On January 31, 2022, Webster completed its previously announced merger with Sterling pursuant to an agreement and plan of merger dated as of April 18, 2021 (the merger agreement), in which Sterling merged with and into Webster, with Webster continuing as the surviving corporation. Following the merger, on February 1, 2022, Sterling National Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sterling, merged with and into Webster Bank, with Webster Bank continuing as the surviving bank. Sterling was a full-service regional bank headquartered in Pearl River, New York, that primarily served the Greater New York metropolitan area. The merger expanded Webster's geographic footprint and combined two complementary organizations to create one of the largest commercial banks in the northeast U.S.

Each share of Sterling common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the merger, other than certain shares held by Webster and Sterling, was converted into the right to receive a fixed 0.4630 share of Webster common stock. In connection with the completion of the merger and in accordance with the merger agreement, the number of authorized shares of Webster common stock was increased from 200.0 million shares to 400.0 million shares as of January 31, 2022. Cash was also paid to Sterling common shareholders in lieu of fractional shares, as applicable.

In addition, each share of Sterling 6.50% Series A Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the merger was converted into the right to receive one share of newly created Webster 6.50% Series G Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, having substantially the same terms. On January 31, 2022, Webster registered and issued 5,400,000 depositary shares, each representing 1/40th interest in a share of 6.50% Series G Non-Cumulative Preferred Perpetual Stock, par value $0.01 per share, with a liquidation preference equal to $1,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share) (the Series G Preferred Stock). The Series G Preferred Stock ranks on parity with Webster 5.25% Series F Non-Cumulative Preferred Perpetual Stock, par value $0.01 per share, with a liquidation preference of $25,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share), and senior to Webster common stock, with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions upon the liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up of Webster.

Series G Preferred Stock dividends are payable quarterly on the fifteenth day of each January, April, July, and October, if and when declared by the Board of Directors. Webster may redeem the Series G Preferred Stock at its option, in whole or in part, subject to the approval of Federal Reserve Board, on any dividend payment date, or in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of a regulatory capital treatment event, at a redemption price equal to the liquidation preference plus any declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends. As of the date of this Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q, Webster has no plans to redeem its Series G Preferred Stock.

Further, certain equity awards granted under Sterling's equity compensation plans were converted into a corresponding award with respect to Webster common stock, generally subject to the same terms and conditions, with the number of shares underlying such awards adjusted based on the 0.4630 fixed exchange ratio.


(In thousands, except share and price per share data)
Webster common stock issued	87,965,239
Price per share of Webster common stock on January 31, 2022	$	56.81
Consideration for outstanding common stock	4,997,305
Consideration for preferred stock exchanged	138,942
Consideration for replacement equity awards (1)	43,877
Cash in lieu of fractional shares	176
Total purchase price consideration	$	5,180,300

(1)The fair value of the replacement equity awards issued by Webster and included in the consideration transferred pertain to services performed prior to the merger effective date. The fair value attributed to services performed after the merger effective date will be recognized over the required service vesting period for each award and recorded as compensation and benefits expense on the consolidated statements of income. Webster recognized an incremental $2.6 million and $16.4 million of stock compensation expense related to the replacement equity awards during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively.

The merger was accounted for as a business combination. Accordingly, the purchase price has been allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair values as of the merger effective date. The determination of fair value requires management to make estimates about discount rates, future expected cash flows, market conditions, and other future events that are highly subjective in nature and are subject to change. Fair value estimates of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed may be adjusted for a period up to one year (the measurement period) from the closing date of the merger if new information is obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the merger effective date that, if known, would have affected the measurement of the amounts recognized as of that date.

Webster considers its valuations of loans and leases, tax receivables and payables, and certain other assets and other liabilities to be preliminary, as management continues to identify and assess information regarding the nature of these assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including extended information gathering, management review procedures, and any new information that may arise as a result of integration activities. Accordingly, the amounts recorded for current and DTAs and liabilities are also considered preliminary, as Webster continues to evaluate the nature and extent of permanent and temporary differences between the book and tax bases of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. While the Company believes that the information available as of January 31, 2022, provides a reasonable basis for estimating fair value, it is possible that additional information may become available during the measurement period that would result in changes to the fair values presented. Any measurement period adjustments identified would be recognized in the corresponding reporting period.


