prohibited by law, including an award under section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”).  No provision of this Agreement shall prohibit you from exercising any legally protected whistleblower rights, including pursuant to Rule 21F under the Exchange Act.

2.          Older Workers Benefit Protection Act / ADEA Waiver.

A.          You acknowledge that the Company has advised you in writing to consult with an attorney of your choice before signing this Agreement, and you have been given the opportunity to consult with an attorney of your choice before signing this Agreement.

B.          You acknowledge that you have been given the opportunity to review and consider this Agreement for a full twenty-one (21) days before signing it, and that, if you have signed this Agreement in less than that time, you have done so voluntarily in order to obtain sooner the benefits of this Agreement.

C.          You further acknowledge that you may revoke this Agreement within seven (7) days after signing it; provided that this Agreement will not become effective until such seven (7) day period has expired.  To be effective, any such revocation must be in writing and delivered to Company’s principal place of business by the close of business on the seventh (7th) day after signing this Agreement and must expressly state your intention to revoke this Agreement.  Provided that you do not timely revoke this Agreement, the eighth (8th) day following your execution hereof shall be deemed the “Effective Date” of this Agreement.

D.          The parties also agree that the release provided by you in this Agreement does not include a release for claims under ADEA arising after the date that you sign this Agreement.

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3.          Your Continuing Obligations.  You shall continue to be bound by the covenants set forth in Section 5 of the Retention Agreement and such other obligations that you have as a former director and executive of the Company.  You shall promptly turn over to the Company any and all documents, files, computer records, or other materials belonging to, or containing confidential or proprietary information obtained from, the Company that are in your possession, custody, or control, including any such materials that may be at your home.

4.          No Admission of Wrongdoing.  This Agreement shall not in any way be construed as an admission by the Company of any acts of unlawful conduct, wrongdoing or discrimination against you, and the Company specifically disclaims any liability to you on the part of itself, its employees, and its agents.

5.          No Amendment. This Agreement cannot be amended, modified, or supplemented in any respect except by written agreement entered into and signed by the parties hereto.

6.          Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Connecticut, without regard to the principles of conflict of laws.

7.          Your Understanding and Representations.  You hereby acknowledge that you have read and understand the terms of this Agreement and that you are signing it voluntarily and without coercion.  You further acknowledge that you have been given an opportunity to consider and review this Agreement and the waivers contained in this Agreement, that you have done so and that the waivers made herein are knowing, conscious and with full appreciation that you are forever foreclosed from pursuing any of the rights so waived.

8.          Counterparts.  This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, and each counterpart shall be considered an original for all purposes.

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PLEASE READ THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY; IT INCLUDES A RELEASE OF ALL KNOWN AND UNKNOWN CLAIMS.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officer, and you have executed this Agreement, as of the date first written above.

 
JOHN R. CIULLA
     
 
By:
 
     
     
 
WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
     
 
By:
 
   
Name:
   
Title:
     
     
 
WEBSTER BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
     
 
By:
 
   
Name:
   
Title:

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Exhibit 10.2

April 18, 2021

Mr. Glenn I. MacInnes
At the address on file with the Company

Dear Glenn:

This retention agreement (this “Retention Agreement”) memorializes our agreement regarding the terms of your employment with, and service to, Webster Financial Corporation (the “Company”) following the completion of the merger (the “Merger”) contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger between Sterling Bancorp (“Sterling”) and the Company, dated as of April 18, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”).  Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Retention Agreement have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.

1.          Term

The term of this Retention Agreement will commence on the Closing Date and end on the second anniversary of the Closing Date (the “Term”).  If your employment with the Company terminates for any reason before the Closing or the Merger Agreement is terminated before the Closing in accordance with its terms, this Retention Agreement will automatically terminate and be of no further force or effect, and neither of the parties will have any obligations hereunder.

2.          Position; Reporting; Duties; Location

During the Term, you will serve as the Company’s and the Surviving Bank’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Surviving Bank, and you will have the duties and authority commensurate with your position as Chief Financial Officer of a public company.

Your duties during the Term will be performed at the Company’s headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, subject to reasonable business travel.  You agree that you will be subject to the Company’s and Bank’s policies applicable to similarly situated executives as in effect from time to time, including the Codes of Ethics and Conduct and stock ownership guidelines.

3.          Compensation

Annual Base Salary.  During the Employment Period, your annual base salary (“Annual Base Salary”) will be $600,000, payable to you in accordance with the Company’s payroll policies. Your Annual Base Salary will be reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) and may be increased but not decreased.  The term Annual Base Salary as utilized in this Retention Agreement will refer to Annual Base Salary as in effect from time to time.

Annual Cash Incentive Award Opportunity.  During each year of the Employment Period, you will be eligible to earn an annual cash incentive award with a target opportunity of 100% of Annual Base Salary (the “Target Incentive Payment”), which will be determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board and payable in accordance with the annual cash incentive plan applicable to other senior executives of the Company.



Equity Compensation Opportunity.  During each year of the Employment Period (commencing with the 2022 grant cycle, assuming you have not received a grant in respect of 2022 prior to the Closing Date), you will be granted annual long-term incentive awards with a target grant date fair value of 150% of Annual Base Salary. The grant timing, form and terms and conditions of your long-term incentive awards will be as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board and no less favorable than those applicable to other senior executives of the Company.

Benefits; Expense Reimbursement.  You will be entitled to employee benefits and perquisites on terms that are no less favorable than those provided to other senior executives of the Company, as in effect from time to time.  The Company will reimburse your reasonable and documented business expenses in accordance with the Company’s business reimbursement policy applicable to other senior executives of the Company.

Company Change in Control Agreement; Company Non-Competition Agreement.  During the Term, (A) your existing change in control agreement with the Company, dated as of December 21, 2012 (your “Change in Control Agreement”) will remain in effect pursuant to its terms (although you agree that the Merger will not constitute a “Change in Control” under such agreement), and (B) your existing non-competition agreement with the Company, dated as of February 22, 2017 (your “Non-Competition Agreement”) will not apply and be of no force and effect, but upon expiration of the Term will automatically again become effective.

Indemnification.  The Company will indemnify you (including, for the avoidance of doubt, by providing you with advancement of expenses) to the fullest extent permitted by law against any actual or threatened action, suit or proceeding and provide you with directors’ and officers’ insurance coverage, in each case, with respect to your services as an executive officer and director of the Company and the Bank, on terms no less favorable than those applicable to any other executive officers and directors of the Company and the Bank.

4.          Termination of Employment other than for Cause, Death, or Disability or for Good Reason

If, during the Term, the Company terminates your employment other than for Cause (as defined below) and other than by reason of your death or disability (as defined in the Company’s long-term disability plan or policy that covers you), or you resign your employment with Good Reason (as defined below), the Company shall pay or provide to you the following:


(1)
as soon as reasonably practicable following the Date of Termination (as defined below) and in no event later than 30 days thereafter, (A) a lump sum cash payment consisting of any (i) accrued Annual Base Salary, (ii) any annual cash incentive award earned by you and awarded by the Compensation Committee for a completed fiscal year (with any portion of such incentive award that was previously deferred to be paid in accordance with the applicable deferral arrangement and any election thereunder), (iii) unused vacation accrued through the Date of Termination, and (iv) any unreimbursed expenses incurred through the Date of Termination that are subject to reimbursement pursuant to the Company’s policies, in each case to the extent unpaid (the “Accrued Obligations”), and (B) to the extent not theretofore paid or provided, any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided or which you are eligible to receive under any plan, program, policy, practice, contract, or agreement of the Company through the Date of Termination, with any amounts or benefits that constitute non-qualified deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), including the applicable regulations thereunder (“Section 409A”) to be paid or settled at the earliest permissible date for purposes of Section 409A (collectively, the “Other Benefits”);

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(2)
a lump sum cash payment equal to the product of (A) the sum of the Annual Base Salary and Target Incentive Payment and (B) two, paid as soon as reasonably practicable after the Release (as defined below) effective date (without revocation by you) and no later than the 60th calendar day following the Date of Termination;


(3)
a prorated annual cash incentive award for the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs based upon the period of time elapsed during such fiscal year prior to the Date of Termination, calculated on a basis no less favorable than is applicable to other senior executives of the Company and assuming that any individual performance goals are satisfied in full, payable at the time that annual incentive awards are paid to other senior executives of the Company (with any portion of such incentive award that was previously deferred to be paid in accordance with the applicable deferral arrangement and any election thereunder);


(4)
a lump sum equal to the product of (A) the sum of (x) the annual premium for coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 in effect as of the Date of Termination for the level of coverage in effect for you under the Company’s group health plan and (y) the annual premium for coverage (based on the rate paid by the Company for active employees) under the Company’s life insurance plans and (B) two, paid as soon as reasonably practicable after the Release effective date (without revocation by you) and no later than the 60th calendar day following the Date of Termination (the “Benefits Continuation Payment”);


(5)
the amount equal to the sum of all Company contributions to which you are eligible as of immediately prior to the Date of Termination under the Company’s qualified defined contribution plans and any excess or supplemental defined contribution plans that you would be eligible to receive as if your employment continued for two years after the Date of Termination, assuming for this purpose that (A) your benefits under such plans are fully vested, (B) your eligible compensation for purposes of such plans in each of the two years is that set forth in Section 3 of this Retention Agreement and that such amounts are paid in equal monthly installments over such two-year period, (C) to the extent that the Company contributions are determined based on your deferrals, that your contribution or deferral elections, as appropriate, are those in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination, and (D) to the extent that the Company contributions are discretionary, assuming such contributions are made at the rate of any discretionary contributions made by the Company during the plan year immediately preceding the Date of Termination, paid as soon as reasonably practicable after the Release effective date (without revocation by you) and no later than the 60th calendar day following the Date of Termination; and


(6)
any outstanding long-term incentive awards granted to you will vest in full with respect to any service vesting requirement, with any performance-vesting awards to remain outstanding and be eligible to be earned based on the level of performance achieved as determined on a basis no less favorable than that applicable to other senior executives of the Company, as if you had remained employed for the full performance period, without proration and without regard to any applicable one year holding period, and with any such vested awards that constitute deferred compensation subject to Section 409A to be settled at the earliest permissible date for purposes of Section 409A.

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The payments and benefits provided under this Section 4 (other than the Accrued Obligations and the Other Benefits) are subject to your: (i) execution, delivery to the Company, and non-revocation within the period after the Date of Termination specified in a release of claims substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Release”).  In the event you breach the terms of Section 5, all payments and benefits provided under this Section 4 (other than the Accrued Obligations and the Other Benefits) will, to the extent unpaid, be subject to forfeiture by you and, to the extent paid, be subject to clawback and recoupment by the Company.  If you become entitled to payments or benefits under the Change in Control Agreement during the Term, in no event shall you have a right to payments and benefits under the Change in Control Agreement that are duplicative of any payments or benefits under this Retention Agreement.

For purposes of this Retention Agreement and your outstanding equity awards granted prior to, on or after the Closing Date, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

Cause” means your failure or refusal to substantially perform your duties hereunder (after notice from the Company and a reasonable opportunity to cure), willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, breach of the Company’s or the Bank’s Code of Ethics, material violation of the Sarbanes-Oxley requirements for officers of public companies that in the reasonable opinion of the Board will likely cause substantial financial harm or substantial injury to the reputation of the Company or the Bank, willfully engaging in actions that in the reasonable opinion of the Board will likely cause substantial financial harm or substantial injury to the business reputation of the Company or the Bank, willful violation of any law, rule or regulation (other than routine traffic violations or similar offenses) or final cease-and-desist order, or material breach of any provision of this Retention Agreement.  The cessation of your employment shall not be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to you a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to you and you are given an opportunity with your counsel to be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, you are guilty of the conduct constituting Cause, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.  For purposes hereof, no act or failure to act, on your part, shall be considered “willful” unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by you in bad faith or without reasonable belief that your action or omission was in the best interests of the Company and the Bank. Any act, or failure to act, based upon the direction of the Board or the Bank Board or the advice of counsel for the Company or the Bank shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by you in good faith and in the best interests of the Company or the Bank.

Date of Termination” means the date of your termination of employment with the Company and its affiliates.

Good Reason” means the occurrence of any of the following events without your consent: (1) a material reduction of any element of the compensation required to be provided to you in accordance with any of the provisions of this Retention Agreement; (2) a material adverse change in your title or duties with the Company and the Bank from those set forth in this Retention Agreement, which change would cause your position to become one of materially lesser responsibility, importance or scope; (3) the Company requiring you to be based at any office or location other than as provided in this Retention Agreement resulting in an increase in your commute of 50 miles or more; or (4) a material breach of this Retention Agreement by the Company or the Bank.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such event shall constitute “Good Reason” unless (a) you shall have given written notice of such event to the Company within 90 days after the initial occurrence thereof, (b) the Company and the Bank shall have failed to cure the situation within 30 days following the delivery of such notice (or such longer cure period as may be agreed upon by the parties) (the “Cure Period”), and (c) you terminate employment within 30 days after expiration of such Cure Period.

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5.          Restrictive Covenants

A.          General

You acknowledge that the restrictions of this Section 5, including, without limitation, the scope and duration of such restrictions, are reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the Company.  In view of your importance to the success of the Merger, if you compete with the Company after your services with the Company cease, the Company will likely suffer significant and irreparable harm.  For purposes of this Section 5, all references to the Company shall include the Company, Sterling or any of their respective affiliates, including their predecessor and successor entities, and the scope of any such restrictions shall relate to the business of the Company, including Sterling, as it exists prior to, on or after the Closing Date.

