AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER BY AND BETWEEN BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC. AND LEGACY BANCORP, INC. DATED AS OF December 21, 2010
EXHIBIT 2.1
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
BY AND BETWEEN
BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.
AND
DATED AS OF
December 21, 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I CERTAIN DEFINITIONS | 1 | |||||
1.1
|
Certain Definitions | 1 | ||||
ARTICLE II THE MERGER | 8 | |||||
2.1
|
Merger | 8 | ||||
2.2
|
Closing; Effective Time | 8 | ||||
2.3
|
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws | 8 | ||||
2.4
|
Directors of the Surviving Corporation | 8 | ||||
2.5
|
Effects of the Merger | 8 | ||||
2.6
|
Tax Consequences | 8 | ||||
2.7
|
Possible Alternative Structures | 8 | ||||
2.8
|
Additional Actions | 9 | ||||
ARTICLE III CONVERSION OF SHARES | 9 | |||||
3.1
|
Conversion of Legacy Common Stock; Merger Consideration | 9 | ||||
3.2
|
Procedures for Exchange of Legacy Common Stock | 11 | ||||
3.3
|
Treatment of Legacy Stock Options | 12 | ||||
3.4
|
Bank Merger | 13 | ||||
3.5
|
Headquarters | 13 | ||||
3.6
|
Reservation of Shares | 13 | ||||
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF LEGACY | 13 | |||||
4.1
|
Standard | 13 | ||||
4.2
|
Organization | 13 | ||||
4.3
|
Capitalization | 14 | ||||
4.4
|
Authority; No Violation | 15 | ||||
4.5
|
Consents | 15 | ||||
4.6
|
Financial Statements | 16 | ||||
4.7
|
Taxes | 16 | ||||
4.8
|
No Material Adverse Effect | 17 | ||||
4.9
|
Material Contracts; Leases; Defaults | 17 | ||||
4.10
|
Ownership of Property; Insurance Coverage | 18 | ||||
4.11
|
Legal Proceedings | 18 | ||||
4.12
|
Compliance with Applicable Law | 19 | ||||
4.13
|
Employee Benefit Plans | 19 | ||||
4.14
|
Brokers, Finders and Financial Advisors | 21 | ||||
4.15
|
Environmental Matters | 21 | ||||
4.16
|
Loan Portfolio | 22 | ||||
4.17
|
Related Party Transactions | 23 | ||||
4.18
|
Deposits | 23 | ||||
4.19
|
Board Approval | 23 | ||||
4.20
|
Registration Obligations | 24 | ||||
4.21
|
Risk Management Instruments | 24 | ||||
4.22
|
Fairness Opinion | 24 | ||||
4.23
|
Intellectual Property | 24 | ||||
4.24
|
Duties as Fiduciary | 24 | ||||
4.25
|
Employees; Labor Matters | 25 | ||||
4.26
|
Legacy Information Supplied | 25 | ||||
4.27
|
Securities Documents | 25 | ||||
4.28
|
Internal Controls | 25 | ||||
4.29
|
Bank Owned Life Insurance | 26 | ||||
4.30
|
Stock Transfer Records | 26 | ||||
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BHLB | 26 | |||||
5.1
|
Standard | 26 | ||||
5.2
|
Organization | 27 | ||||
5.3
|
Capitalization | 27 | ||||
5.4
|
Authority; No Violation | 28 |
i
5.5
|
Consents | 28 | ||||
5.6
|
Financial Statements | 29 | ||||
5.7
|
Tax Matters | 29 | ||||
5.8
|
No Material Adverse Effect | 30 | ||||
5.9
|
Ownership of Property; Insurance Coverage | 30 | ||||
5.10
|
Legal Proceedings | 31 | ||||
5.11
|
Compliance with Applicable Law | 31 | ||||
5.12
|
Employee Benefit Plans | 32 | ||||
5.13
|
Brokers, Finders and Financial Advisors | 34 | ||||
5.14
|
Environmental Matters | 34 | ||||
5.15
|
BHLB Information Supplied | 35 | ||||
5.16
|
Securities Documents | 35 | ||||
5.17
|
Internal Controls | 35 | ||||
5.18
|
BHLB Common Stock | 36 | ||||
5.19
|
Available Funds | 36 | ||||
5.20
|
Berkshire Insurance Group, Inc. | 36 | ||||
5.21
|
Fairness Opinion | 36 | ||||
5.22
|
Board Approval | 36 | ||||
5.23
|
Material Agreement; Defaults | 36 | ||||
5.24
|
Loan Portfolio | 37 | ||||
5.25
|
Related Party Transactions | 37 | ||||
5.26
|
Risk Management Instruments | 37 | ||||
5.27
|
Duties as Fiduciary | 38 | ||||
5.28
|
Employees; Labor Matters | 38 | ||||
ARTICLE VI COVENANTS OF LEGACY | 38 | |||||
6.1
|
Conduct of Business | 38 | ||||
6.2
|
Subsidiaries | 42 | ||||
6.3
|
Current Information | 42 | ||||
6.4
|
Access to Properties and Records | 42 | ||||
6.5
|
Financial and Other Statements | 43 | ||||
6.6
|
Maintenance of Insurance | 43 | ||||
6.7
|
Disclosure Supplements | 43 | ||||
6.8
|
Consents and Approvals of Third Parties | 44 | ||||
6.9
|
All Reasonable Efforts | 44 | ||||
6.10
|
Failure to Fulfill Conditions | 44 | ||||
6.11
|
No Solicitation | 44 | ||||
6.12
|
Reserves and Merger-Related Costs | 46 | ||||
6.13
|
Committee Meetings | 46 | ||||
6.14
|
ESOP Loan | 46 | ||||
6.15
|
Legacy Banks Foundation | 46 | ||||
6.16
|
401(k) Plan Termination | 46 | ||||
ARTICLE VII COVENANTS OF BHLB | 47 | |||||
7.1
|
Conduct of Business | 47 | ||||
7.2
|
Disclosure Supplements | 47 | ||||
7.3
|
Consents and Approvals of Third Parties | 47 | ||||
7.4
|
Reasonable Best Efforts | 48 | ||||
7.5
|
Failure to Fulfill Conditions | 48 | ||||
7.6
|
Employee Benefits | 48 | ||||
7.7
|
Directors and Officers Indemnification and Insurance | 50 | ||||
7.8
|
Stock Listing | 51 | ||||
7.9
|
Reservation of Stock | 51 | ||||
7.10
|
Communications to Legacy Employees; Training | 52 | ||||
7.11
|
Current Information | 52 | ||||
7.12
|
Access to Properties and Records | 52 | ||||
7.13
|
Financial and Other Statements | 52 | ||||
7.14
|
Committee Meetings | 53 |
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7.15
|
New Hires | 53 | ||||
7.16
|
New Members | 53 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII REGULATORY AND OTHER MATTERS | 53 | |||||
8.1
|
Meeting of Shareholders | 53 | ||||
8.2
|
Proxy Statement-Prospectus; Merger Registration Statement | 54 | ||||
8.3
|
Regulatory Approvals | 54 | ||||
ARTICLE IX CLOSING CONDITIONS | 55 | |||||
9.1
|
Conditions to Each Party’s Obligations under this Agreement | 55 | ||||
9.2
|
Conditions to the Obligations of BHLB under this Agreement | 55 | ||||
9.3
|
Conditions to the Obligations of Legacy under this Agreement | 56 | ||||
ARTICLE X | 57 | |||||
ARTICLE XI TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER | 57 | |||||
11.1
|
Termination | 57 | ||||
11.2
|
Effect of Termination | 60 | ||||
11.3
|
Amendment, Extension and Waiver | 61 | ||||
11.4
|
Additional Provisions Regarding Termination: | 62 | ||||
ARTICLE XII MISCELLANEOUS | 62 | |||||
12.1
|
Confidentiality | 62 | ||||
12.2
|
Public Announcements | 62 | ||||
12.3
|
Survival | 63 | ||||
12.4
|
Notices | 63 | ||||
12.5
|
Parties in Interest | 64 | ||||
12.6
|
Complete Agreement | 64 | ||||
12.7
|
Counterparts | 64 | ||||
12.8
|
Severability | 64 | ||||
12.9
|
Governing Law | 64 | ||||
12.10
|
Interpretation | 64 | ||||
12.11
|
Specific Performance | 65 |
EXHIBITS
A
|
Form of Voting Agreement | |
B
|
Settlement Agreement |
iii
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “Agreement”) is dated as of December 21, 2010 by and
between Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“BHLB”), and Legacy Bancorp, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (“Legacy”).
Recitals
1. The Board of Directors of each of BHLB and Legacy (i) has determined that this Agreement
and the business combination and related transactions contemplated hereby are in the best interests
of their respective companies and shareholders, (ii) has determined that this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby are consistent with and in furtherance of their respective
business strategies and (iii) has approved this Agreement.
2. In accordance with the terms of this Agreement, Legacy will merge with and into BHLB (the
“Merger”), and it is anticipated that Legacy Banks, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Legacy,
will be merged with and into Berkshire Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of BHLB.
3. As a condition to the willingness of BHLB to enter into this Agreement, each of the
directors and executive officers of Legacy have entered into a Voting Agreement, substantially in
the form of Exhibit A hereto, dated as of the date hereof, with BHLB (the “Voting
Agreement”), pursuant to which each such director and executive officer has agreed, among other
things, to vote all shares of Legacy Common Stock (as defined herein) owned by such Person in favor
of the approval of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in such Voting Agreement.
4. The parties intend the Merger to qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section
368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and that this Agreement be
and is hereby adopted as a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Sections 354 and 361 of
the Code.
5. The parties desire to make certain representations, warranties and agreements in connection
with the business transactions described in this Agreement and to prescribe certain conditions
thereto.
6. In consideration of the mutual covenants, representations, warranties and agreements herein
contained, and of other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
1.1 Certain Definitions.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings.
“Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.11.1.
“Acquisition Proposal” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.11.
“Affiliate” shall mean any Person who directly, or indirectly, through one or more
intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person and,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes any executive officer or director of
such Person and any Affiliate of such executive officer or director.
“Alternative Acquisition Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.1.11.
“Agreement” shall mean this agreement, the exhibits and schedules hereto and any amendment
hereto.
1
“Bank Merger” shall mean the merger of Legacy Banks with and into Berkshire Bank, with
Berkshire Bank as the surviving institution.
“Bank Regulator” shall mean any Federal or state banking regulator, including but not limited
to the MDOB, OTS and FDIC, which regulates or has the statutory authority to regulate Berkshire
Bank, Legacy Banks, and their respective holding companies and subsidiaries, as the case may be,
and the Department of Justice or the Federal Trade Commission, or any other relevant Federal or
state regulator, as it relates to anticompetitive matters.
“Benefit Plan Determination Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.6.1.
“Berkshire Bank” shall mean Berkshire Bank, a Massachusetts savings bank with its principal
offices located at 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, which is a wholly owned
subsidiary of BHLB.
“Berkshire Insurance” means Berkshire Insurance Group, Inc., an independent insurance agency
which is wholly owned by BHLB.
“BHLB” shall mean Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation, with its principal
offices located at 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000.
“BHLB Benefit Plans” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.12.1.
“BHLB Common Stock” shall mean the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of BHLB.
“BHLB Disclosure Schedule” shall mean the collective written disclosure schedules delivered by
BHLB to Legacy pursuant hereto.
“BHLB Financial Statements” shall mean the (i) the audited consolidated statements of
financial condition (including related notes and schedules) of BHLB as of December 31, 2009 and
2008 and the consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’
equity and cash flows (including related notes and schedules, if any) of BHLB for each of the three
(3) years ended December 31, 2009, as set forth in BHLB’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2009, and (ii) the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of BHLB
as of the end of each calendar quarter following December 31, 2009, and for the periods then ended,
as filed by BHLB in its Securities Documents.
“BHLB Loan Property” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.14.2.
“BHLB Loan Participation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.14.2.
“BHLB Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.12.1.
“BHLB Preferred Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.3.1.
“BHLB Regulatory Reports” shall mean the Call Reports of Berkshire Bank, and accompanying
schedules (other than such schedules as are required to be kept confidential pursuant to applicable
law or regulatory requirements), filed or to be filed with the FDIC with respect to each calendar
quarter beginning with the quarter ended June 30, 2010, through the Closing Date, and all Annual
Reports on Form H-(b)11 and any Current Report on Form H-(b)11 filed with the OTS by BHLB from
December 31, 2009 through the Closing Date.
“BHLB SEC Reports” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.16.
“BHLB Shareholders Meeting” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.2.
“BHLB Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.3.1.
2
“BHLB Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation, 10% or more of the capital stock of which is
owned, either directly or indirectly, by BHLB or Berkshire Bank, except any corporation the stock
of which is held in the ordinary course of the lending activities of Berkshire Bank.
“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or day on which banks in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
“Certificate” shall mean a certificate or book entry evidencing shares of Legacy Common Stock.
“Claim” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.7.2.
“Closing Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
“COBRA” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.13.5.
“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Confidentiality Agreements” shall mean the confidentiality agreement dated as of November 18,
2010 between BHLB and Legacy.
“CRA” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.12.1.
“Current Legacy Employees” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.6.2.
“DGCL” shall mean the Delaware General Corporation Law.
“Dissenting Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.6.
“Dissenting Shareholder” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.6.
“Effective Time” shall mean the date and time specified pursuant to Section 2.2 as the
effective time of the Merger.
“Environmental Laws” shall mean any applicable federal, state or local law, statute,
ordinance, rule, regulation, code, license, permit, approval, consent, order, judgment, decree,
injunction or agreement with any Governmental Entity as in effect on or prior to the date of this
Agreement relating to (1) the protection, preservation or restoration of the environment
(including, without limitation, air, water vapor, surface water, groundwater, drinking water
supply, surface soil, subsurface soil, plant and animal life or any other natural resource), and/or
(2) the use, storage, recycling, treatment, generation, transportation, processing, handling,
labeling, production, release or disposal of Materials of Environmental Concern. The term
Environmental Law includes without limitation (a) the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 9601, et seq; the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 6901, et seq; the Clean Air Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §
7401, et seq; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. § 1251, et seq; the
Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended, 15 U.S.C. § 2601, et seq; the Emergency Planning and
Community Right to Xxxx Xxx, 00 X.X.X. § 00000, et seq; the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. §
300f, et seq; and all comparable state and local laws, and (b) any common law (including without
limitation common law that may impose strict liability) that may impose liability or obligations
for injuries or damages due to the presence of or exposure to any Materials of Environmental
Concern as in effect on or prior to the date of this Agreement.
“ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“ERISA Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, together with
such Person, would be treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code or Section 4001 of
ERISA.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
3
“Exchange Agent” shall mean Registrar and Transfer Company, or such other bank or trust
company or other agent as mutually agreed upon by BHLB and Legacy, which shall act as agent for
BHLB in connection with the exchange procedures for exchanging Certificates for the Merger
Consideration.
“Exchange Fund” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.1.
“Exchange Ratio” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.3, subject to adjustment
under Section 11.1.9.
“FDIC” shall mean the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any successor thereto.
“FHLB” shall mean the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston.
“Foundation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.15.
“GAAP” shall mean accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America
applied on a consistent basis.
“Go Shop Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.11.1.
“Governmental Entity” shall mean any Federal or state court, department, administrative agency
or commission or other governmental authority or instrumentality.
“HOLA” shall mean the Home Owners’ Loan Act of 1933, as amended.
“Indemnified Parties” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.7.2.
“Insurance Regulator” shall mean the Massachusetts Division of Insurance and any other
Governmental Entity which has authority to regulate a Massachusetts insurance agency.
“IRS” shall mean the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“Knowledge” as used with respect to a Person (including references to such Person being aware
of a particular matter) shall mean those facts that are known or should have been known by the
officers and directors of such Person after reasonable inquiry.
“Legacy” shall mean Legacy Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation with its principal office
located at 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000.
“Legacy Banks” shall mean Legacy Banks, a Massachusetts savings bank, with its principal
office located at 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, and which is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Legacy.
“Legacy Benefit Plans” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.13.1.
“Legacy Common Stock” shall mean the common shares, par value $0.01 per share, of Legacy.
“Legacy Disclosure Schedule” shall mean the collective written disclosure schedules delivered
by Legacy to BHLB pursuant hereto.
“Legacy ESOP” shall mean the Employee Stock Ownership Plan of Legacy Banks or any successor
thereto.
“Legacy Financial Statements” shall mean (i) the audited consolidated statements of financial
condition (including related notes and schedules) of Legacy as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 and
the related consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows
(including related notes and schedules, if any)
4
of Legacy for each of the three (3) years ended December 31, 2009, as incorporated by
reference in Legacy’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 from Legacy’s
annual report to shareholders for such year and (ii) the unaudited interim consolidated financial
statements of Legacy as of the end of each calendar quarter following December 31, 2009, and for
the periods then ended, as filed by Legacy in its Securities Documents.
“Legacy Loan Participation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.15.2.
“Legacy Loan Property” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.15.2.
“Legacy Preferred Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.
“Legacy Regulatory Reports” shall mean the Call Reports of Legacy Banks, and accompanying
schedules (other than such schedules as are required to be kept confidential pursuant to applicable
law or regulatory requirements), filed or to be filed with the FDIC with respect to each calendar
quarter beginning with the quarter ended June 30, 2010, through the Closing Date, and all Annual
Reports on Form H-(b)11 and any Current Report on Form H-(b)11 filed with the OTS by Legacy from
December 31, 2010 through the Closing Date.
“Legacy Restricted Stock” shall mean the shares of restricted stock of Legacy issued pursuant
to the Legacy Bancorp, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan.
“Legacy SEC Reports” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.27.
“Legacy Shareholder Vote” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.4.1.
“Legacy Shareholders Meeting” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.1.
“Legacy Stock Option” shall mean an option to purchase shares of Legacy Common Stock granted
pursuant to the Legacy Stock Option Plan and the outstanding option agreements, and outstanding as
of the date hereof, as set forth in Legacy Disclosure Schedule 3.4.
“Legacy Stock Option Plan” shall mean the Legacy Bancorp, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan.
“Legacy Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation, 10% or more of the capital stock of which is
owned, either directly or indirectly, by Legacy or Legacy Banks.
“Material Adverse Effect” shall mean, with respect to BHLB or Legacy, respectively, any effect
that (1) is material and adverse to the financial condition, results of operations or business of
BHLB and the BHLB Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, respectively, or (2) materially impairs the ability of either Legacy, on the one hand, or
BHLB, on the other hand, to perform its obligations under this Agreement or otherwise materially
impedes the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, that
“Material Adverse Effect” shall not be deemed to include (i) the impact of (x) changes in laws,
rules or regulations affecting banks or thrift institutions or their holding companies generally,
or interpretations thereof by courts or governmental agencies, (y) changes in GAAP, or (z) changes
in regulatory accounting requirements, in any such case applicable to financial institutions or
their holding companies generally and not specifically relating to Legacy or any of its
Subsidiaries, on the one hand, or BHLB or any of its Subsidiaries, on the other hand, (ii) the
announcement of this Agreement or any action or omission of Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary on the
one hand, or BHLB or any of its Subsidiaries, on the other hand, required under this Agreement or
taken or omitted to be taken with the express written permission of BHLB or Legacy, respectively,
(iii) any changes after the date of this Agreement in general economic or capital market conditions
affecting banks or their holding companies generally, (iv) changes or events, after the date
hereof, affecting the financial services industry generally and not specifically relating to Legacy
or its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, or BHLB or any of its Subsidiaries, on the other hand,
provided that a decrease in the trading or market prices of Legacy Common Stock or BHLB Common
Stock shall not be considered, by itself, to constitute a “Material Adverse Effect”, (v) changes in
the value of the securities or loan portfolio, or any change in the value of the deposits or
borrowings, of BHLB or Legacy, or any of their Subsidiaries, respectively, resulting from a change
in interest rates generally, (vi) the impact
5
of a requirement contained in any Regulatory Approval, or as a condition necessary to obtain
any Regulatory Approval, that there be a divesture of not more than $200 million of deposit
liabilities, whether from Legacy, BHLB or a combination of the two, together with related branch
premises and such loans as one of more Bank Regulators may require in connection therewith, or
(vii) in the case of Legacy and its Subsidiaries, the issuance in and of itself of any order or
directive by any Bank Regulator (it being agreed that the underlying facts giving rise or
contributing to the issuance of such orders or directives or the effects of the issuance of the
orders or directives may be a Material Adverse Effect).
“Materials of Environmental Concern” shall mean pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic or
hazardous substances, petroleum and petroleum products, and any other materials regulated under
Environmental Laws.
“MDOB” shall mean the Massachusetts Division of Banks.
“Merger” shall mean the merger of Legacy with and into BHLB pursuant to the terms hereof.
“Merger Consideration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.3.
“Merger Registration Statement” shall mean the registration statement, together with all
amendments, filed with the SEC under the Securities Act for the purpose of registering the offer of
shares of BHLB Common Stock to be offered to holders of Legacy Common Stock in connection with the
Merger.
“New Members” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.
“No Shop Period Start Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.11.2.
“Observer” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.13.
“OTS” shall mean the Office of Thrift Supervision.
“PBGC” shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor thereto.
“Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association,
trust or “group” (as that term is defined under the Exchange Act).
“Pre-Closing” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
“Proxy Statement-Prospectus” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.2.1.
“Regulatory Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.12.3.
“Regulatory Approval” shall mean the approval of any Bank Regulator necessary in connection
with the consummation of the Merger, the Bank Merger and the related transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
“Representatives” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.11.1.
“Rights” shall mean puts, calls, warrants, options, conversion, redemption, repurchase or
other rights, convertible securities, stock appreciation rights and other arrangements or
commitments which obligate an entity to issue or dispose of any of its capital stock or other
ownership interests or which provide for compensation based on the equity appreciation of its
capital stock.
“SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
6
“Securities Documents” shall mean all reports, offering circulars, proxy statements,
registration statements and all similar documents filed pursuant to the Securities Laws.
“Securities Laws” shall mean the Securities Act; the Exchange Act; the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended; the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended; the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
“Settlement Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.6.7.
“Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation, 10% or more of the capital stock of which is owned,
either directly or indirectly, except any corporation the stock of which is held in the ordinary
course of the lending activities, of either Berkshire Bank or Legacy Banks, as applicable.
“Superior Proposal” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.11.
“Surviving Corporation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
“Tax” shall mean any federal, state, local, foreign or provincial income, gross receipts,
property, sales, service, use, license, lease, excise, franchise, employment, payroll, withholding,
employment, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, social security, alternative or added
minimum, ad valorem, value added, stamp, business license, occupation, premium, environmental,
windfall profit, customs, duties, estimated, transfer or excise tax, or any other tax, custom,
duty, premium, governmental fee or other assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever, together with
any interest, penalty or additional tax imposed by any Governmental Entity.
“Tax Return” shall mean any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, or information
return or statement relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including
any amendment thereof.
“Termination Date” shall mean November 30, 2011.
“Termination Fee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.2.2(C).
“Treasury Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.2.
“Voting Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“401(k) Plans” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.16.
Other terms used herein are defined in the preamble and elsewhere in this Agreement.
7
ARTICLE II
THE MERGER
THE MERGER
2.1 Merger.
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Effective Time: (a) Legacy shall
merge with and into BHLB, with BHLB as the resulting or surviving corporation (the “Surviving
Corporation”); and (b) the separate existence of Legacy shall cease and all of the rights,
privileges, powers, franchises, properties, assets, liabilities and obligations of Legacy shall be
vested in and assumed by BHLB. As part of the Merger, each outstanding share of Legacy Common
Stock will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration pursuant to the terms of
Article III.
2.2 Closing; Effective Time.
The closing (“Closing”) shall occur no later than the close of business on the fifth Business
Day following the satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by applicable law) waiver of the
conditions set forth in Article IX (other than those conditions that by their terms are to be
satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by applicable
law) waiver of those conditions), or such other date that may be agreed to in writing by the
parties. The Merger shall be effected by the filing of a certificate of merger with the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware on the day of the Closing (the “Closing Date”), in accordance
with the DGCL. The “Effective Time” means the date and time upon which the certificate of merger
is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, or as otherwise stated in the
certificate of merger, in accordance with the DGCL. A pre-closing of the transactions contemplated
hereby (the “Pre-Closing”) shall take place at the offices of Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, P.C.,
at 10:00 a.m. on the day prior to the Closing Date.
2.3 Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.
The certificate of incorporation and bylaws of BHLB as in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation,
until thereafter amended as provided therein and by applicable law.
2.4 Directors of the Surviving Corporation.
Effective immediately after the Closing Date, X. Xxxxxxx Dunlaevy and one other person who is
a director of Legacy (as of the date hereof and as of the Effective Time) and who is designated by
BHLB and Berkshire Bank prior to the mailing of the Proxy Statement-Prospectus pursuant to Section
8.2 (Dunlaevy and such other person, together, the “New Members”) shall be appointed and elected to
the BHLB and Berkshire Bank Boards of Directors.
2.5 Effects of the Merger.
At and after the Effective Time, the Merger shall have the effects as set forth in the DGCL.
2.6 Tax Consequences.
It is intended that the Merger shall constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section
368(a) of the Code, and that this Agreement shall constitute a “plan of reorganization” as that
term is used in Sections 354 and 361 of the Code.
