e8vk
 

 
 

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) April 21, 2005

Webster Financial Corporation.


(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
         
Delaware
  001-31486   06-1187536

 
(State or other
  (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of
      Identification No.)
incorporation)
       
         
Webster Plaza, Waterbury, Connecticut
    06702  

 
(Address of principal executive offices)
    (Zip Code)  

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (203) 578-2476


(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

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:

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

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

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

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

 
 

 


 

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Director Compensation

     On April 21, 2005, the Board of Directors of Webster Financial Corporation (the “Company”) approved the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s recommended fee schedule for the Company’s outside directors as set forth below, effective April 21, 2005.

         
Event     Amount           
Annual Retainer
    $25,000, payable in the form of shares of restricted stock pursuant to the 2001 Directors Retainer Fees Plan  
 
       
Board Meeting Attended
    $1,250  
 
       
Committee Meeting Attended
    $1,250  
 
       
Telephonic Board Meeting
    $625  
 
       
Telephonic Committee Meeting
    $625  
 
       
Separate Webster Financial Corporation and Webster Bank Board Meetings Held on the Same Day
    $1,750  
 
       
Annual Retainer for the Chairman of the Audit Committee
    $15,000  
 
       
Annual Retainer for the Chairman of the Compensation Committee
    $5,000  
 
       
Annual Retainer for Lead Director*
    $20,000  


*   Includes annual retainer for Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

Non-Competition Agreement

     On April 21, 2005, the Company hired Scott McBrair as its new Executive Vice President, Retail Banking. In connection with the hiring, the Company entered into a Non-Competition Agreement with Mr. McBrair, effective April 21, 2005. The Non-Competition Agreement generally provides that during and after employment at the Company, all confidential information relating to the Company or any of its affiliates and their respective businesses made known to the executive while employed at the Company shall be the Company’s exclusive property and shall not, without prior written consent of the Company, be disclosed to third parties or used to the executive’s advantage or the detriment of the Company. The Non-Competition Agreement also provides that while the executive is employed and for a period of one year after termination, he will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, (a) offer employment to any person who is or was at any time during the six months prior to such offer an employee, representative, officer or director the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (b) induce, encourage or solicit any such person to accept employment with any company or entity with which the executive is then employed or otherwise affiliated. During such period, the executive is also prohibited from encouraging or inducing any employee, representative, officer or director of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to cease their relationship with the Company or any of its subsidiaries

- 2 -


 

for any reason. In addition, the Non-Competition Agreement provides that while the executive is employed and for a period of one year after termination, he will not engage in activities that compete with the Company’s business, including, but not limited to, becoming an employee, officer, or director of any commercial bank, savings bank, savings and loan association, or mortgage banking company, or a holding company affiliate of any of the foregoing, which has an office out of which the executive officer would be primarily based, located within 35 miles of Webster Bank’s home office or which is an institution that has more than $1 billion of deposits in Connecticut.

     Under the Non-Competition Agreement, the executive is entitled to receive severance payments in the event his employment with the Company is terminated without “cause” (as defined therein). Unless the termination is for “cause”, the executive would be entitled (a) to receive a lump sum payment equal to the sum of (x) the executive officer’s then current annual base salary and (y) the amount of any bonuses paid pursuant to the Company’s and Webster Bank’s annual incentive compensation plan during the then current fiscal year multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of full months during the then current fiscal year in which the executive officer was employed and the denominator of which is 12, and (b) subject to certain limitations, to continue to be entitled to medical and dental coverage for the shorter of one year or until the executive officer accepts other employment on a substantially full time basis if earlier. The Non-Competition Agreement conditions receipt of the foregoing severance payments and benefits upon the executive entering into a general release and waiver in favor of Webster. The foregoing severance benefits are generally consistent with the severance benefits for all executive officers.

     The foregoing summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of Non-Competition Agreement for the above-named officer, which is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 hereto.