B.          Confidential Information

While providing services to the Company and thereafter, you shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company and its businesses, which shall have been obtained by you during your service with the Company and which shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by you or representatives of you in violation of this Retention Agreement).  After termination of your services with the Company for any reason, you shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, (1) communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it; or (2) use to your advantage or to the detriment of the Company any such information, knowledge or data.  The restrictions in this Section 5.B shall not apply to any information to the extent that you are required to disclose such information by law; provided that you (x) notify the Company of the existence and terms of such obligation; (y) give the Company a reasonable opportunity to seek a protective or similar order to prevent or limit such disclosure; and (z) disclose only that information actually required to be disclosed.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Retention Agreement to the contrary, nothing contained herein is intended to, or shall be interpreted in a manner that does, limit or restrict you from exercising any legally protected whistleblower rights (including pursuant to Rule 21F under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).  At the end of your provision of services to the Company, you shall return to the Company all confidential information in any form (including all copies and reproductions thereof) and all other property whatsoever of the Company in your possession or under your control.

C.          Non-Solicitation/No Hire of Employees

During the period of your service with the Company and the additional period ending on the date that is one year after the date of termination of your service with the Company in all capacities for any reason (the “Non-Solicitation Period”), you shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, in any manner, on your own behalf or on behalf of any other person, corporation, partnership, firm, institution or other business entity, (1) offer employment (or a consulting, agency,  independent contractor or other similar position) to, or otherwise hire, any person who is (or was at any time during the six months prior to such offer or hiring) an employee, consultant, representative, officer or director of the Company, or (2) Solicit (as defined below) any such person to (x) accept employment (or any aforesaid position) with any company or entity with which you are then employed, providing services or otherwise affiliated, or (y) cease his or her relationship with the Company for any reason.  This Section 5.C shall not apply to solicitation, recruitment, encouragement, inducement or termination during the period of your service with the Company on behalf of the Company.

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D.          Non-Solicitation of Clients or Customers

During the Non-Solicitation Period, you shall not, directly or indirectly, in any manner, on your own behalf or on behalf of any other person, corporation, partnership, firm, institution or other business entity, Solicit a Client (as defined below) to (1) transact business with a Competitive Enterprise (as defined below but without regard to the geographic limitations therein), (2) reduce the amount of business that any Client has customarily done or contemplates doing with the Company or (3) cease or refrain from doing business with the Company, or, in any manner, interfere with or damage (or attempt to interfere with or damage) any relationship between the Company and a Client.

E.          Non-Competition

During the period of your service with the Company and the additional period ending on the date that is two years after the date of termination of your service with the Company in all capacities for any reason, you shall not, directly or indirectly, in any manner, associate with or provide services to, in any capacity (including, without limitation, as an officer, agent, employee, partner, director, consultant or advisor and whether or not for compensation), any Competitive Enterprise (as defined below).  For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing restrictions shall restrict you from associating with or providing services in any capacity to a private equity firm, hedge fund or equity sponsor, in each case that invests or seeks to invest (at any time during your association with or provision of services to such entity) in a business enterprise that is a Competitive Enterprise.

F.          Cooperation

During the period of your service with the Company in any capacity and following the cessation of your service for any reason, you shall, upon reasonable notice, (1) furnish such information and assistance to the Company, as may reasonably be requested by the Company, with respect to any matter, project, initiative or effort for which you are or were responsible or have relevant knowledge or had substantial involvement in while providing services to the Company, and (2) cooperate with the Company during the course of all third-party proceedings arising out of the Company’s business about which you have knowledge or information; provided, however, that you shall not be required to provide information or assistance with respect to any litigation between you and the Company.

G.          Definitions

For purposes of this Retention Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(1)          Client” means any client, customer or business relation, whether a person or entity, and whether current, former (within the 12 month period after such relationship has been terminated) or prospective (meaning such person or entity is reasonably anticipated to become a customer or client or commence such business relationship, provided that there are demonstrable efforts or plans to establish such relationship) of the Company.

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(2)          Competitive Enterprise” means any person, firm, corporation, other entity or business enterprise in whatever form that engages in, or owns or controls a significant interest in any entity that engages in, (A) the provision of depository, administrative or other services or products relating to health savings accounts, in the Unites States, or (B) any other activity in which the Company is engaged, in the states comprising the New England region or any other state in the United States in which the Company has a business presence (as of your date of termination, in the case of your termination of services with the Company).  The activities covered by clause (B) of the previous sentence include, without limitation, the solicitation and acceptance of deposits of money or commercial paper, the solicitation and funding of loans and the provision of other banking services, including business and consumer lending, asset-based financing, residential mortgage funding, mortgage warehouse lending, equipment financing, commercial and residential mortgage lending and brokerage, deposit services (including municipal deposit services), trade financing, the sale of annuities, life and health insurance products, title insurance services, private banking, wealth management and investment advisory services, the sale or servicing of banking and financial products and services, factoring/accounts receivable management services and real estate investment trusts.  Nothing herein shall prohibit you from being a passive owner of not more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding equity interest in any entity which is publicly traded, so long as you have no active participation in the business of such entity.

(3)          Solicit” means any direct or indirect communication of any kind whatsoever, regardless of by whom initiated, inviting, inducing, advising or encouraging (or attempting to do the foregoing) or requesting, any person or entity, in any manner, to take or refrain from taking any action.

H.          Remedies; Judicial Modification

You acknowledge and agree that the terms of this Section 5:  (1) are reasonable in light of all of the circumstances, (2) are sufficiently limited to protect the legitimate interests of the Company, (3) impose no undue hardship on you and (4) are not injurious to the public.  You further acknowledge and agree that:  (x) your breach of the provisions of this Section 5 will cause the Company irreparable harm, which likely cannot be adequately compensated by money damages, and (y) if the Company elects to prevent you from breaching such provisions by obtaining an injunction against you, there is a reasonable probability of the Company’s eventual success on the merits.  You consent and agree that if you commit any such breach or threaten to commit any breach, the Company shall be entitled to temporary, preliminary, and/or permanent injunctive relief from a court of competent jurisdiction, without posting any bond or other security and without the necessity of proof of actual damage, in addition to, and not in lieu of, such other remedies as may be available to the Company for such breach, including cessation of its obligation to pay you the compensation and benefits provided under this Retention Agreement, the right to recoup any such compensation or benefits previously paid under this Retention Agreement and the recovery of money damages.  If any of the provisions of this Section 5 are determined to be wholly or partially unenforceable, you hereby agree that this Retention Agreement or any provision hereof may be reformed so that it is enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law, and in the case when such provision is not capable of being reformed, it shall be severed and all remaining provisions of this Retention Agreement shall be enforced.  If any of the provisions of this Section 5 are determined to be wholly or partially unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such determination shall not be a bar to or in any way diminish the Company’s right to enforce any such covenant in any other jurisdiction.

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I.          Jurisdiction

You agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Connecticut and the Federal courts of the United States of America located in Connecticut in respect to the interpretation and enforcement of the provisions under this Section 5, and waive as a defense in any action, suit or proceeding for the interpretation or enforcement under this Section 5, that you are not subject thereto or that such action, suit or proceeding may not be brought or is not maintainable in said courts or that this Retention Agreement may not be enforced in or by said courts or that venue is improper.

6.          Section 409A.

It is the intent of the parties that the payments and benefits under this Retention Agreement will be exempt from or otherwise comply with the provisions of Section 409A, and each payment under this Retention Agreement will be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A.  In no event may you, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of payment. The parties intend that the terms and provisions of this Retention Agreement will be interpreted and applied in a manner that satisfies the requirements and exemptions of Section 409A.  All reimbursements of costs and expenses or in-kind benefits provided under this Retention Agreement will be made or provided in accordance with Section 409A, including, where applicable, that the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits will not be subject to liquidation and may not be exchanged for any other benefit, the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement (or in-kind benefits paid) in one year will not affect amounts reimbursable or provided as in-kind benefits in any subsequent year, and all expense reimbursements that are taxable income to you will in no event be paid later than the end of the calendar year next following the year in which you incur the expense.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Retention Agreement to the contrary, if you are considered a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A (as determined in accordance with the methodology established by the Company as in effect on the date of termination), any payment that constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A that is otherwise due to you under this Retention Agreement during the six-month period following your separation from service (as determined in accordance with Section 409A) on account of your separation from service will be accumulated and paid to you on the first business day of the seventh month following your separation from service (the “Delayed Payment Date”).  If you die during the postponement period, the amounts and entitlements delayed on account of Section 409A will be paid to the personal representative of your estate on the first to occur of the Delayed Payment Date or 30 calendar days after the date of your death.

7.          Limitation on Payments under Certain Circumstances.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Retention Agreement, in the event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by you in connection with the Merger or a “change in ownership or control” (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code) of the Company occurring following the Closing Date (whether pursuant to the terms of this Retention Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement) (collectively, the “Total Benefits”) would be subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), the Total Benefits shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Benefits is subject to the Excise Tax; provided, however, that no such reduction in the Total Benefits shall be made if by not making such reduction, your Retained Amount (as defined below) would be greater than your Retained Amount if the Total Benefits are so reduced.

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All determinations required to be made under this Section 7 shall be made by Golden Parachute Tax Solutions LLC or another mutually agreed nationally recognized certified public accounting firm or other professional organization that is a certified public accounting firm recognized as an expert in determinations and calculations for purposes of Section 280G of the Code selected by the Company prior to a change in control (the “Accounting Firm”), which determinations shall be conclusive and binding on you and the Company absent manifest error. All fees and expenses of Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company.  Prior to any reduction in the Total Benefits pursuant to this Section 7, the Accounting Firm shall provide you and the Company with a report setting forth its calculations and containing related supporting information. In the event that any such reduction is required, the Total Benefits shall be reduced in the following order: (i) the Benefits Continuation Payment, (ii) the payment under Section 4(2), (iii) any other portion of the Total Benefits that are not subject to Section 409A (other than the Total Benefits resulting from any accelerated vesting of equity awards), (iv) the Total Benefits that are subject to Section 409A in reverse order of payment, and (v) the Total Benefits that are not subject to Section 409A and arise from any accelerated vesting of equity awards. The parties hereby elect to use the applicable federal rate that is in effect on the date that this Retention Agreement is entered into for purposes of determining the present value of any payments provided for hereunder for purposes of Section 280G of the Code.

For purposes of this Retention Agreement, “Retained Amount” shall mean the present value (as determined in accordance with Sections 280G(b)(2)(A)(ii) and 280G(d)(4) of the Code) of the Total Benefits net of all federal, state and local taxes imposed on you with respect thereto.  In connection with making determinations under this Section 7, the Accounting Firm shall take into account the value of any reasonable compensation for services to be rendered by you before or after the change in ownership or control, including the noncompetition provisions set forth in this Retention Agreement or that may otherwise apply to you, and the Company shall cooperate in the valuation of any such services, including any noncompetition provisions.

8.          Miscellaneous.

This Retention Agreement is personal to you and, without the prior written consent of the Company, shall not be assignable by you. This Retention Agreement and any rights and benefits hereunder will inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by your legal representatives, heirs, or legatees.  This Retention Agreement and any rights and benefits hereunder will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.

This Retention Agreement will be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Connecticut, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereof.  This Retention Agreement may not be amended or modified other than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives.

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Retention Agreement will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Retention Agreement, and this Retention Agreement will be construed as if such invalid or unenforceable provision were omitted (but only to the extent that such provision cannot be appropriately reformed or modified).

The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Retention Agreement such federal, state, local, or foreign taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

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The Company’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this Retention Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder will not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, defense, or other claim, right, or action that the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates may have against you or others, except as provided in this Retention Agreement related to compliance with the covenants in Section 5.  In no event will you be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to you under any of the provisions of this Retention Agreement, and such amounts will not be reduced regardless of whether you obtain other employment.

Upon the expiration or termination of this Retention Agreement or your services, the respective rights and obligations of the parties hereto, including your obligations under Section 5, shall survive such expiration or termination consistent with the terms of this Retention Agreement and otherwise to the extent necessary to carry out the intentions of the parties hereunder.

Any notices given under this Retention Agreement (1) by the Company to you will be in writing and will be given by hand delivery or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to you at your address listed above or (2) by you to the Company will be in writing and will be given by hand delivery or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the General Counsel of the Company at the Company’s corporate headquarters.

This Retention Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and supersedes any other agreement or understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, excluding the Change in Control Agreement but, during the Term, including the Non-Competition Agreement as set forth in the relevant paragraph of Section 3.  This Retention Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Retention Agreement by electronic transmission, including in portable document format (.pdf), shall be deemed as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Retention Agreement.

[Signature Page Follows]

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If this Retention Agreement correctly describes our understanding, please execute and deliver a counterpart of this signature page, which will become a binding agreement on our receipt.

 
Sincerely,
     
 
WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
     
 
By:
/s/ John R. Ciulla
 
Name:
John R. Ciulla
 
Title:
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Accepted and Agreed

I hereby agree with and accept the terms
and conditions of this Retention Agreement:

/s/ Glenn I. MacInnes
 
Name:  Glenn I. MacInnes
 
Date:  April 18, 2021
 


[Signature Page to Retention Agreement]


EXHIBIT A

RELEASE AGREEMENT

THIS RELEASE AGREEMENT (hereinafter this “Agreement”) is made and entered into on the [__] day of [_______], 20[__] by and among  Webster Bank, National Association (the “Bank”) and Webster Financial Corporation (“Webster”) and Glenn I. MacInnes (hereinafter referred to as “you” and “your”).  The Bank and Webster are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Company” and you and the Company are hereinafter referred to as the “parties”.