(In thousands)	Unpaid Principal Balance		Fair Value
Purchase price consideration			$	5,180,300
Assets:
Cash and due from banks			510,929
Interest-bearing deposits			3,207
Investment securities available-for-sale			4,429,948
Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank Stock			150,502
Loans held for sale			23,517
Loans and leases:
Commercial non-mortgage	$	5,570,782	5,527,657
Asset-based	694,137		683,958
Commercial real estate	6,790,600		6,656,405
Multi-family	4,303,381		4,255,906
Equipment financing	1,350,579		1,314,311
Warehouse lending	647,767		643,754
Residential	1,313,785		1,281,637
Home equity	132,758		122,553
Other consumer	12,559		12,525
Total loans and leases	$	20,816,348	20,498,706
Deferred tax assets, net			(52,130)
Premises and equipment (1)			264,421
Other intangible assets			210,100
Bank-owned life insurance policies			645,510
Accrued interest receivable and other assets			959,501
Total assets acquired			$	27,644,211
Liabilities:
Non-interest-bearing deposits			$	6,620,248
Interest-bearing deposits			16,643,755
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase and other borrowings			27,184
Long-term debt			516,881

Accrued expenses and other liabilities (1)			595,275
Total liabilities assumed			$	24,403,343
Net assets acquired			3,240,868
Goodwill			$	1,939,432

(1)Includes $100.0 million of ROU lease assets and $106.9 million of operating lease liabilities reported within premises and equipment and accrued expenses and other liabilities, respectively, which were measured based upon the estimated present value of the remaining lease payments. In addition, ROU lease assets were adjusted for favorable and unfavorable terms of the lease when compared to market terms, as applicable.

In connection with the merger, Webster recorded $1.9 billion of goodwill, which represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired. Information regarding the allocation of goodwill to the Company's reportable segments, as well as the carrying amounts and amortization of the core deposit intangible and customer relationship intangible assets, can be found within Note 16: Segment Reporting and Note 6: Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, respectively.

Investment securities available-for-sale. The fair values for investment securities available-for-sale were based on quoted market prices, where available. If quoted market prices were not available, fair value estimates are based on observable inputs, including quoted market prices for similar instruments. Investment securities held-to-maturity were reclassified to investment securities available-for-sale based on the Company's intent at closing.

Loans and leases. The fair values for loans and leases were estimated using a discounted cash flow methodology that considered factors including the type of loan or lease and the related collateral, classification status, fixed or variable interest rate, remaining term, amortization status, and current discount rates. In addition, the PD, LGD, and prepayment assumptions that were derived based on loan and lease characteristics, historical loss experience, comparable market data, and current and forecasted economic conditions were used to estimate expected credit losses. Loans and leases generally were valued individually. The discount rates used for loans and leases were based on current market rates for new originations or comparable loans and leases and include adjustments for liquidity. The discount rate did not include credit losses as that was included as a reduction to the estimated cash flows.

Premises and equipment. The fair values for land and buildings were based on appraised values using the cost approach, which estimates the price a buyer would pay if they were to rebuild or reconstruct a similar property on a comparable piece of land.

Intangible assets. A core deposit intangible asset represents the value of relationships with deposit clients. The fair value of the core deposit intangible asset was estimated using a net cost savings method, a form of discounted cash flow methodology that gave appropriate consideration to expected client attrition rates and other applicable adjustments to the projected deposit balance, the interest cost and net maintenance cost associated with the client deposit base, alternative cost of funds, and a discount rate used to discount the future economic benefits of the core deposit intangible asset to present value. The core deposit intangible asset is being amortized on an accelerated basis over 10 years based upon the period over which the estimated economic benefits are estimated to be received. Customer relationship intangible assets for payroll finance, factoring receivables finance, and wealth businesses were estimated using a discounted cash flow methodology that reflects the estimated value of the future net earnings for each relationship with adjustments for attrition. The customer relationship intangible assets are being amortized on an accelerated basis over their estimated useful life of 10 years.

