Webster Financial Corp. shareholders approve Banco Santander SA’s $12 billion takeover offer, clearing a key remaining hurdle for the deal. The approval is the outcome of a shareholder vote in which Webster investors accepted Santander’s proposal, allowing the transaction to move forward toward completion. The purchase fits into Santander’s broader effort to expand in the United States under the leadership of Executive Chair Ana Botín.
With the shareholder approval now secured, the merger process continues, subject to other customary regulatory and closing conditions. The deal involves Santander acquiring Webster, a move intended to strengthen Santander’s U.S. presence. Coverage of the announcement emphasizes that the vote removes one of the last significant obstacles, rather than concluding the transaction outright.
Overall, the sources describe the shareholder green light as a procedural milestone, reflecting progress toward Santander’s previously announced plan to buy Webster for approximately $12 billion.