WHEREAS, the Company and you are parties to a Retention Agreement, dated as of April 18, 2021 (the “Retention Agreement”), pursuant to which you are eligible, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Retention Agreement, to receive certain compensation and benefits in connection with certain terminations of your services to the Company.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the Company agreeing to provide the compensation and benefits under Section 4 of the Retention Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties, it is agreed as follows:

1.          Release and Waiver of Claims.

A.          In exchange for the consideration referenced above, you hereby completely, irrevocably, and unconditionally releases and forever discharges the Company, and any of its predecessor or affiliated companies, and each and all of their officers, agents, directors, supervisors, employees, representatives, and their successors and assigns, and all persons acting by, through, under, for, or in concert with them, or any of them, in any and all of their capacities (hereinafter individually or collectively, the “Released Parties”), from any and all charges, complaints, claims, and liabilities of any kind or nature whatsoever, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected (hereinafter referred to as “claim” or “claims”) which you at any time heretofore had or claimed to have or which you may have or claim to have regarding events that have occurred as of the Effective Date (as defined below) of this Agreement, including, without limitation, those based on:  any employee welfare benefit or pension plan governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (provided that this release does not extend to any vested benefits to which you are entitled under Company’s pension and welfare benefit plans as of the date of your termination of services); the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (race, color, religion, sex and national origin discrimination and harassment); the Civil Rights Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. § 1981) (discrimination); the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (hereinafter “ADEA”); the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, as amended; the Americans With Disabilities Act, as amended; § 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended (wage and hour matters); the Family and Medical Leave Act, as amended (family leave matters); any other federal, state, or local laws or regulations regarding employment discrimination or harassment, wages, insurance, leave, privacy or any other matter; any negligent or intentional tort; any contract, policy or practice (implied, oral, or written); or any other theory of recovery under federal, state, or local law, and whether for compensatory or punitive damages, or other equitable relief, including, but not limited to, any and all claims which you may now have or may have had, arising from or in any way whatsoever connected with your employment, service, or contacts, with the Company or any other of the Released Parties.

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B.          Notwithstanding the foregoing, the released claims do not include, and this Agreement does not release:  (a) any rights to compensation and benefits provided under Section 4 of the Retention Agreement; (b) any benefit to which you are entitled under any tax qualified pension plan of the Company, COBRA continuation coverage benefits, vested benefits under any other benefit plans of the Company or its affiliates or any other welfare benefits required to be provided pursuant to the terms of the applicable plan; (c) any rights to indemnification that you may have under applicable law, the bylaws or certificate of incorporation of the Company, any applicable director and officer liability policy or under the Retention Agreement, as a result of having served as an officer or director of the Company or any of its affiliates; (d) any claim that you may have as the holder or beneficial owner of securities of the Company or other rights relating to securities or equity awards in respect of the common stock of the Company; and (e) any claims that you may not by law release through a settlement agreement such as this.

C.          To the extent permitted by law, you agree that you will not cause or encourage any future legal proceedings to be maintained or instituted against any of the Released Parties.  This Agreement is not intended to prevent you from filing a charge with, or participating in an investigation conducted by, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any comparable state human rights agency, or the United States Securities and Exchange Commission; provided, however, you expressly waive and relinquish any right you may have to recover damages or other relief, whether equitable or legal, in any such proceeding concerning events or actions that arose on or before the Effective Date other than as prohibited by law, including an award under section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”).  No provision of this Agreement shall prohibit you from exercising any legally protected whistleblower rights, including pursuant to Rule 21F under the Exchange Act.

2.          Older Workers Benefit Protection Act / ADEA Waiver.

A.          You acknowledge that the Company has advised you in writing to consult with an attorney of your choice before signing this Agreement, and you have been given the opportunity to consult with an attorney of your choice before signing this Agreement.

B.          You acknowledge that you have been given the opportunity to review and consider this Agreement for a full twenty-one (21) days before signing it, and that, if you have signed this Agreement in less than that time, you have done so voluntarily in order to obtain sooner the benefits of this Agreement.

C.          You further acknowledge that you may revoke this Agreement within seven (7) days after signing it; provided that this Agreement will not become effective until such seven (7) day period has expired.  To be effective, any such revocation must be in writing and delivered to Company’s principal place of business by the close of business on the seventh (7th) day after signing this Agreement and must expressly state your intention to revoke this Agreement.  Provided that you do not timely revoke this Agreement, the eighth (8th) day following your execution hereof shall be deemed the “Effective Date” of this Agreement.

D.          The parties also agree that the release provided by you in this Agreement does not include a release for claims under ADEA arising after the date that you sign this Agreement.

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3.          Your Continuing Obligations.  You shall continue to be bound by the covenants set forth in Section 5 of the Retention Agreement and such other obligations that you have as a former director and executive of the Company.  You shall promptly turn over to the Company any and all documents, files, computer records, or other materials belonging to, or containing confidential or proprietary information obtained from, the Company that are in your possession, custody, or control, including any such materials that may be at your home.

4.          No Admission of Wrongdoing.  This Agreement shall not in any way be construed as an admission by the Company of any acts of unlawful conduct, wrongdoing or discrimination against you, and the Company specifically disclaims any liability to you on the part of itself, its employees, and its agents.

5.          No Amendment. This Agreement cannot be amended, modified, or supplemented in any respect except by written agreement entered into and signed by the parties hereto.

6.          Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Connecticut, without regard to the principles of conflict of laws.

7.          Your Understanding and Representations.  You hereby acknowledge that you have read and understand the terms of this Agreement and that you are signing it voluntarily and without coercion.  You further acknowledge that you have been given an opportunity to consider and review this Agreement and the waivers contained in this Agreement, that you have done so and that the waivers made herein are knowing, conscious and with full appreciation that you are forever foreclosed from pursuing any of the rights so waived.

8.          Counterparts.  This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, and each counterpart shall be considered an original for all purposes.

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PLEASE READ THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY; IT INCLUDES A RELEASE OF ALL KNOWN AND UNKNOWN CLAIMS.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officer, and you have executed this Agreement, as of the date first written above.

 
GLENN I. MACINNES
     
 
By:
 
     
     
 
WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
     
 
By:
 
   
Name:
   
Title:
     
     
 
WEBSTER BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
     
 
By:
 
   
Name:
   
Title:

A-4


Exhibit 10.3

April 18, 2021

Mr. Jack Kopnisky
At the address on file with the Company

Dear Jack:

This letter (this “Letter Agreement”) memorializes our agreement regarding the terms of your employment with, and service to, Webster Financial Corporation (the “Company”) following the completion of the merger (the “Merger”) contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger between Sterling Bancorp (“Sterling”) and the Company, dated as of April 18, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”).  Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Letter Agreement have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.

1.          Term

The term of this Letter Agreement will commence on the Closing Date and end on the third anniversary of the Closing Date.  If your employment with Sterling and Sterling National Bank terminates for any reason before the Closing or the Merger Agreement is terminated before the Closing in accordance with its terms, this Letter Agreement will automatically terminate and be of no further force or effect, and neither of the parties will have any obligations hereunder.

2.          Employment Period

A.          Position; Reporting; Duties; Location

From the Closing Date until the second anniversary of the Closing Date or such earlier date on which your employment terminates as contemplated herein (the “Employment Period”), you will serve as an employee of the Company with the title of Executive Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) and of the Board of Directors of the Surviving Bank (the “Bank”, and such board, the “Bank Board”), reporting directly to the Board.  While serving as Executive Chairman, consistent with the Webster Bylaw Amendment, the Board will nominate you to the Board and the Company will appoint you as Executive Chairman of the Bank Board.

During your tenure as Executive Chairman, your duties will be as set forth on the attached Exhibit A (the “Services”). Your duties under this Letter Agreement will be performed at the office of the Company as selected by you or such other location as determined by you in your discretion.  You agree that you will be subject to the Company’s and Bank’s policies applicable to similarly situated executives as in effect from time to time, including the Codes of Ethics and Conduct and stock ownership guidelines.

B.          Employment Period Compensation

Annual Base Salary.  During the Employment Period, your annual base salary (“Annual Base Salary”) will be $1,100,000, payable to you in accordance with the Company’s payroll policies.  Your Annual Base Salary will be reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) and may be increased but not decreased.  The term Annual Base Salary as utilized in this Letter Agreement will refer to Annual Base Salary as in effect from time to time, including any increases thereto.



Annual Cash Incentive Award Opportunity.  During each year of the Employment Period, you will be eligible to earn an annual cash incentive award with a target opportunity of 125% of Annual Base Salary (the “Target Incentive Payment”), which will be determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board and payable in accordance with the annual cash incentive plan applicable to other senior executives of the Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Closing Date occurs in the 2021 fiscal year, your 2021 incentive award will be at least equal to the amount you would have earned under the applicable Sterling incentive plan based on actual performance using reasonable assumptions through the end of such year, and be reduced by any pro rata incentive amount paid to you upon Closing for the portion of the 2021 fiscal year prior to the Closing Date.

Equity Compensation Opportunity.  During each year of the Employment Period (commencing with the 2022 grant cycle, assuming you have not received a grant in respect of 2022 prior to the Closing Date), you will be granted annual long-term incentive awards with a target grant date fair value of 300% of Annual Base Salary.  The grant timing, form and terms and conditions of your long-term incentive awards will be as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board and no less favorable than those applicable to other senior executives of the Company; provided, however, that any such long-term incentive awards may be granted to you in the form of restricted stock units with respect to Company common stock in lieu of shares of restricted stock.

Benefits; Expense Reimbursement.  You will be entitled to employee benefits and perquisites on terms that are no less favorable than those provided to other senior executives of the Company, as in effect from time to time, in addition to an annual physical benefit in accordance with Sterling’s past practice.  The Company will reimburse your reasonable and documented business expenses in accordance with the Company’s business reimbursement policy applicable to other senior executives of the Company.

Company Change in Control Agreement.  On the Closing Date, you will become a party to a change in control agreement with the Company (the “Change in Control Agreement”) providing for severance benefits with a multiple of three in the event of a change in control of the Company occurring after the Closing Date and prior to the second anniversary thereof.  If you become entitled to payments or benefits under the Change in Control Agreement during the Employment Period, in no event shall you have a right to payments and benefits under the Change in Control Agreement that are duplicative of any payments or benefits under this Letter Agreement.  The Change in Control Agreement will automatically terminate at the end of the Employment Period.  Other than as described in this paragraph, the Change in Control Agreement will be consistent with the form applicable to other senior executives of the Company as then in effect.

Indemnification.  The Company will indemnify you (including, for the avoidance of doubt, by providing you with advancement of expenses) to the fullest extent permitted by law against any actual or threatened action, suit or proceeding and provide you with directors’ and officers’ insurance coverage, in each case, with respect to your services as an executive officer and director of the Company and the Bank, on terms no less favorable than those applicable to any other executive officers and directors of the Company and the Bank.  In addition, you will continue to have the indemnification and directors’ and officers’ coverage set forth in Section 6.7 of the Merger Agreement.

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3.          Closing Payment; Synergy Integration Award

On the Closing Date, in lieu of the severance and other benefits under Section 6(a) of your employment agreement with Sterling and Sterling National Bank, dated as of April 3, 2019 and effective on January 1, 2019 (the “Employment Agreement”), you will be entitled to receive a cash payment in the amount of $1,000,000 as consideration for the Services and the restrictive covenants set forth in Section 6 below, paid on or as soon as reasonably practicable (and in no event later than 30 days) after the Closing Date.  In addition, as of the Closing Date, you will be eligible to earn a cash-based award in the aggregate amount of $6,462,500 (the “Synergy Integration Award”) in consideration of the Services in support of a swift and comprehensive integration of the Company. The Synergy Integration Award will vest and be paid as follows:  $2,000,000 will vest on each of the first and second anniversaries of the Closing Date and the remaining $2,462,500 will vest on the third anniversary of the Closing Date (each such anniversary, a “Vesting Date”), subject to your continued provision of services to the Company (whether as an employee or a consultant), except as contemplated hereunder, and continued compliance with the restrictive covenants set forth in Section 6 below through each such Vesting Date.  The vested portion of the Synergy Integration Award will be paid as soon as reasonably practicable (and in no event later than 30 days) after each Vesting Date.

By signing this Letter Agreement, you are agreeing that the obligations under the Employment Agreement (including all obligations under Section 6(a)) will be handled as set forth herein and that, effective as of the Closing Date, the Employment Agreement will terminate and be of no force or effect.

4.          Termination of Employment

The payments and benefits provided below under this Section 4 (other than the Accrued Obligations and the Other Benefits (in each case as defined below)) are subject to your:  (i) execution, delivery to the Company, and non-revocation within the period after the Date of Termination specified in a release of claims substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Release”), provided that such Release shall not be required in the event of your death and your legal representative may execute such Release in the case of your Disability (as defined in the Company’s long-term disability plan or policy that covers you); and (ii) compliance with the provisions of Section 6 of this Letter Agreement. In the event you breach the terms of Section 6, all payments and benefits provided under this Section 4 (other than the Accrued Obligations and the Other Benefits) will, to the extent unpaid, be subject to forfeiture by you and, to the extent paid, be subject to clawback and recoupment by the Company.

