Webster Reports Shareholder Results of FIRSTFED Acquisition

May 18, 2004

WATERBURY, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 18, 2004--Webster Financial Corporation (NYSE: WBS), the holding company for Webster Bank, National Association, announced today that the former stockholders of FIRSTFED AMERICA BANCORP, INC. will receive an aggregate of approximately $183.7 million in cash and 6.7 million shares of Webster common stock as a result of the merger of FIRSTFED with and into Webster completed on May 14, 2004. Based on the final election results and applying the proration provisions set forth in the merger agreement, the merger consideration will be paid as follows:

  • Former FIRSTFED stockholders who made a valid election to receive cash in the merger will receive $24.50 in cash per share, without interest;

  • Former FIRSTFED stockholders who made a valid election to receive Webster common stock in the merger will receive 0.5954 shares of Webster common stock for approximately 65.4% of their FIRSTFED shares, and will receive $24.50 in cash per share, without interest, for the remainder of their FIRSTFED shares. On a per share basis, this translates to an effective exchange ratio of 0.38937 of a share of Webster common stock and a cash payment of approximately $8.48, without interest. The effective exchange ratio was determined by multiplying the 0.5954 exchange ratio set forth in the merger agreement by the percentage of FIRSTFED stock election shares to be converted into Webster stock, and the cash payment was determined by multiplying the $24.50 price set forth in the merger agreement by the percentage of FIRSTFED stock election shares to be converted into cash; and

  • Former FIRSTFED stockholders who did not make a valid election will receive $24.50 in cash per share, without interest.

Webster Financial Corporation is the holding company for Webster Bank, National Association and Webster Insurance. With $17 billion in assets, Webster provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, insurance, financial planning, trust and investment services through 145 banking offices, 266 ATMs, telephone banking and the Internet. Webster Bank, N.A. owns the asset-based lending firm Webster Business Credit Corporation, the insurance premium finance company Budget Installment Corp., and Center Capital Corporation, an equipment finance company headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut. For more information about Webster, including past press releases and the latest Annual Report, visit the Webster website at www.websteronline.com.

CONTACT: Webster Financial Corporation
Media Contact:
Meghan Thompson, 203-578-2287
Mthompson@websterbank.com
or
Clark Finley, 203-578-2429
cfinley@websterbank.com
or
Investor Contact:
Terry Mangan, 203-578-2318
tmangan@websterbank.com

SOURCE: Webster Financial Corporation