Webster Acquires Financial Planning Firm

Oct 23, 2002
WATERBURY, Conn., Oct 23, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Webster Financial Corporation (NYSE: WBS), the holding company for Webster Bank, announced today that it has acquired Fleming, Perry & Cox, Inc., a financial planning and investment services firm, to be part of Webster Financial Advisors.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Based in Norwalk, Connecticut, Fleming, Perry & Cox, Inc. has been serving high-net worth clients in the Northeast for more than 15 years. The company offers financial planning, investment management, risk management and tax and estate planning services. The acquisition follows the recent appointment of Bruce E. Wolfe to head Webster's investment businesses and is a major step by Webster to build a financial planning-based relationship management group for Connecticut and surrounding markets.

"We are delighted to have Fleming, Perry & Cox join Webster, and we plan to incorporate their expertise into our client offerings immediately," said Webster President William T. Bromage. "We see financial planning as the base for providing sound financial advice to the affluent and high-net worth market."

Since 1987 Fleming Perry & Cox, Inc. has successfully built a unique financial planning system that addresses the complex needs of high-net worth clients. Fleming Perry & Cox Partner Dick Fleming said, "We will now be able to provide clients - both our own and Webster's - with more services and products." Partner Joe Cox added, "We are enthusiastic about the growth prospects presented by joining forces with Webster. People are looking for financial advisors who design sustainable, comprehensive solutions for both good and difficult economic cycles."

Webster Financial Corporation is the holding company for Webster Bank and Webster Insurance. With $13 billion in assets, Connecticut-based Webster Bank provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, insurance, trust and investment services through more than 108 banking offices, 214 ATMs and the Internet (www.websteronline.com) Webster Financial Corporation is majority owner of Chicago-based Duff & Phelps, LLC, a leader in financial advisory services, and Webster Bank owns Center Capital Corporation, an equipment leasing and financing company headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut and Webster Trust Company, N.A.

For more information about Webster, including past press releases and the latest Annual Report, visit the Webster Bank web site at www.websteronline.com.

CONTACT:
Webster Financial Corporation, Waterbury
Media:
Art House, 203/578-2391
ahouse@websterbank.com
Clark Finley, 203/578-2429
cfinley@websterbank.com
or
Investors:
James M. Sitro, 203/578-2399
jsitro@websterbank.com