A.          Good Reason; Other Than for Cause, Death, or Disability

If, during the Employment Period, the Company terminates your employment other than for Cause (as defined below) and other than by reason of your death or Disability, or you resign your employment with Good Reason (as defined below), the Company shall pay or provide to you the following:


(1)
as soon as reasonably practicable following the Date of Termination (as defined below) and in no event later than 30 days thereafter, (A) a lump sum cash payment consisting of any (i) accrued Annual Base Salary, (ii) any annual cash incentive award earned by you and awarded by the Compensation Committee for a completed fiscal year (with any portion of such incentive award that was previously deferred to be paid in accordance with the applicable deferral arrangement and any election thereunder), (iii) unused vacation accrued through the Date of Termination, and (iv) any unreimbursed expenses incurred through the Date of Termination that are subject to reimbursement pursuant to the Company’s policies, in each case to the extent unpaid (the “Accrued Obligations”), and (B) to the extent not theretofore paid or provided, any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided or which you are eligible to receive under any plan, program, policy, practice, contract, or agreement of the Company through the Date of Termination, with any amounts or benefits that constitute non-qualified deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), including the applicable regulations thereunder (“Section 409A”) to be paid or settled at the earliest permissible date for purposes of Section 409A (collectively, the “Other Benefits”);

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(2)
a lump sum cash payment equal to the product of (A) the sum of the Annual Base Salary and Target Incentive Payment and (B) the number equal to the quotient of (x) the number of full and partial months remaining in the Employment Period following the Date of Termination divided by (y) twelve (12), paid as soon as reasonably practicable after the Release effective date (without revocation by you) and no later than the 60th calendar day following the Date of Termination;


(3)
a prorated annual cash incentive award for the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs based upon the period of time elapsed during such fiscal year prior to the Date of Termination, calculated on a basis no less favorable than is applicable to other senior executives of the Company and assuming that any individual performance goals are satisfied in full (the “Prorated Bonus”), payable at the time that annual incentive awards are paid to other senior executives of the Company (with any portion of such incentive award that was previously deferred to be paid in accordance with the applicable deferral arrangement and any election thereunder);


(4)
for 18 months following the Date of Termination, a monthly cash payment (subject to reduction for applicable withholding taxes) equal to the monthly premium under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”) in effect as of the Date of Termination for the level of coverage in effect for you under the Company’s group health plan; provided that you are eligible for and timely elect COBRA continuation coverage (the “COBRA Continuation Payments”); and


(5)
(A) any outstanding long-term incentive awards granted to you will vest in full with respect to any service vesting requirement, with any performance-vesting awards to remain outstanding and be eligible to be earned based on the level of performance achieved as determined on a basis no less favorable than that applicable to other senior executives of the Company, as if you had remained employed for the full performance period, without proration and without regard to any applicable one year holding period, and with any such vested awards that constitute deferred compensation subject to Section 409A to be settled at the earliest permissible date for purposes of Section 409A, and (B) the exercise period of any remaining stock options will be determined as though your service was terminated due to “retirement” under the terms of the applicable awards (the “LTI Benefits”).

In addition, the Consulting Period (as defined below) and remuneration under Section 5.B will commence, and the Synergy Integration Award will continue to be eligible to vest based on your service as a consultant and compliance with the covenants in Section 6 hereof.

For purposes of this Letter Agreement and your outstanding equity awards granted prior to, on or after the Closing Date, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

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Cause” means your failure or refusal to substantially perform your duties hereunder (after notice from the Company and a reasonable opportunity to cure), willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, breach of the Company’s or the Bank’s Code of Ethics, material violation of the Sarbanes-Oxley requirements for officers of public companies that in the reasonable opinion of the Board will likely cause substantial financial harm or substantial injury to the reputation of the Company or the Bank, willfully engaging in actions that in the reasonable opinion of the Board will likely cause substantial financial harm or substantial injury to the business reputation of the Company or the Bank, willful violation of any law, rule or regulation (other than routine traffic violations or similar offenses) or final cease-and-desist order, or material breach of any provision of this Letter Agreement. The cessation of your employment shall not be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to you a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the Board consistent with the Webster Bylaw Amendment at a meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to you and you are given an opportunity with your counsel to be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, you are guilty of the conduct constituting Cause, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.  For purposes hereof, no act or failure to act, on your part, shall be considered “willful” unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by you in bad faith or without reasonable belief that your action or omission was in the best interests of the Company and the Bank. Any act, or failure to act, based upon the direction of the Board or the Bank Board or the advice of counsel for the Company or the Bank shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by you in good faith and in the best interests of the Company or the Bank.

Date of Termination” means the date of your termination of employment with the Company and its affiliates.

Good Reason” means the occurrence of any of the following events without your consent: (1) a material reduction of any element of the compensation required to be provided to you in accordance with any of the provisions of this Letter Agreement; (2) a material adverse change in your title or duties with the Company and the Bank from those set forth in this Letter Agreement, which change would cause your position to become one of materially lesser responsibility, importance or scope; or (3) a material breach of this Letter Agreement by the Company or the Bank.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such event shall constitute “Good Reason” unless (a) you shall have given written notice of such event to the Company within 90 days after the initial occurrence thereof, (b) the Company and the Bank shall have failed to cure the situation within 30 days following the delivery of such notice (or such longer cure period as may be agreed upon by the parties) (the “Cure Period”), and (c) you terminate employment within 30 days after expiration of such Cure Period.  For the avoidance of doubt, your determination to elect the Position Election (as defined below) and your corresponding change in status and position shall not constitute “Good Reason.”

B.          Death or Disability

If your employment is terminated by reason of your death or Disability, this Letter Agreement will terminate without further obligations to you, other than the obligation to pay or provide:


(1)
a lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to the Accrued Obligations and the payment or provision of the Other Benefits to you, your estate or beneficiary, as the case may be, as soon as reasonably practicable following the Date of Termination, with any amounts or benefits that constitute non-qualified deferred compensation under Section 409A to be paid or settled at the earliest permissible date for purposes of Section 409A;

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(2)
the Prorated Bonus, payable at the time that annual incentive payments are paid to other senior executives of the Company;


(3)
the Consulting Fee (as defined below) that would have been paid had you provided consulting services for the full Consulting Period, which amount will be paid (a) to your estate or beneficiary in a lump sum as soon as reasonably practicable, and in no event later than 30 days, following the date of your death or (b) commence being paid in installments as set forth in Section 5.B as though the Consulting Period commenced on your Date of Termination due to Disability; and


(4)
any unvested portion of the Synergy Integration Award will vest and be paid to you or your estate or beneficiary, as the case may be, in a lump sum as soon as reasonably practicable, and in no event later than 30 days, following the Date of Termination.

In addition, your outstanding long-term incentive awards will vest and be paid in accordance with the terms of the applicable awards.

C.          At the Conclusion of the Employment Period

At the conclusion of the Employment Period, you will be eligible to receive:


(1)
a lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to the Accrued Obligations and the payment or provision of the Other Benefits to you as soon as reasonably practicable following the Date of Termination, with any amounts or benefits that constitute non-qualified deferred compensation under Section 409A to be paid or settled at the earliest permissible date for purposes of Section 409A;


(2)
the Prorated Bonus, payable at the time that annual incentive payments are paid to other senior executives of the Company; and


(3)
the LTI Benefits.

In addition, the Consulting Period and remuneration set forth in Section 5.B will commence, and any unpaid portion of the Synergy Integration Award will continue to be eligible to vest during the Consulting Period.

D.          Position Election

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Letter Agreement, at any time on or after the first anniversary of the Closing Date, you may elect to change your status for the remainder of the Employment Period from Executive Chairman to a non-executive senior advisor employee to the Chief Executive Officer by providing the Board with no less than 30 days’ advance notice (the “Position Election”).  In the event that you elect the Position Election, you will continue to be available to devote your business time and attention to the Company and will work to advance the initiatives set forth on Exhibit A and any such other projects and initiatives as you and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company may mutually agree and, subject to your continued provision of services in accordance with this Letter Agreement and compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 6 hereof, will continue to be eligible to receive the compensation set forth in Section 2.B above.

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E.          Required Approval

Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, (1) prior to the second anniversary of the Closing Date, your removal as Executive Chairman, or the failure to appoint, re-elect or re-nominate you to, as applicable, your position as Executive Chairman and (2) during the Consulting Period, your removal or termination of your services will, in each case, require the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the Board.

F.          Resignation

Upon your cessation of service as Executive Chairman, unless otherwise requested by the Company, your service on the Board and the Bank Board will automatically cease, and you will promptly resign from all positions (including, without limitation, any officer or director position) with the Company and its affiliates.

5.          Consulting Service

A.          Consulting Period; Duties

Immediately following your termination of employment upon the expiration of the Employment Period or such earlier termination as contemplated under Section 4.A and until the first anniversary of your Date of Termination (the “Consulting Period”), you agree to provide consulting services to the Company.  Your service during the Consulting Period may not be terminated by the Company other than by the Company for Cause or due to your death or Disability.

B.          Consulting Fee and Remuneration

During the Consulting Period, you will be entitled to a consulting fee equal to $2,500,000 (the “Consulting Fee”), payable in equal monthly installments in arrears during the Consulting Period.  During the Consulting Period, you will also be provided with an executive office, access to administrative support and business expense reimbursement in accordance with the Company’s business expense reimbursement policies applicable to other senior executives of the Company.  During the Consulting Period, you shall not be eligible to participate in or accrue benefits under any benefit plan sponsored by the Company or its affiliates, but you shall continue to be subject to the Codes of Conduct and Ethics and other policies of the Company and the Bank applicable to similarly situated independent contractors of the Company as in effect from time to time.

On any termination of the Consulting Period, you will receive any Consulting Fees that are earned but unpaid with respect to the period prior to your date of termination and reimbursable business expenses that are incurred but unreimbursed through the date of termination.  If the Consulting Period is terminated due to your death, any remaining portion of the Consulting Fee will be payable to your estate within 30 days of such death, and, if the Consulting Period is terminated due to your Disability, any remaining portion of the Consulting Fee will continue to be paid on the original payment schedule as if such Disability had not occurred (subject to your continued compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 6 hereof).  Upon your cessation of service with the Company upon the expiration of the Consulting Period or due to your death or Disability during the Consulting Period, any unvested portion of the Synergy Integration Award will vest and be paid to you or your estate or beneficiary, as the case may be, in a lump sum within 30 days of such expiration or termination.  Upon any termination by the Company for Cause, you will have no right to receive the Consulting Fee for periods after the date of termination and any unpaid portion of the Synergy Integration Award will be forfeited.

7


You agree that you are performing the services during the Consulting Period as an independent contractor and not as an employee or agent of the Company or its affiliates.  You shall be responsible for the payment of all applicable taxes levied or based upon the Consulting Fee and for all non-reimbursable expenses attributable to the rendering of the consulting services.  Nothing in this Letter Agreement shall be deemed to constitute a partnership or joint venture between the Company and you, nor shall anything in this Letter Agreement be deemed to constitute the Company or you as the agent of the other.  With respect to your provision of services during the Consulting Period, neither you nor the Company shall be or become liable to or bound by any representation, act or omission whatsoever of the other, and you shall have no authority to bind the Company or its affiliates.

You and the Company hereby agree that, based on the expected level of your services during the Consulting Period, your termination of employment at the end of the Employment Period is intended to constitute a “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A).

6.          Restrictive Covenants

A.          General

You acknowledge that the restrictions of this Section 6, including, without limitation, the scope and duration of such restrictions, are reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the Company. Your willingness to enter into this Letter Agreement (including this Section 6) is a material inducement to the Company to enter into the Merger Agreement and proceed with the Merger. In view of your importance to the success of the Merger, if you compete with the Company after your services with the Company cease, the Company will likely suffer significant and irreparable harm.  For purposes of this Section 6, all references to the Company shall include the Company, Sterling or any of their respective affiliates, including their predecessor and successor entities, and the scope of any such restrictions shall relate to the business of the Company, including Sterling, as it exists prior to, on or after the Closing Date.

B.          Confidential Information

While providing services to the Company and thereafter, you shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company and its businesses, which shall have been obtained by you during your service with the Company, whether as an employee or a consultant, and which shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by you or representatives of you in violation of this Letter Agreement).  After termination of your services with the Company for any reason, you shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, (1) communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it; or (2) use to your advantage or to the detriment of the Company any such information, knowledge or data. The restrictions in this Section 6.B shall not apply to any information to the extent that you are required to disclose such information by law; provided that you (x) notify the Company of the existence and terms of such obligation; (y) give the Company a reasonable opportunity to seek a protective or similar order to prevent or limit such disclosure; and (z) disclose only that information actually required to be disclosed.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Letter Agreement to the contrary, nothing contained herein is intended to, or shall be interpreted in a manner that does, limit or restrict you from exercising any legally protected whistleblower rights (including pursuant to Rule 21F under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).  At the end of your provision of services to the Company, you shall return to the Company all confidential information in any form (including all copies and reproductions thereof) and all other property whatsoever of the Company in your possession or under your control.

8


C.          Non-Solicitation/No Hire of Employees

During the period of your service with the Company and the additional period ending on the later of the fourth anniversary of the Closing Date and the date that is one year after the date of termination of your service with the Company in all capacities for any reason (the “Restricted Period”), you shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, in any manner, on your own behalf or on behalf of any other person, corporation, partnership, firm, institution or other business entity, (1) offer employment (or a consulting, agency,  independent contractor or other similar position) to, or otherwise hire, any person who is (or was at any time during the six months prior to such offer or hiring) an employee, consultant, representative, officer or director of the Company, or (2) Solicit (as defined below) any such person to (x) accept employment (or any aforesaid position) with any company or entity with which you are then employed, providing services or otherwise affiliated, or (y) cease his or her relationship with the Company for any reason.  This Section 6.C shall not apply to solicitation, recruitment, encouragement, inducement or termination during the period of your service with the Company on behalf of the Company.

D.          Non-Solicitation of Clients or Customers

During the Restricted Period, you shall not, directly or indirectly, in any manner, on your own behalf or on behalf of any other person, corporation, partnership, firm, institution or other business entity, Solicit a Client (as defined below) to (1) transact business with a Competitive Enterprise (as defined below but without regard to the geographic limitations therein), (2) reduce the amount of business that any Client has customarily done or contemplates doing with the Company or (3) cease or refrain from doing business with the Company, or, in any manner, interfere with or damage (or attempt to interfere with or damage) any relationship between the Company and a Client.

