WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORP
S-8 POS, 2000-07-25
SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED
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      AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JULY 25, 2000
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-33228
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------
                                 Post-Effective
                                 Amendment No. 1
                                 To Form S-4 on

                                    FORM S-8
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                            ------------------------
                          WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                    DELAWARE
                         (State or other jurisdiction of
                         incorporation or organization)

                                   06-1187536
                      (IRS employer identification number)

                                  Webster Plaza
                          Waterbury, Connecticut 06702
                                 (203) 753-2921
               (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                 including area code, of registrant's principal
                               executive offices)
                            ------------------------

              MECHANICS SAVINGS BANK 1996 OFFICER STOCK OPTION PLAN
             MECHANICS SAVINGS BANK 1996 DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN

                            (Full title of the Plan)

                            ------------------------

                                Peter J. Swiatek
                                   Controller
                          Webster Financial Corporation
                                  Webster Plaza
                          Waterbury, Connecticut 06702
                                 (203) 578-2259
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                                    Copy to:
                              Stuart G. Stein, Esq.
                             Steven E. Ballew, Esq.
                             Hogan & Hartson L.L.P.
                           555 Thirteenth Street, N.W.
                           Washington, D.C. 20004-1109
                                 (202) 637-8575
                            ------------------------
================================================================================

<PAGE>

                  COMMON STOCK TO BE REMOVED FROM REGISTRATION

                  Webster Financial Corporation ("Webster") filed a Registration
Statement  on Form S-4 (File No.  333-33228)  with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission  (the "SEC") on March 24, 2000,  pursuant to which it registered  the
offer and sale of up to  8,327,736  shares of common  stock,  par value $.01 per
share,  of Webster common stock in connection  with its proposed  acquisition of
MECH Financial,  Inc. ("MECH").  The closing of the MECH acquisition occurred on
June 23, 2000, and in connection  therewith  7,810,958  shares of Webster common
stock have been  issued.  Pursuant  to this  Post-Effective  Amendment,  Webster
reserves 399,249  previously  registered shares for issuance under the Mechanics
Savings Bank 1996 Officer Stock Option Plan and the Mechanics  Savings Bank 1996
Director Stock Option Plan, which have become option plans of Webster as part of
the acquisition of MECH.

                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS

                  The documents  containing the information  specified in Part I
will be sent or  given  to  employees  as  specified  by Rule  428(b)(1)  of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the  "Securities  Act").  In accordance with
the  instructions  to Part I of Form S-8, such  documents will not be filed with
the SEC either as part of this  Registration  Statement  or as  prospectuses  or
prospectus  supplements  pursuant  to  Rule  424 of the  Securities  Act.  These
documents and the documents incorporated by reference pursuant to Item 3 of Part
II of this registration statement, taken together,  constitute the prospectus as
required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         Webster  hereby   incorporates  by  reference  into  this  registration
statement the following documents filed by it with the SEC:

                  (a)      Webster's  annual  report on Form 10-K for the twelve
                           months  ended   December   31,  1999  and   Webster's
                           quarterly  report  on Form  10-Q for the  three-month
                           period ended March 31, 2000.

                  (b)      Webster's  current reports on Form 8-K filed February
                           9 and June 26, 2000.

                  (c)      The  description of Webster  common stock,  par value
                           $0.01  per  share  ("Common  Stock"),   contained  in
                           Webster's  registration  statement  on Form 8-A filed
                           with the SEC on  December  2,  1986,  as  amended  by
                           Webster's  current reports on Form 8-K filed February
                           12 and November 25, 1996 and October 30, 1998.