2.7 Possible Alternative Structures.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement and subject to the
satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Article IX prior to the Effective Time BHLB may revise
the structure for effecting the Merger described in Section 2.1 or the Bank Merger including,
without limitation, by substituting a wholly owned
8
subsidiary for BHLB or Berkshire Bank, as applicable, provided that (i) any such subsidiary
shall become a party to, and shall agree to be bound by, the terms of this Agreement; (ii) there
are no adverse Federal or state income tax consequences to BHLB, Berkshire Bank, Legacy, Legacy
Banks or to the BHLB or Legacy shareholders, and nothing would prevent the rendering of the
opinions contemplated in Sections 9.2.6 and 9.3.5, as a result of the modification; (iii) the
consideration to be paid to the holders of Legacy Common Stock under this Agreement is not thereby
changed in kind, value or reduced in amount; and (iv) such modification will not delay materially
the Closing or jeopardize or delay materially the receipt of any Regulatory Approvals or other
consents and approvals relating to the consummation of the Merger or otherwise cause any condition
to Closing set forth in Article IX not to be capable of being fulfilled. The parties hereto agree
to appropriately amend this Agreement and any related documents in order to reflect any such
revised structure.
2.8 Additional Actions.
If, at any time after the Effective Time, BHLB shall consider or be advised that any further
deeds, documents, assignments or assurances in law or any other acts are necessary or desirable to
(i) vest, perfect or confirm, of record or otherwise, in BHLB its right, title or interest in, to
or under any of the rights, properties or assets of Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary, or (ii)
otherwise carry out the purposes of this Agreement, Legacy and its officers and directors shall be
deemed to have granted to BHLB an irrevocable power of attorney to execute and deliver, in such
official corporate capacities, all such deeds, assignments or assurances in law or any other acts
as are necessary or desirable to (a) vest, perfect or confirm, of record or otherwise, in BHLB its
right, title or interest in, to or under any of the rights, properties or assets of Legacy or (b)
otherwise carry out the purposes of this Agreement, and the officers and directors of the BHLB are
authorized in the name of Legacy or otherwise to take any and all such action.
ARTICLE III
CONVERSION OF SHARES
CONVERSION OF SHARES
3.1 Conversion of Legacy Common Stock; Merger Consideration.
At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of BHLB,
Legacy or the holders of any of the shares of Legacy Common Stock, the Merger shall be effected in
accordance with the following terms:
3.1.1 Each share of BHLB Common Stock that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall remain issued and outstanding following the Effective Time and shall be
unchanged by the Merger.
3.1.2 All shares of Legacy Common Stock held in the treasury of Legacy and each share of
Legacy Common Stock owned by BHLB prior to the Effective Time (other than shares held in a
fiduciary capacity or in connection with debts previously contracted) (“Treasury Stock”) and each
share of Legacy Common Stock held in a trust under the Legacy Stock Option Plan but not subject to
an award of Legacy Restricted Stock shall, at the Effective Time, cease to exist, and such shares,
including any Certificates therefor, shall be canceled as promptly as practicable thereafter, and
no payment or distribution shall be made in consideration therefor.
3.1.3 Merger Consideration.
(A) Subject to a potential additional payment or adjustment as provided in Section 3.1.3(B)
and 11.1.9, each outstanding share of Legacy Common Stock shall be converted into the right to
receive (i) 0.56385 (the “Exchange Ratio”) shares of BHLB Common Stock and (ii) $1.30 (the “Merger
Consideration”). Shares of Legacy Restricted Stock subject to an award shall be treated for all
purposes as other outstanding shares of Legacy Common Stock, whether or not such shares are vested
prior to the Effective Time.
9
(B) In the event the parties must divest deposit liabilities in order to comply with a
requirement contained in any Regulatory Approval, or a condition necessary to obtain any Regulatory
Approval (such deposit divestures being referred to as “Required Divestures”), BHLB shall make a
cash payment to Legacy shareholders in the manner and pursuant to the timing and conditions set
forth below to stockholders of Legacy as of the Effective Time equal to the product of:
(i) (1) the weighted average deposit premium paid for such divested deposits
which exceeds 350 basis points (the “Excess Amount”), calculating such
Excess Amount without regard to any tax imposed upon BHLB under U.S.
federal, state, or local tax law as a result of such divestiture (the
“Divestiture Tax”), less (2) that portion of the Divestiture Tax
allocable to the Excess Amount, and
(ii) 0.50 (the “Aggregate Divestiture Premium”).
The Aggregate Divestiture Premium shall be payable within 5 business days after the completion of
all Required Divestitures. Each Legacy stockholder as the Effective Date shall have the right to
receive a cash payment equal to their pro rata portion of the Aggregate Divestiture Premium based
upon the number of shares of Legacy Common Stock held by such Legacy stockholder as of the
Effective Time in relation to all other shares of outstanding Legacy Common Stock as of the
Effective Time.
3.1.4 Each outstanding share of Legacy Common Stock, the holder of which has perfected his
right to dissent under applicable law and has not effectively withdrawn or lost such right as of
the Effective Time (the “Dissenting Shares”), shall not be converted into or represent a right to
receive the Merger Consideration hereunder, and the holder thereof shall be entitled only to such
rights as are granted by applicable law. Legacy shall give BHLB immediate notice upon receipt by
Legacy of any such demands for payment of the fair value of such shares of Legacy Common Stock and
of withdrawals of such notice and any other related communications (any shareholder duly making
such demand being hereinafter called a “Dissenting Shareholder”), and BHLB shall have the right to
participate in all discussions, negotiations and proceedings with respect to any such demands.
Legacy shall not, except with the prior written consent of BHLB, voluntarily make any payment with
respect to, or settle or offer to settle, any such demand for payment, or waive any failure to
timely deliver a written demand for appraisal or the taking of any other action by such Dissenting
Shareholder as may be necessary to perfect appraisal rights under applicable law. Any payments
made in respect of Dissenting Shares shall be made by the Surviving Company.
3.1.5 If any Dissenting Shareholder withdraws or loses (through failure to perfect or
otherwise) his right to such payment at or prior to the Effective Time, such holder’s shares of
Legacy Common Stock shall be converted into a right to receive the Merger Consideration in
accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement. If such holder withdraws or loses
(through failure to perfect or otherwise) his right to such payment after the Effective Time, each
share of Legacy Common Stock of such holder shall be entitled to receive the Merger Consideration.
3.1.6 Upon the Effective Time, outstanding shares of Legacy Common Stock shall no longer be
outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and shall cease to exist, and shall thereafter by
operation of this Section 3.1 represent only the right to receive the Merger Consideration and any
dividends or distributions with respect thereto or any dividends or distributions with a record
date prior to the Effective Time that were declared or made by Legacy on such shares of Legacy
Common Stock in accordance with the terms of this Agreement on or prior to the Effective Time and
which remain unpaid at the Effective Time.
3.1.7 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no certificates or scrip
representing fractional shares of BHLB Common Stock shall be issued upon the surrender for exchange
of Certificates, no dividend or distribution with respect to BHLB Common Stock shall be payable on
or with respect to any fractional share interests, and such fractional share interests shall not
entitle the owner thereof to vote or to any other rights of a shareholder of BHLB. In lieu of the
issuance of any such fractional share, BHLB shall pay to each former holder of Legacy Common Stock
who otherwise would be entitled to receive a fractional share of BHLB Common Stock, an amount in
cash, rounded to the nearest cent and without interest, equal to the product of (i) the fraction of
a share to which such holder would otherwise have been entitled and (ii) the average of the daily
closing sales prices of a share of BHLB Common Stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market
for the five (5)
10
consecutive trading days immediately preceding the Closing Date. For purposes of determining
any fractional share interest, all shares of Legacy Common Stock owned by a Legacy shareholder
shall be combined so as to calculate the maximum number of whole shares of BHLB Common Stock
issuable to such Legacy shareholder.
3.1.8 If BHLB changes (or the BHLB Board sets a related record date that will occur before the
Effective Time for a change in) the number or kind of shares of BHLB Common Stock outstanding by
way of a stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, reclassification, reorganization or similar
transaction, then the Merger Consideration (and any other dependent items) will be adjusted
proportionately to account for such change. If Legacy changes (or the Legacy Board sets a related
record date that will occur before the Effective Time for a change in) the number or kind of shares
of Legacy Common Stock (or Rights thereto) outstanding by way of a stock split, stock dividend,
recapitalization, reclassification, reorganization or similar transaction, then the Merger
Consideration (and any other dependent items) will be adjusted proportionately to account for such
change.
3.2 Procedures for Exchange of Legacy Common Stock.
3.2.1 BHLB to Make Merger Consideration Available. After the Closing and at or prior to the
Effective Time, BHLB shall deposit, or shall cause to be deposited, with the Exchange Agent for the
benefit of the holders of Legacy Common Stock, for exchange in accordance with this Section 3.2, an
aggregate amount of cash sufficient to pay the aggregate amount of cash payable pursuant to this
Article III and shall instruct the Exchange Agent to issue such cash and shares of BHLB Common
Stock for exchange in accordance with this Section 3.2 (such cash and shares of BHLB Common Stock,
together with any dividends or distributions with respect thereto (without any interest thereon)
being hereinafter referred to as the “Exchange Fund”).
3.2.2 Exchange of Certificates. BHLB shall take all steps necessary to cause the Exchange
Agent, not later than five (5) Business Days after the Effective Time, to mail to each holder of a
Certificate or Certificates a form letter of transmittal for return to the Exchange Agent and
instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for the Merger
Consideration and cash in lieu of fractional shares into which the Legacy Common Stock represented
by such Certificates shall have been converted as a result of the Merger, if any. The letter of
transmittal shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the
Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent. Upon proper
surrender of a Certificate for exchange and cancellation to the Exchange Agent, together with a
properly completed letter of transmittal, duly executed, the holder of such Certificate shall be
entitled to receive in exchange therefor the Merger Consideration and the Certificate so
surrendered shall be cancelled. No interest will be paid or accrued on any cash payable in lieu of
fractional shares or any unpaid dividends and distributions, if any, payable to holders of
Certificates.
3.2.3 Rights of Certificate Holders after the Effective Time. The holder of a Certificate
that prior to the Merger represented issued and outstanding Legacy Common Stock shall have no
rights, after the Effective Time, with respect to such Legacy Common Stock except to surrender the
Certificate in exchange for the Merger Consideration as provided in this Agreement. No dividends
or other distributions declared after the Effective Time with respect to BHLB Common Stock shall be
paid to the holder of any unsurrendered Certificate until the holder thereof shall surrender such
Certificate in accordance with this Section 3.2. After the surrender of a Certificate in
accordance with this Section 3.2, the record holder thereof shall be entitled to receive any such
dividends or other distributions, without any interest thereon, which theretofore had become
payable with respect to shares of BHLB Common Stock represented by such Certificate.
3.2.4 Surrender by Persons Other than Record Holders. If the Person surrendering a
Certificate and signing the accompanying letter of transmittal is not the record holder thereof,
then it shall be a condition of the payment of the Merger Consideration that: (i) such Certificate
is properly endorsed to such Person or is accompanied by appropriate stock powers, in either case
signed exactly as the name of the record holder appears on such Certificate, and is otherwise in
proper form for transfer, or is accompanied by appropriate evidence of the authority of the Person
surrendering such Certificate and signing the letter of transmittal to do so on behalf of the
record holder; and (ii) the Person requesting such exchange shall pay to the Exchange Agent in
advance any transfer or other similar taxes required by reason of the payment to a Person other
than the registered holder of the Certificate surrendered, or required for any other reason, or
shall establish to the satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such tax has been paid or is not
payable.
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3.2.5 Closing of Transfer Books. From and after the Closing Date, there shall be no transfers
on the stock transfer books of Legacy of the Legacy Common Stock that were outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates representing such shares
are presented for transfer to the Exchange Agent, they shall be exchanged for the Merger
Consideration and canceled as provided in this Section 3.2.
3.2.6 Return of Exchange Fund. At any time following the nine (9) month period after the
Effective Time, BHLB shall be entitled to require the Exchange Agent to deliver to it any portion
of the Exchange Fund which had been made available to the Exchange Agent and not disbursed to
holders of Certificates (including, without limitation, all interest and other income received by
the Exchange Agent in respect of all funds made available to it), and thereafter such holders shall
be entitled to look to BHLB (subject to abandoned property, escheat and other similar laws) with
respect to any Merger Consideration that may be payable upon due surrender of the Certificates held
by them. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither BHLB nor the Exchange Agent shall be liable to any
holder of a Certificate for any Merger Consideration delivered in respect of such Certificate to a
public official pursuant to any abandoned property, escheat or other similar law.
3.2.7 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. In the event any Certificate shall have been
lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such
Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and the posting by such Person of a bond in such amount
as the Exchange Agent may reasonably direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against
it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent will issue in exchange for such lost,
stolen or destroyed Certificate the Merger Consideration deliverable in respect thereof.
3.2.8 Withholding. BHLB or the Exchange Agent will be entitled to deduct and withhold from
the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby to any holder of Legacy Common Stock such amounts as BHLB (or any Affiliate thereof) or the
Exchange Agent are required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under
the Code, or any applicable provision of U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. tax law. To the
extent that such amounts are properly withheld by BHLB or the Exchange Agent, such withheld amounts
will be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the Legacy
Common Stock in respect of whom such deduction and withholding were made by BHLB or the Exchange
Agent.
3.3 Treatment of Legacy Stock Options.
3.3.1 Legacy Disclosure Schedule 3.3.1(a) sets forth all of the outstanding Legacy
stock options (each, a “Legacy Stock Option”) as of the date hereof. Effective as of the date of
this Agreement, the Legacy Stock Option Plan shall be amended to delete Section 11 therein but will
otherwise remain effective and be maintained by BHLB as of the Effective Time, subject to any
required BHLB stockholder approval. As of the Effective Time, all issued and outstanding Legacy
Stock Options set forth on Legacy Disclosure Schedule 3.3.1(b) will cease to represent an
option to purchase Legacy Common Stock and will be converted automatically into an option to
purchase a number of shares of BHLB Common Stock (each, a “BHLB Stock Option”) equal to the
product (rounded down to the nearest whole share) of (A) the number of shares of Legacy Common
Stock subject to such Legacy Stock Option and (B) 0.6265, at an exercise price per share (rounded
up to the nearest whole cent) equal to (1) the exercise price of such Legacy Stock Option divided
by (2) 0.6265.
3.3.2 As of the Effective Time, all issued and outstanding Legacy Stock Options set forth on
Legacy Disclosure Schedule 3.3.2, whether or not then exercisable, will be canceled and the
holder thereof will receive in exchange therefor, $3.00 multiplied by the number of shares of
Legacy Common Stock that the holder could have purchased with said Legacy Stock Option, less
applicable tax withholding.
3.3.3 Notwithstanding the foregoing, all stock options held by X. Xxxxxxx Dunlaevy, shall be
treated as provided in Section 3.3.1, and for purposes of clarity, shall not receive any cash
payment as set forth in Section 3.3.2 of this Agreement.
3.3.4 The shares of BHLB Common Stock to be issued to the holders of Legacy Stock Options
shall be registered with the SEC under the Merger Registration Statement.
12
3.4 Bank Merger.
BHLB intends to cause the merger of Legacy Banks with and into Berkshire Bank, with Berkshire
Bank as the surviving institution, but retains the right to hold Legacy Banks as a separate
subsidiary. Subject to the foregoing and in BHLB’s sole determination, following the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, BHLB will cause Berkshire Bank, and Legacy will cause Legacy Banks, to
execute and deliver an agreement and plan of merger in respect of the Bank Merger. In connection
with a merger of Legacy Banks with and into Berkshire Bank, BHLB will, subject to regulatory
approval, include the “Legacy” name in the name of Berkshire Bank’s branch offices in Berkshire
County, Massachusetts and will continue to do so until the earlier of two (2) years from the
Effective Time and the time at which Berkshire Bank rebrands its banking offices in Berkshire
County, Massachusetts.
3.5 Headquarters.
BHLB will designate the headquarters of BHLB and Berkshire Bank as 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx.
3.6 Reservation of Shares.
BHLB shall reserve for issuance a sufficient number of shares of the BHLB Common Stock for the
purpose of issuing shares of BHLB Common Stock to the Legacy shareholders in accordance with this
Article III.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF LEGACY
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF LEGACY
Legacy represents and warrants to BHLB that the statements contained in this Article IV are
correct as of the date of this Agreement and will be correct as of the Closing Date (as though made
then and as though the Closing Date were substituted for the date of this Agreement throughout this
Article IV), subject to the standard set forth in Section 4.1 and except as set forth in the Legacy
Disclosure Schedule delivered by Legacy to BHLB on the date hereof, and except as to any
representation or warranty which specifically relates to an earlier date, which only need be
correct as of such earlier date, provided, however, that disclosure in any section of such Legacy
Disclosure Schedule shall apply only to the indicated Section of this Agreement except to the
extent that it is reasonably apparent that such disclosure is relevant to another section of this
Agreement. References to the Knowledge of Legacy shall include the Knowledge of Legacy Banks.
4.1 Standard.
Except as set forth in the following sentence, no representation or warranty of Legacy
contained in this Article IV shall be deemed untrue or incorrect, and Legacy shall not be deemed to
have breached a representation or warranty, as a consequence of the existence of any fact,
circumstance or event unless such fact, circumstance or event, individually or taken together with
all other facts, circumstances or events inconsistent with any paragraph of this Article IV, has
had or reasonably would be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, disregarding for these
purposes (x) any qualification or exception for, or reference to, materiality in any such
representation or warranty and (y) any use of the terms “material,” “materially,” “in all material
respects,” “Material Adverse Effect” or similar terms or phrases in any such representation or
warranty. The foregoing standard shall not apply to representations and warranties contained in
Sections 4.2 (other than Sections 4.2.3, 4.2.4 and 4.2.5 and the last sentence of Sections 4.2.1
and 4.2.2), Section 4.3 and 4.4 (other than Section 4.4.2(iii)) and Sections 4.2.3, 4.2.4 and 4.2.5
and Sections 4.3 and 4.4 (other than Section 4.4.2(iii)) shall be true and correct in all material
respects.
4.2 Organization.
4.2.1 Legacy is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the State of Delaware, and is duly registered as a savings and loan holding company under
the HOLA. Legacy has full corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted.
Legacy is duly licensed or
13
qualified to do business in the states of the United States and foreign jurisdictions where
its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification.
4.2.2 Legacy Banks is a Massachusetts chartered savings bank duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The deposits in Legacy Banks are
insured by the FDIC to the fullest extent permitted by law, and all premiums and assessments
required to be paid in connection therewith have been paid by Legacy Banks when due. Legacy Banks
is a member in good standing of the FHLB and owns the requisite amount of stock of each as set
forth on Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.2.2.
4.2.3 Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.2.3 sets forth each Legacy Subsidiary and its
jurisdiction of incorporation or organization. Each Legacy Subsidiary (other than Legacy Banks) is
a corporation, limited liability company or other legal entity as set forth on Legacy
Disclosure Schedule 4.2.3, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization. Each Legacy Subsidiary is duly licensed or
qualified to do business in the states of the United States and foreign jurisdictions where its
ownership or leasing of property or conduct of its business requires such qualification.
4.2.4 The respective minute books of Legacy, Legacy Banks and each other Legacy Subsidiary
accurately record all corporate actions of their respective shareholders and boards of directors
(including committees).
4.2.5 Prior to the date of this Agreement, Legacy has made available to BHLB true and correct
copies of the certificate of incorporation or articles of association, as applicable, and bylaws or
other governing documents of Legacy, Legacy Banks and each other Legacy Subsidiary.
4.3 Capitalization.
4.3.1 The authorized capital stock of Legacy consists of (i) 40,000,000 shares of Legacy
Common Stock and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value (“Legacy Preferred Stock”
and collectively with Legacy Common Stock, “Legacy Stock”). As of December 17, 2010, there were
(i) 8,631,732 shares of Legacy Common Stock validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and
non-assessable and free of preemptive rights, including 161,470 shares of Legacy Restricted Stock
subject to an award, and (ii) 1,625,094 shares of Legacy Common Stock held by Legacy as Treasury
Stock, but not including 51,774 shares of Legacy Common Stock held in trust under the Legacy
Restricted Stock Plans but not subject to an award of Legacy Restricted Stock. Legacy does not
own, of record or beneficially, any shares of Legacy Stock which are not Treasury Stock. Legacy
Banks does not own, of record or beneficially, any shares of Legacy Stock. Neither Legacy nor any
Legacy Subsidiary has or is bound by any Rights or other arrangements of any character relating to
the purchase, sale or issuance or voting of, or right to receive dividends or other distributions
on, any capital stock of Legacy, or any other security of Legacy or a Legacy Subsidiary or any
securities representing the right to vote, purchase or otherwise receive any capital stock of
Legacy or a Legacy Subsidiary or any other security of Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary, other than
shares of Legacy Common Stock underlying the Legacy Stock Options and Legacy Restricted Stock.
Legacy has granted options to acquire 735,710 shares of Legacy Common Stock at a weighted average
exercise price of $15.39 per share. Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.3.1 sets forth: the name
of each holder of a Legacy Stock Option, identifying the number of shares each such individual may
acquire pursuant to the exercise of such options, the plan under which such options were granted,
the grant, vesting and expiration dates, and the exercise price relating to the options held, and
whether the Legacy Stock Option is an incentive stock option or a nonqualified stock option.
Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.3.1 also sets forth the name of each holder of record of
Legacy Restricted Stock, the vesting dates and the number of shares held by such Person. All
shares of Legacy Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Legacy Stock Option Plan will be duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable when issued upon the terms and conditions
specified in the instruments pursuant to which they are issuable.
4.3.2 Legacy owns all of the capital stock of each Legacy Subsidiary, free and clear of any
lien or encumbrance. Except for the Legacy Subsidiaries and as set forth in Legacy Disclosure
Schedule 4.3.2, Legacy does not possess, directly or indirectly, any equity interest in any
corporate or other legal entity, except for equity interests held in the investment portfolios of
Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary (which as to any one issuer, do not
14
exceed five percent (5%) of such issuer’s outstanding equity securities) and equity interests
held in connection with the lending activities of Legacy Banks, including stock in the FHLB.
4.3.3 To Legacy’s Knowledge, except as set forth on Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.3.3,
as of the date hereof no Person is the beneficial owner (as defined in Section 13(d) of the
Exchange Act) of five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding shares of Legacy Common Stock.
4.3.4 No bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness having the right to vote on any
matters on which Legacy’s shareholders may vote have been issued by Legacy and are outstanding.
4.4 Authority; No Violation.
4.4.1 Legacy has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and,
subject to the receipt of the Regulatory Approvals and the approval of this Agreement by Legacy’s
shareholders (the “Legacy Shareholder Approval”), to perform its obligations hereunder and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by
Legacy and the completion by Legacy of the transactions contemplated hereby, up to and including
the Merger, have been duly and validly approved by the Board of Directors of Legacy. This
Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Legacy, and subject to Legacy
Shareholder Approval and the approval of the shareholders of BHLB and the receipt of the Regulatory
Approvals and due and valid execution and delivery of this Agreement by BHLB, constitutes the valid
and binding obligation of Legacy, enforceable against Legacy in accordance with its terms, subject
to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and
subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity.
4.4.2 (a) Subject to compliance by BHLB with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by Legacy, subject to receipt of Regulatory Approvals and
Legacy’s and BHLB’s compliance with any conditions contained therein, and subject to the receipt of
the Legacy Shareholder Approval and the approval of the shareholders of BHLB, the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby, and (b) compliance by Legacy with the terms and provisions
hereof will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach of any provision of the certificate of
incorporation or articles of association, as applicable, and bylaws of Legacy or Legacy Banks; (ii)
violate any statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ, decree or injunction
applicable to Legacy or Legacy Banks or any of their respective properties or assets; or (iii)
violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provisions of, constitute a default (or an event
which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in the
termination or amendment of, accelerate the performance required by, or result in a right of
termination or acceleration or the creation of any lien, security interest, charge or other
encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of Legacy or Legacy Banks under any of the terms,
conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease,
agreement or other investment or obligation to which Legacy or Legacy Banks is a party, or by which
they or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound or affected.
4.5 Consents.
Except for (a) the receipt of the Regulatory Approvals and compliance with any conditions
contained therein, (b) compliance with applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act and state securities or “blue sky” laws, (c) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and (d) the Legacy Shareholder Approval and approval
of the shareholders of BHLB , no consents, waivers or approvals of, or filings or registrations
with, any Governmental Entity or Bank Regulator are necessary, and, to the Knowledge of Legacy, no
consents, waivers or approvals of, or filings or registrations with, any other third parties are
necessary, in connection with (x) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Legacy, the
completion by Legacy of the Merger and the performance by Legacy of its obligations hereunder or
(y) the execution and delivery of the agreement and plan of merger in respect of the Bank Merger
and the completion of the Bank Merger. Legacy has no reason to believe that (i) any Regulatory
Approvals or other required consents or approvals will not be received or will include the
imposition of any condition (financial or otherwise) or requirement that could reasonably be
expected by Legacy to result in a Material Adverse Effect on Legacy and Legacy Banks, taken as a
whole, or BHLB and Berkshire Bank, taken as a whole, or that (ii) any public body or authority
having jurisdiction over the affairs of
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Legacy or Legacy Banks, the consent or approval of which is not required or pursuant to the
rules of which a filing is not required, will object to the completion of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
4.6 Financial Statements.
4.6.1 The Legacy Regulatory Reports have been prepared in all material respects in accordance
with applicable regulatory accounting principles and practices throughout the periods covered by
such statements, and fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position,
results of operations and changes in shareholders’ equity of Legacy as of and for the periods ended
on the dates thereof, in accordance with applicable regulatory accounting principles applied on a
consistent basis.
4.6.2 Legacy has previously made available to BHLB the Legacy Financial Statements. The
Legacy Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP in all material respects,
and (including the related notes where applicable) fairly present in each case in all material
respects (subject in the case of the unaudited interim statements to normal year-end adjustments)
the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Legacy and the Legacy
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of and for the respective periods ending on the dates
thereof, in accordance with GAAP during the periods involved, except as indicated in the notes
thereto, or in the case of unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q.