E.          Non-Competition

During the Restricted Period, you shall not, directly or indirectly, in any manner, associate with or provide services to, in any capacity (including, without limitation, as an officer, agent, employee, partner, director, consultant or advisor and whether or not for compensation), any Competitive Enterprise (as defined below).  For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing restrictions shall not restrict you from associating with or providing services in any capacity to a private equity firm, hedge fund or equity sponsor, in each case, provided that you may not engage with, or provide advice or services to, any of the foregoing with respect to investments or potential investments in a Competitive Enterprise that engages in commercial banking or financial services/financial technology activities that are directly competitive with the Company.

F.          Cooperation

During the period of your service with the Company in any capacity and following the cessation of your service for any reason, you shall, upon reasonable notice, (1) furnish such information and assistance to the Company, as may reasonably be requested by the Company, with respect to any matter, project, initiative or effort for which you are or were responsible or have relevant knowledge or had substantial involvement in while providing services to the Company, and (2) cooperate with the Company during the course of all third-party proceedings arising out of the Company’s business about which you have knowledge or information; provided, however, that you shall not be required to provide information or assistance with respect to any litigation between you and the Company.

9


G.          Definitions

For purposes of this Letter Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(1)          Client” means any client, customer or business relation, whether a person or entity, and whether current, former (within the 12 month period after such relationship has been terminated) or prospective (meaning such person or entity is reasonably anticipated to become a customer or client or commence such business relationship, provided that there are demonstrable efforts or plans to establish such relationship) of the Company.

(2)          Competitive Enterprise” means any person, firm, corporation, other entity or business enterprise in whatever form that engages in, or owns or controls a significant interest in any entity that engages in, (A) the provision of depository, administrative or other services or products relating to health savings accounts, in the Unites States, or (B) any other activity in which the Company is engaged, in the states comprising the New England region or any other state in the United States in which the Company has a business presence (as of your date of termination, in the case of your termination of services with the Company).  The activities covered by clause (B) of the previous sentence include, without limitation, the solicitation and acceptance of deposits of money or commercial paper, the solicitation and funding of loans and the provision of other banking services, including business and consumer lending, asset-based financing, residential mortgage funding, mortgage warehouse lending, equipment financing, commercial and residential mortgage lending and brokerage, deposit services (including municipal deposit services), trade financing, the sale of annuities, life and health insurance products, title insurance services, private banking, wealth management and investment advisory services, the sale or servicing of banking and financial products and services, factoring/accounts receivable management services and real estate investment trusts.  Nothing herein shall prohibit you from being a passive owner of not more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding equity interest in any entity which is publicly traded, so long as you have no active participation in the business of such entity.

(3)          Solicit” means any direct or indirect communication of any kind whatsoever, regardless of by whom initiated, inviting, inducing, advising or encouraging (or attempting to do the foregoing) or requesting, any person or entity, in any manner, to take or refrain from taking any action.

H.          Remedies; Judicial Modification

You acknowledge and agree that the terms of this Section 6:  (1) are reasonable in light of all of the circumstances, (2) are sufficiently limited to protect the legitimate interests of the Company, (3) impose no undue hardship on you and (4) are not injurious to the public.  You further acknowledge and agree that:  (x) your breach of the provisions of this Section 6 will cause the Company irreparable harm, which likely cannot be adequately compensated by money damages, and (y) if the Company elects to prevent you from breaching such provisions by obtaining an injunction against you, there is a reasonable probability of the Company’s eventual success on the merits.  You consent and agree that if you commit any such breach or threaten to commit any breach, the Company shall be entitled to temporary, preliminary, and/or permanent injunctive relief from a court of competent jurisdiction, without posting any bond or other security and without the necessity of proof of actual damage, in addition to, and not in lieu of, such other remedies as may be available to the Company for such breach, including cessation of its obligation to pay you the compensation and benefits provided under this Letter Agreement, the right to recoup any such compensation or benefits previously paid under this Letter Agreement and the recovery of money damages.  If any of the provisions of this Section 6 are determined to be wholly or partially unenforceable, you hereby agree that this Letter Agreement or any provision hereof may be reformed so that it is enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law, and in the case when such provision is not capable of being reformed, it shall be severed and all remaining provisions of this Letter Agreement shall be enforced.  If any of the provisions of this Section 6 are determined to be wholly or partially unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such determination shall not be a bar to or in any way diminish the Company’s right to enforce any such covenant in any other jurisdiction.

10


I.          Jurisdiction

You agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Connecticut and the Federal courts of the United States of America located in Connecticut in respect to the interpretation and enforcement of the provisions under this Section 6, and waive as a defense in any action, suit or proceeding for the interpretation or enforcement under this Section 6, that you are not subject thereto or that such action, suit or proceeding may not be brought or is not maintainable in said courts or that this Letter Agreement may not be enforced in or by said courts or that venue is improper.

7.          Section 409A.

It is the intent of the parties that the payments and benefits under this Letter Agreement will be exempt from or otherwise comply with the provisions of Section 409A, and each payment under this Letter Agreement will be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A.  In no event may you, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of payment. The parties intend that the terms and provisions of this Letter Agreement will be interpreted and applied in a manner that satisfies the requirements and exemptions of Section 409A.  All reimbursements of costs and expenses or in-kind benefits provided under this Letter Agreement will be made or provided in accordance with Section 409A, including, where applicable, that the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits will not be subject to liquidation and may not be exchanged for any other benefit, the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement (or in-kind benefits paid) in one year will not affect amounts reimbursable or provided as in-kind benefits in any subsequent year, and all expense reimbursements that are taxable income to you will in no event be paid later than the end of the calendar year next following the year in which you incur the expense.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Letter Agreement to the contrary, if you are considered a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A (as determined in accordance with the methodology established by the Company as in effect on the date of termination), any payment that constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A that is otherwise due to you under this Letter Agreement during the six-month period following your separation from service (as determined in accordance with Section 409A) on account of your separation from service will be accumulated and paid to you on the first business day of the seventh month following your separation from service (the “Delayed Payment Date”).  If you die during the postponement period, the amounts and entitlements delayed on account of Section 409A will be paid to the personal representative of your estate on the first to occur of the Delayed Payment Date or 30 calendar days after the date of your death.

8.          Limitation on Payments under Certain Circumstances.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Letter Agreement, in the event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by you in connection with the Merger or a “change in ownership or control” (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code) of the Company occurring following the Closing Date (whether pursuant to the terms of this Letter Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement) (collectively, the “Total Benefits”) would be subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), the Total Benefits shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Benefits is subject to the Excise Tax; provided, however, that no such reduction in the Total Benefits shall be made if by not making such reduction, your Retained Amount (as defined below) would be greater than your Retained Amount if the Total Benefits are so reduced.

11


All determinations required to be made under this Section 8 shall be made by Golden Parachute Tax Solutions LLC or another mutually agreed nationally recognized certified public accounting firm or other professional organization that is a certified public accounting firm recognized as an expert in determinations and calculations for purposes of Section 280G of the Code selected by the Company prior to a change in control (the “Accounting Firm”), which determinations shall be conclusive and binding on you and the Company absent manifest error. All fees and expenses of Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company.  Prior to any reduction in the Total Benefits pursuant to this Section 8, the Accounting Firm shall provide you and the Company with a report setting forth its calculations and containing related supporting information. In the event that any such reduction is required, the Total Benefits shall be reduced in the following order: (i) the COBRA Continuation Payments, (ii) the payment under Section 4.A(2), (iii) any other portion of the Total Benefits that are not subject to Section 409A (other than the Total Benefits resulting from any accelerated vesting of equity awards), (iv) the Total Benefits that are subject to Section 409A in reverse order of payment, and (v) the Total Benefits that are not subject to Section 409A and arise from any accelerated vesting of equity awards. The parties hereby elect to use the applicable federal rate that is in effect on the date that this Letter Agreement is entered into for purposes of determining the present value of any payments provided for hereunder for purposes of Section 280G of the Code.

For purposes of this Letter Agreement, “Retained Amount” shall mean the present value (as determined in accordance with Sections 280G(b)(2)(A)(ii) and 280G(d)(4) of the Code) of the Total Benefits net of all federal, state and local taxes imposed on you with respect thereto.  In connection with making determinations under this Section 8, the Accounting Firm shall take into account the value of any reasonable compensation for services to be rendered by you before or after the change in ownership or control, including the noncompetition provisions set forth in this Letter Agreement or that may otherwise apply to you, and the Company shall cooperate in the valuation of any such services, including any noncompetition provisions.

9.          Miscellaneous.

This Letter Agreement is personal to you and, without the prior written consent of the Company, shall not be assignable by you. This Letter Agreement and any rights and benefits hereunder will inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by your legal representatives, heirs, or legatees.  This Letter Agreement and any rights and benefits hereunder will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.

This Letter Agreement will be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Connecticut, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereof.  This Letter Agreement may not be amended or modified other than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives.

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Letter Agreement will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Letter Agreement, and this Letter Agreement will be construed as if such invalid or unenforceable provision were omitted (but only to the extent that such provision cannot be appropriately reformed or modified).

The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Letter Agreement such federal, state, local, or foreign taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

12


The Company’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this Letter Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder will not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, defense, or other claim, right, or action that the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates may have against you or others, except as provided in this Letter Agreement related to compliance with the covenants in Section 6.  In no event will you be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to you under any of the provisions of this Letter Agreement and such amounts will not be reduced regardless of whether you obtain other employment.

Upon the expiration or termination of this Letter Agreement or your services, the respective rights and obligations of the parties hereto, including your obligations under Section 6, shall survive such expiration or termination consistent with the terms of this Letter Agreement and otherwise to the extent necessary to carry out the intentions of the parties hereunder.

Any notices given under this Letter Agreement (1) by the Company to you will be in writing and will be given by hand delivery or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to you at your address listed above or (2) by you to the Company will be in writing and will be given by hand delivery or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the General Counsel of the Company at the Company’s corporate headquarters.

This Letter Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and supersedes any other agreement or understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, including the Employment Agreement.  This Letter Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Letter Agreement by electronic transmission, including in portable document format (.pdf), shall be deemed as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Letter Agreement.

[Signature Page Follows]

13


If this Letter Agreement correctly describes our understanding, please execute and deliver a counterpart of this signature page, which will become a binding agreement on our receipt.

 
Sincerely,
     
 
WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
     
 
By:
/s/ John R. Ciulla
 
Name:
John R. Ciulla
 
Title:
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Accepted and Agreed

I hereby agree with and accept the terms
and conditions of this Letter Agreement:

/s/ Jack Kopnisky
 
Name:  Jack Kopnisky
 
Date:  April 18, 2021
 

[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]


EXHIBIT A

SERVICES


In conjunction with the Chief Executive Officer, (a) create the initial long-range strategic and financial plan, including relevant benchmarks to be measured, and cultural foundation of Webster, (b) be a principal in integration activities, (c) determine the initial organizational structure and selection of the executive team, (d) interview and recommend to the lead directors of each of Webster and Sterling, the initial members of the Board and Bank Board, and (e) drive incremental revenue growth.


Work to ensure the retention of the relationships with Sterling’s colleagues and customers.


As Executive Chairman and a member of each of the Board and Bank Board, (a) chair meetings of the Board and Bank Board and perform the role of Chairman of the Board and Bank Board; (b) act as a liaison between (i) the Board and Bank Board, and (ii) the Chief Executive Officer; and (c) update the Board and Bank Board on critical issues.


Support actions to ensure execution of the integration plan and delivery of the integration plan and delivery of targeted performance objectives for the Company.

A-1


EXHIBIT B

RELEASE AGREEMENT

THIS RELEASE AGREEMENT (hereinafter this “Agreement”) is made and entered into on the [__] day of [_______], 20[__] by and among  Webster Bank, National Association (the “Bank”) and Webster Financial Corporation (“Webster”) and Jack Kopnisky (hereinafter referred to as “you” and “your”).  The Bank and Webster are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Company” and you and the Company are hereinafter referred to as the “parties”.

WHEREAS, the Company and you are parties to a Letter Agreement, dated as of April 18, 2021 (the “Letter Agreement”), pursuant to which you are eligible, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Letter Agreement, to receive certain compensation and benefits in connection with certain terminations of your services to the Company.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the Company agreeing to provide the compensation and benefits under Section 4 of the Letter Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties, it is agreed as follows:

1.          Release and Waiver of Claims.

A.          In exchange for the consideration referenced above, you hereby completely, irrevocably, and unconditionally releases and forever discharges the Company, and any of its predecessor or affiliated companies, and each and all of their officers, agents, directors, supervisors, employees, representatives, and their successors and assigns, and all persons acting by, through, under, for, or in concert with them, or any of them, in any and all of their capacities (hereinafter individually or collectively, the “Released Parties”), from any and all charges, complaints, claims, and liabilities of any kind or nature whatsoever, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected (hereinafter referred to as “claim” or “claims”) which you at any time heretofore had or claimed to have or which you may have or claim to have regarding events that have occurred as of the Effective Date (as defined below) of this Agreement, including, without limitation, those based on:  any employee welfare benefit or pension plan governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (provided that this release does not extend to any vested benefits to which you are entitled under Company’s pension and welfare benefit plans as of the date of your termination of services); the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (race, color, religion, sex and national origin discrimination and harassment); the Civil Rights Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. § 1981) (discrimination); the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (hereinafter “ADEA”); the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, as amended; the Americans With Disabilities Act, as amended; § 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended (wage and hour matters); the Family and Medical Leave Act, as amended (family leave matters); any other federal, state, or local laws or regulations regarding employment discrimination or harassment, wages, insurance, leave, privacy or any other matter; any negligent or intentional tort; any contract, policy or practice (implied, oral, or written); or any other theory of recovery under federal, state, or local law, and whether for compensatory or punitive damages, or other equitable relief, including, but not limited to, any and all claims which you may now have or may have had, arising from or in any way whatsoever connected with your employment, service, or contacts, with the Company or any other of the Released Parties.