                  In  addition,  all  documents  and  reports  filed by  Webster
subsequent to the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a),  13(c),  14, and 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") prior to
the filing of a  post-effective  amendment  which  indicates that all securities
offered have been sold or which  deregisters  all securities  remaining  unsold,
shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this  registration  statement
and to be part hereof from the

                                       2
<PAGE>


date of filing of such  documents  or  reports.  Any  statement  contained  in a
document  incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be
deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration  statement
to the extent that a  statement  contained  herein or in any other  subsequently
filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies  or  supersedes  such  statement.  Any such  statement  so  modified or
superseded  shall  not be  deemed,  except  as so  modified  or  superseded,  to
constitute a part of this registration statement.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         Reference is made to the provisions of Article 6 of Webster's  restated
certificate of  incorporation,  as amended,  and the provisions of Article IX of
Webster's Bylaws, as amended.

         Webster  is  a   Delaware   corporation   subject  to  the   applicable
indemnification  provisions  of the  General  Corporation  Law of the  State  of
Delaware  (the  "Delaware   Corporation  Law").  Section  145  of  the  Delaware
Corporation Law provides for the indemnification,  under certain  circumstances,
of persons who are or were directors,  officers, employees or agents of Webster,
or are or were serving at the request of Webster in such a capacity with another
business organization or entity, against expenses,  judgments, fines and amounts
paid in settlement in actions,  suits or proceedings,  whether civil,  criminal,
administrative,  or  investigative,  brought or threatened  against or involving
such persons because of such person's service in any such capacity.  In the case
of actions  brought by or in the right of  Webster,  Section  145  provides  for
indemnification only of expenses,  and only upon a determination by the Court of
Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought  that, in view of
all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled
to indemnity for such expenses.

                  Article 6 of Webster's  restated  certificate of incorporation
provides  that  no  director  will  be  personally  liable  to  Webster  or  its
stockholders  for monetary  damages for breach of  fiduciary  duty as a director
other than liability

           o      for any breach of such  director's  duty of loyalty to Webster
                  or its  shareholders,  for acts or omissions not in good faith
                  or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation
                  of law,

           o      for  any  payment  of  a  dividend  or  approval  of  a  stock
                  repurchase  that is illegal  under Section 174 of the Delaware
                  Corporation Law, or

           o      for  any  transaction  from  which  the  director  derived  an
                  improper personal benefit.

                  The  foregoing  indemnity and  insurance  provisions  have the
effect of reducing  directors' and officers'  exposure to personal liability for
actions taken in connection with their respective positions.

                  Webster's  Bylaws  provide for  indemnification  of directors,
officers,  trustees,  employees and agents of Webster,  and for those serving in
such roles with other business organizations or entities, in the event that such
person  was or is made a party to (or is  threatened  to

                                       3
<PAGE>

be  made a  party  to)  any  civil,  criminal,  administrative,  arbitration  or
investigative  action,  suit, or  proceeding  (other than an action by or in the
right of  Webster)  by reason of the fact that such  person is or was serving in
such a capacity  for or on behalf of Webster.  Webster will  indemnify  any such
person against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines, penalties
and  amounts  paid in  settlement  if such  person  acted in good faith and in a
manner  such  person  reasonably  believed  to be in or not  opposed to the best
interests of Webster,  and, with respect to any criminal  action or  proceeding,
had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.  Similarly, Webster
will indemnify  such persons for expenses  reasonably  incurred and  settlements
reasonably paid in actions,  suits, or proceedings brought by or in the right of
Webster,  if such  person  acted  in good  faith  and in a  manner  such  person
reasonably  believed to be in or not opposed to the best  interests  of Webster;
provided,  however,  that no  indemnification  will be made against  expenses in
respect of any claim, issue, or matter as to which such person is adjudged to be
liable to Webster or against  amounts paid in settlement  unless and only to the
extent that there is a determination  made by the appropriate party set forth in
the  Bylaws  that  the  person  to  be  indemnified  is,  in  view  of  all  the
circumstances of the case, fairly and reasonably  entitled to indemnity for such
expenses or amounts paid in  settlement.  In addition,  Webster may purchase and
maintain  insurance  on behalf of any person who is or was a director,  officer,
trustee, employee, or agent of Webster or is acting in such capacity for another
business  organization  or entity at Webster's  request,  against any  liability
asserted  against such person and incurred in such  capacity,  or arising out of
such  person's  status as such,  whether or not Webster  would have the power or
obligation  to indemnify  him against such  liability  under the  provisions  of
Article IX of Webster's Bylaws.