Deposits. The fair values used for the demand and savings deposits by definition equal the amount payable on demand at the merger date. The fair values for time deposits were estimated using a discounted cash flow methodology that applies interest rates currently being offered to the contractual interest rates on such time deposits.

Long-term debt. The fair values of long-term debt instruments are estimated based on quoted market prices for the instrument, if available, or for similar instruments, if not available, or by using a discounted cash flow methodology based on current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of instruments.

Purchased loans and leases that have experienced more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since origination are considered PCD. For PCD loans and leases, the initial estimate of expected credit losses was established through an adjustment to the unpaid principal balance and non-credit discount at acquisition. Subsequent to the merger effective date, Webster recorded an ACL for non-PCD loans and leases of $175.1 million through an increase to the provision for credit losses. There was no carryover of Sterling's previously recorded ACL on loans and leases.


	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
(In thousands)	2022		2021		2022		2021
Net interest income	$	538,125	$	440,300	$	1,436,867	$	1,344,827
Non-interest income	113,636		120,961		349,405		347,928
Net income	239,569		181,980		636,174		368,051

The supplemental pro forma financial information does not necessarily reflect the results of operations that would have occurred had Webster merged with Sterling on January 1, 2021. The supplemental pro forma financial information includes the impact of (i) accreting and amortizing the discounts and premiums associated with the estimated fair value adjustments to acquired loans and leases, investment securities, deposits, and long-term debt, (ii) the amortization of recognized intangible assets, (iii) the elimination of Sterling's historical accretion and amortization of discounts and premiums and deferred origination fees and costs on loans and leases, (iv) the elimination of Sterling's historical accretion and amortization of discounts and premiums on investment securities, and (v) the related estimated income tax effects. Costs savings and other business synergies related to the merger are not included in the supplemental pro forma financial information.


	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
(In thousands)	2022		2021		2022		2021
Compensation and benefits (1)	$	5,770	$	7,731	$	71,472	$	8,197
Occupancy (2)	4,389		—		35,744		—
Technology and equipment (3)	1,478		33		21,375		33
Professional and outside services (4)	10,792		2,028		59,073		18,315
Marketing	64		—		199		—
Other expense (5)	3,043		55		12,808		349
Total merger-related expenses	$	25,536	$	9,847	$	200,671	$	26,894

(2)Comprised primarily of charges associated with Webster’s corporate real estate consolidation strategy, which was developed and launched in the second quarter of 2022. Under the consolidation plan, Webster has arranged to close 14 locations in order to reduce the Company's corporate real estate facility square footage by approximately 45% by the end of the year. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, the Company recognized a combined $4.3 million and $12.0 million in related exit costs and accelerated depreciation on property and equipment. The amount for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 also includes $23.1 million in ROU asset impairment charges, which were calculated as the difference between the estimated fair value of the assets determined using a discounted cash flow technique, relative to their book value.

Webster's operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 includes the operating results of acquired assets and assumed liabilities of Sterling subsequent to the merger on January 31, 2022. Due to the various conversions of Sterling systems during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, as well as other streamlining and integration of operating activities into those of the Company, historical reporting for the former Sterling operations after January 31, 2022 is impracticable, and thus disclosures of Sterling's revenue and earnings since the merger effective date that are included in the condensed consolidated statements of income for the reporting period is impracticable.

On February 18, 2022, Webster acquired 100% of the equity interests of Bend, a cloud-based platform solution provider for HSAs, in exchange for cash of $55.3 million. The acquisition accelerates Webster’s efforts underway to deliver enhanced user experiences at HSA Bank. The transaction was accounted for as a business combination, and resulted in the addition of $19.3 million in net assets, which primarily comprises $15.9 million of internal use software and a $3.0 million customer relationship intangible asset.