HAYLES CAROL sold (to issuer) 13,985 shares of WBS

Webster Financial (WBS) remains top on Yahoo's Most Active list despite delisting. Santander's (SAN) acquisition offer valued at $78.89 per share, 1.7% above WBS's final close. Santander aims for $800M in annual cost savings and 18% U.S. return on tangible equity by 2028.

Santander U.S. completed its $12.3B acquisition of Webster Bank, expanding its U.S. presence. Webster's HQ will become a corporate hub. Santander U.S. now serves 8M customers with 200 branches in four states. Santander is a subsidiary of Madrid-based Banco Santander.

Banco Santander completed its acquisition of Webster Financial, receiving regulatory and shareholder approvals. The deal strengthens Santander's U.S. presence, aiming for a 18% return on tangible equity by 2028. Webster will be removed from the S&P MidCap 400 index. The acquisition follows Santander's purchase of TSB in the UK.

S&P Dow Jones Indices said Reddit Inc. (NYSE: RDDT) will replace AvalonBay Communities (NYSE: AVB) in the S&P 500 effective Aug. 18, ahead of Equity Residential (NYSE: EQR) acquiring AVB. The merged company will be renamed Vivmark Residential (NYSE: VMRK). Sun Communities (NYSE: SUI) will replace Webster Financial (NYSE: WBS) in the S&P MidCap 400 effective Aug. 20, pending Banco Santander’s acquisition.

Banco Santander said the Federal Reserve Board granted final regulatory approval for its acquisition of Webster Financial Corp. after prior approvals from the U.S. OCC on June 12, 2026 and the ECB on July 21, 2026. The deal, announced in February for $12.3 billion in cash and stock, is expected to close Aug. 20, 2026. Santander targets ~18% RoTE by 2028 and 7% to 8% EPS accretion.

Santander said the U.S. Federal Reserve approved its $12 billion acquisition of Connecticut-based Webster Bank. The deal is expected to close Aug. 20, after OCC approval in June and ECB approval in July. Santander said most Webster businesses will move into Santander Bank, N.A., and customers need not take action before closing.