4.6.3 At the date of the most recent consolidated statement of financial condition included in
the Legacy Financial Statements or in the Legacy Regulatory Reports, Legacy did not have any
liabilities, obligations or loss contingencies of any nature (whether absolute, accrued, contingent
or otherwise) of a type required to be reflected in such Legacy Financial Statements or in the
Legacy Regulatory Reports or in the footnotes thereto which are not fully reflected or reserved
against therein or fully disclosed in a footnote thereto, except for liabilities, obligations and
loss contingencies which are not material individually or in the aggregate or which are incurred in
the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice, and subject, in the case of any
unaudited statements, to normal, recurring audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.
4.7 Taxes.
Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries are members of the same affiliated group within the meaning
of Code Section 1504(a). Legacy, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, has timely filed or
caused to be filed all Tax Returns (including, but not limited to, those filed on a consolidated,
combined or unitary basis) required to have been filed by Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries prior
to the date hereof, or requests for extensions to file such returns and reports have been timely
filed. All such Tax Returns are true, correct, and complete in all material respects. Legacy and
the Legacy Subsidiaries have timely paid or, prior to the Effective Time will pay, all Taxes,
whether or not shown on such returns or reports, due or claimed to be due to any Governmental
Entity prior to the Effective Time other than Taxes which are being contested in good faith.
Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries have declared on their Tax Returns all positions taken therein
that could give rise to a substantial underpayment of United States Federal Income Tax within the
meaning of Section 6662 of the Code (or any corresponding provision of state or local laws). The
accrued but unpaid Taxes of Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries did not, as of the most recent
Legacy Financial Statements, exceed the reserve for Tax liability (rather than any reserve for
deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between book and Tax income) set forth on
the face of the most recent Legacy balance sheet (rather than in any notes thereto). Legacy and
its Subsidiaries are subject to Tax audits in the ordinary course of business. Legacy management
does not believe that an adverse resolution to any of such audits of which it has Knowledge would
be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on Legacy. Legacy and the Legacy
Subsidiaries have not been notified in writing by any jurisdiction that the jurisdiction believes
that Legacy or any of the Legacy Subsidiaries were required to file any Tax Return in such
jurisdiction that was not filed. Neither Legacy nor any of the Legacy Subsidiaries (A) has been a
member of a group with which they have filed or been included in a combined, consolidated or
unitary income Tax Return other than a group the common parent of which was Legacy or (B) has any
liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than Legacy or any of the Legacy Subsidiaries) under
Treas. Reg. § 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local, or non-U.S. law), as a transferee
or successor, by contract, or otherwise. As of the date hereof, all deficiencies proposed in
writing as a result of any audits have been paid or settled. There are no written claims or
assessments pending against Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary for any alleged deficiency in any Tax,
and neither Legacy nor any Legacy Subsidiary has been notified in writing of any proposed Tax
claims or assessments against Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary. Legacy and the
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Legacy Subsidiaries each have duly and timely withheld, collected and paid over to the
appropriate taxing authority all amounts required to be so withheld and paid under all applicable
laws, and have duly and timely filed all Tax Returns with respect to such withheld Taxes, within
the time prescribed under any applicable law. Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries have delivered to
BHLB true and complete copies of all Income Tax Returns of Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries for
taxable periods ending on or after December 31, 2007. Neither Legacy nor any of the Legacy
Subsidiaries is or has been a party to any “reportable transaction,” as defined in Code §
6707A(c)(1) and Treas. Reg. § 1.6011-4(b). Neither Legacy nor any of the Legacy Subsidiaries has
distributed stock of another Person, or has had its stock distributed by another Person, in a
transaction that was purported or intended to be governed in whole or in part by Code § 355 or Code
§ 361. Neither Legacy nor any of the Legacy Subsidiaries has been a United States real property
holding corporation within the meaning of Code § 897(c)(2) during the applicable period specified
in Code § 897(c)(1)(A)(ii).
4.8 No Material Adverse Effect.
Neither Legacy nor any Legacy Subsidiary has suffered any Material Adverse Effect since
December 31, 2009 and, to Legacy’s Knowledge, no event has occurred or circumstance arisen since
that date which, in the aggregate, has had or reasonably would be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on Legacy.
4.9 Material Contracts; Leases; Defaults.
4.9.1 Except as set forth in Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.9.1, neither Legacy nor any
Legacy Subsidiary is a party to or subject to: (i) any employment, consulting or severance contract
or arrangement with any past or present officer, director, employee or consultant of Legacy or any
Legacy Subsidiary, except for “at will” arrangements; (ii) any plan, arrangement or contract
providing for bonuses, pensions, options, deferred compensation, retirement payments, profit
sharing or similar arrangements for or with any past or present officers, directors, employees or
consultants of Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary; (iii) any collective bargaining agreement with any
labor union relating to employees of Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary; (iv) any agreement which by
its terms limits or affects the payment of dividends by Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary; (v) any
instrument evidencing or related to indebtedness for borrowed money in excess of $50,000, whether
directly or indirectly, by way of purchase money obligation, conditional sale, lease purchase,
guaranty or otherwise, in respect of which Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary is an obligor to any
Person, which instrument evidences or relates to indebtedness other than deposits, FHLB advances
with a term to maturity not in excess of one (1) year, repurchase agreements, bankers’ acceptances,
and transactions in “federal funds” or which contains financial covenants or other non-customary
restrictions (other than those relating to the payment of principal and interest when due) which
would be applicable on or after the Closing Date to Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary; (vi) any other
agreement, written or oral, which is not terminable without cause on sixty (60) days’ notice or
less without penalty or payment, or that obligates Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary for the payment
of more than $30,000 annually or for the payment of more than $50,000 over its remaining term; or
(vii) any agreement (other than this Agreement), contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding
(whether written or oral) that materially restricts or limits the conduct of business by Legacy or
any Legacy Subsidiary.
4.9.2 Each real estate lease that will require the consent of the lessor or its agent as a
result of the Merger or the Bank Merger by virtue of the terms of any such lease, is listed in
Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.9.2 identifying the section of the lease that contains such
prohibition or restriction. Subject to any consents that may be required as a result of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, to its Knowledge neither Legacy nor any Legacy
Subsidiary is in material default under any material contract, agreement, commitment, arrangement,
lease, insurance policy or other instrument to which it is a party, by which its assets, business,
or operations may be bound or affected, or under which it or its assets, business, or operations
receive benefits, and there has not occurred any event that, with the lapse of time or the giving
of notice or both, would constitute such a default and all such material contracts, agreements,
commitments, arrangements, leases, insurance policies and other instruments are listed on
Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.9.2.
4.9.3 True and correct copies of agreements, contracts, arrangements and instruments referred
to in Section 4.9.1 and 4.9.2 have been made available to BHLB on or before the date hereof, are
listed on Legacy Disclosure Schedules 4.9.1 and 4.9.2 and are in full force and effect
without modification on the date hereof. Except as set forth in Legacy Disclosure Schedule
4.9.3, no such agreement, plan, contract, or arrangement (i) provides for
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acceleration of the vesting of benefits or payments due thereunder upon the occurrence of a
change in ownership or control of Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary or upon the occurrence of a
subsequent event; (ii) requires Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary to provide a benefit in the form of
Legacy Common Stock or determined by reference to the value of Legacy Common Stock or (iii)
contains provisions which permit an employee, director or independent contractor to terminate such
agreement or arrangement without cause and continue to accrue future benefits thereunder.
4.10 Ownership of Property; Insurance Coverage.
4.10.1 Legacy and each Legacy Subsidiary has good and, as to real property, marketable title
to all assets and properties owned by Legacy or such Legacy Subsidiary, as applicable, in the
conduct of its businesses, whether such assets and properties are real or personal, tangible or
intangible, including assets and property reflected in the most recent consolidated statement of
financial condition contained in the Legacy Financial Statements or acquired subsequent thereto
(except to the extent that such assets and properties have been disposed of in the ordinary course
of business, since the date of such consolidated statement of financial condition), subject to no
encumbrances, liens, mortgages, security interests or pledges, except (i) those items which secure
liabilities for public or statutory obligations or any discount with, borrowing from or other
obligations to FHLB, inter-bank credit facilities, reverse repurchase agreements or any transaction
by a Legacy Subsidiary acting in a fiduciary capacity, and (ii) statutory liens for amounts not yet
delinquent or which are being contested in good faith. Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries, as
lessee, have the right under valid and existing leases of real and personal properties used by
Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries in the conduct of their businesses to occupy or use all such
properties as presently occupied and used by each of them. Such existing leases and commitments to
lease constitute or will constitute operating leases for both tax and financial accounting purposes
and the lease expense and minimum rental commitments with respect to such leases and lease
commitments are as disclosed in all material respects in the notes to the Legacy Financial
Statements.
4.10.2 With respect to all material agreements pursuant to which Legacy or any Legacy
Subsidiary has purchased securities subject to an agreement to resell, if any, Legacy or such
Legacy Subsidiary, as the case may be, has a lien or security interest (which to Legacy’s Knowledge
is a valid, perfected first lien) in the securities or other collateral securing the repurchase
agreement, and the value of such collateral equals or exceeds the amount of the debt secured
thereby.
4.10.3 Legacy and each Legacy Subsidiary currently maintain insurance considered by each of
them to be reasonable for their respective operations. Neither Legacy nor any Legacy Subsidiary,
has received notice from any insurance carrier on or before the date hereof that (i) such insurance
will be canceled or that coverage thereunder will be reduced or eliminated, or (ii) premium costs
with respect to such policies of insurance will be substantially increased. Except as listed on
Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.10.3, there are presently no claims pending under such
policies of insurance and no notices of claim have been given by Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary
under such policies. All such insurance is valid and enforceable and in full force and effect
(other than insurance that expires in accordance with its terms), and within the last three (3)
years Legacy and each Legacy Subsidiary has received each type of insurance coverage for which it
has applied and during such periods has not been denied indemnification for any claims submitted
under any of its insurance policies. Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.10.3 identifies all
policies of insurance maintained by Legacy and each Legacy Subsidiary, including the name of the
insurer, the policy number, the type of policy and any applicable deductibles, as well as the other
matters required to be disclosed under this Section 4.10.3. Legacy has made available to BHLB
copies of all of the policies listed on Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.10.3.
4.11 Legal Proceedings.
There is no suit, action, investigation or proceeding pending or, to its Knowledge, threatened
against or affecting Legacy or any of its Subsidiaries (and it is not aware of any facts that
reasonably could be expected to be the basis for any such suit, action or proceeding) (1) that
involves a Governmental Entity or Bank Regulator, or (2) that, individually or in the aggregate, is
(A) material to it and its Subsidiaries’ businesses or, after the Effective Time, BHLB’s or any of
its Subsidiaries’ businesses, or (B) reasonably likely to prevent or delay it from performing its
obligations under, or consummating the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement. There is no
injunction,
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order, award, judgment, settlement, decree or regulatory restriction imposed upon or entered
into by Legacy, any of its Subsidiaries or the assets of it or any of its Subsidiaries.
4.12 Compliance with Applicable Law.
Except as set forth on Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.12 and in Section 4.15:
4.12.1 To Legacy’s Knowledge, Legacy and each Legacy Subsidiary is in compliance in all
material respects with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws,
regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders or decrees applicable to it, its properties,
assets and deposits, its business, its conduct of business and its relationship with its employees,
including, without limitation, the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools
Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the
Truth in Lending Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Consumer Credit Protection
Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Debt Collections Act, the Fair Housing Act, the
Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (“CRA”), the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, and all other
applicable fair lending laws and other laws relating to discriminatory business practices, and
neither Legacy nor any Legacy Subsidiary has received any written notice to the contrary.
4.12.2 Legacy and each Legacy Subsidiary has all material permits, licenses, authorizations,
orders and approvals of, and has made all filings, applications and registrations with, all
Governmental Entities and Bank Regulators that are required in order to permit it to own or lease
its properties and to conduct its business as presently conducted; all such permits, licenses,
certificates of authority, orders and approvals are in full force and effect and, to the Knowledge
of Legacy, no suspension or cancellation of any such permit, license, certificate, order or
approval is threatened or will result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, subject to obtaining the Regulatory Approvals.
4.12.3 For the period beginning January 1, 2007, neither Legacy nor any Legacy Subsidiary has
received any written notification or any other communication from any Bank Regulator (i) asserting
that Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary is not in material compliance with any of the statutes,
regulations or ordinances which such Bank Regulator enforces; (ii) threatening to revoke any
license, franchise, permit or governmental authorization; (iii) requiring or threatening to require
Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary, or indicating that Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary may be
required, to enter into a cease and desist order, agreement or memorandum of understanding or any
other agreement with any federal or state governmental agency or authority which is charged with
the supervision or regulation of banks, or engages in the insurance of bank deposits, restricting
or limiting, or purporting to restrict or limit the operations of Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary,
including without limitation any restriction on the payment of dividends; or (iv) directing,
restricting or limiting, or purporting to direct, restrict or limit the operations of Legacy or any
Legacy Subsidiary (any such notice, communication, memorandum, agreement or order described in this
sentence is hereinafter referred to as a “Regulatory Agreement”). Except as disclosed in Legacy
Disclosure Schedule 4.12.3, neither Legacy nor any Legacy Subsidiary has consented to or entered
into any Regulatory Agreement that is currently in effect. Legacy has disclosed to BHLB its most
recent regulatory ratings.
4.13 Employee Benefit Plans.
4.13.1 Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.13.1 contains a list of all written and unwritten
pension, retirement, profit-sharing, thrift, savings, deferred compensation, stock option, employee
stock ownership, employee stock purchase, restricted stock, severance pay, retention, vacation,
bonus or other incentive plans, all employment, change in control, consulting, severance and
retention agreements, all other written employee programs, arrangements or agreements, all medical,
vision, dental, disability, life insurance, workers’ compensation, employee assistance or other
health or welfare plans, and all other employee benefit or fringe benefit plans, including
“employee benefit plans” as that term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, currently adopted,
maintained by, sponsored in whole or in part by, or contributed to by Legacy or any of its ERISA
Affiliates for the benefit of employees, former employees, retirees (or the dependents, including
spouses, of the foregoing), directors, independent contractors or other service providers to Legacy
and under which employees, former employees, retirees, dependents, spouses, directors, or other
service providers of Legacy are eligible to participate (collectively, the “Legacy Benefit Plans”).
Legacy has furnished or otherwise made available to BHLB true and complete copies of (i) the plan
documents and summary plan descriptions for each written Legacy Benefit Plan, (ii) a summary of
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each unwritten Legacy Benefit Plan (if applicable), (iii) the annual report (Form 5500 series)
for the three (3) most recent years for each Legacy Benefit Plan (if applicable), (iv) the
actuarial valuation reports with respect to each tax-qualified Legacy Benefit Plan that is a
defined benefit pension plan for the three (3) most recent years, (v) all related trust agreements,
insurance contracts or other funding agreements which currently implement the Legacy Benefit Plans
(if applicable), (vi) the most recent IRS determination letter with respect to each tax-qualified
Legacy Benefit Plan (or, for a Legacy Benefit Plan maintained under a pre-approved prototype or
volume submitter plan, the IRS determination letter on such pre-approved plan) and (vii) all
substantive correspondence relating to any liability of or non-compliance relating to any Legacy
Benefit Plan addressed to or received from the IRS, the Department of Labor or any other
Governmental Entity within the past three (3) years. Each Legacy Benefit Plan that may be subject
to Section 409A of the Code (“Legacy Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan”) has been maintained
and operated in compliance with Section 409A of the Code such that no Taxes under Section 409A of
the Code may be imposed on participants in such plans.
4.13.2 All Legacy Benefit Plans are in material compliance with (and have been managed and
administrated in accordance with) the applicable terms of ERISA, the Code and any other applicable
laws. Except as set forth on Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.13.2, each Legacy Benefit Plan
governed by ERISA that is intended to be a qualified retirement plan under Section 401(a) of the
Code has either (i) received a favorable determination letter from the IRS (and Legacy is not aware
of any circumstances likely to result in revocation of any such favorable determination letter) or
timely application has been made therefore, or (ii) is maintained under a prototype plan which has
been approved by the IRS and is entitled to rely upon the IRS National Office opinion letter issued
to the prototype plan sponsor. To the Knowledge of Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries, there
exists no fact which would adversely affect the qualification of any of the Legacy Benefit Plans
intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code, or any threatened or pending claim
against any of the Legacy Benefit Plans or their fiduciaries by any participant, beneficiary or
Governmental Entity (other than routine claims for benefits).
4.13.3 Except as set forth on Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.13.3, no “defined benefit
plan” (as defined in Section 414(j) of the Code) has been maintained at any time by Legacy or any
of its ERISA Affiliates for the benefit of the employees or former employees of Legacy or its
Subsidiaries.
4.13.4 Within the last six (6) years, neither Legacy nor any of its ERISA Affiliates
maintained or had any obligation to contribute to a Legacy Benefit Plan which is a “multiemployer
plan” within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA, and within the last six (6) years neither
Legacy nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has incurred any withdrawal liability within the meaning of
Section 4201 of ERISA to any such “multiemployer plan.” Neither Legacy nor any of its ERISA
Affiliates has incurred any unsatisfied liability (other than PBGC premiums) to the PBGC, the IRS
or any other individual or entity under Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, and no event
or condition exists that could reasonably be expected to result in the imposition of any liability
on Legacy or any of its ERISA Affiliates under such provisions or that could reasonably be expected
to have an adverse effect on BHLB or Berkshire Bank.
4.13.5 Legacy has complied in all material respects with the notice and continuation
requirements of Parts 6 and 7 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code
(“COBRA”), and the regulations thereunder. All reports, statements, returns and other information
required to be furnished or filed with respect to Legacy Benefit Plans have been timely furnished,
filed or both in accordance with Sections 101 through 105 of ERISA and Sections 6057 through 6059
of the Code, and they are true, correct and complete. To Legacy’s Knowledge, records with respect
to Legacy Benefit Plans have been maintained in compliance with Section 107 of ERISA. To Legacy’s
Knowledge, neither Legacy nor any other fiduciary (as that term is defined in Section 3(21) of
ERISA) with respect to any of Legacy Benefit Plans has any liability for any breach of any
fiduciary duties under Sections 404, 405 or 409 of ERISA. No Legacy Benefit Plan fails to meet the
applicable requirements of Section 105(h)(2) of the Code (determined without regard to whether such
Legacy Benefit Plan is self-insured).
4.13.6 Legacy has not, with respect to any Legacy Benefit Plan, nor, to Legacy’s Knowledge,
has any administrator of any Legacy Benefit Plan, the related trusts or any trustee thereof,
engaged in any prohibited transaction which would subject Legacy, any ERISA Affiliate of Legacy, or
any Legacy Benefit Plan to a Tax or penalty on prohibited transactions imposed by ERISA, Section
4975 of the Code, or to any other liability under ERISA.
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4.13.7 Except as set forth on Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.13.7, Legacy has no
liability for retiree health and life benefits under any Legacy Benefit Plan other than any
benefits required under COBRA or similar state laws.
4.13.8 Except as set forth on Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.13.8, neither the execution
and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will
(A) result in any payment (including severance) becoming due to any director or any employee of
Legacy from Legacy under any Legacy Benefit Plan, (B) increase any benefits otherwise payable under
any Legacy Benefit Plan or (C) result in any acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any
such benefit. Except as set forth on Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.13.8, no payment which
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is or may reasonably be expected
to be made by, from or with respect to any Legacy Benefit Plan, either alone or in conjunction with
any other payment will or could properly be characterized as an “excess parachute payment” under
Section 280G of the Code on which an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code is payable or will
or could, either individually or collectively, provide for any payment by Legacy or any of its
ERISA Affiliates that would not be deductible under Code Section 162(m).
4.13.9 The actuarial present values of all accrued Legacy Non-qualified Deferred Compensation
Plans (including, to the extent applicable, entitlements under any executive compensation,
supplemental retirement, or employment agreement) of employees and former employees of Legacy and
their respective beneficiaries, other than entitlements accrued pursuant to funded retirement plans
subject to the provisions of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, have been fully
reflected on the Legacy Financial Statements to the extent required by and in accordance with GAAP.
4.13.10 There is not, and has not been, any trust or fund maintained by or contributed to by
Legacy or its employees to fund an employee benefit plan which would constitute a Voluntary
Employees’ Beneficiary Association or a “welfare benefit fund” within the meaning of Section 419(a)
of the Code.
4.13.11 No claim, lawsuit, arbitration or other action has been asserted or instituted or, to
the Knowledge of Legacy, has been threatened or is anticipated, against any Legacy Benefit Plan
(other than routine claims for benefits and appeals of such claims), Legacy or any Legacy
Subsidiary or any director, officer or employee thereof, or any of the assets of any trust of any
Legacy Benefit Plan.
4.14 Brokers, Finders and Financial Advisors.
Neither Legacy nor any Legacy Subsidiary, nor any of their respective officers, directors,
employees or agents, has employed any broker, finder or financial advisor in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or incurred any liability or commitment for any fees
or commissions to any such Person in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement except for the retention of Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx, Inc. by Legacy and the fee payable
pursuant thereto. A true and correct copy of the engagement agreement with Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx,
Inc., setting forth the fee payable to Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx, Inc. for its services rendered to
Legacy in connection with the Merger and transactions contemplated by this Agreement, is attached
to Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.14.
4.15 Environmental Matters.
4.15.1 Except as may be set forth in Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.15, with respect to
Legacy and each Legacy Subsidiary:
(A) To the Knowledge of Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries, each of Legacy and the Legacy
Subsidiaries, and the Legacy Loan Properties (as defined in Section 4.15.2) are, and have been, in
material compliance with any Environmental Laws;
(B) Neither Legacy nor any Legacy Subsidiary has received written notice in the last five (5)
years that there is any material suit, claim, action, demand, executive or administrative order,
directive, request for information, investigation or proceeding pending and, to the Knowledge of
Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries, no
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such action is threatened, before any court, governmental agency or other forum against them
or any Legacy Loan Property (x) for alleged noncompliance (including by any predecessor) with, or
liability under, any Environmental Law or (y) relating to the presence of or release into the
environment of any Materials of Environmental Concern, whether or not occurring at or on a site
owned, leased or operated by Legacy, or any of the Legacy Subsidiaries;
(C) To the Knowledge of Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries, the properties currently owned or
operated by Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary (including, without limitation, soil, groundwater or
surface water on, or under the properties, and buildings thereon) are not contaminated with and do
not otherwise contain any Materials of Environmental Concern other than in amounts permitted under
applicable Environmental Law or which are de minimis in nature and extent;
(D) There are no underground storage tanks on, in or under any properties owned or operated by
Legacy or any of the Legacy Subsidiaries or any Legacy Loan Property, and no underground storage
tanks have been closed or removed from any properties owned or operated by Legacy or any of the
Legacy Subsidiaries or any Legacy Loan Property except as in compliance with Environmental Laws;
and
(E) During the period of (a) Legacy’s or any of the Legacy Subsidiaries’ ownership or
operation of any of their respective current properties or (b) Legacy’s or any of the Legacy
Subsidiaries’ participation in the management of any Legacy Loan Property, to the Knowledge of
Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries, there has been no material contamination by or material release
of Materials of Environmental Concern in, on, under or affecting such properties. To the Knowledge
of Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries, prior to the period of (x) Legacy’s or any of the Legacy
Subsidiaries’ ownership or operation of any of their respective current properties or (y) Legacy’s
or any of the Legacy Subsidiaries’ participation in the management of any Legacy Loan Property,
there was no material contamination by or release of Materials of Environmental Concern in, on,
under or affecting such properties.
(F) Neither Legacy nor any other Legacy Subsidiary has conducted any environmental studies
during the past five (5) years (other than Phase I studies or Phase II studies which did not
indicate any contamination of the environment by Materials of Environmental Concern above
reportable levels) with respect to any properties owned or leased by it or any of its Subsidiaries,
or with respect to any Legacy Loan Property.
4.15.2 For purposes of this Section 4.15, “Legacy Loan Property” means any property in which
Legacy or a Legacy Subsidiary presently holds a direct or indirect security interest securing to a
loan or other extension of credit made by them, including through a Legacy Loan Participation, and
“Legacy Loan Participation” means a participation interest in a loan or other extension of credit
other than by Legacy or a Legacy Subsidiary.
4.16 Loan Portfolio.
4.16.1 The allowances for loan losses reflected in the notes to Legacy’s audited consolidated
statements of financial condition at December 31, 2009 and 2008 were, and the allowance for loan
losses shown in the notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements for periods ending
after December 31, 2009 were, or will be, adequate, as of the dates thereof, under GAAP.
4.16.2 Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.16.2 sets forth a listing, as of the most recently
available date (and in no event earlier than June 30, 2010), by account, of: (A) all loans
(including loan participations) of Legacy Banks that have been accelerated during the past twelve
(12) months; (B) with respect to all commercial loans (including commercial real estate loans), all
notification letters and other written communications from Legacy Banks to any borrowers, customers
or other parties during the past twelve (12) months wherein Legacy Banks has requested or demanded
that actions be taken to correct existing defaults or facts or circumstances which may become
defaults; (C) each borrower, customer or other party which has notified Legacy Banks during the
past twelve (12) months of, or has asserted against Legacy or Legacy Banks, in each case in
writing, any “lender liability” or similar claim, and, to the Knowledge of Legacy and Legacy Banks,
each borrower, customer or other party which has given Legacy or Legacy Banks any oral notification
of, or orally asserted to or against Legacy or Legacy Banks, any such claim; and (D) all loans, (1)
that are contractually past due ninety (90) days or more in the payment of principal and/or
interest, (2) that are on non-accrual status, (3) that as of June 30, 2010 are classified as “Other
Loans
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Specially Mentioned,” “Special Mention,” “Substandard,” “Doubtful,” “Loss,” “Classified,”
“Criticized,” “Watch list” or words of similar import, together with the principal amount of and accrued and unpaid interest on
each such Loan and the identity of the obligor thereunder, (4) where a reasonable doubt exists as
to the timely future collectibility of principal and/or interest, whether or not interest is still
accruing or the loans are less than ninety (90) days past due, (5) where the interest rate terms
have been reduced and/or the maturity dates have been extended subsequent to the agreement under
which the loan was originally created due to concerns regarding the borrower’s ability to pay in
accordance with such initial terms, or (6) where a specific reserve allocation exists in connection
therewith; and (E) all other assets classified by Legacy or Legacy Banks as real estate acquired
through foreclosure or in lieu of foreclosure, including in-substance foreclosures, and all other
assets currently held that were acquired through foreclosure or in lieu of foreclosure. Legacy
Disclosure Schedule 4.16.2 may exclude any individual loan with a principal outstanding balance
of less than $50,000, provided that Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.16.2 includes, for each
category described, the aggregate amount of individual loans with a principal outstanding balance
of less than $50,000 that has been excluded.