B-1


B.          Notwithstanding the foregoing, the released claims do not include, and this Agreement does not release:  (a) any rights to compensation and benefits provided under Section 4 of the Letter Agreement; (b) any benefit to which you are entitled under any tax qualified pension plan of the Company, COBRA continuation coverage benefits, vested benefits under any other benefit plans of the Company or its affiliates or any other welfare benefits required to be provided pursuant to the terms of the applicable plan; (c) any rights to indemnification that you may have under applicable law, the bylaws or certificate of incorporation of the Company, any applicable director and officer liability policy or under the Letter Agreement, as a result of having served as an officer or director of the Company or any of its affiliates; (d) any claim that you may have as the holder or beneficial owner of securities of the Company or other rights relating to securities or equity awards in respect of the common stock of the Company and (e) any claims that you may not by law release through a settlement agreement such as this.

C.          To the extent permitted by law, you agree that you will not cause or encourage any future legal proceedings to be maintained or instituted against any of the Released Parties.  This Agreement is not intended to prevent you from filing a charge with, or participating in an investigation conducted by, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any comparable state human rights agency, or the United States Securities and Exchange Commission; provided, however, you expressly waive and relinquish any right you may have to recover damages or other relief, whether equitable or legal, in any such proceeding concerning events or actions that arose on or before the Effective Date other than as prohibited by law, including an award under section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”).  No provision of this Agreement shall prohibit you from exercising any legally protected whistleblower rights, including pursuant to Rule 21F under the Exchange Act.

2.          Older Workers Benefit Protection Act / ADEA Waiver.

A.          You acknowledge that the Company has advised you in writing to consult with an attorney of your choice before signing this Agreement, and you have been given the opportunity to consult with an attorney of your choice before signing this Agreement.

B.          You acknowledge that you have been given the opportunity to review and consider this Agreement for a full twenty-one (21) days before signing it, and that, if you have signed this Agreement in less than that time, you have done so voluntarily in order to obtain sooner the benefits of this Agreement.

C.          You further acknowledge that you may revoke this Agreement within seven (7) days after signing it, provided that this Agreement will not become effective until such seven (7) day period has expired.  To be effective, any such revocation must be in writing and delivered to Company’s principal place of business by the close of business on the seventh (7th) day after signing this Agreement and must expressly state your intention to revoke this Agreement.  Provided that you do not timely revoke this Agreement, the eighth (8th) day following your execution hereof shall be deemed the “Effective Date” of this Agreement.

D.          The parties also agree that the release provided by you in this Agreement does not include a release for claims under ADEA arising after the date you that sign this Agreement.

3.          Your Continuing Obligations. You shall continue to be bound by the covenants set forth in Section 6 of the Letter Agreement and such other obligations that you have as a former director and executive of the Company.  You shall promptly turn over to the Company any and all documents, files, computer records, or other materials belonging to, or containing confidential or proprietary information obtained from, the Company that are in your possession, custody, or control, including any such materials that may be at your home.

B-2


4.          No Admission of Wrongdoing.  This Agreement shall not in any way be construed as an admission by the Company of any acts of unlawful conduct, wrongdoing or discrimination against you, and the Company specifically disclaims any liability to you on the part of itself, its employees, and its agents.

5.          No Amendment. This Agreement cannot be amended, modified, or supplemented in any respect except by written agreement entered into and signed by the parties hereto.

6.          Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Connecticut, without regard to the principles of conflict of laws.

7.          Your Understanding and Representations.  You hereby acknowledge that you have read and understand the terms of this Agreement and that you are signing it voluntarily and without coercion.  You further acknowledge that you have been given an opportunity to consider and review this Agreement and the waivers contained in this Agreement, that you have done so and that the waivers made herein are knowing, conscious and with full appreciation that you are forever foreclosed from pursuing any of the rights so waived.

8.          Counterparts.  This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, and each counterpart shall be considered an original for all purposes.

B-3


PLEASE READ THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY; IT INCLUDES A RELEASE OF ALL KNOWN AND UNKNOWN CLAIMS.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officer, and you have executed this Agreement, as of the date first written above.

 
WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
     
 
By:
 
   
Name:
   
Title:
     
 
WEBSTER BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
     
 
By:
 
   
Name:
   
Title:


B-4



Exhibit 10.4

April 18, 2021

Mr. Luis Massiani
At the address on file with the Company

Dear Luis:

This retention agreement (this “Retention Agreement”) memorializes our agreement regarding the terms of your employment with, and service to, Webster Financial Corporation (the “Company”) following the completion of the merger (the “Merger”) contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger between Sterling Bancorp (“Sterling”) and the Company, dated as of April 18, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”).  Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Retention Agreement have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.

1.          Term

The term of this Retention Agreement will commence on the Closing Date and end on the second anniversary of the Closing Date (the “Term”).  If your employment with Sterling and Sterling National Bank terminates for any reason before the Closing or the Merger Agreement is terminated before the Closing in accordance with its terms, this Retention Agreement will automatically terminate and be of no further force or effect, and neither of the parties will have any obligations hereunder.  By signing this Retention Agreement, you are agreeing that, effective as of the Closing Date, your Employment Agreement with Sterling and Sterling National Bank, dated as of April 3, 2019 and effective on January 1, 2019 (the “Employment Agreement”) will terminate and be of no force or effect.

2.          Position; Reporting; Duties; Location

During the Term, you will serve as the Company’s and the Surviving Bank’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Surviving Bank, and you will have the duties and authority commensurate with your position as Chief Operating Officer of a public company.

Your duties during the Term will be performed primarily at the Company’s headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, with the ability to use the offices at other campuses of the Company from time to time, and subject to reasonable business travel.  You agree that you will be subject to the Company’s and Bank’s policies applicable to similarly situated executives as in effect from time to time, including the Codes of Ethics and Conduct and stock ownership guidelines.

3.          Compensation

Annual Base Salary.  During the Employment Period, your annual base salary (“Annual Base Salary”) will be $750,000, payable to you in accordance with the Company’s payroll policies. Your Annual Base Salary will be reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) and may be increased but not decreased.  The term Annual Base Salary as utilized in this Retention Agreement will refer to Annual Base Salary as in effect from time to time.



Annual Cash Incentive Award Opportunity.  During each year of the Employment Period, you will be eligible to earn an annual cash incentive award with a target opportunity of 100% of Annual Base Salary (the “Target Incentive Payment”), which will be determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board and payable in accordance with the annual cash incentive plan applicable to other senior executives of the Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Closing Date occurs in the 2021 fiscal year, your 2021 incentive award will be at least equal to the amount you would have earned under the applicable Sterling incentive plan based on actual performance using reasonable assumptions through the end of such year, and be reduced by any pro rata incentive amount paid to you upon Closing for the portion of the 2021 fiscal year prior to the Closing Date.

Equity Compensation Opportunity.  During each year of the Employment Period (commencing with the 2022 grant cycle, assuming you have not received a grant in respect of 2022 prior to the Closing Date), you will be granted annual long-term incentive awards with a target grant date fair value of 200% of Annual Base Salary.  The grant timing, form and terms and conditions of your long-term incentive awards will be as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board and no less favorable than those applicable to other senior executives of the Company.

Benefits; Expense Reimbursement.  You will be entitled to employee benefits and perquisites on terms that are no less favorable than those provided to other senior executives of the Company, as in effect from time to time.  The Company will reimburse your reasonable and documented business expenses in accordance with the Company’s business reimbursement policy applicable to other senior executives of the Company.

Company Change in Control Agreement; Company Non-Competition Agreement.  Following the Term, you will enter into (1) a change in control agreement with the Company providing for severance benefits with a multiple of two in the event of a change in control of the Company occurring after the expiration of the Term and (2) a non-competition agreement with the Company providing for severance benefits with a multiple of one in the event of a termination not in connection with a change in control of the Company after the expiration of the Term, in each case substantially consistent with the forms applicable to other senior executives of the Company as then in effect.

Indemnification.  The Company will indemnify you (including, for the avoidance of doubt, by providing you with advancement of expenses) to the fullest extent permitted by law against any actual or threatened action, suit or proceeding and provide you with directors’ and officers’ insurance coverage, in each case, with respect to your services as an executive officer and director of the Company and the Bank, on terms no less favorable than those applicable to any other executive officers and directors of the Company and the Bank.  In addition, you will continue to have the indemnification and directors’ and officers’ coverage set forth in Section 6.7 of the Merger Agreement.

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4.          Termination of Employment other than for Cause, Death, or Disability or for Good Reason

If, during the Term, the Company terminates your employment other than for Cause (as defined below) and other than by reason of your death or disability (as defined in the Company’s long-term disability plan or policy that covers you), or you resign your employment with Good Reason (as defined below), the Company shall pay or provide to you the following:


(1)
as soon as reasonably practicable following the Date of Termination (as defined below) and in no event later than 30 days thereafter, (A) a lump sum cash payment consisting of any (i) accrued Annual Base Salary, (ii) any annual cash incentive award earned by you and awarded by the Compensation Committee for a completed fiscal year (with any portion of such incentive award that was previously deferred to be paid in accordance with the applicable deferral arrangement and any election thereunder), (iii) unused vacation accrued through the Date of Termination, and (iv) any unreimbursed expenses incurred through the Date of Termination that are subject to reimbursement pursuant to the Company’s policies, in each case to the extent unpaid (the “Accrued Obligations”), and (B) to the extent not theretofore paid or provided, any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided or which you are eligible to receive under any plan, program, policy, practice, contract, or agreement of the Company through the Date of Termination, with any amounts or benefits that constitute non-qualified deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), including the applicable regulations thereunder (“Section 409A”) to be paid or settled at the earliest permissible date for purposes of Section 409A (collectively, the “Other Benefits”);


(2)
a lump sum cash payment equal to the product of (A) the sum of the Annual Base Salary and Target Incentive Payment and (B) three, paid as soon as reasonably practicable after the Release (as defined below) effective date (without revocation by you) and no later than the 60th calendar day following the Date of Termination;


(3)
a prorated annual cash incentive award for the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs based upon the period of time elapsed during such fiscal year prior to the Date of Termination, calculated on a basis no less favorable than is applicable to other senior executives of the Company and assuming that any individual performance goals are satisfied in full, payable at the time that annual incentive awards are paid to other senior executives of the Company (with any portion of such incentive award that was previously deferred to be paid in accordance with the applicable deferral arrangement and any election thereunder);


(4)
a lump sum equal to the product of (A) the sum of (x) the annual premium for coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 in effect as of the Date of Termination for the level of coverage in effect for you under the Company’s group health plan and (y) the annual premium for coverage (based on the rate paid by the Company for active employees) under the Company’s life insurance plans and (B) three, paid as soon as reasonably practicable after the Release effective date (without revocation by you) and no later than the 60th calendar day following the Date of Termination (the “Benefits Continuation Payment”);

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(5)
the amount equal to the sum of all Company contributions to which you are eligible as of immediately prior to the Date of Termination under the Company’s qualified defined contribution plans and any excess or supplemental defined contribution plans that you would be eligible to receive as if your employment continued for three years after the Date of Termination, assuming for this purpose that (A) your benefits under such plans are fully vested, (B) your eligible compensation for purposes of such plans in each of the three years is that set forth in Section 3 of this Retention Agreement and that such amounts are paid in equal monthly installments over such three-year period, (C) to the extent that the Company contributions are determined based on your deferrals, that your contribution or deferral elections, as appropriate, are those in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination, and (D) to the extent that the Company contributions are discretionary, assuming such contributions are made at the rate of any discretionary contributions made by the Company during the plan year immediately preceding the Date of Termination, paid as soon as reasonably practicable after the Release effective date (without revocation by you) and no later than the 60th calendar day following the Date of Termination; and


(6)
any outstanding long-term incentive awards granted to you will vest in full with respect to any service vesting requirement, with any performance-vesting awards to remain outstanding and be eligible to be earned based on the level of performance achieved as determined on a basis no less favorable than that applicable to other senior executives of the Company, as if you had remained employed for the full performance period, without proration and without regard to any applicable one year holding period, and with any such vested awards that constitute deferred compensation subject to Section 409A to be settled at the earliest permissible date for purposes of Section 409A.

The payments and benefits provided under this Section 4 (other than the Accrued Obligations and the Other Benefits) are subject to your: (i) execution, delivery to the Company, and non-revocation within the period after the Date of Termination specified in a release of claims substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Release”). In the event you breach the terms of Section 5, all payments and benefits provided under this Section 4 (other than the Accrued Obligations and the Other Benefits) will, to the extent unpaid, be subject to forfeiture by you and, to the extent paid, be subject to clawback and recoupment by the Company.

For purposes of this Retention Agreement and your outstanding equity awards granted prior to, on or after the Closing Date, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

Cause” means your failure or refusal to substantially perform your duties hereunder (after notice from the Company and a reasonable opportunity to cure), willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, breach of the Company’s or the Bank’s Code of Ethics, material violation of the Sarbanes-Oxley requirements for officers of public companies that in the reasonable opinion of the Board will likely cause substantial financial harm or substantial injury to the reputation of the Company or the Bank, willfully engaging in actions that in the reasonable opinion of the Board will likely cause substantial financial harm or substantial injury to the business reputation of the Company or the Bank, willful violation of any law, rule or regulation (other than routine traffic violations or similar offenses) or final cease-and-desist order, or material breach of any provision of this Retention Agreement.  The cessation of your employment shall not be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to you a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to you and you are given an opportunity with your counsel to be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, you are guilty of the conduct constituting Cause, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.  For purposes hereof, no act or failure to act, on your part, shall be considered “willful” unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by you in bad faith or without reasonable belief that your action or omission was in the best interests of the Company and the Bank. Any act, or failure to act, based upon the direction of the Board or the Bank Board or the advice of counsel for the Company or the Bank shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by you in good faith and in the best interests of the Company or the Bank.