                  Insofar as indemnification  for liabilities  arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors,  officers and controlling  persons
of Webster pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,  Webster has been
advised that in the opinion of the SEC such  indemnification  is against  public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,  unenforceable.  In
the event that a claim for indemnification  against such liabilities (other than
the  payment by Webster of expenses  incurred or paid by a director,  officer or
controlling person of Webster in the successful  defense of any action,  suit or
proceeding)  is  asserted by such  director,  officer or  controlling  person in
connection with the securities  being  registered,  Webster will,  unless in the
opinion of its counsel  the matter has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,
submit  to a  court  of  appropriate  jurisdiction  the  question  whether  such
indemnification  by it is against  public policy as expressed in the  Securities
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

   EXHIBIT
     NO.                                           EXHIBIT
     ---                                           -------
<S>            <C>
      3         Bylaws, as amemded on May 22, 2000.

     4.1        Specimen common stock certificate  (incorporated by reference to
                Exhibit  4.1 to  Webster's  registration  statement  on Form S-3
                (File No. 333-81563) filed with the SEC on June 25, 1999.)

     4.2        Rights Agreement,  dated as of February 5, 1996, between Webster
                and Chemical Mellon Shareholder Services,  L.L.C.  (incorporated
                by reference to Exhibit 1 to  Webster's  current  report on Form
                8-K as filed with the SEC on February 12, 1996.)

  </TABLE>

                                       4
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

   EXHIBIT
     NO.                                           EXHIBIT
     ---                                           -------

<S>             <C>
     4.3        Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement, entered into as of November
                4, 1996,  by and  between  Webster and  ChaseMellon  Shareholder
                Services, L.L.C. (incorporated by reference to Webster's current
                report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on November 25, 1996.)

     4.4        Amendment No. 2 to Rights Agreement,  entered into as of October
                30, 1998,  between  Webster and American  Stock Transfer & Trust
                Company  (incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit 1 to Webster's
                current  report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on October 30,
                1998.)

     5          Opinion of Hogan & Hartson,  L.L.P.,  as to the  validity of the
                securities registered hereunder,  including the consent of Hogan
                & Harston, L.L.P.

     23.1       Consent of KPMG LLP

     23.2       Consent  of Hogan & Hartson,  L.L.P.  (included  in the  opinion
                filed as Exhibit 5 hereto)

     24         Power of Attorney  (previously  filed as Exhibit 24 of Webster's
                registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-33228) as filed
                with the SEC on March 24, 2000.)

     99.1       Section   145  of  the   Delaware   General   Corporation   Law.
                (incorporated   by   reference  to  Exhibit  99.4  of  Webster's
                registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-46073) as filed
                with the SEC on February 11, 1998.)

     99.2       Mechanics   Savings   Bank  1996   Officer   Stock  Option  Plan
                (incorporated  by reference  to Exhibit 10.1 of MECH  Financial,
                Inc.'s  annual  report on Form 10-K  filed with the SEC on March
                30, 1998.)

     99.3       Amendment  No. 1 to Mechanics  Savings  Bank 1996 Officer  Stock
                Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1(b) of MECH
                Financial,  Inc.'s  registration  statement on Form S-8 as filed
                with the SEC on April 2, 1998.)

     99.4       Mechanics   Savings  Bank  1996   Director   Stock  Option  Plan
                (incorporated  by reference  to Exhibit 10.2 of MECH  Financial,
                Inc.'s  annual  report on Form 10-K  filed with the SEC on March
                30,  1998.)