4.16.3 All loans receivable (including discounts) and accrued interest entered on the books of
Legacy and Legacy Banks arose out of bona fide arm’s-length transactions, were made for good and
valuable consideration in the ordinary course of Legacy’s and Legacy Banks’ respective businesses,
and the notes or other evidences of indebtedness with respect to such loans (including discounts)
are true and genuine and are what they purport to be. The loans, discounts and the accrued
interest reflected on the books of Legacy and Legacy Banks are subject to no defenses, set-offs or
counterclaims (including, without limitation, those afforded by usury or truth-in-lending laws),
except as may be provided by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights
generally or by general principles of equity. All such loans are owned by Legacy or Legacy Banks
free and clear of any liens.
4.16.4 The notes and other evidences of indebtedness evidencing the loans described above, and
all pledges, mortgages, deeds of trust and other collateral documents or security instruments
relating thereto are valid, true and genuine, and what they purport to be.
4.17 Related Party Transactions.
Neither Legacy nor any Legacy Subsidiary is a party to any transaction (including any loan or
other credit accommodation) with any Affiliate of Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary, except as set
forth in Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.17 or as described in Legacy’s proxy statement dated
March 31, 2010 distributed in connection with its annual meeting of shareholders held on May 12,
2010. Except as described in such proxy statement or in Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.17,
all such transactions (a) were made in the ordinary course of business, (b) were made on
substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the
time for comparable transactions with other Persons, and (c) did not involve more than the normal
risk of collectibility or present other unfavorable features. No loan or credit accommodation to
any Affiliate of Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary is presently in default or, during the three
(3)-year period prior to the date of this Agreement, has been in default or has been restructured,
modified or extended. Neither Legacy nor any Legacy Subsidiary has been notified that principal or
interest with respect to any such loan or other credit accommodation will not be paid when due or
that the loan grade classification accorded such loan or credit accommodation is inappropriate.
4.18 Deposits.
Except as set forth on Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.18, none of the deposits of Legacy
Banks as of June 30, 2010 are a “brokered deposit” as defined in 12 C.F.R. Section 337.6(a)(2).
4.19 Board Approval.
The Board of Directors of Legacy determined that the Merger is fair to, and in the best
interests of, Legacy and its stockholders, approved and declared advisable this Agreement, the
Merger, the Bank Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, resolved to recommend
adoption of this Agreement to the holders of Legacy Common Stock, and directed that this Agreement
be submitted to the holders of Legacy Common Stock for their adoption. The Board of Directors of
Legacy has taken all action so that BHLB and Berkshire Bank will not be an “interested stockholder”
or prohibited from entering into or consummating a “business combination” with Legacy
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(in each case as such term is used in Section 203 of the DGCL) as a result of the execution of
this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions in the manner contemplated hereby.
4.20 Registration Obligations.
Neither Legacy nor any Legacy Subsidiary is under any obligation, contingent or otherwise,
which will survive the Effective Time by reason of any agreement to register any transaction
involving any of its securities under the Securities Act.
4.21 Risk Management Instruments.
All interest rate swaps, caps, floors, option agreements, futures and forward contracts and
other similar risk management arrangements, whether entered into for Legacy’s own account, or for
the account of one or more of Legacy’s Subsidiaries or their customers, in force and effect as of
November 30, 2010 (all of which are set forth in Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.21), were
entered into in compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and regulatory policies,
and to the Knowledge of Legacy and each Legacy Subsidiary, with counterparties believed to be
financially responsible at the time; and to Legacy’s and each Legacy Subsidiary’s Knowledge each of
them constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of Legacy or such Legacy Subsidiary,
enforceable in accordance with its terms (except as enforceability may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and similar laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or by general equity principles), and is
in full force and effect. Neither Legacy nor any Legacy Subsidiary, nor any other party thereto,
is in breach of any of its obligations under any such agreement or arrangement.
4.22 Fairness Opinion.
Legacy has received an opinion, a copy of which will be provided to BHLB promptly following
the date of this Agreement, from Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx, Inc. to the effect that, subject to the
terms, conditions and qualifications set forth therein, as of the date hereof, the Merger
Consideration to be received by the shareholders of Legacy pursuant to this Agreement is fair to
such shareholders from a financial point of view. Such opinion has not been amended or rescinded
as of the date of this Agreement.
4.23 Intellectual Property.
Legacy and each Legacy Subsidiary owns or, to Legacy’s Knowledge, possesses valid and binding
licenses and other rights (subject to expirations in accordance with their terms) to use all
patents, copyrights, trade secrets, trade names, computer software, service marks and trademarks
used in its respective business, each without payment, and neither Legacy nor any Legacy Subsidiary
has received any notice of breach or conflict with respect thereto that asserts the rights of
others. Legacy and each Legacy Subsidiary have performed all the obligations required to be
performed, and are not in default in any respect, under any contract, agreement, arrangement or
commitment relating to any of the foregoing.
4.24 Duties as Fiduciary.
Except as set forth on Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.24, Legacy Banks has, if required
by virtue of any line of business in which it is or previously was engaged in a “fiduciary
capacity,” to its Knowledge performed all of its duties in a fashion that complied with all
applicable laws, regulations, orders, agreements, xxxxx, instruments, and common law standards in
effect at that time. Legacy Banks has not received notice of any claim, allegation, or complaint
from any Person that Legacy Banks failed to perform these duties in a manner that complied with all
applicable laws, regulations, orders, agreements, xxxxx, instruments, and common law standards,
except for notices involving matters that have been resolved and any cost of such resolution is
reflected in Legacy’s Financial Statements. For purposes of this Section 4.24, the term “fiduciary
capacity” (i) shall mean (a) acting as trustee, executor, administrator, registrar of stocks and
bonds, transfer agent, guardian, assignee, receiver, or custodian under a uniform gifts to minors
act and (b) possessing investment discretion on behalf of another, and (ii) shall exclude Legacy
Banks’ capacity with respect to individual retirement accounts or the Legacy Benefit Plans.
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4.25 Employees; Labor Matters.
4.25.1 Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.25.1 sets forth the following information with
respect to each employee of Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries as of September 30, 2010: job
location, job title, current annual base salary, and years of service, and the amount of incentive
compensation or bonus paid for the prior three (3) years.
4.25.2 There are no labor or collective bargaining agreements to which Legacy or any Legacy
Subsidiary is a party. There is no union organizing effort pending or, to the Knowledge of Legacy,
threatened against Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary. There is no labor strike, labor dispute (other
than routine employee grievances that are not related to union employees), work slowdown, stoppage
or lockout pending or, to the Knowledge of Legacy, threatened against Legacy or any Legacy
Subsidiary. There is no unfair labor practice or labor arbitration proceeding pending or, to the
Knowledge of Legacy, threatened against Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary (other than routine
employee grievances that are not related to union employees). Legacy and each Legacy Subsidiary is
in compliance with all applicable laws respecting employment and employment practices, terms and
conditions of employment and wages and hours, and are not engaged in any unfair labor practice.
Neither Legacy nor any Legacy Subsidiary is a party to, or bound by, any agreement for the leasing
of employees.
4.25.3 To Legacy’s Knowledge, all Persons who have been treated as independent contractors by
Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary for Tax purposes have met the criteria to be so treated under all
applicable federal, state and local Tax laws, rules and regulations.
4.26 Legacy Information Supplied.
The information relating to Legacy and any Legacy Subsidiary to be contained in the Merger
Registration Statement, or in any other document filed with any Bank Regulator or other
Governmental Entity in connection herewith, will not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances in which they are made, not misleading.
4.27 Securities Documents.
Since January 1, 2007, Legacy has filed with the SEC all forms, reports, schedules,
registration statements, definitive proxy statements and information statements or other filings
(“Legacy SEC Reports”) required to be filed by it with the SEC. As of their respective dates, the
Legacy SEC Reports complied as to form with the requirements of the Exchange Act or the Securities
Act, as applicable, and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder in
all material respects. As of their respective dates and as of the date any information from the
Legacy SEC Reports has been incorporated by reference, the Legacy SEC Reports did not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein made, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading. Legacy has filed all material contracts, agreements and other documents
or instruments required to be filed as exhibits to the Legacy SEC Reports.
4.28 Internal Controls.
4.28.1 The records, systems, controls, data and information of Legacy and its Subsidiaries are
recorded, stored, maintained and operated under means (including any electronic, mechanical or
photographic process, whether computerized or not) that are under the exclusive ownership and
direct control of Legacy or its Subsidiaries or accountants (including all means of access thereto
and therefrom), except for any non-exclusive ownership and non-direct control that would not
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the system of internal accounting
controls described in the following sentence. Legacy and its Subsidiaries have devised and
maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances
regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in
accordance with GAAP. Legacy has designed and implemented disclosure controls and procedures
(within the meaning of Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) to ensure that material
information relating to it and its Subsidiaries is made known to its
25
management by others within those entities as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding
required disclosure and to make the certifications required by the Exchange Act and Sections 302
and 906 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act.
4.28.2 Legacy’s management has completed an assessment of the effectiveness of its internal
control over financial reporting in compliance with the requirements of Section 404 of the
Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act for the year ended December 31, 2009, and such assessment concluded that such
controls were effective. It has previously disclosed, based on its most recent evaluation prior to
the date hereof, to its auditors and the audit committee of the Legacy board: (A) any significant
deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial
reporting and (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees
who have a significant role in its internal controls over financial reporting.
4.28.3 Since December 31, 2007, (A) neither Legacy nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to its
knowledge, any director, officer, employee, auditor, accountant or representative of Legacy or any
of its Subsidiaries has received or otherwise had or obtained knowledge of any material complaint,
allegation, assertion or claim, whether written or oral, regarding the accounting or auditing
practices, procedures, methodologies or methods (including with respect to loan loss reserves,
write-downs, charge-offs and accruals) of it or any of its subsidiaries or their respective
internal accounting controls, including any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that
it or nay of its subsidiaries has engaged in questionable accounting or auditing practices, and (B)
no attorney representing Legacy or any of its Subsidiaries, whether or not employed by it or any of
its Subsidiaries, has reported evidence of a material violation of securities laws, breach of
fiduciary to duty or similar violation by Legacy or any of its officers, directors, employees or
agents to its board of directors or any committee thereof or to any of its directors officers.
4.29 Bank Owned Life Insurance.
Legacy and each Legacy Subsidiary has obtained the written consent of each employee on whose
behalf bank owned life insurance (“BOLI”) has been purchased. Legacy Banks has taken all actions
necessary to comply with applicable law in connection with its purchase of BOLI. Legacy
Disclosure Schedule 4.29 sets forth all BOLI owned by Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary, a
breakdown of the cash surrender values on each policy, the purpose for which each policy was
purchased, the beneficiaries of such policy and a list of the lives insured thereunder.
4.30 Stock Transfer Records.
The Stock transfer books and records of Legacy are materially complete and accurate.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BHLB
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BHLB
BHLB represents and warrants to Legacy that the statements contained in this Article V are
correct as of the date of this Agreement and will be correct as of the Closing Date (as though made
then and as though the Closing Date were substituted for the date of this Agreement throughout this
Article V), subject to the standard set forth in Section 5.1 and except as set forth in the BHLB
Disclosure Schedule delivered by BHLB to Legacy on the date hereof, and except as to any
representation or warranty which specifically relates to an earlier date, which only need be so
correct as of such earlier date, provided, however, that disclosure in any section of such BHLB
Disclosure Schedule shall apply only to the indicated Section of this Agreement except to the
extent that it is reasonably apparent that such disclosure is relevant to another section of this
Agreement. References to the Knowledge of BHLB shall include the Knowledge of Berkshire Bank.
5.1 Standard.
Except as set forth in the following sentence, no representation or warranty of BHLB contained
in this Article V shall be deemed untrue or incorrect, and BHLB shall not be deemed to have
breached a representation or warranty, as a consequence of the existence of any fact, circumstance
or event unless such fact, circumstance or event, individually or taken together with all other
facts, circumstances or events inconsistent with any paragraph of this Article V, has had or
reasonably could be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, disregarding for these
26
purposes (x) any qualification or exception for, or reference to, materiality in any such
representation or warranty and (y) any use of the terms “material,” “materially,” “in all material
respects,” “Material Adverse Effect” or similar terms or phrases in any such representation or
warranty. The foregoing standard shall not apply to representations and warranties contained in
Sections 5.2 (other than Sections 5.2.3, 5.2.4, and 5.2.5 and the last sentence of Sections 5.2.1
and 5.2.2), Section 5.3 and 5.4 (other than Section 5.4.2(iii)) and Sections 5.2.3, 5.2.4, and
5.2.5 and Sections 5.3 and 5.4 (other than Section 5.4.2(iii)) shall be true and correct in all
material respects.
5.2 Organization.
5.2.1 BHLB is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the State of Delaware, and is duly registered as a savings and loan holding company under
the HOLA. BHLB has full corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted
and is duly licensed or qualified to do business in the states of the United States and foreign
jurisdictions where its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires
such qualification.
5.2.2 Berkshire Bank is a Massachusetts savings bank duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The deposits in Berkshire Bank
are insured by the FDIC to the fullest extent permitted by law, and all premiums and assessments
required to be paid in connection therewith have been paid when due. Berkshire Bank is a member in
good standing of the FHLB and owns the requisite amount of stock of each as set forth on BHLB
Disclosure Schedule 5.2.2.
5.2.3 BHLB Disclosure Schedule 5.2.3 sets forth each BHLB Subsidiary and its
jurisdiction of incorporation or organization. Each BHLB Subsidiary (other than Berkshire Bank) is
a corporation, limited liability company or other legal entity as set forth on BHLB Disclosure
Schedule 5.2.3, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation or organization. Each BHLB Subsidiary is duly licensed or qualified
to do business in the states of the United States and foreign jurisdictions where its ownership or
leasing of property or conduct of its business requires such qualification.
5.2.4 The respective minute books of BHLB and Berkshire Bank accurately record all corporate
actions of their respective shareholders and Boards of Directors (including committees).
5.2.5 Prior to the date of this Agreement, BHLB has made available to Legacy true and correct
copies of the certificate of incorporation or articles of association, as applicable, and bylaws or
other governing documents of BHLB and Berkshire Bank and each other BHLB Subsidiary.
5.3 Capitalization.
5.3.1 The authorized capital stock of BHLB consists of (i) 26,000,000 shares of BHLB Common
Stock and (ii) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share (“BHLB Preferred
Stock” and collectively with the BHLB Common Stock, the “BHLB Stock”). As of December 17, 2010,
there are (i) 14,038,711 shares of BHLB Common Stock validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and
non-assessable and free of preemptive rights, (ii) 1,801,810 shares of BHLB Common Stock held by
BHLB as treasury stock, and (iii) no shares of BHLB Preferred Stock outstanding. Berkshire Bank
does not own, of record or beneficially, any shares of BHLB Stock, other than shares held as
treasury stock. Neither BHLB nor any BHLB Subsidiary has or is bound by any Rights or other
arrangements of any character relating to the purchase, sale or issuance or voting of, or right to
receive dividends or other distributions on, any capital stock of BHLB, or any other security of
BHLB or an BHLB Subsidiary or any securities representing the right to vote, purchase or otherwise
receive any capital stock of BHLB or an BHLB Subsidiary or any other security of BHLB or any BHLB
Subsidiary, other than shares of BHLB Common Stock underlying the options and restricted stock
granted pursuant to benefit plans maintained by BHLB. BHLB has granted options to acquire 190,000
shares of BHLB Common Stock at a weighted average exercise price of $22.97 per share. All shares
of BHLB Common Stock issuable pursuant to option plans maintained by BHLB will be duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable when issued upon the terms and conditions specified
in the instruments pursuant to which they are issuable.
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5.3.2 BHLB owns all of the capital stock of each BHLB Subsidiary free and clear of all liens,
security interests, pledges, charges, encumbrances, agreements and restrictions of any kind or
nature. Except for the BHLB Subsidiaries and as set forth in BHLB Disclosure Schedule
5.3.2, BHLB as of the date of this Agreement does not possess, directly or indirectly, any
equity interest in any corporate or other legal entity, except for equity interests held in the
investment portfolios of BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary (which as to any one issuer, do not exceed
five percent (5%) of such issuer’s outstanding equity securities) and equity interests held in
connection with the lending activities of Berkshire Bank, including stock in the FHLB.
5.3.3 To BHLB’s Knowledge, except as set forth on BHLB Disclosure Schedule 5.3.3, as
of the date hereof, no Person is the beneficial owner (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange
Act) of five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding shares of BHLB Common Stock.
5.3.4 No bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness having the right to vote on any
matters on which BHLB’s shareholders may vote have been issued by BHLB and are outstanding.
5.4 Authority; No Violation.
5.4.1 BHLB has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and,
subject to receipt of the Regulatory Approvals and the approval of this Agreement by BHLB’s
shareholders, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by BHLB and the completion by BHLB of the
transactions contemplated hereby, up to and including the Merger, have been duly and validly
approved by the Board of Directors of BHLB. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and
delivered by BHLB, and subject to the receipt of the Regulatory Approvals, Legacy Shareholder
Approval and the shareholders of BHLB, and due and valid execution and delivery of this Agreement
by Legacy, constitutes the valid and binding obligations of BHLB, enforceable against BHLB in
accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting
creditors’ rights generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity.
5.4.2 (a) Subject to compliance of Legacy with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by BHLB, subject to receipt of the Regulatory Approvals,
and compliance by Legacy and BHLB with any conditions contained therein, and subject to the receipt
of the Legacy Shareholder Approval and the approval of the shareholders of BHLB, the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby, and (b) compliance by BHLB with the terms and provisions
hereof will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach of any provision of the certificate of
incorporation or articles of association, as applicable, and bylaws of BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary;
(ii) violate any statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ, decree or
injunction applicable to BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary or any of their respective properties or
assets; or (iii) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provisions of, constitute a
default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default)
under, result in the termination or amendment of, accelerate the performance required by, or result
in a right of termination or acceleration or the creation of any lien, security interest, charge or
other encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary under any of
the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license,
lease, agreement or other investment or obligation to which BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary is a party,
or by which they or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound or affected.
5.5 Consents.
Except for (a) the receipt of the Regulatory Approvals and compliance with any conditions
contained therein, (b) compliance with applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act and state securities or “blue sky” laws, (c) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (d) the filing with the SEC of (i) the Merger
Registration Statement and (ii) such reports under Sections 13(a), 13(d), 13(g) and 16(a) of the
Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby and the obtaining from the SEC of such orders as may be required in connection therewith,
(e) notification of the listing of BHLB Common Stock to be issued in the Merger on the NASDAQ
Global Select Market and (f) the approval of this Agreement by the Legacy Shareholder Approval and
the approval of the shareholders of BHLB, no consents, waivers or approvals of, or filings or
registrations with, any Governmental Entity or Bank Regulator are necessary, and, to the Knowledge
of BHLB, no consents, waivers or approvals of, or
28
filings or registrations with, any other third parties are necessary, in connection with (x)
the execution and delivery of this Agreement by BHLB, the completion by BHLB of the Merger and the
performance by BHLB of its obligations hereunder or (y) the execution and delivery of the agreement
and plan of merger in respect of the Bank Merger and the completion of the Bank Merger. BHLB has
no reason to believe that (i) any Regulatory Approvals or other required consents or approvals will
not be received or will include the imposition of any condition (financial or otherwise) or
requirement that could reasonably be expected by BHLB to result in a Material Adverse Effect on
BHLB and Berkshire Bank, taken as a whole, or Legacy and Legacy Banks, taken as a whole, or that
(ii) any public body or authority having jurisdiction over the affairs of BHLB and Berkshire Bank,
the consent or approval of which is not required or pursuant to the rules of which a filing is not
required, will object to the completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
5.6 Financial Statements.
5.6.1 The BHLB Regulatory Reports have been prepared in all material respects in accordance
with applicable regulatory accounting principles and practices throughout the periods covered by
such statements, and fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position,
results of operations and changes in shareholders’ equity of BHLB as of and for the periods ended
on the dates thereof, in accordance with applicable regulatory accounting principles applied on a
consistent basis.
5.6.2 BHLB has previously made available to Legacy the BHLB Financial Statements covering
periods ended prior to the date hereof. The BHLB Financial Statements have been prepared in
accordance with GAAP in all material respects, and (including the related notes where applicable)
fairly present in each case in all material respects (subject in the case of the unaudited interim
statements to normal year-end adjustments) the consolidated financial position, results of
operations and cash flows of BHLB and the Berkshire Bank on a consolidated basis as of and for the
respective periods ending on the dates thereof, in accordance with GAAP during the periods
involved, except as indicated in the notes thereto, or in the case of unaudited statements, as
permitted by Form 10-Q.
5.6.3 At the date of the most recent consolidated statement of financial condition included in
the BHLB Financial Statements or in the BHLB Regulatory Reports, BHLB did not have any liabilities,
obligations or loss contingencies of any nature (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or
otherwise) of a type required to be reflected in such BHLB Financial Statements or in the footnotes
thereto which are not fully reflected or reserved against therein or fully disclosed in a footnote
thereto, except for liabilities, obligations and loss contingencies which are not material
individually or in the aggregate or which are incurred in the ordinary course of business,
consistent with past practice, and subject, in the case of any unaudited statements, to normal,
recurring audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.
5.7 Tax Matters.
5.7.1 Except as provided in this Agreement, neither BHLB nor any of its Subsidiaries or
Affiliates has taken or agreed to take any action, has failed to take any action or knows of any
fact, agreement, plan or other circumstance that could reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger
from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. BHLB and
the BHLB Subsidiaries are members of the same affiliated group within the meaning of Code Section
1504(a). BHLB, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, has timely filed or caused to be filed
all Tax Returns (including, but not limited to, those filed on a consolidated, combined or unitary
basis) required to have been filed by BHLB and the BHLB Subsidiaries prior to the date hereof, or
requests for extensions to file such returns and reports have been timely filed. All such Tax
Returns are true, correct, and complete in all material respects. BHLB and the BHLB Subsidiaries
have timely paid or, prior to the Effective Time will pay, all Taxes, whether or not shown on such
returns or reports, due or claimed to be due to any Governmental Entity prior to the Effective Time
other than Taxes which are being contested in good faith. BHLB and the BHLB Subsidiaries have
declared on their Tax Returns all positions taken therein that could give rise to a substantial
underpayment of United States Federal Income Tax within the meaning of Section 6662 of the Code (or
any corresponding provision of state or local laws). The unpaid accrued but unpaid Taxes of BHLB
and the BHLB Subsidiaries did not, as of the most recent BHLB Financial Statements, exceed the
reserve for Tax liability (rather than any reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing
differences between book and Tax income) set forth on the face of the most recent BHLB balance
sheet (rather than in any notes thereto). BHLB and its Subsidiaries are
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subject to Tax audits in the ordinary course of business. BHLB management does not believe
that an adverse resolution to any of such audits of which it has Knowledge would be reasonably
likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on BHLB. BHLB and the BHLB Subsidiaries have not been
notified in writing by any jurisdiction that the jurisdiction believes that BHLB or any of the BHLB
Subsidiaries were required to file any Tax Return in such jurisdiction that was not filed. Neither
BHLB nor any of the BHLB Subsidiaries (A) has been a member of a group with which they have filed
or been included in a combined, consolidated or unitary income Tax Return other than a group the
common parent of which was BHLB or (B) has any liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than
BHLB or any of the BHLB Subsidiaries) under Treas. Reg. § 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of
state, local, or non-U.S. law), as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise. As of the
date hereof, all deficiencies proposed in writing as a result of any audits have been paid or
settled. There are no written claims or assessments pending against BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary
for any alleged deficiency in any Tax, and neither BHLB nor any BHLB Subsidiary has been notified
in writing of any proposed Tax claims or assessments against BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary. BHLB and
the BHLB Subsidiaries each have duly and timely withheld, collected and paid over to the
appropriate taxing authority all amounts required to be so withheld and paid under all applicable
laws, and have duly and timely filed all Tax Returns with respect to such withheld Taxes, within
the time prescribed under any applicable law. BHLB and the BHLB Subsidiaries have delivered to
Legacy true and complete copies of all Tax Returns of BHLB and the BHLB Subsidiaries for taxable
periods ending on or after December 31, 2005. Neither BHLB nor any of the BHLB Subsidiaries is or
has been a party to any “reportable transaction,” as defined in Code § 6707A(c)(1) and Treas. Reg.
§ 1.6011-4(b). Neither BHLB nor any of the BHLB Subsidiaries has distributed stock of another
Person, or has had its stock distributed by another Person, in a transaction that was purported or
intended to be governed in whole or in part by Code § 355 or Code § 361. Neither BHLB nor any of
the BHLB Subsidiaries has been a United States real property holding corporation within the meaning
of Code § 897(c)(2) during the applicable period specified in Code § 897(c)(1)(A)(ii).