Change of Control Agreement

     Effective April 21, 2005, the Company and Mr. McBrair entered into a Change of Control Agreement. Mr. McBrair’s Change of Control Agreement is similar to the Change in Control Agreements already in place with other executive officers. Under the Change of Control Agreement, the employment of Mr. McBrair would continue for a period of three years following the “effective date” under such agreement (the “Employment Period”). The “effective date” is generally the date on which a “change of control” (as defined below) of the Company occurs, except that, if the executive officer’s employment with Webster is terminated before a change of control at the request of a third party who is effecting a change of control or otherwise in connection with or in anticipation of a change of control, the effective date is the day before the date of such termination, provided, in either case, that the effective date occurs during the “change of control period” (defined as the two-year period ending on April 21, 2007, except that on April 21, 2006 and on each annual anniversary of such date, unless previously terminated, the change of control period will be extended automatically so as to terminate two years from such date, unless the Company has given the executive officer at least 60 days prior notice that the change of control period will not be so extended).

     During the Employment Period, the executive officer will receive an annual base salary at a rate at least equal to 12 times his highest monthly base salary from the Company and its affiliated companies during the 12-month period before the effective date (including any salary that was earned but deferred). The base salary will be reviewed at least annually and will not be reduced from the amount then in effect. In addition, the executive officer shall be awarded for each fiscal year ending during the Employment Period an annual bonus in cash at least equal to his highest bonus under the Company’s Annual Incentive Plan or any comparable bonus under any predecessor or successor plan for the last three full fiscal years before the effective date. The executive officer will be entitled to participate in all incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs applicable generally to other peer executives of the

- 3 -


 

Company and affiliated companies and the incentive, savings and retirement benefit opportunities afforded to the executive officer shall not be less favorable than those provided to him during the 120-day period before the effective date (or, if more favorable to the executive officer, those provided generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies). The executive officer and his family also will be eligible to participate in and shall receive all welfare benefits (including medical, prescription, dental, disability, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance) applicable generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and the welfare benefits provided to the executive officer shall not be less favorable than those provided to him during the 120-day period before the effective date (or, if more favorable to the executive officer, those provided generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies). The executive officer will be entitled to prompt reimbursement of expenses and to fringe benefits during the Employment Period (including tax and financial planning services, payment of club dues and, if applicable, use of an automobile and payment of related expenses) in accordance with the most favorable policies in effect with respect to such matters for such executive officer during the 120-day period before the effective date (or, if more favorable to the executive officer, those provided generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies). Similar provisions will apply to the office, support staff and vacation time to be provided to the executive officers during the Employment Period.

     In addition, the Company also will be required to: (i) continue benefits to the executive officer and his family at least equal to those that would have been provided to them under the change of control agreement if the executive officer’s employment had continued for at least three years after the termination date; (ii) provide outplacement services to the executive officer at its expense and (iii) pay or provide to the executive officer any other amounts or benefits to which he is entitled under any agreement or plan of the Company and its affiliated companies.

     The foregoing summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of Change of Control Agreement for the above-named officer, which is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 hereto.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a) Not Applicable.

(b) Not Applicable.

(c) Exhibits.

     
Exhibit No.   Description
10.1
  Description of Arrangement for Directors Fees.
 
   
10.2
  Form of Non-Competition Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2005, by and between Webster Financial Corporation and Scott McBrair.
 
   
10.3
  Form of Change of Control Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2005, by and between Webster Financial Corporation and Scott McBrair.

- 4 -


 

SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

         
    WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
 
       
Date: April 25, 2005
  By:    /s/ William J. Healy
       
           William J. Healy
           Executive Vice President and
           Chief Financial Officer

- 5 -


 

EXHIBIT INDEX

     
Exhibit No.   Description
10.1
  Description of Arrangement for Directors Fees.
 
   
10.2
  Form of Non-Competition Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2005, by and between Webster Financial Corporation and Scott McBrair.
 
   
10.3
  Form of Change of Control Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2005, by and between Webster Financial Corporation and Scott McBrair.