     99.5       Amendment No. 1 to Mechanics  Savings Bank 1996  Director  Stock
                Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2(b) of MECH
                Financial,  Inc.'s  registration  statement on Form S-8 as filed
                with the SEC on April 2, 1998.)
</TABLE>

 -----------------------


ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

(a)      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

                                       5
<PAGE>

                  (1) To file,  during any  period in which  offers or sales are
                  being made, a  post-effective  amendment to this  registration
                  statement:

                  (i) To include any prospectus  required by Section 10(a)(3) of
             the Securities Act;

                  (ii) To reflect in the  prospectus any facts or events arising
             after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most
             recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,  individually or in
             the aggregate,  represent a fundamental  change in the  information
             set forth in the registration statement;

                  (iii) To include any material  information with respect to the
             plan of distribution  not previously  disclosed in the registration
             statement  or  any  material  change  to  such  information  in the
             registration statement.

                  provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do
             not  apply  if  the  information  required  to  be  included  in  a
             post-effective  amendment  by  those  paragraphs  is  contained  in
             periodic  reports  filed  with  or  furnished  to  the  SEC  by the
             Registrant  pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange
             Act  that  are   incorporated  by  reference  in  the  registration
             statement.

                  (2) That, for the purpose of determining  any liability  under
             the Securities  Act, each such  post-effective  amendment  shall be
             deemed  to  be  a  new  registration   statement  relating  to  the
             securities offered therein,  and the offering of such securities at
             that  time  shall be deemed to be the  initial  bona fide  offering
             thereof.

                  (3) To remove from  registration by means of a  post-effective
             amendment  any of the  securities  being  registered  which  remain
             unsold at the termination of the offering.

(b)  The  undersigned   Registrant  hereby  undertakes  that,  for  purposes  of
determining  any  liability  under  the  Securities  Act,  each  filing  of  the
Registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to Section  13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where  applicable,  each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual  report   pursuant  to  Section  15(d)  of  the  Exchange  Act)  that  is
incorporated by reference in the Registration  Statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration  statement relating to the securities offered therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as  indemnification  for liability  arising under the Securities Act
may  be  permitted  to  directors,  officers  and  controlling  persons  of  the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,  the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such  indemnification is against
public  policy  as  expressed  in  the   Securities   Act  and  is,   therefore,
unenforceable.  In the  event  that a claim  for  indemnification  against  such
liabilities  (other than the payment by the  Registrant or expenses  incurred or
paid by a director,  officer or controlling  person in successful defense of any
action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling
person in connection with the securities being registered,  the Registrant will,
unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by  controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether
such  indemnification  by it is  against  public  policy  as  expressed  in  the
Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


                                       6
<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the city of Waterbury, state of Connecticut on July 25, 2000.

                                          WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION


                                          By:   /s/ James C. Smith
                                             ------------------------------
                                               James C. Smith
                                               Chairman and
                                               Chief Executive Officer

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  this
registration  statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities indicated on the 25th day of July, 2000.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                      SIGNATURE                                                             TITLE
                      ---------                                                             -----
<S>                                                                     <C>
                  /s/ James C. Smith                                  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
            -----------------------------------------                      Principal Executive Officer
                    James C. Smith

                  /s/ Peter J. Swiatek                                              Controller
            -----------------------------------------
                    Peter J. Swiatek

                   /s/ Richard H. Alden*                                             Director
            -----------------------------------------
                       Richard H. Alden

                  /s/ Achille A. Apicella*                                           Director
            -----------------------------------------
                      Achille A. Apicella

                  /s/ Joel S. Becker*                                                Director
            -----------------------------------------
                      Joel S. Becker

                  /s/ O. Joseph Bizzozero, Jr.*                                      Director
            -----------------------------------------
                      O. Joseph Bizzozero, Jr.

                 /s/ George T. Carpenter*                                            Director
            -----------------------------------------
                     George T. Carpenter

                 /s/ John J. Crawford*                                               Director
             ----------------------------------------
                     John J. Crawford

                /s/ Harry P. DiAdamo, Jr.*                                           Director
             ----------------------------------------
                    Harry P. DiAdamo, Jr.