5.8 No Material Adverse Effect.
Neither BHLB nor any BHLB Subsidiary has suffered any Material Adverse Effect since December
31, 2009 and, to BHLB’s Knowledge, no event has occurred or circumstance arisen since that date
which, in the aggregate, has had or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on BHLB.
5.9 Ownership of Property; Insurance Coverage.
5.9.1 Except as set forth on BHLB Disclosure Schedule 5.9.1, BHLB and each BHLB
Subsidiary has good and, as to real property, marketable title to all assets and properties owned
by BHLB or such BHLB Subsidiary, as applicable, in the conduct of its businesses, whether such
assets and properties are real or personal, tangible or intangible, including assets and property
reflected in the most recent consolidated statement of financial condition contained in the BHLB
Financial Statements or acquired subsequent thereto (except to the extent that such assets and
properties have been disposed of in the ordinary course of business, since the date of such
consolidated statement of financial condition), subject to no encumbrances, liens, mortgages,
security interests or pledges, except (i) those items which secure liabilities for public or
statutory obligations or any discount with, borrowing from or other obligations to FHLB, inter-bank
credit facilities, reverse repurchase agreements or any transaction by an BHLB Subsidiary acting in
a fiduciary capacity, and (ii) statutory liens for amounts not yet delinquent or which are being
contested in good faith. BHLB and the BHLB Subsidiaries, as lessee, have the right under valid and
existing leases of real and personal properties used by BHLB and the BHLB Subsidiaries in the
conduct of their businesses to occupy or use all such properties as presently occupied and used by
each of them. Such existing leases and commitments to lease constitute or will constitute
operating leases for both tax and financial accounting purposes and the lease expense and minimum
rental commitments with respect to such leases and lease commitments are as disclosed in all
material respects in the notes to the BHLB Financial Statements.
5.9.2 With respect to all material agreements pursuant to which BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary
has purchased securities subject to an agreement to resell, if any, BHLB or such BHLB Subsidiary,
as the case may be, has a lien or security interest (which to BHLB’s Knowledge is a valid,
perfected first lien) in the securities or other collateral securing the repurchase agreement, and
the value of such collateral equals or exceeds the amount of the debt secured thereby.
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5.9.3 BHLB and each BHLB Subsidiary currently maintain insurance considered by each of them to
be reasonable for their respective operations. Neither BHLB nor any BHLB Subsidiary, has received
notice from any insurance carrier on or before the date hereof that (i) such insurance will be
canceled or that coverage thereunder will be reduced or eliminated, or (ii) premium costs with
respect to such policies of insurance will be substantially increased. Except as listed on
BHLB Disclosure Schedule 5.9.3, there are presently no claims pending under such policies
of insurance and no notices of claim have been given by BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary under such
policies. All such insurance is valid and enforceable and in full force and effect (other than
insurance that expires in accordance with its terms), and within the last three (3) years BHLB and
each BHLB Subsidiary has received each type of insurance coverage for which it has applied and
during such periods has not been denied indemnification for any claims submitted under any of its
insurance policies. BHLB Disclosure Schedule 5.9.3 identifies all policies of insurance
maintained by BHLB and each BHLB Subsidiary, including the name of the insurer, the policy number,
the type of policy and any applicable deductibles, as well as the other matters required to be
disclosed under this Section 5.9.3. BHLB has made available to Legacy copies of all of the
policies listed on BHLB Disclosure Schedule 5.9.3.
5.10 Legal Proceedings.
Except as set forth on BHLB Disclosure Schedule 5.10, there is no suit, action,
investigation or proceeding pending or, to its knowledge, threatened against or affecting BHLB or
any of its Subsidiaries (and it is not aware of any facts that reasonably could be expected to form
the basis for any such suit, action or proceeding) (1) that involves a Governmental Entity or Bank
Regulator, or (2) that, individually or in the aggregate , is (A) material to it and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or reasonably likely to result in a restriction on its or any of
its Subsidiaries’ businesses or, or after the Effective Time, BHLB’s or any of its Subsidiaries’
businesses, or (B) reasonably likely to prevent or delay it from performing its obligations under,
or consummating the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement. There is no injunction, order,
award, judgment, settlement, decree or regulatory restriction imposed upon or entered into by BHLB,
any of its Subsidiaries or the assets of it or any of its Subsidiaries.
5.11 Compliance with Applicable Law.
Except as set forth on BHLB Disclosure Schedule 5.11:
5.11.1 To BHLB’s Knowledge, BHLB and each BHLB Subsidiary is in compliance in all material
respects with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws, regulations,
ordinances, rules, judgments, orders or decrees applicable to it, its properties, assets and
deposits, its business, its conduct of business and its relationship with its employees, including,
without limitation, the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required
to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Truth in
Lending Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Consumer Credit Protection Act, the
Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Debt Collections Act, the Fair Housing Act, the CRA, the Home
Mortgage Disclosure Act, and all other applicable fair lending laws and other laws relating to
discriminatory business practices, and neither BHLB nor any BHLB Subsidiary has received any
written notice to the contrary.
5.11.2 BHLB and each BHLB Subsidiary has all material permits, licenses, authorizations,
orders and approvals of, and has made all filings, applications and registrations with, all
Governmental Entities and Bank Regulators that are required in order to permit it to own or lease
its properties and to conduct its business as presently conducted; all such permits, licenses,
certificates of authority, orders and approvals are in full force and effect and, to the Knowledge
of BHLB, no suspension or cancellation of any such permit, license, certificate, order or approval
is threatened or will result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, subject to obtaining the approvals set forth in Section 8.3.
5.11.3 For the period beginning January 1, 2007, neither BHLB nor any BHLB Subsidiary has
received any written notification or any other communication from any Bank Regulator or Insurance
Regulator (i) asserting that BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary is not in material compliance with any of
the statutes, regulations or ordinances which such Bank Regulator or Insurance Regulator enforces;
(ii) threatening to revoke any license, franchise, permit or governmental authorization; (iii)
requiring or threatening to require BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary, or indicating that BHLB or any
BHLB Subsidiary may be required, to enter into a cease and desist order, agreement or memorandum of
understanding or any other agreement with any federal or state governmental agency
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or authority which is charged with the supervision or regulation of banks, savings and loan
holding companies or insurance agencies, or engages in the insurance of bank deposits, restricting
or limiting, or purporting to restrict or limit the operations of BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary,
including without limitation any restriction on the payment of dividends; or (iv) directing,
restricting or limiting, or purporting to direct, restrict or limit the operations of BHLB or any
BHLB Subsidiary. Neither BHLB nor any BHLB Subsidiary has consented to or entered into any
Regulatory Agreement that is currently in effect. The most recent regulatory rating given to
Berkshire Bank as to compliance with the CRA is “Satisfactory” or better.
5.12 Employee Benefit Plans.
5.12.1 BHLB Disclosure Schedule 5.12.1 contains a list of all written and unwritten
pension, retirement, profit-sharing, thrift, savings, deferred compensation, stock option, employee
stock ownership, employee stock purchase, restricted stock, severance pay, retention, vacation,
bonus or other incentive plans, all employment, change in control, consulting, severance and
retention agreements, all other written employee programs, arrangements or agreements, all medical,
vision, dental, disability, life insurance, workers’ compensation, employee assistance or other
health or welfare plans, and all other employee benefit or fringe benefit plans, including
“employee benefit plans” as that term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, currently adopted,
maintained by, sponsored in whole or in part by, or contributed to by BHLB or any of its ERISA
Affiliates for the benefit of employees, former employees, retirees (or the dependents, including
spouses, of the foregoing), directors, independent contractors or other service providers to BHLB
and under which employees, former employees, retirees, dependents, spouses, directors, or other
service providers of BHLB are eligible to participate (collectively, the “BHLB Benefit Plans”).
BHLB has furnished or otherwise made available to Legacy true and complete copies of (i) the plan
documents and summary plan descriptions for each written BHLB Benefit Plan, (ii) a summary of each
unwritten BHLB Benefit Plan (if applicable), (iii) the actuarial valuation reports with respect to
each tax-qualified BHLB Benefit Plan that is a defined benefit pension plan for the three (3) most
recent years, (iv) all related trust agreements, insurance contracts or other funding agreements
which currently implement the BHLB Benefit Plans (if applicable), (v) the most recent IRS
determination letter with respect to each tax-qualified BHLB Benefit Plan (or, for a BHLB Benefit
Plan maintained under a pre-approved prototype or volume submitter plan, the IRS determination
letter on such pre-approved plan) and (vi) all substantive correspondence relating to any liability
of or non-compliance relating to any BHLB Benefit Plan addressed to or received from the IRS, the
Department of Labor or any other Governmental Entity within the past three (3) years. Each BHLB
Benefit Plan that may be subject to Section 409A of the Code (“BHLB Non-qualified Deferred
Compensation Plan”) has been maintained and operated in compliance with Section 409A of the Code
such that no Taxes under Section 409A of the Code may be imposed on participants in such plans.
5.12.2 All BHLB Benefit Plans are in material compliance with (and have been managed and
administrated in accordance with) the applicable terms of ERISA, the Code and any other applicable
laws. Except as set forth on BHLB Disclosure Schedule 5.12.2, each BHLB Benefit Plan
governed by ERISA that is intended to be a qualified retirement plan under Section 401(a) of the
Code has either (i) received a favorable determination letter from the IRS (and BHLB is not aware
of any circumstances likely to result in revocation of any such favorable determination letter) or
timely application has been made therefore, or (ii) is maintained under a prototype plan which has
been approved by the IRS and is entitled to rely upon the IRS National Office opinion letter issued
to the prototype plan sponsor. To the Knowledge of BHLB and the BHLB Subsidiaries, there exists no
fact which would adversely affect the qualification of any of the BHLB Benefit Plans intended to be
qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code, or any threatened or pending claim against any of the
BHLB Benefit Plans or their fiduciaries by any participant, beneficiary or Governmental Entity
(other than routine claims for benefits).
5.12.3 Except as set forth on BHLB Disclosure Schedule 5.12.3, no “defined benefit
plan” (as defined in Section 414(j) of the Code) has been maintained at any time by BHLB or any of
its ERISA Affiliates for the benefit of the employees or former employees of BHLB or its
Subsidiaries.
5.12.4 Within the last six (6) years, neither BHLB nor any of its ERISA Affiliates maintained
or had any obligation to contribute to a BHLB Benefit Plan which is a “multiemployer plan” within
the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA, and within the last six (6) years neither BHLB nor any of
its ERISA Affiliates has incurred any withdrawal liability within the meaning of Section 4201 of
ERISA to any such “multiemployer plan.” Neither BHLB nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has incurred
any unsatisfied liability (other than PBGC premiums) to the
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PBGC, the IRS or any other individual or entity under Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the
Code, and no event or condition exists that could reasonably be expected to result in the
imposition of any liability on BHLB or any of its ERISA Affiliates under such provisions or that
could reasonably be expected to have an adverse effect on BHLB or Berkshire Bank.
5.12.5 BHLB has complied in all material respects with the notice and continuation
requirements of Parts 6 and 7 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code
(“COBRA”), and the regulations thereunder. All reports, statements, returns and other information
required to be furnished or filed with respect to BHLB Benefit Plans have been timely furnished,
filed or both in accordance with Sections 101 through 105 of ERISA and Sections 6057 through 6059
of the Code, and they are true, correct and complete. To BHLB’s Knowledge, records with respect to
BHLB Benefit Plans have been maintained in compliance with Section 107 of ERISA. To BHLB’s
Knowledge, neither BHLB nor any other fiduciary (as that term is defined in Section 3(21) of ERISA)
with respect to any of BHLB Benefit Plans has any liability for any breach of any fiduciary duties
under Sections 404, 405 or 409 of ERISA. No BHLB Benefit Plan fails to meet the applicable
requirements of Section 105(h)(2) of the Code (determined without regard to whether such BHLB
Benefit Plan is self-insured).
5.12.6 BHLB has not, with respect to any BHLB Benefit Plan, nor, to BHLB’s Knowledge, has any
administrator of any BHLB Benefit Plan, the related trusts or any trustee thereof, engaged in any
prohibited transaction which would subject BHLB, any ERISA Affiliate of BHLB, or any BHLB Benefit
Plan to a Tax or penalty on prohibited transactions imposed by ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code, or
to any other liability under ERISA.
5.12.7 Except as set forth on BHLB Disclosure Schedule 5.12.7, BHLB has no liability
for retiree health and life benefits under any BHLB Benefit Plan other than any benefits required
under COBRA or similar state laws.
5.12.8 Except as set forth on BHLB Disclosure Schedule 5.12.8, neither the execution
and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will
(A) result in any payment (including severance) becoming due to any director or any employee of
BHLB from BHLB under any BHLB Benefit Plan, (B) increase any benefits otherwise payable under any
BHLB Benefit Plan or (C) result in any acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such
benefit. Except as set forth on BHLB Disclosure Schedule 5.12.8, no payment which in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is or may reasonably be expected to
be made by, from or with respect to any BHLB Benefit Plan, either alone or in conjunction with any
other payment will or could properly be characterized as an “excess parachute payment” under
Section 280G of the Code on which an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code is payable or will
or could, either individually or collectively, provide for any payment by BHLB or any of its ERISA
Affiliates that would not be deductible under Code Section 162(m).
5.12.9 The actuarial present values of all accrued BHLB Non-qualified Deferred Compensation
Plans (including, to the extent applicable, entitlements under any executive compensation,
supplemental retirement, or employment agreement) of employees and former employees of BHLB and
their respective beneficiaries, other than entitlements accrued pursuant to funded retirement plans
subject to the provisions of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, have been fully
reflected on the BHLB Financial Statements to the extent required by and in accordance with GAAP.
5.12.10 There is not, and has not been, any trust or fund maintained by or contributed to by
BHLB or its employees to fund an employee benefit plan which would constitute a Voluntary
Employees’ Beneficiary Association or a “welfare benefit fund” within the meaning of Section 419(a)
of the Code.
5.12.11 No claim, lawsuit, arbitration or other action has been asserted or instituted or, to
the Knowledge of BHLB, has been threatened or is anticipated, against any BHLB Benefit Plan (other
than routine claims for benefits and appeals of such claims), BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary or any
director, officer or employee thereof, or any of the assets of any trust of any BHLB Benefit Plan.
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5.13 Brokers, Finders and Financial Advisors.
Neither BHLB nor any BHLB Subsidiary, nor any of their respective officers, directors,
employees or agents, has employed any broker, finder or financial advisor in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or incurred any liability or commitment for any fees
or commissions to any such Person in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, except for the retention of Sandler X’Xxxxx & Partners, L.P. by BHLB and the fee payable
thereto. A true and correct copy of the engagement agreement with Sandler X’Xxxxx & Partners,
L.P., setting forth the fee payable to Sandler X’Xxxxx & Partners, L.P. for its services rendered
to BHLB in connection with the Merger and transactions contemplated by this Agreement is attached
to BHLB Disclosure Schedule 5.13.
5.14 Environmental Matters.
5.14.1 Except as may be set forth in BHLB Disclosure Schedule 5.14, with respect to
BHLB and each BHLB Subsidiary:
(A) To the Knowledge of BHLB and the BHLB Subsidiaries, each of BHLB and the BHLB
Subsidiaries, and the BHLB Loan Properties (as defined in Section 5.14.2) are, and have been, in
material compliance with any Environmental Laws;
(B) Neither BHLB nor any BHLB Subsidiary has received written notice in the last five (5)
years that there is any material suit, claim, action, demand, executive or administrative order,
directive, request for information, investigation or proceeding pending and, to the Knowledge of
BHLB and the BHLB Subsidiaries, no such action is threatened, before any court, governmental agency
or other forum against them or any BHLB Loan Property (x) for alleged noncompliance (including by
any predecessor) with, or liability under, any Environmental Law or (y) relating to the presence of
or release into the environment of any Materials of Environmental Concern, whether or not occurring
at or on a site owned, leased or operated by BHLB, or any of the BHLB Subsidiaries;
(C) To the Knowledge of BHLB and the BHLB Subsidiaries, the properties currently owned or
operated by BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary (including, without limitation, soil, groundwater or
surface water on, or under the properties, and buildings thereon) are not contaminated with and do
not otherwise contain any Materials of Environmental Concern other than in amounts permitted under
applicable Environmental Law or which are de minimis in nature and extent;
(D) There are no underground storage tanks on, in or under any properties owned or operated by
BHLB or any of the BHLB Subsidiaries or any BHLB Loan Property, and no underground storage tanks
have been closed or removed from any properties owned or operated by BHLB or any of the BHLB
Subsidiaries or any BHLB Loan Property except as in compliance with Environmental Laws; and
(E) During the period of (a) BHLB’s or any of the BHLB Subsidiaries’ ownership or operation of
any of their respective current properties or (b) BHLB’s or any of the BHLB Subsidiaries’
participation in the management of any BHLB Loan Property, to the Knowledge of BHLB and the BHLB
Subsidiaries, there has been no material contamination by or material release of Materials of
Environmental Concern in, on, under or affecting such properties. To the Knowledge of BHLB and the
BHLB Subsidiaries, prior to the period of (x) BHLB’s or any of the BHLB Subsidiaries’ ownership or
operation of any of their respective current properties or (y) BHLB’s or any of the BHLB
Subsidiaries’ participation in the management of any BHLB Loan Property, there was no material
contamination by or release of Materials of Environmental Concern in, on, under or affecting such
properties.
(F) Neither BHLB nor any other BHLB Subsidiary has conducted any environmental studies during
the past five (5) years (other than Phase I studies or Phase II studies which did not indicate any
contamination of the environment by Materials of Environmental Concern above reportable levels)
with respect to any properties owned or leased by it or any of its Subsidiaries, or with respect to
any BHLB Loan Property.
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5.14.2 For purposes of this Section 5.14, “BHLB Loan Property” means any property in which
BHLB or an BHLB Subsidiary presently holds a direct or indirect security interest securing to a
loan or other extension of credit made by them, including through an BHLB Loan Participation, and
“BHLB Loan Participation” means a participation interest in a loan or other extension of credit
other than by BHLB or an BHLB Subsidiary.
5.15 BHLB Information Supplied.
The information relating to BHLB and any BHLB Subsidiary to be contained in the Merger
Registration Statement, or in any other document filed with any Bank Regulator or other
Governmental Entity in connection herewith, will not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances in which they are made, not misleading.
5.16 Securities Documents.
Since January 1, 2007, BHLB has filed with the SEC all forms, reports, schedules, registration
statements, definitive proxy statements and information statements or other filings (“BHLB SEC
Reports”) required to be filed by it with the SEC. As of their respective dates, the BHLB SEC
Reports complied as to form with the requirements of the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as
applicable, and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder in all
material respects. As of their respective dates and as of the date any information from the BHLB
SEC Reports has been incorporated by reference, the BHLB SEC Reports did not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein made, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. BHLB has filed all material contracts, agreements and other documents or
instruments required to be filed as exhibits to the BHLB SEC Reports (the “BHLB Material
Agreements”).
5.17 Internal Controls.
5.17.1 The records, systems, controls, data and information of BHLB and its Subsidiaries are
recorded, stored, maintained and operated under means (including any electronic, mechanical or
photographic process, whether computerized or not) that are under the exclusive ownership and
direct control of BHLB or its Subsidiaries or accountants (including all means of access thereto
and therefrom), except for any non-exclusive ownership and non-direct control that would not
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the system of internal accounting
controls described in the following sentence. BHLB and its Subsidiaries have devised and maintain
a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with
GAAP. BHLB has designed and implemented disclosure controls and procedures (within the meaning of
Rules 13a-15(e) and 15D-15(e) of the Exchange Act) to ensure that material information relating to
it and its Subsidiaries is made known to its management by others within those entities as
appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to make the certifications
required by the Exchange Act and Section 302 and 906 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act.
5.17.2 BHLB’s management has completed an assessment of the effectiveness of its internal
control over financial reporting in compliance with the requirements of Section 404 of the
Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act for the year ended December 31, 2009, and such assessment concluded that such
controls were effective. It has previously disclosed, based on its most recent evaluation prior to
the date hereof, to its auditors and the audit committee of the Legacy Board; (A) any significant
deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial
reporting and (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees
who have a significant role in its internal controls over financial reporting.
5.17.3 Since December 31, 2007, (A) neither BHLB nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to its
knowledge, any director, officer, employee, auditor, accountant or representative of BHLB or any of
its Subsidiaries has received or otherwise had or obtained knowledge of any material complaint,
allegation, assertion or claim, whether written or oral, regarding the accounting or auditing
practices, procedures, methodologies or methods (including with respect to loan loss reserves,
write-downs, charge-offs and accruals) of it or any of its subsidiaries or their respective
internal accounting controls, including any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that
it or any of its subsidiaries has engaged in questionable accounting or auditing practices, and (B)
no attorney representing BHLB or any of its Subsidiaries, whether or not employed by it or any of
its Subsidiaries, has reported
35
evidence of a material violation of securities laws, breach of fiduciary duty or similar
violation by BHLB or any of its officers, directors, employees or agents to its board of directors
or any committee thereof or to any of its directors or officers.
5.18 BHLB Common Stock.
The shares of BHLB Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement, when issued in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid
and non-assessable and subject to no preemptive rights.
5.19 Available Funds
Immediately prior to the Effective Time, BHLB will have cash sufficient to pay or cause to be
deposited into the Exchange Fund as required by Section 3.3.
5.20 Berkshire Insurance Group, Inc.
Berkshire Insurance, a Massachusetts insurance agency, and its Affiliates are in compliance
with all laws, rules, and regulations applicable to Persons engaged in the insurance agency
business. Neither Berkshire Insurance nor any of its Affiliates has been a party, directly or
indirectly, to the placement of insurance which is unlawful. To the Knowledge of BHLB and
Berkshire Insurance, no binder of insurance has been issued or sent to any Person by or on behalf
of Berkshire Insurance unless and until the relevant risk was properly bound and all binders of
insurance on the part of Berkshire Insurance are complete and accurate.
5.21 Fairness Opinion.
BHLB has received an opinion, a copy of which will be provided to Legacy promptly following
the date of this Agreement, from Sandler X’Xxxxx & Partners, L.P., to the effect that, subject to
the terms, conditions and qualifications set forth therein, as of the date hereof, the Merger
Consideration to be received by the shareholders of Legacy pursuant to this Agreement is fair to
BHLB and its shareholders from a financial point of view. Such opinion has not been amended or
rescinded as of the date of this Agreement.
5.22 Board Approval.
The Board of Directors of BHLB determined that the Merger is fair to, and in the best
interests of, BHLB and its stockholders, approved and declared advisable this Agreement, the
Merger, the Bank Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, resolved to recommend
adoption of this Agreement to the holders of BHLB Common Stock, and directed that this Agreement be
submitted to the holders of BHLB Common Stock for their adoption. The Board of Directors of BHLB
has taken all action so that Legacy and Legacy Banks will not be an “interested stockholder” or
prohibited from entering into or consummating a “business combination” with BHLB (in each case as
such term is used in Section 203 of the DGCL) as a result of the execution of this Agreement or the
consummation of the transactions in the manner contemplated hereby.
5.23 Material Agreement; Defaults.
5.23.1 Subject to any consents that may be required as a result of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, to its Knowledge neither BHLB nor any BHLB Subsidiary is in
material default under any BHLB Material Agreement by which its assets, business, or operations may
be bound or affected, or under which it or its assets, business, or operations receive benefits,
and there has not occurred any event that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both,
would constitute such a default.
5.23.2 Except as set forth in BHLB Disclosure Schedule 5.23.2, no BHLB Material
Agreement (i) provides for acceleration of the vesting of benefits or payments due thereunder upon
the occurrence of a change in ownership or control of BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary or upon the
occurrence of a subsequent event; (ii) requires BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary to provide a benefit in
the form of BHLB Common Stock or determined by reference
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to the value of BHLB Common Stock or (iii) contains provisions which permit an employee,
director or independent contractor to terminate such agreement or arrangement without cause and
continue to accrue future benefits thereunder.
5.24 Loan Portfolio.
5.24.1 The allowances for loan losses reflected in the notes to BHLB’s audited consolidated
statements of financial condition at December 31, 2009 and 2008 were, and the allowance for loan
losses shown in the notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements for periods ending
after December 31, 2009 were, or will be, adequate, as of the dates thereof, under GAAP.
5.24.2 BHLB Disclosure Schedule 5.24.2 sets forth a listing that as of June 30, 2010
are classified as “Other Loans Specially Mentioned,” “Special Mention,” “Substandard,” “Doubtful,”
“Loss,” “Classified,” “Criticized,” “Watch list” or words of similar import, together with the
principal amount of and accrued and unpaid interest on each such Loan and the identity of the
obligor thereunder.
5.24.3 All loans receivable (including discounts) and accrued interest entered on the books of
BHLB and Berkshire Bank arose out of bona fide arm’s-length transactions, were made for good and
valuable consideration in the ordinary course of BHLB’s and Berkshire Bank’s respective businesses,
and the notes or other evidences of indebtedness with respect to such loans (including discounts)
are true and genuine and are what they purport to be. The loans, discounts and the accrued
interest reflected on the books of BHLB and Berkshire Bank are subject to no defenses, set-offs or
counterclaims (including, without limitation, those afforded by usury or truth-in-lending laws),
except as may be provided by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights
generally or by general principles of equity. All such loans are owned by BHLB or Berkshire Bank
free and clear of any liens.
5.24.4 The notes and other evidences of indebtedness evidencing the loans described above, and
all pledges, mortgages, deeds of trust and other collateral documents or security instruments
relating thereto are valid, true and genuine, and what they purport to be.