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Date of Termination” means the date of your termination of employment with the Company and its affiliates.

Good Reason” means the occurrence of any of the following events without your consent: (1) a material reduction of any element of the compensation required to be provided to you in accordance with any of the provisions of this Retention Agreement; (2) a material adverse change in your title or duties with the Company and the Bank from those set forth in this Retention Agreement, which change would cause your position to become one of materially lesser responsibility, importance or scope; (3) the Company requiring you to be based at any office or location other than as provided in this Retention Agreement resulting in an increase in your commute of 50 miles or more; or (4) a material breach of this Retention Agreement by the Company or the Bank.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such event shall constitute “Good Reason” unless (a) you shall have given written notice of such event to the Company within 90 days after the initial occurrence thereof, (b) the Company and the Bank shall have failed to cure the situation within 30 days following the delivery of such notice (or such longer cure period as may be agreed upon by the parties) (the “Cure Period”), and (c) you terminate employment within 30 days after expiration of such Cure Period.  For the avoidance of doubt, you hereby agree that the termination of the Employment Agreement or the changes in the terms and conditions of your employment from those in effect immediately prior to the Closing Date shall not constitute a basis to terminate your employment for Good Reason under this Retention Agreement or otherwise.

5.          Restrictive Covenants

A.          General

You acknowledge that the restrictions of this Section 5, including, without limitation, the scope and duration of such restrictions, are reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the Company. In view of your importance to the success of the Merger, if you compete with the Company after your services with the Company cease, the Company will likely suffer significant and irreparable harm.  For purposes of this Section 5, all references to the Company shall include the Company, Sterling or any of their respective affiliates, including their predecessor and successor entities, and the scope of any such restrictions shall relate to the business of the Company, including Sterling, as it exists prior to, on or after the Closing Date.

B.          Confidential Information

While providing services to the Company and thereafter, you shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company and its businesses, which shall have been obtained by you during your service with the Company and which shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by you or representatives of you in violation of this Retention Agreement).  After termination of your services with the Company for any reason, you shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, (1) communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it; or (2) use to your advantage or to the detriment of the Company any such information, knowledge or data. The restrictions in this Section 5.B shall not apply to any information to the extent that you are required to disclose such information by law; provided that you (x) notify the Company of the existence and terms of such obligation; (y) give the Company a reasonable opportunity to seek a protective or similar order to prevent or limit such disclosure; and (z) disclose only that information actually required to be disclosed.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Retention Agreement to the contrary, nothing contained herein is intended to, or shall be interpreted in a manner that does, limit or restrict you from exercising any legally protected whistleblower rights (including pursuant to Rule 21F under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).  At the end of your provision of services to the Company, you shall return to the Company all confidential information in any form (including all copies and reproductions thereof) and all other property whatsoever of the Company in your possession or under your control.

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C.          Non-Solicitation/No Hire of Employees

During the period of your service with the Company and the additional period ending on the date that is one year after the date of termination of your service with the Company in all capacities for any reason (the “Non-Solicitation Period”), you shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, in any manner, on your own behalf or on behalf of any other person, corporation, partnership, firm, institution or other business entity, (1) offer employment (or a consulting, agency,  independent contractor or other similar position) to, or otherwise hire, any person who is (or was at any time during the six months prior to such offer or hiring) an employee, consultant, representative, officer or director of the Company, or (2) Solicit (as defined below) any such person to (x) accept employment (or any aforesaid position) with any company or entity with which you are then employed, providing services or otherwise affiliated, or (y) cease his or her relationship with the Company for any reason.  This Section 5.C shall not apply to solicitation, recruitment, encouragement, inducement or termination during the period of your service with the Company on behalf of the Company.

D.          Non-Solicitation of Clients or Customers

During the Non-Solicitation Period, you shall not, directly or indirectly, in any manner, on your own behalf or on behalf of any other person, corporation, partnership, firm, institution or other business entity, Solicit a Client (as defined below) to (1) transact business with a Competitive Enterprise (as defined below but without regard to the geographic limitations therein), (2) reduce the amount of business that any Client has customarily done or contemplates doing with the Company or (3) cease or refrain from doing business with the Company, or, in any manner, interfere with or damage (or attempt to interfere with or damage) any relationship between the Company and a Client.

E.          Non-Competition

During the period of your service with the Company and the additional period ending on the date that is two years after the date of termination of your service with the Company in all capacities for any reason, you shall not, directly or indirectly, in any manner, associate with or provide services to, in any capacity (including, without limitation, as an officer, agent, employee, partner, director, consultant or advisor and whether or not for compensation), any Competitive Enterprise (as defined below).  For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing restrictions shall not restrict you from associating with or providing services in any capacity to a private equity firm, hedge fund or equity sponsor, in each case, provided that you may not engage with, or provide advice or services to, any of the foregoing with respect to investments or potential investments in a Competitive Enterprise that engages in commercial banking or financial services/financial technology activities that are directly competitive with the Company.

F.          Cooperation

During the period of your service with the Company in any capacity and following the cessation of your service for any reason, you shall, upon reasonable notice, (1) furnish such information and assistance to the Company, as may reasonably be requested by the Company, with respect to any matter, project, initiative or effort for which you are or were responsible or have relevant knowledge or had substantial involvement in while providing services to the Company, and (2) cooperate with the Company during the course of all third-party proceedings arising out of the Company’s business about which you have knowledge or information; provided, however, that you shall not be required to provide information or assistance with respect to any litigation between you and the Company.

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G.          Definitions

For purposes of this Retention Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(1)          Client” means any client, customer or business relation, whether a person or entity, and whether current, former (within the 12-month period after such relationship has been terminated) or prospective (meaning such person or entity is reasonably anticipated to become a customer or client or commence such business relationship, provided that there are demonstrable efforts or plans to establish such relationship) of the Company.

(2)          Competitive Enterprise” means any person, firm, corporation, other entity or business enterprise in whatever form that engages in, or owns or controls a significant interest in any entity that engages in, (A) the provision of depository, administrative or other services or products relating to health savings accounts, in the Unites States, or (B) any other activity in which the Company is engaged, in the states comprising the New England region or any other state in the United States in which the Company has a business presence (as of your date of termination, in the case of your termination of services with the Company).  The activities covered by clause (B) of the previous sentence include, without limitation, the solicitation and acceptance of deposits of money or commercial paper, the solicitation and funding of loans and the provision of other banking services, including business and consumer lending, asset-based financing, residential mortgage funding, mortgage warehouse lending, equipment financing, commercial and residential mortgage lending and brokerage, deposit services (including municipal deposit services), trade financing, the sale of annuities, life and health insurance products, title insurance services, private banking, wealth management and investment advisory services, the sale or servicing of banking and financial products and services, factoring/accounts receivable management services and real estate investment trusts.  Nothing herein shall prohibit you from being a passive owner of not more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding equity interest in any entity which is publicly traded, so long as you have no active participation in the business of such entity.

(3)          Solicit” means any direct or indirect communication of any kind whatsoever, regardless of by whom initiated, inviting, inducing, advising or encouraging (or attempting to do the foregoing) or requesting, any person or entity, in any manner, to take or refrain from taking any action.

H.          Remedies; Judicial Modification

You acknowledge and agree that the terms of this Section 5:  (1) are reasonable in light of all of the circumstances, (2) are sufficiently limited to protect the legitimate interests of the Company, (3) impose no undue hardship on you and (4) are not injurious to the public.  You further acknowledge and agree that:  (x) your breach of the provisions of this Section 5 will cause the Company irreparable harm, which likely cannot be adequately compensated by money damages, and (y) if the Company elects to prevent you from breaching such provisions by obtaining an injunction against you, there is a reasonable probability of the Company’s eventual success on the merits.  You consent and agree that if you commit any such breach or threaten to commit any breach, the Company shall be entitled to temporary, preliminary, and/or permanent injunctive relief from a court of competent jurisdiction, without posting any bond or other security and without the necessity of proof of actual damage, in addition to, and not in lieu of, such other remedies as may be available to the Company for such breach, including cessation of its obligation to pay you the compensation and benefits provided under this Retention Agreement, the right to recoup any such compensation or benefits previously paid under this Retention Agreement and the recovery of money damages.  If any of the provisions of this Section 5 are determined to be wholly or partially unenforceable, you hereby agree that this Retention Agreement or any provision hereof may be reformed so that it is enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law, and in the case when such provision is not capable of being reformed, it shall be severed and all remaining provisions of this Retention Agreement shall be enforced.  If any of the provisions of this Section 5 are determined to be wholly or partially unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such determination shall not be a bar to or in any way diminish the Company’s right to enforce any such covenant in any other jurisdiction.

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I.          Jurisdiction

You agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Connecticut and the Federal courts of the United States of America located in Connecticut in respect to the interpretation and enforcement of the provisions under this Section 5, and waive as a defense in any action, suit or proceeding for the interpretation or enforcement under this Section 5, that you are not subject thereto or that such action, suit or proceeding may not be brought or is not maintainable in said courts or that this Retention Agreement may not be enforced in or by said courts or that venue is improper.

6.          Section 409A.

It is the intent of the parties that the payments and benefits under this Retention Agreement will be exempt from or otherwise comply with the provisions of Section 409A, and each payment under this Retention Agreement will be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A.  In no event may you, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of payment. The parties intend that the terms and provisions of this Retention Agreement will be interpreted and applied in a manner that satisfies the requirements and exemptions of Section 409A.  All reimbursements of costs and expenses or in-kind benefits provided under this Retention Agreement will be made or provided in accordance with Section 409A, including, where applicable, that the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits will not be subject to liquidation and may not be exchanged for any other benefit, the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement (or in-kind benefits paid) in one year will not affect amounts reimbursable or provided as in-kind benefits in any subsequent year, and all expense reimbursements that are taxable income to you will in no event be paid later than the end of the calendar year next following the year in which you incur the expense.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Retention Agreement to the contrary, if you are considered a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A (as determined in accordance with the methodology established by the Company as in effect on the date of termination), any payment that constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A that is otherwise due to you under this Retention Agreement during the six-month period following your separation from service (as determined in accordance with Section 409A) on account of your separation from service will be accumulated and paid to you on the first business day of the seventh month following your separation from service (the “Delayed Payment Date”).  If you die during the postponement period, the amounts and entitlements delayed on account of Section 409A will be paid to the personal representative of your estate on the first to occur of the Delayed Payment Date or 30 calendar days after the date of your death.

7.          Limitation on Payments under Certain Circumstances.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Retention Agreement, in the event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by you in connection with the Merger or a “change in ownership or control” (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code) of the Company occurring following the Closing Date (whether pursuant to the terms of this Retention Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement) (collectively, the “Total Benefits”) would be subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), the Total Benefits shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Benefits is subject to the Excise Tax; provided, however, that no such reduction in the Total Benefits shall be made if by not making such reduction, your Retained Amount (as defined below) would be greater than your Retained Amount if the Total Benefits are so reduced.

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All determinations required to be made under this Section 7 shall be made by Golden Parachute Tax Solutions LLC or another mutually agreed nationally recognized certified public accounting firm or other professional organization that is a certified public accounting firm recognized as an expert in determinations and calculations for purposes of Section 280G of the Code selected by the Company prior to a change in control (the “Accounting Firm”), which determinations shall be conclusive and binding on you and the Company absent manifest error. All fees and expenses of Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company.  Prior to any reduction in the Total Benefits pursuant to this Section 7, the Accounting Firm shall provide you and the Company with a report setting forth its calculations and containing related supporting information. In the event that any such reduction is required, the Total Benefits shall be reduced in the following order: (i) the Benefits Continuation Payment, (ii) the payment under Section 4(2), (iii) any other portion of the Total Benefits that are not subject to Section 409A (other than the Total Benefits resulting from any accelerated vesting of equity awards), (iv) the Total Benefits that are subject to Section 409A in reverse order of payment, and (v) the Total Benefits that are not subject to Section 409A and arise from any accelerated vesting of equity awards. The parties hereby elect to use the applicable federal rate that is in effect on the date that this Retention Agreement is entered into for purposes of determining the present value of any payments provided for hereunder for purposes of Section 280G of the Code.

For purposes of this Retention Agreement, “Retained Amount” shall mean the present value (as determined in accordance with Sections 280G(b)(2)(A)(ii) and 280G(d)(4) of the Code) of the Total Benefits net of all federal, state and local taxes imposed on you with respect thereto.  In connection with making determinations under this Section 7, the Accounting Firm shall take into account the value of any reasonable compensation for services to be rendered by you before or after the change in ownership or control, including the noncompetition provisions set forth in this Retention Agreement or that may otherwise apply to you, and the Company shall cooperate in the valuation of any such services, including any noncompetition provisions.

8.          Miscellaneous.

This Retention Agreement is personal to you and, without the prior written consent of the Company, shall not be assignable by you.  This Retention Agreement and any rights and benefits hereunder will inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by your legal representatives, heirs, or legatees.  This Retention Agreement and any rights and benefits hereunder will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.

This Retention Agreement will be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Connecticut, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereof.  This Retention Agreement may not be amended or modified other than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives.

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Retention Agreement will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Retention Agreement, and this Retention Agreement will be construed as if such invalid or unenforceable provision were omitted (but only to the extent that such provision cannot be appropriately reformed or modified).