                /s/ Robert A. Finkenzeller*                                          Director
             ---------------------------------------
                    Robert A. Finkenzeller
</TABLE>

                                       7
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                               <C>
              --------------------------------------                                 Director
                          Edgar C. Gerwig

                     /s/ P. Anthony Girogio*                                         Director
              -------------------------------------
                         P. Anthony Giorgio

                     /s/ J. Gregory Hickey*                                          Director
              ------------------------------------
                         J. Gregory Hickey

                     /s/ C. Michael Jacobi*                                          Director
              ------------------------------------
                         C. Michael Jacobi

                     /s/ John F. McCarthy*                                           Director
              ------------------------------------
                         John F. McCarthy

              -------------------------------------                                  Director
                         Michael G. Morris

                    /s/ Sister Marguerite Waite*                                     Director
              -------------------------------------
                        Sister Marguerite Waite

By:   /s/ James C. Smith
     -------------------------
      *By Power of Attorney
        James C. Smith
</TABLE>


                                       8
<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

   EXHIBIT
     NO.                                           EXHIBIT
     ---                                           -------
<S>            <C>
      3         Bylaws, as amemded on May 22, 2000.

     4.1        Specimen common stock certificate  (incorporated by reference to
                Exhibit  4.1 to  Webster's  registration  statement  on Form S-3
                (File No. 333-81563) filed with the SEC on June 25, 1999.)

     4.2        Rights Agreement,  dated as of February 5, 1996, between Webster
                and Chemical Mellon Shareholder Services,  L.L.C.  (incorporated
                by reference to Exhibit 1 to  Webster's  current  report on Form
                8-K as filed with the SEC on February 12, 1996.)

     4.3        Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement, entered into as of November
                4, 1996,  by and  between  Webster and  ChaseMellon  Shareholder
                Services, L.L.C. (incorporated by reference to Webster's current
                report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on November 25, 1996.)


     4.4        Amendment No. 2 to Rights Agreement,  entered into as of October
                30, 1998,  between  Webster and American  Stock Transfer & Trust
                Company  (incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit 1 to Webster's
                current  report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on October 30,
                1998.)

     5          Opinion of Hogan & Hartson,  L.L.P.,  as to the  validity of the
                securities registered hereunder,  including the consent of Hogan
                & Harston, L.L.P.

     23.1       Consent of KPMG LLP

     23.2       Consent  of Hogan & Hartson,  L.L.P.  (included  in the  opinion
                filed as Exhibit 5 hereto)

     24         Power of Attorney  (previously  filed as Exhibit 24 of Webster's
                registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-33228) as filed
                with the SEC on March 24, 2000.)

     99.1       Section   145  of  the   Delaware   General   Corporation   Law.
                (incorporated   by   reference  to  Exhibit  99.4  of  Webster's
                registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-46073) as filed
                with the SEC on February 11, 1998.)

     99.2       Mechanics   Savings   Bank  1996   Officer   Stock  Option  Plan
                (incorporated  by reference  to Exhibit 10.1 of MECH  Financial,
                Inc.'s  annual  report on Form 10-K  filed with the SEC on March
                30, 1998.)

     99.3       Amendment  No. 1 to Mechanics  Savings  Bank 1996 Officer  Stock
                Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1(b) of MECH
                Financial,  Inc.'s  registration  statement on Form S-8 as filed
                with the SEC on April 2, 1998.)
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

   Exhibit
     No.                                           Exhibit
     ---                                           -------
<S>            <C>

     99.4       Mechanics   Savings  Bank  1996   Director   Stock  Option  Plan
                (incorporated  by reference  to Exhibit 10.2 of MECH  Financial,
                Inc.'s  annual  report on Form 10-K  filed with the SEC on March
                30,  1998.)

     99.5       Amendment No. 1 to Mechanics  Savings Bank 1996  Director  Stock
                Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2(b) of MECH
                Financial,  Inc.'s  registration  statement on Form S-8 as filed
                with the SEC on April 2, 1998.)
</TABLE>

----------------------


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