5.25 Related Party Transactions.
5.25.1 Neither BHLB nor any BHLB Subsidiary is a party to any transaction (including any loan
or other credit accommodation) with any Affiliate of BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary, except as set
forth in BHLB Disclosure Schedule 5.25 or as described in BHLB’s proxy statement dated
March 26, 2010 distributed in connection with its annual meeting of shareholders held on May 6,
2010. Except as described in such proxy statement or in BHLB Disclosure Schedule 5.25, all
such transactions (a) were made in the ordinary course of business, (b) were made on substantially
the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for
comparable transactions with other Persons, and (c) did not involve more than the normal risk of
collectibility or present other unfavorable features. No loan or credit accommodation to any
Affiliate of BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary is presently in default or, during the three (3)-year
period prior to the date of this Agreement, has been in default or has been restructured, modified
or extended. Neither BHLB nor any BHLB Subsidiary has been notified that principal or interest
with respect to any such loan or other credit accommodation will not be paid when due or that the
loan grade classification accorded such loan or credit accommodation is inappropriate.
5.26 Risk Management Instruments.
All interest rate swaps, caps, floors, option agreements, futures and forward contracts and
other similar risk management arrangements, whether entered into for BHLB’s own account, or for the
account of one or more of BHLB’s Subsidiaries or their customers, in force and effect as of
November 30, 2010 (all of which are set forth in BHLB Disclosure Schedule 5.26), were
entered into in compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and regulatory policies,
and to the Knowledge of BHLB and each BHLB Subsidiary, with counterparties believed to be
financially responsible at the time; and to BHLB’s and each BHLB Subsidiary’s Knowledge each of
them constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of BHLB or such BHLB Subsidiary,
enforceable in accordance with its terms (except as enforceability may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
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moratorium, fraudulent transfer and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors’ rights or by general equity principles), and is in full force and effect. Neither BHLB
nor any BHLB Subsidiary, nor any other party thereto, is in breach of any of its obligations under
any such agreement or arrangement.
5.27 Duties as Fiduciary.
Other than as set forth on BHLB Disclosure Schedule 5.27, Berkshire Bank has, if
required by virtue of any line of business in which it is or previously was engaged in a “fiduciary
capacity,” to its Knowledge has performed all of its duties in a fashion that complied with all
applicable laws, regulations, orders, agreements, xxxxx, instruments, and common law standards in
effect at that time. Berkshire Bank has not received notice of any claim, allegation, or complaint
from any Person that Berkshire Bank failed to perform these duties in a manner that complied with
all applicable laws, regulations, orders, agreements, xxxxx, instruments, and common law standards,
except for notices involving matters that have been resolved and any cost of such resolution is
reflected in the BHLB Financial Statements. For purposes of this Section 5.27, the term “fiduciary
capacity” (i) shall mean (a) acting as trustee, executor, administrator, registrar of stocks and
bonds, transfer agent, guardian, assignee, receiver, or custodian under a uniform gifts to minors
act and (b) possessing investment discretion on behalf of another, and (ii) shall exclude Berkshire
Bank’s capacity with respect to individual retirement accounts or the BHLB Benefit Plans.
5.28 Employees; Labor Matters.
5.28.1 There are no labor or collective bargaining agreements to which BHLB or any BHLB
Subsidiary is a party. There is no union organizing effort pending or, to the Knowledge of BHLB,
threatened against BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary. There is no labor strike, labor dispute (other
than routine employee grievances that are not related to union employees), work slowdown, stoppage
or lockout pending or, to the Knowledge of BHLB, threatened against BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary.
There is no unfair labor practice or labor arbitration proceeding pending or, to the Knowledge of
BHLB, threatened against BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary (other than routine employee grievances that
are not related to union employees). BHLB and each BHLB Subsidiary is in compliance with all
applicable laws respecting employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment
and wages and hours, and are not engaged in any unfair labor practice. Neither BHLB nor any BHLB
Subsidiary is a party to, or bound by, any agreement for the leasing of employees.
5.28.2 To BHLB’s Knowledge, all Persons who have been treated as independent contractors by
BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary for Tax purposes have met the criteria to be so treated under all
applicable federal, state and local Tax laws, rules and regulations.
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS OF LEGACY
COVENANTS OF LEGACY
6.1 Conduct of Business.
6.1.1 Affirmative Covenants. During the period from the date of this Agreement to the
Effective Time, except with the written consent of BHLB, which consent will not be unreasonably
withheld, conditioned or delayed, Legacy will, and it will cause each Legacy Subsidiary to: operate
its business only in the usual, regular and ordinary course of business; use commercially
reasonable efforts to preserve intact its business organization and assets and maintain its rights
and franchises; and voluntarily take no action which would: (i) materially adversely affect the
ability of the parties to obtain the Regulatory Approvals or materially increase the period of time
necessary to obtain the Regulatory Approvals, (ii) materially adversely affect its ability to
perform its covenants and agreements under this Agreement or (iii) result in the representations
and warranties contained in Article IV of this Agreement not being true and correct on the date of
this Agreement or at any future date on or prior to the Closing Date or in any of the conditions
set forth in Article IX hereof not being satisfied.
6.1.2 Negative Covenants. Legacy agrees that from the date of this Agreement to the Effective
Time, except as otherwise specifically permitted or required by this Agreement or consented to by
BHLB in writing, it will not, and it will cause each of the Legacy Subsidiaries not to:
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(A) take any action that would, or is reasonably likely to, prevent or impede the Merger from
qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code;
(B) change or waive any provision of its certificate of incorporation (or articles of
association in the case of Legacy Banks) or bylaws, except as required by law;
(C) change the number of authorized or issued shares of its capital stock, issue any shares of
Legacy Common Stock that are held as Treasury Stock as of the date of this Agreement, or issue or
grant any Right or agreement of any character relating to its authorized or issued capital stock or
any securities convertible into shares of such stock, make any grant or award under the Legacy
Stock Option Plan or the Legacy Restricted Stock Plan, or split, combine or reclassify any shares
of capital stock, or declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution in respect of
capital stock, or redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock, except that Legacy (i)
may issue shares of Legacy Common Stock upon the valid exercise, in accordance with the information
set forth in Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.3.1, of presently outstanding Legacy Stock
Options issued under the Legacy Stock Option Plan, (ii) may permit the vesting of awards previously
made under the Legacy Restricted Stock Plans, (iii) shall continue to declare and pay regular
quarterly cash dividends of no more than $0.05 per share with payment and record dates consistent
with past practice (provided that the declaration of the last quarterly dividend by Legacy prior to
the Effective Time and the payment thereof shall be coordinated with BHLB so that holders of Legacy
Common Stock do not receive dividends on both Legacy Common Stock and BHLB Common Stock received in
the Merger in respect of such quarter or fail to receive a dividend on at least one of the Legacy
Common Stock or BHLB Common Stock received in the Merger in respect of such quarter) and (iv) any
Legacy Subsidiary may pay dividends to its parent company (as permitted under applicable law or
regulations).
(D) enter into, amend in any material respect or terminate any material contract or agreement
(including without limitation any settlement agreement with respect to litigation) in excess of
$100,000, except as contemplated by this Agreement;
(E) make application for the opening or closing of any, or open or close any, branch or
automated banking facility;
(F) grant or agree to pay any bonus (discretionary or otherwise), severance or termination to,
or enter into, renew or amend any employment agreement, severance agreement and/or supplemental
executive agreement with, or increase in any manner the compensation or fringe benefits of, any of
its directors, officers, employees or consultants, except (i) as may be required pursuant to
commitments existing on the date hereof and set forth on Legacy Disclosure Schedules 4.9.1 and
4.13.1 or as required pursuant to Section 7.6 of this Agreement, (ii) for salary adjustments in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice provided that any increases to such
amounts shall not exceed four percent (4%) in the aggregate or (iii) as otherwise contemplated by
this Agreement. Neither Legacy nor any Legacy Subsidiary shall hire or promote any employee to a
rank having a title of vice president or other more senior rank or hire any new employee at an
annual rate of compensation in excess of $75,000; provided, however, that a Legacy Subsidiary may
hire at-will, non-officer employees at an annual compensation rate not to exceed $75,000 to fill
vacancies that may from time to time arise in the ordinary course of business; provided, further,
that that neither Legacy nor any Legacy Subsidiary shall hire any new employee without first
seeking to fill any position internally. Neither Legacy nor or any Legacy Subsidiary shall pay
expenses of any employee or director for attending conventions held after the date hereof;
(G) except as set forth on Legacy Disclosure Schedule 6.1.2(G), enter into or, except
as may be required by law or any such plan or agreement or by the terms of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated herein, modify any pension, retirement, stock option, stock purchase,
stock appreciation right, stock grant, savings, profit sharing, deferred compensation, supplemental
retirement, consulting, bonus, group insurance or other employee benefit, incentive or welfare
contract, plan or arrangement, or any trust agreement related thereto, in respect of any of its
directors, officers or employees, or make any contributions to any defined contribution or defined
benefit plan not in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(H) merge or consolidate Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary with any other Person; sell or lease
all or any substantial portion of the assets or business of Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary; make
any acquisition of all or any substantial portion of the business or assets of any other Person
other than in connection
39
with foreclosures, settlements in lieu of foreclosure, troubled loan or debt restructuring, or
the collection of any loan or credit arrangement between Legacy or Legacy Banks and any other
Person; enter into a purchase and assumption transaction with respect to deposits and liabilities;
incur deposit liabilities, other than liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice and in keeping with prevailing competitive rates; permit the
revocation or surrender by Legacy Banks of its certificate of authority to maintain, or file an
application for the relocation of, any existing branch office, or file an application for a
certificate of authority to establish a new branch office;
(I) except as set forth on Legacy Disclosure Schedule 6.1.2(I), sell or otherwise
dispose of any asset of Legacy or of any Legacy Subsidiary other than in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice; except for transactions with the FHLB, subject any asset of
Legacy or of any Legacy Subsidiary to a lien, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance (other
than in connection with deposits, repurchase agreements, bankers acceptances, pledges in connection
with acceptance of governmental deposits, and transactions in “federal funds” and the satisfaction
of legal requirements in the exercise of trust powers) other than in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice; incur any indebtedness for borrowed money (or guarantee any
indebtedness for borrowed money), except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice;
(J) change its method, practice or principle of accounting, except as may be required from
time to time by GAAP (without regard to any optional early adoption date) or regulatory accounting
principles or by any Bank Regulator responsible for regulating Legacy or Legacy Banks;
(K) waive, release, grant or transfer any rights of value or modify or change any existing
agreement or indebtedness to which Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary is a party;
(L) purchase any securities except securities (i) rated “A” or higher by either Standard &
Poor’s Ratings Services or Xxxxx’x Investors Service, (ii) having a face amount in the aggregate of
not more than $1,100,000, (iii) with a duration of not more than five (5) years and (iv) otherwise
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(M) except as specifically provided below, and except for commitments issued prior to the date
of this Agreement which have not yet expired and which have been disclosed on Legacy Disclosure
Schedule 6.1.2(M) (which schedule need not include any individual commitment which is less than
$100,000 in amount provided that such schedule includes the aggregate amount of individual
commitments which are less than $100,000 that have been excluded from the schedule), and except for
the renewal of existing lines of credit, (i) make or acquire any new loan or other credit facility
commitment (including without limitation, loan participations, lines of credit and letters of
credit) other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or (ii) make or
acquire any new loan or issue any commitment for any new loan with a principal amount of $1,000,000
or more without the prior consent of BHLB; provided that such consent shall be deemed to have been
granted if BHLB does not object within three (3) Business Days of receipt of written notice from
Legacy of its intent to make such loan;
(N) enter into, renew, extend or modify any other transaction (other than a deposit
transaction) with any Affiliate;
(O) enter into any futures contracts, options, interest rate caps, interest rate floors,
interest rate exchange agreements or other agreements or take any other action for purposes of
hedging the exposure of its interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities to changes in
market rates of interest;
(P) except for the execution of this Agreement, and actions taken or which will be taken in
accordance with this Agreement and performance hereunder, take any action that would give rise to a
right of payment to any individual under any employment agreement;
(Q) make any change in policies in existence on the date of this Agreement with regard to: the
extension of credit, or the establishment of reserves with respect to the possible loss thereon or
the charge off of losses incurred thereon; investments; asset/liability management; or other
banking policies except as may be
40
required by changes in applicable law or regulations, GAAP or regulatory accounting principles
or by a Bank Regulator;
(R) except for the execution of this Agreement, and the transactions contemplated herein and
any terminations of employment, take any action that would give rise to an acceleration of the
right to payment to any individual under any Legacy Benefit Plan;
(S) make any capital expenditures in excess of $25,000 individually or $50,000 in the
aggregate, other than pursuant to binding commitments existing on the date hereof which are set
forth on Legacy Disclosure Schedule 6.1.2(S) which includes the budget for each such
pre-existing commitment.
(T) except as set forth on Legacy Disclosure Schedule 6.1.2(T), purchase or otherwise
acquire, or sell or otherwise dispose of, any assets or incur any liabilities other than in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practices and policies;
(U) except for existing commitments to sell any participation interest in any loan, sell any
participation interest in any loan (other than sales of loans secured by one- to four-family real
estate that are consistent with past practice) unless BHLB has been given the first opportunity and
a reasonable time to purchase any loan participation being sold, or purchase any participation
interest in any loan other than purchases of participation interests from BHLB;
(V) undertake or enter into any lease, contract or other commitment for its account, other
than in the ordinary course of providing credit to customers as part of its banking business,
involving a payment by Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary of more than $25,000 annually, or containing
any financial commitment extending beyond twelve (12) months from the date hereof;
(W) pay, discharge, settle or compromise any claim, action, litigation, arbitration or
proceeding, other than any such payment, discharge, settlement or compromise in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice that involves solely money damages in the amount not in
excess of $25,000 individually or $50,000 in the aggregate, and that does not create negative
precedent for other pending or potential claims, actions, litigation, arbitration or proceedings;
(X) foreclose upon or take a deed or title to any commercial real estate without having a
Phase I environmental assessment of the property conducted as of a reasonably current date and, in
the event such Phase I environmental assessment of the property indicates the presence of Materials
of Environmental Concern, providing notice to BHLB thereof prior to final sale;
(Y) purchase or sell any mortgage loan servicing rights other than in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice;
(Z) issue any broadly distributed communication of a general nature to employees (including
general communications relating to benefits and compensation) without prior consultation with BHLB
and, to the extent relating to post-Closing employment, benefit or compensation information without
the prior consent of BHLB (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) or
issue any broadly distributed communication of a general nature to customers without the prior
approval of BHLB (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), except as
required by law or for communications in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice that do not relate to the Merger or other transactions contemplated hereby;
(AA) make, change or rescind any material election concerning Taxes or Tax Returns, file any
amended Tax Return, enter into any closing agreement with respect to Taxes, settle or compromise
any material Tax claim or assessment or surrender any right to claim a refund of Taxes or obtain
any Tax ruling; or
(BB) enter into any contract with respect to, or otherwise agree or commit to do, any of the
foregoing.
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6.2 Subsidiaries.
Legacy shall cause the proper and lawful dissolution of any of its Subsidiaries that are
inactive as of the date of this Agreement.
6.3 Current Information.
6.3.1 During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, Legacy will
cause one or more of its representatives to confer with representatives of BHLB to inform BHLB
regarding Legacy’s operations at such times as BHLB may reasonably request. Legacy will promptly
notify BHLB of any change in the ordinary course of its business or in the operation of its
properties and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, of any governmental complaints,
investigations or hearings (or communications indicating that the same may be contemplated), or the
institution or the threat of material litigation involving Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary.
Without limiting the foregoing, senior officers of BHLB and Legacy shall meet monthly to review, to
the extent permitted by applicable law, the financial and operational affairs of Legacy and the
Legacy Subsidiaries, and Legacy shall give due consideration to BHLB’s input on such matters, with
the understanding that, notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Agreement, neither
BHLB nor Berkshire Bank shall under any circumstance be permitted to exercise control of Legacy or
any Legacy Subsidiary prior to the Effective Time.
6.3.2 Legacy and BHLB shall cooperate regarding a plan for the conversion of data processing
and related electronic informational systems of Legacy to those used by BHLB, which planning shall
include, but not be limited to, discussion of the possible termination by Legacy of third-party
service provider arrangements effective at the Effective Time or at a date thereafter, non-renewal
of personal property leases and software licenses used by Legacy in connection with its systems
operations, retention of outside consultants and additional employees to assist with the
conversion, and outsourcing, as appropriate, of proprietary or self-provided system services, it
being understood that Legacy shall not be obligated to take any such action prior to the Effective
Time and, unless Legacy otherwise agrees and provided it is permitted by applicable law, no
conversion shall take place prior to the Effective Time. BHLB and Berkshire Bank shall indemnify
Legacy for any reasonable out-of-pocket fees, expenses, or charges that Legacy or any Legacy
Subsidiary may incur as a result of taking, at the request of BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary, any
action to facilitate the conversion.
6.3.3 Legacy shall provide BHLB, within fifteen (15) Business Days of the end of each calendar
month, a written list of nonperforming assets (the term “nonperforming assets,” for purposes of
this subsection, means (i) loans that are “troubled debt restructuring” as defined in Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 15, “Accounting by Debtors and Creditors for Troubled Debt
Restructuring,” (ii) loans on nonaccrual, (iii) real estate owned, (iv) all loans ninety (90) days
or more past due as of the end of such month and (v) and impaired loans. On a monthly basis,
Legacy shall provide BHLB with a schedule of all (x) loan grading changes and (y) loan approvals,
which schedule shall indicate the loan amount, loan type and other material features of the loan.
Legacy will promptly prepare and provide BHLB with the minutes of all Legacy and Legacy Banks
officer and director loan committee meetings.
6.3.4 Legacy shall promptly inform BHLB, to the extent permitted by applicable law, upon
receiving notice of any legal, administrative, arbitration or other proceedings, demands, notices,
audits or investigations (by any federal, state or local commission, agency or board) relating to
the alleged liability of Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary under any labor or employment law.
6.4 Access to Properties and Records.
Subject to Section 12.1, Legacy shall permit BHLB access upon reasonable notice and at
reasonable times to its properties and those of the Legacy Subsidiaries, and shall disclose and
make available to BHLB during normal business hours all of its books and records relating to the
assets, properties, operations, obligations and liabilities, including, but not limited to, all
books of account (including the general ledger), tax records, minute books of directors’ and
shareholders’ meetings (other than minutes that discuss any of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement or any other subject matter that Legacy reasonably determines should be kept
confidential), organizational documents, bylaws, material contracts and agreements, filings with
any regulatory authority, litigation files, plans affecting employees, and any other business
activities or prospects in which BHLB may have a
42
reasonable interest; provided, however, that Legacy shall not be required to take any action
that would provide access to or to disclose information where such access or disclosure, in
Legacy’s reasonable judgment, would interfere with the normal conduct of Legacy’s business or would
violate or prejudice the rights or business interests or confidences of any customer or other
Person or entity or would result in the waiver by it of the privilege protecting communications
between it and any of its counsel or contravene any applicable law. Legacy shall provide and shall
request its auditors to provide BHLB with such historical financial information regarding it (and
related audit reports and consents) as BHLB may reasonably request for Securities Law disclosure
purposes. BHLB shall use commercially reasonable efforts to minimize any interference with
Legacy’s regular business operations during any such access to Legacy’s property, books and
records. Legacy and each Legacy Subsidiary shall permit BHLB, at BHLB’s expense, to (i) cause a
Phase I environmental assessment to be performed at any physical location owned or occupied by
Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary and (ii) cause an appraisal to be performed in respect of any real
property owned by Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary.
6.5 Financial and Other Statements.
6.5.1 Promptly upon receipt thereof, Legacy will furnish to BHLB copies of each annual,
interim or special audit of the books of Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries made by its independent
registered public accountants and copies of all internal control reports submitted to Legacy by
such accountants, or by any other accounting firm rendering internal audit services, in connection
with each annual, interim or special audit of the books of Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries made
by such accountants.
6.5.2 As soon as reasonably available, but in no event later than the date such documents are
filed with the MDOB, OTS or FDIC, Legacy will deliver to BHLB the Legacy Regulatory Report filed by
Legacy or Legacy Banks. Within twenty-five (25) days after the end of each month, Legacy Banks
will deliver to BHLB a consolidating balance sheet and a consolidating statement of operations,
without related notes, for such month prepared in accordance with current financial reporting
practices, as well as a month-end and year to date comparison to budget.
6.5.3 Legacy shall permit BHLB to review substantially final drafts of its quarterly and
annual reports on Forms 10-Q and 10-K, respectively, at least two (2) Business Days prior to the
date such documents are filed with the SEC. Legacy promptly will advise upon receipt and permit
review by BHLB of any inquiry or examination report of any Bank Regulator with respect to the
condition or activities of Legacy or Legacy Banks.
6.5.4 With reasonable promptness, Legacy will furnish to BHLB such additional financial data
that Legacy possesses and as BHLB may reasonably request, including without limitation, detailed
monthly financial statements and loan reports and detailed deposit reports.
6.6 Maintenance of Insurance.
Legacy shall use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain, and to cause the Legacy
Subsidiaries to maintain, insurance in such amounts as are reasonable to cover such risks as are
customary in relation to the character and location of its properties and the nature of its
business, with such coverage and in such amounts not less than that maintained by Legacy and the
Legacy Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement and set forth in Legacy Disclosure
Schedule 4.10.3. Legacy will promptly inform BHLB if Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary receives
notice from an insurance carrier that (i) an insurance policy will be canceled or that coverage
thereunder will be reduced or eliminated, or (ii) premium costs with respect to any policy of
insurance will be substantially increased.
6.7 Disclosure Supplements.
From time to time prior to the Effective Time, Legacy will promptly supplement or amend the
Legacy Disclosure Schedule delivered in connection herewith with respect to any matter hereafter
arising which, if existing, occurring or known at the date of this Agreement, would have been
required to be set forth or described in such Legacy Disclosure Schedule or which is necessary to
correct any information in such Legacy Disclosure Schedule
43
which has been rendered materially inaccurate thereby. No supplement or amendment to such
Legacy Disclosure Schedule shall have any effect for the purpose of determining satisfaction of the
conditions set forth in Article IX.
6.8 Consents and Approvals of Third Parties.
Legacy shall use its commercially reasonable efforts, and shall cause each Legacy Subsidiary
to use its commercially reasonable efforts, to obtain as soon as practicable all consents and
approvals of any other Persons or entities necessary for the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
6.9 All Reasonable Efforts.
Subject to the terms and conditions herein provided, Legacy agrees to use, and agrees to cause
each Legacy Subsidiary to use, all commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken,
all action and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary under applicable laws and
regulations to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
6.10 Failure to Fulfill Conditions.
In the event that Legacy determines that a condition to its obligation to complete the Merger
cannot be fulfilled and that it will not waive that condition, it will promptly notify BHLB.
6.11 No Solicitation.
6.11.1 Except as to the Non-Restricted Period as set forth in Section 6.11.2, from and after
the date hereof until the termination of this Agreement, neither Legacy, nor any Legacy Subsidiary,
nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives, agents and affiliates
(including, without limitation, any investment banker, attorney or accountant retained by Legacy or
any of the Legacy Subsidiaries), will, directly or indirectly, initiate, solicit or knowingly
encourage (including by way of furnishing non-public information or assistance) any inquiries or
the making of any proposal that constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any
Acquisition Proposal (as defined by Section 6.11.4), or enter into or maintain or continue
discussions or negotiate with any Person in furtherance of such inquiries or to obtain an
Acquisition Proposal or agree to or endorse any Acquisition Proposal, or authorize or permit any of
its officers, directors, or employees or any of its Subsidiaries or any investment banker,
financial advisor, attorney, accountant or other representative retained by any of its Subsidiaries
to take any such action, and Legacy shall notify BHLB orally and in writing (as promptly as
practicable but no later than one business day of receipt of such inquiry or proposal) of all of
the relevant details relating to all inquiries and proposals which Legacy or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors or employees, or, to Legacy’s
Knowledge, investment bankers, financial advisors, attorneys, accountants or other representatives
of Legacy may receive relating to any of such matters; provided, however, that nothing contained in
this Section 6.11 shall prohibit the Board of Directors of Legacy from (i) complying with its
disclosure obligations under federal or state law; or (ii) prior to the time that the Legacy
Shareholder Vote, furnishing information to, or entering into discussions or negotiations with, any
Person or entity that makes an unsolicited Acquisition Proposal, if, and only to the extent that
(A) such Acquisition Proposal did not result from a breach of this Section 6.11 by Legacy, (B) the
Board of Directors of Legacy or any appropriate committee thereof has determined in its good faith
judgment, after consultation with Legacy’s financial advisor and outside counsel, that such
Acquisition Proposal is reasonably likely to be consummated in accordance with its terms, taking
into account all legal, financial (including the financing terms thereof) and regulatory aspects
(including any divesture of deposit liabilities by BHLB or Legacy in order to comply with a
requirement contained in any Regulatory Approval, or a condition necessary to obtain any Regulatory
Approval) of the proposal and the Person making the proposal, and (C) such Acquisition Proposal is
reasonably likely to result in a transaction more favorable to Legacy shareholders from a financial
point of view than the Merger (taking into account all relevant factors, including, without
limitation, the timing of consummation as compared to the Merger and after giving effect to all of
the adjustments, if any, which may be offered by BHLB pursuant to Section 11.1.8) (such proposal
that satisfies clauses (A), (B) and (C) being referred to herein as a “Superior Proposal”);
provided, however, that a Superior Proposal may consist of multiple Acquisition Proposals that,
taken together, satisfy all of the requirements set forth in this definition; provided, further,
that the Board of Directors of Legacy or any appropriate committee thereof may determine in its
good faith judgment, after consultation with Legacy’s financial advisor and outside counsel, that
an Acquisition Proposal made during the Restricted Period, which the Board of Directors of
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Legacy determines in good faith is financially equivalent to Legacy shareholders from a
financial point of view to the Merger, is nonetheless a Superior Proposal for purposes of this
Agreement because such Acquisition Proposal would reasonably be expected to involve materially less
risk than any Regulatory Approval or any condition necessary to obtain any Regulatory Approval
would require a material divestiture of deposit liabilities; provided, further, nothing contained
in this Agreement shall prohibit Legacy and, if applicable, any of its Representatives from (i)
informing any Person of the existence of the provisions of this Section 6.11, (ii) contacting any
Person solely to clarify the terms and conditions of an Acquisition Proposal, (iii) issuing a
“stop-look-and-listen communication” pursuant to Rule 14d-9(f) or taking and disclosing to its
shareholders a position as required by Rule 14d-9 or Rule 14e-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act
or (iv) otherwise disclosing any information to its shareholders that the Legacy Board of Directors
determines in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal counsel) that it is required to
disclose in order to not breach its fiduciary duties to Legacy’s shareholders under applicable law,
subject to compliance with the requirements of this Section 6.11 and Section 6.13. Legacy shall
promptly, but in no event later than one (1) calendar day, notify BHLB of such inquiries, proposals
or offers received by, any such information requested from, or any such discussions or negotiations
sought to be initiated or continued with Legacy or any of its representatives indicating, in
connection with such notice, the name of such Person and the material terms and conditions of any
inquiries, proposals or offers, and receives from such Person an executed confidentiality agreement
in form and substance identical in all material respects to the Confidentiality Agreements.