The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Retention Agreement such federal, state, local, or foreign taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

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The Company’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this Retention Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder will not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, defense, or other claim, right, or action that the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates may have against you or others, except as provided in this Retention Agreement related to compliance with the covenants in Section 5.  In no event will you be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to you under any of the provisions of this Retention Agreement, and such amounts will not be reduced regardless of whether you obtain other employment.

Upon the expiration or termination of this Retention Agreement or your services, the respective rights and obligations of the parties hereto, including your obligations under Section 5, shall survive such expiration or termination consistent with the terms of this Retention Agreement and otherwise to the extent necessary to carry out the intentions of the parties hereunder.

Any notices given under this Retention Agreement (1) by the Company to you will be in writing and will be given by hand delivery or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to you at your address listed above or (2) by you to the Company will be in writing and will be given by hand delivery or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the General Counsel of the Company at the Company’s corporate headquarters.

This Retention Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and supersedes any other agreement or understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, including your Employment Agreement.  This Retention Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Retention Agreement by electronic transmission, including in portable document format (.pdf), shall be deemed as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Retention Agreement.

[Signature Page Follows]

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If this Retention Agreement correctly describes our understanding, please execute and deliver a counterpart of this signature page, which will become a binding agreement on our receipt.

 
Sincerely,
     
 
WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
     
 
By:
/s/ John R. Ciulla
 
Name:
John R. Ciulla
 
Title:
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Accepted and Agreed

I hereby agree with and accept the terms
and conditions of this Retention Agreement:

/s/ Luis Massiani
 
Name:  Luis Massiani
 
Date:  April 18, 2021
 

[Signature Page to Retention Agreement]


EXHIBIT A

RELEASE AGREEMENT

THIS RELEASE AGREEMENT (hereinafter this “Agreement”) is made and entered into on the [__] day of [_______], 20[__] by and among  Webster Bank, National Association (the “Bank”) and Webster Financial Corporation (“Webster”) and Luis Massiani (hereinafter referred to as “you” and “your”).  The Bank and Webster are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Company” and you and the Company are hereinafter referred to as the “parties”.

WHEREAS, the Company and you are parties to a Retention Agreement, dated as of April 18, 2021 (the “Retention Agreement”), pursuant to which you are eligible, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Retention Agreement, to receive certain compensation and benefits in connection with certain terminations of your services to the Company.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the Company agreeing to provide the compensation and benefits under Section 4 of the Retention Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties, it is agreed as follows:

1.          Release and Waiver of Claims.

A.          In exchange for the consideration referenced above, you hereby completely, irrevocably, and unconditionally releases and forever discharges the Company, and any of its predecessor or affiliated companies, and each and all of their officers, agents, directors, supervisors, employees, representatives, and their successors and assigns, and all persons acting by, through, under, for, or in concert with them, or any of them, in any and all of their capacities (hereinafter individually or collectively, the “Released Parties”), from any and all charges, complaints, claims, and liabilities of any kind or nature whatsoever, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected (hereinafter referred to as “claim” or “claims”) which you at any time heretofore had or claimed to have or which you may have or claim to have regarding events that have occurred as of the Effective Date (as defined below) of this Agreement, including, without limitation, those based on:  any employee welfare benefit or pension plan governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (provided that this release does not extend to any vested benefits to which you are entitled under Company’s pension and welfare benefit plans as of the date of your termination of services); the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (race, color, religion, sex and national origin discrimination and harassment); the Civil Rights Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. § 1981) (discrimination); the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (hereinafter “ADEA”); the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, as amended; the Americans With Disabilities Act, as amended; § 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended (wage and hour matters); the Family and Medical Leave Act, as amended (family leave matters); any other federal, state, or local laws or regulations regarding employment discrimination or harassment, wages, insurance, leave, privacy or any other matter; any negligent or intentional tort; any contract, policy or practice (implied, oral, or written); or any other theory of recovery under federal, state, or local law, and whether for compensatory or punitive damages, or other equitable relief, including, but not limited to, any and all claims which you may now have or may have had, arising from or in any way whatsoever connected with your employment, service, or contacts, with the Company or any other of the Released Parties.

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B.          Notwithstanding the foregoing, the released claims do not include, and this Agreement does not release:  (a) any rights to compensation and benefits provided under Section 4 of the Retention Agreement; (b) any benefit to which you are entitled under any tax qualified pension plan of the Company, COBRA continuation coverage benefits, vested benefits under any other benefit plans of the Company or its affiliates or any other welfare benefits required to be provided pursuant to the terms of the applicable plan; (c) any rights to indemnification that you may have under applicable law, the bylaws or certificate of incorporation of the Company, any applicable director and officer liability policy or under the Retention Agreement, as a result of having served as an officer or director of the Company or any of its affiliates; (d) any claim that you may have as the holder or beneficial owner of securities of  the Company or other rights relating to securities or equity awards in respect of the common stock of the Company; and (e) any claims that you may not by law release through a settlement agreement such as this.

C.          To the extent permitted by law, you agree that you will not cause or encourage any future legal proceedings to be maintained or instituted against any of the Released Parties.  This Agreement is not intended to prevent you from filing a charge with, or participating in an investigation conducted by, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any comparable state human rights agency, or the United States Securities and Exchange Commission; provided, however, you expressly waive and relinquish any right you may have to recover damages or other relief, whether equitable or legal, in any such proceeding concerning events or actions that arose on or before the Effective Date other than as prohibited by law, including an award under section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”).  No provision of this Agreement shall prohibit you from exercising any legally protected whistleblower rights, including pursuant to Rule 21F under the Exchange Act.

2.          Older Workers Benefit Protection Act / ADEA Waiver.

A.          You acknowledge that the Company has advised you in writing to consult with an attorney of your choice before signing this Agreement, and you have been given the opportunity to consult with an attorney of your choice before signing this Agreement.

B.          You acknowledge that you have been given the opportunity to review and consider this Agreement for a full twenty-one (21) days before signing it, and that, if you have signed this Agreement in less than that time, you have done so voluntarily in order to obtain sooner the benefits of this Agreement.

C.          You further acknowledge that you may revoke this Agreement within seven (7) days after signing it; provided that this Agreement will not become effective until such seven (7) day period has expired.  To be effective, any such revocation must be in writing and delivered to Company’s principal place of business by the close of business on the seventh (7th) day after signing this Agreement and must expressly state your intention to revoke this Agreement.  Provided that you do not timely revoke this Agreement, the eighth (8th) day following your execution hereof shall be deemed the “Effective Date” of this Agreement.

D.          The parties also agree that the release provided by you in this Agreement does not include a release for claims under ADEA arising after the date that you sign this Agreement.

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3.          Your Continuing Obligations.  You shall continue to be bound by the covenants set forth in Section 5 of the Retention Agreement and such other obligations that you have as a former director and executive of the Company.  You shall promptly turn over to the Company any and all documents, files, computer records, or other materials belonging to, or containing confidential or proprietary information obtained from, the Company that are in your possession, custody, or control, including any such materials that may be at your home.

4.          No Admission of Wrongdoing.  This Agreement shall not in any way be construed as an admission by the Company of any acts of unlawful conduct, wrongdoing or discrimination against you, and the Company specifically disclaims any liability to you on the part of itself, its employees, and its agents.

5.          No Amendment. This Agreement cannot be amended, modified, or supplemented in any respect except by written agreement entered into and signed by the parties hereto.

6.          Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Connecticut, without regard to the principles of conflict of laws.

7.          Your Understanding and Representations.  You hereby acknowledge that you have read and understand the terms of this Agreement and that you are signing it voluntarily and without coercion.  You further acknowledge that you have been given an opportunity to consider and review this Agreement and the waivers contained in this Agreement, that you have done so and that the waivers made herein are knowing, conscious and with full appreciation that you are forever foreclosed from pursuing any of the rights so waived.

8.          Counterparts.  This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, and each counterpart shall be considered an original for all purposes.

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PLEASE READ THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY; IT INCLUDES A RELEASE OF ALL KNOWN AND UNKNOWN CLAIMS.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officer, and you have executed this Agreement, as of the date first written above.

 
WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
     
 
By:
 
   
Name:
   
Title:
     
     
 
WEBSTER BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
     
 
By:
 
   
Name:
   
Title:


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Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 1, 2022


WEBSTER, STERLING COMPLETE MERGER

STAMFORD, CT and PEARL RIVER, NY – Webster Financial Corporation (NYSE: WBS) (“Webster”) and Sterling Bancorp (“Sterling”) jointly announced today the completion of their previously announced merger, creating one of the largest commercial banks in the Northeast. The combined company is a unique financial institution, with a differentiated funding base that includes HSA Bank, as well as consumer and commercial banking businesses. Webster has a broad range of regional and national asset generation capabilities, particularly through its growing commercial banking business with deep industry expertise and an expanded geographic footprint.

“Today marks a transformative moment in Webster’s history that will greatly benefit our colleagues, clients, communities and shareholders,” said John R. Ciulla, President and CEO of Webster. “Our bank will have enhanced scale, significant loan growth potential, best-in-class deposit franchises and a longstanding commitment to community development and corporate citizenship.”

The combined company has approximately $65 billion in assets, $44 billion in loans, and $53 billion in deposits based on balances as of December 31, 2021 and operates 202 financial centers in the Northeast region. The new headquarters of Webster is in Stamford, Connecticut, and Webster will have a continued multi-campus presence in the greater New York City area and Waterbury, Connecticut.

“The completion of the merger with Webster brings the best of our banks together, promising an elevated experience for our clients and colleagues as the financial services industry evolves,” said Executive Chairman Jack L. Kopnisky of the newly combined bank. “We are also excited to bring together a combined board of directors with a diversity of experiences and backgrounds, which exemplifies our dedication to enhancing long-term value for our shareholders.”



In connection with the merger, the Webster Board of Directors appointed seven new directors, all former directors of Sterling:


Jack L. Kopnisky, Executive Chairman, Webster Financial Corporation;

Mona Aboelnaga Kanaan;

John P. Cahill;

James J. Landy;

Maureen B. Mitchell;

Richard L. O’Toole; and

William E. Whiston.

Both Webster and Sterling clients will continue to bank as they normally do at their existing banking centers and through Webster’s and Sterling’s websites and mobile applications.

At the effective time of the merger on January 31, 2022, each share of Sterling common stock was converted into the right to receive 0.4630 of a share of Webster common stock, with Sterling shareholders receiving cash in lieu of fractional shares.

In addition, each share of 6.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, of Sterling (“Sterling series A preferred stock”) was converted into the right to receive a share of 6.50% Series G Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock of Webster (“Webster series G preferred stock”) at the effective time of the merger.  Each outstanding Sterling depositary share representing a 1/40th interest in a share of Sterling series A preferred stock was converted into a Webster depositary share (NYSE: WBS-PrG) representing a 1/40th interest in a share of Webster series G preferred stock.

J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC acted as lead financial advisor to Webster and rendered a fairness opinion to the Webster Board.  Piper Sandler & Co. also rendered a fairness opinion to the Webster Board.  Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz served as legal counsel to Webster.

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. acted as lead financial advisor to Sterling and rendered a fairness opinion to the Sterling Board.  Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. also rendered a fairness opinion to the Sterling Board.  Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP served as legal counsel to Sterling.

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About Webster Financial Corporation

Webster Financial Corporation (“Webster”) is a leading commercial bank in the Northeast that provides a wide range of digital and traditional financial solutions across three differentiated lines of business: Commercial Banking, Consumer Banking and its HSA Bank division, one of the country’s largest providers of employee benefits solutions. Headquartered in Stamford, CT, Webster is a values-driven organization with $65 billion in assets. Its core footprint spans the northeastern U.S. from New York to Massachusetts, with certain businesses operating in extended geographies. Webster Bank is a member of the FDIC and an equal housing lender. For more information about Webster, including past press releases and the latest annual report, visit the Webster website at www.websterbank.com.

Media Contact:
Alice Ferreira, 203-578-2610
acferreira@websterbank.com

Investor Contact:
Emlen Harmon, 212-309-7646
eharmon@websterbank.com

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This communication may contain certain forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, certain plans, expectations, goals, projections, and statements about the benefits of the proposed transaction, the plans, objectives, expectations and intentions of Webster, and other statements that are not historical facts.  Such statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties.  Statements that do not describe historical or current facts, including statements about beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as expect, anticipate, believe, intend, estimate, plan, target, goal, or similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as will, may, might, should, would, could, or similar variations.  The forward-looking statements are intended to be subject to the safe harbor provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.



While there is no assurance that any list of risks and uncertainties or risk factors is complete, below are certain factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained or implied in the forward-looking statements:  changes in general economic, political, or industry conditions; the magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the global economy and financial market conditions and our business, results of operations, and financial condition; uncertainty in U.S. fiscal and monetary policy, including the interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board; volatility and disruptions in global capital and credit markets; movements in interest rates; reform of LIBOR; competitive pressures on product pricing and services; success, impact, and timing of our business strategies, including market acceptance of any new products or services; the nature, extent, timing, and results of governmental actions, examinations, reviews, reforms, regulations, and interpretations, including those related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the Basel III regulatory capital reforms, as well as those involving the OCC, Federal Reserve, FDIC, and CFPB; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Webster; the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the transaction are not realized when expected or at all, including as a result of the impact of, or problems arising from, the integration of the two companies or as a result of the strength of the economy and competitive factors in the areas where Webster does business; and other factors that may affect the future results of Webster.  Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described above can be found in Webster’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and available on Webster’s investor relations website, https://webster.gcs-web.com/, under the heading “Financials” and in other documents Webster files with the SEC.

All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and are based on information available at that time.  Webster does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements were made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events except as required by federal securities laws.  As forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, caution should be exercised against placing undue reliance on such statements.

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