6.11.2 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, during the period
beginning on the date of this Agreement and continuing until 11:59 p.m. (Eastern time) on January
31, 2011 (the “Non-Restricted Period”), Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries and their respective
directors, officers, employees, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants and other advisors or
representatives (collectively, “Representatives”) shall have the right to: (i) initiate, solicit
and encourage any inquiry or the making of any proposal or offer that could constitute an
Acquisition Proposal, including by way of providing access to non-public information which was not
provided by or derived from any non-public information provided by BHLB or in any way related to or
reflecting any negotiations with BHLB regarding the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to
any Person pursuant to (but only pursuant to) a confidentiality agreement on customary terms not
materially more favorable to such Person than those contained in the Confidentiality Agreements (an
“Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement”), except that Legacy may enter into a confidentiality
agreement without a standstill provision or with a standstill provision less favorable to Legacy if
and only if it first waives or similarly modifies the standstill provision in the Confidentiality
Agreements. Legacy shall promptly make available to BHLB any material non-public information
concerning Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary that Legacy provides to any Person given such access
that was not previously made available to BHLB, and may engage or enter into, continue or otherwise
participate in any discussions or negotiations with any Persons or groups of Persons with respect
to any Acquisition Proposal or otherwise cooperate with or assist or participate in, or facilitate
any inquiry, proposal, discussion or negotiation or any effort or attempt to make any Acquisition
Proposal, including through the waiver or release by Legacy, at its sole discretion, of any
preexisting standstill or similar agreements with any Person solely to the extent necessary to
permit such Person to make or amend an Acquisition Proposal or otherwise engage with Legacy in
discussions regarding an Acquisition Proposal or a proposal that could reasonably be expected to
lead to an Acquisition Proposal.
6.11.3 Except as expressly permitted by Section 6.11.1, Legacy and its respective officers and
directors shall, and Legacy shall use its reasonable best efforts to instruct and cause all other
Representatives of Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary, (i) to, at 12:00 a.m. on the February 1, 2011
(the “Restricted Period Start Date”), immediately cease any discussions or negotiations with any
Persons that may be ongoing with respect to an Acquisition Proposal and, (ii) after the Restricted
Period Start Date, not to: (A) initiate, solicit or knowingly encourage any inquiry or the making
of any proposal or offer that constitutes or could reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition
Proposal, (B) engage in, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations
regarding, or provide any non-public information or data concerning Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary
to any Person relating to, or that could reasonably be expected to lead to any Acquisition
Proposal, (C) otherwise knowingly facilitate any effort or attempt to make an Acquisition Proposal.
6.11.4 “Acquisition Proposal” shall mean any proposal or offer as to any of the following
(other than the transactions contemplated hereunder) involving Legacy or any of its Subsidiaries:
(i) any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, or other similar
transactions; (ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition of
25% or more of the assets of Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in a single
transaction or series of transactions; (iii) any tender offer or exchange offer for 25% or
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more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Legacy or the filing of a registration
statement under the Securities Act in connection therewith; or (iv) any public announcement of a
proposal, plan or intention to do any of the foregoing or any agreement to engage in any of the
foregoing.
6.12 Reserves and Merger-Related Costs.
Prior to the Effective Time, each of Legacy and its Subsidiaries shall, consistent with GAAP,
the rules and regulations of the SEC and applicable U.S. banking laws and regulations, modify or
change its loan, OREO, accrual, reserve, tax, litigation and real estate valuation policies and
practices (including loan classifications and levels of reserves) so as to be applied on a basis
that is consistent with that of BHLB, provided, however, that no such modifications or changes need
be made prior to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Sections 9.1.1 and 9.1.3;
provided further, that in any event, no accrual or reserve made by Legacy or any of its
Subsidiaries pursuant to this Section 6.12 shall constitute or be deemed to be a breach, violation
of or failure to satisfy any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement, condition or other
provision of this Agreement or otherwise be considered in determining whether any such breach,
violation or failure to satisfy shall have occurred. The recording of any such adjustments shall
not be deemed to imply any misstatement of previously furnished financial statements or information
and shall not be construed as concurrence of Legacy or its management with any such adjustments.
6.13 Committee Meetings.
Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries shall permit two (2) representatives of BHLB to attend any
meeting of their Board of Directors, loan (or credit) committee and asset liability committee as
observers (together, the “BHLB Observers”), provided that neither Legacy nor any Legacy Subsidiary
shall be required to permit the BHLB Observers to remain present during any confidential discussion
of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or any Acquisition Proposal or during
any other matter that the respective Board of Directors has been advised of by counsel that such
attendance by the BHLB Observers may violate or be inconsistent with a confidentiality obligation
or fiduciary duty or any legal, regulatory or NASDAQ requirement.
6.14 ESOP Loan.
As soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement, but in no event later than five (5)
Business Days prior to the Effective Time, Legacy shall cause the Legacy ESOP trustee to repay in
full the outstanding indebtedness of the Legacy ESOP, subject to the terms of the Legacy ESOP, by
delivering a sufficient number of unallocated shares of Legacy Common Stock to Legacy, subject to
and in accordance with applicable law. No later than the occurrence of the Effective Time, all
remaining shares of Legacy Common Stock held by the Legacy ESOP shall be converted into the right
to receive the Merger Consideration. The Legacy ESOP account balances shall be distributed to
Legacy ESOP participants after the receipt of a favorable determination letter from the IRS.
Legacy and, following the Effective Time, BHLB, will adopt such amendments to the Legacy ESOP to
effect the provisions of this Section 6.14.
6.15 Legacy Banks Foundation
Legacy agrees to recommend to the Board of Directors of the Legacy Banks Foundation (“Legacy
Foundation”) that the majority of the current Board of Directors of the Legacy Foundation resign as
of the Closing and that a majority of the Legacy Foundation Board consist of BHLB representatives
(“BHLB Foundation Representatives”) as of Closing. Such BHLB Foundation Representatives shall be
selected by X. Xxxxxxx Dunlaevy and agreed to by BHLB. In addition Legacy agrees to recommend to
the Legacy Foundation that X. Xxxxxxx Dunlaevy be appointed the chairman of the Legacy Foundation
and that Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx be appointed an officer of the Legacy Foundation.
6.16 401(k) Plan Termination.
If requested by BHLB in writing prior to the Effective Time, and subject to the occurrence of
the Effective Time, Legacy shall cause to be adopted prior to the Closing Date resolutions of the
Board of Directors of Legacy
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and any necessary amendments to cease all contributions to any and all 401(k) plans maintained or
sponsored by Legacy or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “401(k) Plans”), and to prohibit
the entry of new participants to the 401(k) Plans as of the day preceding the Closing Date. In the
sole discretion of BHLB, the 401(k) Plans may be merged into the BHLB 401(k) Plan. The form and
substance of such resolutions and any necessary amendments shall be subject to the review and
approval of BHLB, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. Legacy shall deliver to BHLB an
executed copy of such resolutions and any necessary amendments as soon as practicable following
their adoption by the Board of Directors of Legacy and shall fully comply with such resolutions and
any necessary amendments. If, in accordance with this Section 6.16, BHLB requests in writing that
Legacy freeze entry of new participants into the 401(k) Plans, Legacy shall take such actions as
BHLB may reasonably require in furtherance of the assumption of the 401(k) Plans by BHLB,
including, but not limited to, adopting such amendments to the 401(k) Plans as may be necessary to
effect such assumption.
ARTICLE VII
COVENANTS OF BHLB
COVENANTS OF BHLB
7.1 Conduct of Business.
7.1.1 Affirmative Covenants.
(A) During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, except with the
written consent of Legacy, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed,
BHLB will, and it will cause each BHLB Subsidiary to: operate its business only in the usual,
regular and ordinary course of business; use reasonable best efforts to preserve intact its
business organization and assets and maintain its rights and franchises; and voluntarily take no
action which would (i) change or waive any provision of its certificate of incorporation (or
articles or organization in the case of Berkshire Bank) or bylaws in any way adverse to the rights
of the Legacy shareholders, except as required by law, except as set forth on BHLB Disclosure
Schedule 7.1.1(A)(i); (ii) materially adversely affect the ability of the parties to obtain the
Regulatory Approvals or materially increase the period of time necessary to obtain such approvals;
(iii) materially adversely affect its ability to perform its covenants and agreements under this
Agreement; (iv) result in the representations and warranties contained in Article V of this
Agreement not being true and correct on the date of this Agreement or at any future date on or
prior to the Closing Date or in any of the conditions set forth in Article IX hereof not being
satisfied; (v) prevent or impede, or be reasonably likely to prevent or impede, the Merger from
qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
(B) Promptly after the Closing and prior to the Effective Time, BHLB shall deposit, or shall
cause to be deposited, with the Exchange Agent the Exchange Fund.
7.2 Disclosure Supplements.
From time to time prior to the Effective Time, BHLB will promptly supplement or amend the BHLB
Disclosure Schedule delivered in connection herewith with respect to any matter hereafter arising
which, if existing, occurring or known at the date of this Agreement, would have been required to
be set forth or described in such BHLB Disclosure Schedule or which is necessary to correct any
information in such BHLB Disclosure Schedule which has been rendered materially inaccurate thereby.
No supplement or amendment to such BHLB Disclosure Schedule shall have any effect for the purpose
of determining satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Article IX.
7.3 Consents and Approvals of Third Parties.
BHLB shall use its commercially reasonable efforts, and shall cause each BHLB Subsidiary to
use its commercially reasonable efforts, to obtain as soon as practicable all consents and
approvals of any other Persons necessary for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
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7.4 Reasonable Best Efforts.
Subject to the terms and conditions herein provided, BHLB agrees to use and agrees to cause
each BHLB Subsidiary to use reasonable best efforts in good faith to take, or cause to be taken,
all action and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary under applicable laws and
regulations to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly as
practicable.
7.5 Failure to Fulfill Conditions.
In the event that BHLB determines that a condition to its obligation to complete the Merger
cannot be fulfilled and that it will not waive that condition, it will promptly notify Legacy.
7.6 Employee Benefits.
7.6.1 Definition. “Benefit Plan Determination Date” for purposes of this Section shall mean
that date selected by BHLB and consented to by Legacy, which consent shall not be withheld
unreasonably, with respect to each Legacy Benefit Plan to be maintained, frozen, terminated or
replaced with a similar plan or program provided by BHLB or Berkshire Bank (as used in this
Section, BHLB and Berkshire Bank are collectively referred to as “BHLB”) to other employees
similarly situated; provided, that, the definition of “Benefit Plan Determination Date” shall be
consistent with the premise that the compensation, employee benefits and terms and conditions of
employment that are provided by BHLB after the Closing Date to Current Legacy Employees shall be no
less favorable than those provided by BHLB to similarly situated employees of BHLB.
7.6.2 General Rule: Parity in Benefits; No Gaps; Credit for Service with Legacy. Within a
reasonable period after the Closing Date, but not before the applicable Benefit Plan Determination
Date, BHLB shall provide (or shall cause to be provided by a Subsidiary of BHLB) to all individuals
who are employees of Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary at the Closing Date and who remain so employed
immediately following the Effective Time (the “Current Legacy Employees”), compensation, employee
benefits and terms and conditions of employment that are substantially similar to those provided by
BHLB to similarly situated employees of BHLB. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing to the
contrary, none of the provisions contained herein shall (i) operate to duplicate any benefit
provided to any Current Legacy Employees or the funding of any such benefit, (ii) be construed to
limit the ability of BHLB to review employee benefit plans, programs and arrangements from time to
time, to make such changes as BHLB deems appropriate in its sole and absolute discretion or to
terminate such employee benefit plans, programs and arrangements provided that no such action not
otherwise required by this Agreement shall discriminate against Current Legacy Employees relative
to similarly situated employees of BHLB, (iii) create third party rights against BHLB. BHLB will
cause its insurance providers to waive all pre-existing condition limitations and proof of
insurability provisions (to the extent such limitations and provisions did not apply to a
pre-existing condition under Legacy’s equivalent plan) and eligibility waiting periods under such
plans that would otherwise be applicable to newly-hired employees for all Current Legacy Employees;
provided that nothing in this sentence shall limit the ability of BHLB to amend or enter into new
or different employee benefit plans or arrangements provided such plans or arrangements treat the
Current Legacy Employees in a substantially similar manner as employees of BHLB are treated. BHLB
will cause its insurance providers to honor under such plans any deductible, co-payment and
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Current Legacy Employees and their covered dependents during
the portion of the plan year prior to the relevant Benefit Plan Determination Date. Under all BHLB
Benefit Plans, service with Legacy or a Legacy Subsidiary shall be deemed to be service with BHLB
for eligibility and vesting purposes only, but not for purposes of benefit accrual.
7.6.3 BHLB 401(k) Plan Participation. Each Current Legacy Employee shall be eligible to
participate in BHLB’s 401(k) plan on the day after the Benefit Plan Determination Date for the
Legacy 401(k) Plans. All rights to participate in BHLB’s 401(k) Plan are subject to BHLB’s right
to amend or terminate BHLB’s 401(k) plan in its sole and absolute discretion and are subject to the
terms of BHLB’s 401(k) plan including, but not limited to, the eligibility and vesting provisions
of such plan.
7.6.4 Employee Stock Ownership Plan. BHLB agrees to take all such actions related to the
Legacy ESOP as stated in Section 6.14 of this Agreement.
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7.6.5 Welfare Benefits. Each Current Legacy Employee who remains employed on the Benefit Plan
Determination Date shall be eligible to participate in group hospitalization, medical, dental,
life, disability and other welfare benefit plans and programs available to similarly-situated
employees of BHLB, subject to the terms of such plans and programs, and subject to complying with
eligibility requirements of the respective plans and programs. With respect to any welfare benefit
plan or program of Legacy that BHLB determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, provides
benefits of the same type or class as a corresponding plan or program maintained by BHLB, BHLB
shall, unless materially financially burdensome or resulting in an excise tax payable by BHLB under
Code Section 4980D, continue such Legacy plan or program in effect for the benefit of the Current
Legacy Employees until the later of the open enrollment period with respect to the year following
the year in which the Merger occurs or each Current Legacy Employee becomes eligible to become
participants in the corresponding benefit plan or program maintained by BHLB (and, with respect to
any such plan or program, subject to complying with eligibility requirements and subject to the
right of BHLB to terminate or amend such plan or program) so that each Current Legacy Employee
employed by BHLB has no gap in coverage under any hospitalization, medical, dental, life,
disability or other welfare plan or program. For purposes of all employee welfare benefit plans,
programs and agreements maintained by or contributed to by BHLB, BHLB shall treat, and in the case
of an insured plan, shall cause the providers of each such plan, program or arrangement to treat
the service with Legacy prior to the Closing Date of any Current Legacy Employee (to the same
extent such service is recognized under analogous plans, programs or arrangements of Legacy prior
to the Closing) as service rendered to BHLB for all purposes; provided, however, that such
crediting of service shall not operate to duplicate any benefit or the funding of such benefit
available to any Current Legacy Employee. Persons who were employed by Legacy or any Affiliate and
who were entitled to continue health coverage under COBRA or any similar state law shall continue
to be entitled to COBRA coverage and coverage under similar state law under the Legacy Benefit
Plans that are health plans and, in the event of a termination of such plans, BHLB shall continue
to provide COBRA coverage.
7.6.6 Paid Time Off Programs. BHLB will give each Current Legacy Employee credit, for
purposes of BHLB’s vacation and/or other paid leave benefit programs, for such Current Legacy
Employees’ accrued and unpaid vacation and/or paid leave balance with Legacy as of the Closing
Date.
7.6.7 BHLB to Honor Agreements. Subject to any required regulatory approval or satisfaction
of a condition in any Regulatory Approval, BHLB agrees to honor all employment agreements, change
in control agreements, severance agreements, deferred compensation agreements and consulting
agreements that Legacy has with its current and former employees and which have been identified in
Legacy Disclosure Schedule 4.9.1, except to the extent any such agreements shall be
superseded or terminated at the Closing Date or following the Closing Date with the written consent
of the affected parties. BHLB agrees that in the event a Bank Regulator prohibits Legacy from
making any payments or providing any benefits under any agreement referenced in Legacy
Disclosure Schedule 4.9.1 in effect as of the Closing Date, BHLB shall make such payments or
provide such benefits due under such agreements unless prohibited from doing so by any Bank
Regulator. Legacy shall, prior to the Effective Time, use its reasonable best efforts to obtain
from each of the individuals named in Legacy Disclosure Schedule 7.6.7 an agreement, in the
form of Exhibit B hereto, setting forth the method in which his or her rights under the
specified programs will be settled (the amount of each such payment to be limited to the amounts
specified in Legacy Disclosure Schedule 7.6.7) in the event such individuals are entitled
to payment or benefits (each, a “Settlement Agreement”). Notwithstanding anything contained in the
agreements set forth on Legacy Disclosure Schedules 4.9.1 or 7.6.7 or in this
Agreement, no payment shall be made under any employment, deferred compensation, change of control,
severance contract, stock option plan or plan that would constitute a “parachute payment” (as such
term is defined in Section 280G of the Code), and to the extent any such payment would constitute a
“parachute payment,” the payment will be reduced to $1.00 less than the amount that would be
considered a “parachute payment.” In addition, the Settlement Agreement shall provide (i) that an
individual shall receive cash in lieu of continued insurance benefits in the event providing such
insurance benefits would result in BHLB incurring taxes or penalties under The Patient Protection
and Affordable Care Act or similar legislation, laws or regulations, as in effect at the time that
such benefit becomes due or as may be amended from time to time, and (ii) an individual shall not
receive a retirement bonus as provided in Legacy’s employee handbook. Such cash payment shall be
delivered in a manner consistent with the requirements of Code Section 409A and shall be in an
amount reasonably estimated to be equivalent to the present value, using the applicable federal
rate (100% of the mid-term) published by the IRS for December 2010 and determined as the date of
this Agreement, of the premium payments required to obtain the continued insurance benefits
referenced in the preceding sentence on a self-pay basis that would otherwise be provided to the
individual. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement or in any Legacy employment
49
agreement, change in control agreement, severance agreement, deferred compensation agreement
or consulting agreement, if at any time after the Effective Time, BHLB or any of its Subsidiaries
is precluded by applicable law or regulations from making any payment under any such agreement,
BHLB shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain regulatory approval to make such payment and
BHLB or a Subsidiary shall make such payment promptly after it is permitted to do so under
applicable law and regulations.
Except for the agreements described in the preceding sentences of this Section 7.6.7 and
except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, subject to and following the occurrence of the
Effective Time, the Legacy Benefit Plans shall, in the sole and absolute discretion of BHLB, be
frozen, terminated or merged into comparable plans of BHLB, effective at such time as BHLB shall
determine in its sole and absolute discretion.
7.6.8 No Guarantee of Employment. Except to the extent of commitments herein or other
contractual commitments, if any, specifically made or assumed by BHLB hereunder or by operation of
law, BHLB shall have no obligation arising from and after the Closing Date to continue in its
employ or in any specific job or to provide to any specified level of compensation or any incentive
payments, benefits or perquisites to any Person who is an employee of Legacy as of the Closing
Date. Each Person who is an employee of Legacy as of the Closing Date and who is terminated by
BHLB for a reason other than cause within twelve (12) months subsequent to the Closing Date or is
not offered employment with BHLB as of the Effective Time or resigns for good reason, excluding
those employees who are entitled to benefits under change of control arrangements, shall be
entitled to severance benefits pursuant to BHLB’s current severance plan or policy, if such
payments would be more favorable to such Person; provided, however, if such benefits pursuant to
Legacy’s plan or policy will result in an excise tax under Code Section 4980D, such plan or policy
shall be modified to the extent necessary so as to avoid the imposition of such excise tax and the
affected participant under such plan or policy shall be paid an additional amount such that his or
her benefit, net applicable taxes, equals the value of the benefit reduced or eliminated by such
action.
7.6.9 SERP and Directors’ Plans. Immediately on or prior to the Effective Time, Legacy shall,
in cooperation with BHLB, subject to the occurrence of the Effective Time, terminate each of the
Supplemental Executive Retirement Agreement and the Directors’ Fee Continuation Plans of Legacy
Bancorp, Inc. and the amounts due thereunder shall be paid in a lump sum to the participants
therein, on or prior to the Effective Time in accordance with Section 409A of the Code.
7.6.10 Retiree Medical, Dental and Life Insurance. Prior to the Effective Time, Legacy shall,
subject to the occurrence of the Effective Time, terminate, modify or freeze, as directed by BHLB,
all retiree medical, dental and retiree life insurance plans in accordance with ERISA and the Code
in such manner as BHLB may reasonable request.
7.6.11 Change in Control Agreement and Consulting Agreement. BHLB will offer Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxx an executive level position with BHLB and Berkshire Bank and will also enter into an
agreement with Xx. Xxxxxxxx reflecting the terms of employment. In addition, BHLB agrees to enter
into a consulting agreement with J. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx. The forms of such agreements are set forth
in BHLB Disclosure Schedule 7.6.11.
7.6.12 Discretionary Compensation. BHLB shall permit Legacy to pay discretionary compensation
of up to an aggregate of $700,000 to such persons under specifically identified compensation plans
or programs and in such amounts as set forth in Legacy Disclosure Schedule 7.6.12.
7.7 Directors and Officers Indemnification and Insurance.
7.7.1 Prior to the Effective Time, BHLB shall obtain and fully pay the premium for the
extension of (i) the Side A coverage part (directors’ and officers’ liability) of Legacy’s existing
directors’ and officers’ insurance policies, and (ii) Legacy’s existing fiduciary liability
insurance policies, in each case for a claims reporting or discovery period of at least six (6)
years from and after the Effective Time, from an insurance carrier with the same or better credit
rating as Legacy’s current insurance carrier with respect to directors’ and officers’ liability
insurance and fiduciary liability insurance (collectively, “D&O Insurance” and such insurance
carrier, the “Insurance Carrier”) with terms, conditions, retentions and limits of liability that
are at least as favorable as Legacy’s existing policies with respect to any actual or alleged
error, misstatement, misleading statement, act,
50
omission, neglect, breach of duty or any matter claimed against any Person covered thereby
that arose, existed, or occurred at or prior to the Effective Time (including in connection with
this Agreement or the transactions or actions contemplated hereby); provided, however, that in no
event shall BHLB be required to expend for such “tail” policy a premium amount in excess of an
amount equal to 200% of the annual premiums paid by Legacy for D&O Insurance in effect as of the
date of this Agreement. In connection with the foregoing, Legacy agrees, in order for BHLB to
fulfill its agreement, to provide the Insurance Carrier with such representations as such insurer
may request with respect to the reporting of any prior claims.
7.7.2 In addition to Section 7.7.1, BHLB shall, from and after the Effective Date, to the
fullest extent that would have been permitted to Legacy under DGCL and the Legacy Certificate of
Incorporation (to the extent not prohibited by federal law), indemnify, defend and hold harmless
each Person who is now, or who has been at any time before the date hereof or who becomes before
the Effective Time, an officer or director of Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary (the “Indemnified
Parties”) against all losses, claims, damages, costs, expenses (including attorneys’ fees),
liabilities or judgments or amounts that are paid in settlement (which settlement shall require the
prior written consent of BHLB, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
delayed) of or in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether
civil, criminal, or administrative (each, a “Claim”) in which an Indemnified Party is or is
threatened to be made a party or witness in whole or in part or arising in whole or in part out of
the fact that such Person is or was an Indemnified Party if such Claim pertains to any matter of
fact arising, existing, or occurring before the Effective Time (including, without limitation, the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby), regardless of whether such Claim is
asserted or claimed before, or after, the Effective Time. Any Indemnified Party wishing to claim
indemnification under this Section 7.7.2 upon learning of any Claim, shall notify BHLB (but the
failure so to notify BHLB shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under this
Section 7.7.2, except to the extent such failure materially prejudices BHLB). In the event of any
such Claim (whether arising before or after the Effective Time) (1) BHLB shall have the right to
assume the defense thereof (in which event the Indemnified Parties will cooperate in the defense of
any such matter) and upon such assumption BHLB shall not be liable to any Indemnified Party for any
legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses subsequently incurred by any Indemnified
Party in connection with the defense thereof, except that if BHLB elects not to assume such
defense, or counsel for the Indemnified Parties reasonably advises the Indemnified Parties that
there are or may be (whether or not any have yet actually arisen) issues which raise conflicts of
interest between BHLB and the Indemnified Parties, the Indemnified Parties may retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to them, and BHLB shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such
counsel for the Indemnified Parties, (2) except to the extent otherwise required due to conflicts
of interest, BHLB shall be obligated pursuant to this paragraph to pay for only one (1) firm of
counsel for all Indemnified Parties unless there is a conflict of interest that necessitates more
than one law firm, and (3) BHLB shall not be liable for any settlement effected without its prior
written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
7.7.3 In the event that either BHLB or any of its successors or assigns (i) consolidates with
or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving company or entity of
such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and
assets to any Person, then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that the
successors and assigns of BHLB shall assume the obligations set forth in this Section 7.7.
7.7.4 The obligations of BHLB provided under this Section 7.7 are intended to be enforceable
against BHLB directly by the Indemnified Parties and shall be binding on all respective successors
and permitted assigns of BHLB.
7.8 Stock Listing.
BHLB agrees to file a notification form for the listing on the NASDAQ Stock Market (or such
other national securities exchange on which the shares of BHLB Common Stock shall be listed as of
the Closing Date) of the shares of BHLB Common Stock to be issued in the Merger.
7.9 Reservation of Stock.
BHLB agrees at all times from the date of this Agreement until the Merger Consideration has
been paid in full to reserve a sufficient number of shares of BHLB Common Stock to fulfill its
obligations under this Agreement.
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7.10 Communications to Legacy Employees; Training
BHLB and Legacy agree that as promptly as practicable following the execution of this
Agreement, meetings with employees of Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries shall be held at such
locations as BHLB and Legacy shall mutually agree, provided that representatives of Legacy shall be
permitted to attend such meetings. BHLB and Legacy shall mutually agree in advance as to the scope
and content of all communications to the employees of Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries. At
mutually agreed upon times following execution of this Agreement, representatives of BHLB shall be
permitted to meet with the employees of Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries to discuss employment
opportunities with BHLB, provided that representatives of Legacy shall be permitted to attend any
such meeting. From and after the first date on which all Regulatory Approvals (and waivers, if
applicable) and the Legacy Shareholder Approval and the shareholders of BHLB necessary for the
consummation of the Merger and Bank Merger (disregarding any waiting period) have been obtained,
BHLB shall also be permitted to conduct training sessions outside of normal business hours or at
other times as Legacy may agree, with the employees of Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries and may
conduct such training seminars at any branch location of Legacy Banks; provided that BHLB will in
good faith attempt to schedule such training sessions in a manner which does not unreasonably
interfere with Legacy Banks’ normal business operations.
7.11 Current Information.
During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, BHLB will cause one
or more of its representatives to confer with representatives of Legacy to inform Legacy regarding
BHLB’s operations at such times as Legacy may reasonably request. BHLB will promptly notify Legacy
of any change in the ordinary course of its business or in the operation of its properties and, to
the extent permitted by applicable law, of any governmental complaints, investigations or hearings
(or communications indicating that the same may be contemplated), or the institution or the threat
of material litigation involving BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary.
7.12 Access to Properties and Records.
Subject to Section 12.1, BHLB shall permit Legacy access upon reasonable notice and at
reasonable times to its properties and those of the BHLB Subsidiaries, and shall disclose and make
available to Legacy during normal business hours all of its books and records relating to the
assets, properties, operations, obligations and liabilities, including, but not limited to, all
books of account (including the general ledger), tax records, minute books of directors’ and
shareholders’ meetings (other than minutes that discuss any of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement or any other subject matter that BHLB reasonably determines should be kept
confidential), organizational documents, bylaws, material contracts and agreements, filings with
any regulatory authority, litigation files, plans affecting employees, and any other business
activities or prospects in which Legacy may have a reasonable interest; provided, however, that
BHLB shall not be required to take any action that would provide access to or to disclose
information where such access or disclosure, in BHLB’s reasonable judgment, would interfere with
the normal conduct of BHLB’s business or would violate or prejudice the rights or business
interests or confidences of any customer or other Person or entity or would result in the waiver by
it of the privilege protecting communications between it and any of its counsel or contravene any
applicable law. BHLB shall provide and shall request its auditors to provide Legacy with such
historical financial information regarding it (and related audit reports and consents) as Legacy
may reasonably request for Securities Law disclosure purposes. Legacy shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to minimize any interference with BHLB’s regular business operations during any
such access to BHLB’s property, books and records. BHLB and each BHLB Subsidiary shall permit
Legacy, at Legacy’s expense, to (i) cause a Phase I environmental assessment to be performed at any
physical location owned or occupied by BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary and (ii) cause an appraisal to
be performed in respect of any real property owned by BHLB or any BHLB Subsidiary.
7.13 Financial and Other Statements.
7.13.1 Promptly upon receipt thereof, BHLB will furnish to Legacy copies of each annual,
interim or special audit of the books of BHLB and the BHLB Subsidiaries made by its independent
registered public accountants and copies of all internal control reports submitted to BHLB by such
accountants, or by any other accounting firm rendering internal audit services, in connection with
each annual, interim or special audit of the books of BHLB and the BHLB Subsidiaries made by such
accountants.
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7.13.2 As soon as reasonably available, but in no event later than the date such documents are
filed with the MDOB, OTS or FDIC, BHLB will deliver to Legacy the BHLB Regulatory Report filed by
BHLB or Berkshire Bank. Within twenty-five (25) days after the end of each month, Berkshire Bank
will deliver to Legacy a consolidating balance sheet and a consolidating statement of operations,
without related notes, for such month prepared in accordance with current financial reporting
practices, as well as a month-end and year to date comparison to budget.
7.13.3 BHLB promptly will advise upon receipt and permit review by Legacy of any inquiry or
examination report of any Bank Regulator with respect to the condition or activities of BHLB or
Berkshire Bank.
7.14 Committee Meetings.
BHLB and Berkshire Bank shall permit Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx to attend any meeting of the Berkshire
Bank Loan Review Committee as an observer (the “Legacy Observer”), provided that neither BHLB nor
Berkshire Bank shall be required to permit the Legacy Observer to remain present during any
confidential discussion of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or any
Acquisition Proposal or during any other matter that the Board of Directors of Berkshire Bank has
been advised of by counsel that such attendance by the Legacy Observer may violate or be
inconsistent with a confidentiality obligation or fiduciary duty or any legal, regulatory or NASDAQ
requirement.
7.15 New Hires.
From the date of this Agreement through the Effective Time, BHLB shall consult with and advise
Legacy prior to the hiring by BHLB of any officer for a position of employment to be located in
Berkshire County, Massachusetts.
7.16 New Members.
Prior to the Closing, each of BHLB and Berkshire Bank shall increase by the sufficient number
of directors constituting the entire Boards of Directors of BHLB and Berkshire Bank, respectively,
effective as of and contingent upon the occurrence of the Effective Time, and by a vote of a
majority of the directors then in office of each of BHLB and Berkshire Bank, BHLB and Berkshire
Bank shall duly elect the New Members to fill such vacancies and thereby become a director of BHLB
and Berkshire Bank, effective as of and contingent upon the occurrence of the Effective Time.
Subject to the requirements of BHLB’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws relating to the
relative number of directors in each class, one New Member shall become a member of the class of
BHLB’s and Berkshire Bank’s Boards of Directors that has the longest time remaining until its
directors’ terms expire and the other New Member shall become a member of the class of BHLB’s and
Berkshire Bank’s Boards of Directors that has the second longest time remaining until its
directors’ terms expire.
ARTICLE VIII
REGULATORY AND OTHER MATTERS
REGULATORY AND OTHER MATTERS
8.1 Meeting of Shareholders.
8.1.1 Legacy will (i) take all steps necessary to duly call, give notice of, convene and hold
a special meeting of its shareholders as promptly as practicable after the Merger Registration
Statement is declared effective by the SEC, for the purpose of considering this Agreement and the
Merger (the “Legacy Shareholders Meeting”), except as otherwise provided in this section, (ii) in
connection with the solicitation of proxies with respect to the Legacy Shareholders Meeting, have
its Board of Directors recommend approval of this Agreement to the Legacy shareholders; and (iii)
cooperate and consult with BHLB with respect to each of the foregoing matters. The Board of
Directors of Legacy may fail to make such a recommendation referred to in clause (ii) above, or
withdraw, modify or change any such recommendation only if such Board of Directors, after having
consulted with and considered the advice of its financial and legal advisors, has determined that
the making of such recommendation, or the failure to withdraw, modify or change its recommendation,
would constitute a breach of the fiduciary duties of such directors under applicable law.
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8.1.2 BHLB will (i) take all steps necessary to duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a
special meeting of its shareholders as promptly as practicable after the Merger Registration
Statement is declared effective by the SEC, for the purpose of considering this Agreement and the
Merger (the “BHLB Shareholders Meeting” ), (ii) in connection with the solicitation of proxies with
respect to the BHLB Shareholders Meeting, have its Board of Directors recommend approval of this
Agreement to the BHLB shareholders; and (iii) cooperate and consult with Legacy with respect to
each of the foregoing matters. The Board of Directors of BHLB may fail to make such a
recommendation referred to in clause (ii) above, or withdraw, modify or change any such
recommendation only if such Board of Directors, after having consulted with and considered the
advice of its financial and legal advisors, has determined that the making of such recommendation,
or the failure to withdraw, modify or change its recommendation, would constitute a breach of the
fiduciary duties of such directors under applicable law..
8.2 Proxy Statement-Prospectus; Merger Registration Statement.
8.2.1 For the purposes (i) of registering BHLB Common Stock to be offered to holders of Legacy
Common Stock in connection with the Merger with the SEC under the Securities Act, (ii) of holding
the Legacy Shareholders Meeting and (iii) of holding the BHLB Shareholders Meeting , BHLB shall
draft and prepare, and Legacy shall cooperate in the preparation of, the Merger Registration
Statement, including a joint proxy statement and prospectus satisfying all applicable requirements
of applicable state securities and banking laws, and of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act,
and the rules and regulations thereunder (such joint proxy statement/prospectus in the form mailed
by Legacy to the Legacy shareholders and by BHLB to the BHLB shareholders, together with any and
all amendments or supplements thereto, being herein referred to as the “Proxy
Statement-Prospectus”). BHLB shall provide Legacy and its counsel with appropriate opportunity to
review and comment on the Proxy Statement-Prospectus, and shall incorporate all appropriate
comments thereto, prior to the time it is initially filed with the SEC or any amendments are filed
with the SEC. BHLB shall file the Merger Registration Statement, including the Proxy
Statement-Prospectus, with the SEC. Each of BHLB and Legacy shall use its reasonable best efforts
to have the Merger Registration Statement declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly
as practicable after such filing, and Legacy and BHLB shall each thereafter promptly mail the Proxy
Statement-Prospectus to their respective shareholders. BHLB shall also use its reasonable best
efforts to obtain all necessary state securities law or “blue sky” permits and approvals required
to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and Legacy shall furnish all
information concerning Legacy and the holders of Legacy Common Stock as may be reasonably requested
in connection with any such action.
8.2.2 BHLB shall, as soon as practicable but in no event later than January 31, 2011, file the
Merger Registration Statement with the SEC under the Securities Act in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. BHLB will advise Legacy promptly after BHLB receives
notice of the time when the Merger Registration Statement has become effective or any supplement or
amendment has been filed, of the issuance of any stop order or the suspension of the registration
of the shares of BHLB Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Merger Registration Statement, or the
initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the SEC for the
amendment or supplement of the Merger Registration Statement, or for additional information, and
BHLB will provide Legacy with as many copies of such Merger Registration Statement and all
amendments thereto promptly upon the filing thereof as Legacy may reasonably request.
8.2.3 Legacy and BHLB shall promptly notify the other party if at any time it becomes aware
that the Proxy Statement-Prospectus or the Merger Registration Statement contains any untrue
statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading. In such event, Legacy shall cooperate with BHLB in the preparation of a
supplement or amendment to such Proxy Statement-Prospectus that corrects such misstatement or
omission, and BHLB shall file an amended Merger Registration Statement with the SEC, and each of
Legacy and BHLB shall mail an amended Proxy Statement-Prospectus to their respective shareholders.
8.3 Regulatory Approvals.
Each of Legacy and BHLB will cooperate with the other and use reasonable efforts to promptly
prepare and as soon as practicable following the date hereof but in no event later than January 31,
2011, file all necessary
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documentation to obtain all necessary permits, consents, waivers, approvals and authorizations
of the MDOB, the FDIC, the OTS, the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission and any
other third parties and Governmental Entities or Bank Regulators necessary to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Legacy and BHLB will furnish each other and each
other’s counsel with all information concerning themselves, their Subsidiaries, directors, officers
and shareholders and such other matters as may be necessary or advisable in connection with any
application, petition or other statement made by or on behalf of Legacy or BHLB to any Bank
Regulator or Governmental Entity in connection with the Merger, Bank Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Legacy shall have the right to review and approve in
advance all characterizations of the information relating to Legacy and any Legacy Subsidiary which
appear in any filing made in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with
any Governmental Entity. In addition, Legacy and BHLB shall each furnish to the other for review a
copy of each such filing made in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
with any Governmental Entity prior to its filing. Each of Legacy and BHLB will cooperate with each
other and use their reasonable best efforts to address any conditions in any regulatory approval to
allow for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided however,
BHLB shall be solely responsible for its and Legacy’s reasonable expenses arising out of required
divestitures of deposit liabilities in connection therewith; provided, further, however, BHLB shall
not be required to comply with any such condition that would result in a Material Adverse Effect on
BHLB or Legacy.
ARTICLE IX
CLOSING CONDITIONS
CLOSING CONDITIONS
9.1 Conditions to Each Party’s Obligations under this Agreement.
The respective obligations of each party under this Agreement shall be subject to the
fulfillment at or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions, none of which may be
waived:
9.1.1 Shareholder Approval. This Agreement and each transaction contemplated hereby requiring
stockholder approval shall have been approved and adopted by the requisite votes of the
shareholders of Legacy and the shareholders of BHLB.
9.1.2 Injunctions. None of the parties hereto shall be subject to any order, decree or
injunction of a court or agency of competent jurisdiction, and no statute, rule or regulation shall
have been enacted, entered, promulgated, interpreted, applied or enforced by any Governmental
Entity or Bank Regulator, that enjoins or prohibits the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
9.1.3 Regulatory Approvals. All Regulatory Approvals required to complete the Merger and the
Bank Merger shall have been obtained and shall remain in full force and effect and all waiting
periods relating thereto shall have expired.
9.1.4 Effectiveness of Merger Registration Statement. The Merger Registration Statement shall
have become effective under the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of
the Merger Registration Statement shall have been issued, and no proceedings for that purpose shall
have been initiated or threatened by the SEC and, if the offer and sale of BHLB Common Stock in the
Merger is subject to the state securities or “blue sky” laws of any state, shall not be subject to
a stop order of any state securities commissioner.
9.1.5 NASDAQ Listing. BHLB shall have filed a notification form for the listing of the BHLB
Common Stock to be issued in the Merger.
9.2 Conditions to the Obligations of BHLB under this Agreement.
The obligations of BHLB under this Agreement shall be further subject to the satisfaction of
the conditions set forth in Sections 9.2.1 through 9.2.6 at or prior to the Closing Date:
9.2.1 Representations and Warranties. Each of the representations and warranties of Legacy
set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and upon the
Effective Time
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with the same effect as though all such representations and warranties had been made at the
Effective Time (except to the extent such representations and warranties speak as of an earlier
date, which only need be true and correct as of such earlier date), in any case subject to the
standard set forth in Section 4.1; and Legacy shall have delivered to BHLB a certificate to such
effect signed by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of Legacy as of the
Effective Time.
9.2.2 Agreements and Covenants. Legacy and each Legacy Subsidiary shall have performed in all
material respects all obligations and complied in all material respects with all agreements or
covenants to be performed or complied with by each of them at or prior to the Effective Time, and
BHLB shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of Legacy by the Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer of Legacy to such effect dated as of the Effective Time.
9.2.3 Permits, Authorizations, Etc. Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries shall have obtained
any and all permits, authorizations, consents, waivers, clearances or approvals required for the
lawful consummation of the Merger and the Bank Merger, the failure of which to obtain would have a
Material Adverse Effect on either Legacy or BHLB.
9.2.4 No Material Adverse Effect. There shall have been no changes, other than changes
contemplated by this Agreement, in the business, operations, condition (financial or otherwise),
assets or liabilities of Legacy and the Legacy Subsidiaries (regardless of whether or not such
events or changes are inconsistent with the representations and warranties given herein) that
individually or in the aggregate has had or reasonably would be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on Legacy.
9.2.5 Tax Opinion. BHLB shall have received an opinion of Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx,
P.C., counsel to BHLB, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the Merger constitutes a
reorganization under Section 368(a) of the IRC. In rendering its opinion, such counsel may require
and rely upon customary representations contained in certificates of officers of BHLB, Legacy and
their respective Subsidiaries, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to such counsel.
9.2.6 Regulatory Conditions. No Regulatory Approval required for consummation the Merger and
Bank Merger shall include any condition or requirement that would result in a Material Adverse
Effect on BHLB or Legacy, and their Subsidiaries.
9.3 Conditions to the Obligations of Legacy under this Agreement.
The obligations of Legacy under this Agreement shall be further subject to the satisfaction of
the conditions set forth in Sections 9.3.1 through 9.3.6 at or prior to the Closing Date:
9.3.1 Representations and Warranties. Each of the representations and warranties of BHLB set
forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and upon the
Effective Time with the same effect as though all such representations and warranties had been made
at the Effective Time (except to the extent such representations and warranties speak as of an
earlier date, which only need be true and correct as of such earlier date), in any case subject to
the standard set forth in Section 5.1; and BHLB shall have delivered to Legacy a certificate to
such effect signed by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of BHLB as of the
Effective Time.
9.3.2 Agreements and Covenants. BHLB and Berkshire Bank shall have performed in all material
respects all obligations and complied in all material respects with all agreements or covenants to
be performed or complied with by each of them at or prior to the Effective Time, and Legacy shall
have received a certificate signed on behalf of BHLB by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer of BHLB to such effect dated as of the Effective Time.
9.3.3 Permits, Authorizations, Etc. BHLB and Berkshire Bank shall have obtained any and all
permits, authorizations, consents, waivers, clearances or approvals required for the lawful
consummation of the
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Merger and the Bank Merger, the failure of which to obtain would have a Material Adverse
Effect on BHLB and Berkshire Bank, taken as a whole.
9.3.4 No Material Adverse Effect. There shall have been no changes, other than changes
contemplated by this Agreement, in the business, operations, condition (financial or otherwise),
assets or liabilities of BHLB and the BHLB Subsidiaries (regardless of whether or not such events
or changes are inconsistent with the representations and warranties given herein) that individually
or in the aggregate has had or reasonably would be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
BHLB.
9.3.5 Tax Opinion. Legacy shall have received an opinion of Xxxxxx XxXxxxxxx & Fish LLP,
special counsel to Legacy, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the Merger constitutes a
reorganization under Section 368(a) of the IRC. In rendering its opinion, such counsel may require
and rely upon customary representations contained in certificates of officers of BHLB, Legacy and
their respective Subsidiaries, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to such counsel.
ARTICLE X
[RESERVED]
[RESERVED]
ARTICLE XI
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
11.1 Termination.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing Date, whether before or
after approval of the Merger by the shareholders of BHLB and Legacy (except as otherwise indicated
below):
11.1.1 At any time by the mutual written agreement of BHLB and Legacy;
11.1.2 By either party (provided, that the terminating party is not then in breach of any
representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained herein) if there shall have been a
breach of any of the representations or warranties set forth in this Agreement on the part of the
other party, which breach by its nature cannot be cured prior to the Closing Date or shall not have
been cured within thirty (30) days after written notice of such breach by the terminating party to
the other party, conditioned upon the defaulting party promptly commencing to cure the default and
thereafter continuing to cure the default; provided, however, that neither party shall have the
right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 11.1.2 unless the breach of
representation or warranty, together with all other such breaches, would entitle the terminating
party not to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby under Section 9.2.1 (in the case of a
breach of a representation or warranty by Legacy) or Section 9.3.1 (in the case of a breach of a
representation or warranty by BHLB);
11.1.3 By either party (provided, that the terminating party is not then in breach of any
representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained herein) if there shall have been a
failure to perform or comply with any of the covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement on
the part of the other party or its Subsidiaries, which failure by its nature cannot be cured prior
to the Closing Date or shall not have been cured within thirty (30) days after written notice of
such failure by the terminating party to the other party, conditioned upon the defaulting party
promptly commencing to cure the default and thereafter continuing to cure; provided, however, that
neither party shall have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 11.1.3
unless the breach of covenant or agreement, together with all other such breaches, would entitle
the terminating party not to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby under Section 9.2.2
(in the case of a breach of covenant by Legacy) or Section 9.3.2 (in the case of a breach of
covenant by BHLB);
11.1.4 At the election of either party, if the Closing shall not have occurred by the
Termination Date, or such later date as shall have been agreed to in writing by BHLB and Legacy;
provided, that no party may terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 11.1.4 if the failure
of the Closing to have occurred on or before
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said date was due to such party’s material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or
other agreement contained in this Agreement;
11.1.5 By either party, if (i) the shareholders of Legacy shall have voted at the Legacy
Shareholders Meeting on the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and such vote shall not
have been sufficient to approve and adopt such transactions or (ii) the shareholders of BHLB shall
have voted on the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and such vote shall not have been
sufficient to approve and adopt such transactions.
11.1.6 By either party if (i) final action has been taken by a Bank Regulator whose approval
is required in order to satisfy the conditions to the parties’ obligations to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby as set forth in Article IX, which final action (x) has become
unappealable and (y) does not approve this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii)
any court of competent jurisdiction or other Governmental Entity shall have issued an order,
decree, ruling or taken any other action restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Merger
and such order, decree, ruling or other action shall have become final and unappealable;
11.1.7
(A) By the Board of Directors of BHLB if each of the following conditions are satisfied: (i)
Legacy has received a Superior Proposal and the Board of Directors of Legacy has entered into an
acquisition agreement with respect to the Superior Proposal, withdrawn its recommendation of this
Agreement, has failed to make such recommendation, or has modified or qualified its recommendation
in a manner adverse to BHLB, (ii) either (x) the Board of Directors of Legacy submits this
Agreement to its stockholders without a recommendation for approval or (y) the Board of Directors
of Legacy withdraws, qualifies or adversely modifies (or publicly proposes or resolves to withdraw,
qualify or adversely modify) its recommendation of this Agreement to the Legacy stockholders,
and (iii) the Legacy stockholders do not approve this Agreement.
(B) By the Board of Directors of Legacy if each of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) either (x) the Board of Directors of BHLB submits this Agreement to its stockholders without a
recommendation for approval or (y) Board of Directors of BHLB withdraws, qualifies or adversely
modifies (or publicly proposes or resolves to withdraw, qualify or adversely modify) its
recommendation of this Agreement to the BHLB stockholders and (ii) the BHLB stockholders do
not approve this Agreement.
11.1.8 By the Board of Directors of Legacy if Legacy has received a Superior Proposal and the
Board of Directors of Legacy has made a determination to accept such Superior Proposal; provided
that Legacy shall not terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 11.1.8 and enter into a
definitive agreement with respect to the Superior Proposal until the expiration of three (3)
Business Days following BHLB’s receipt of written notice advising BHLB that Legacy has received a
Superior Proposal, specifying the material terms and conditions of such Superior Proposal (and
including a copy thereof with all accompanying documentation, if in writing) identifying the Person
making the Superior Proposal and stating whether Legacy intends to enter into a definitive
agreement with respect to the Superior Proposal (a “Notice of Superior Proposal”). After providing
such Notice of Superior Proposal, Legacy shall provide a reasonable opportunity to BHLB during the
three (3)-day period to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement as
would enable Legacy to proceed with the Merger on such adjusted terms. Any material amendment of
such Superior Proposal shall require a new Notice of Superior Proposal and Legacy shall be required
to comply again with the requirements of this Section 11.1.8; provided, however, that references to
the three (3) Business Day period above shall be deemed to be references to a two (2) Business Day
period.
11.1.9 By Legacy, if the Board of Directors of Legacy so determines by a majority vote of the
members of the entire Board of Directors of Legacy, at any time during the five-day period
commencing on the Determination Date, such termination to be effective on the 30th day
following such Determination Date, if and only if both of the following conditions are satisfied:
(1) The BHLB Market Value on the Determination Date is less than $16.70; and
(2) the number obtained by dividing the BHLB Market Value on the Determination Date by
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the Initial BHLB Market Value shall be less than the number obtained by dividing (x) the Final
Index Price by (y) the Initial Index Price minus 0.20;
subject, however, to the following three sentences.
If Legacy elects to exercise its termination right pursuant to this Section 11.1.9, it shall
give prompt written notice thereof to BHLB. During the five Business Day period commencing with its
receipt of such notice, BHLB shall have the option of paying additional Merger Consideration by
increasing the Exchange Ratio to equal the number obtained by dividing (1) $13.00 by the greater of
(i) the product of 0.80 and the Initial BHLB Market Value or (ii) the product obtained by
multiplying the Index Ratio by the Initial BHLB Market Value. If within such five Business Day
period, BHLB delivers written notice to Legacy that it intends to proceed with the Merger by paying
such additional consideration as contemplated by the preceding sentence, then no termination shall
have occurred pursuant to this Section 11.1.9, and this Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect in accordance with its terms (except that the Exchange Ratio shall have been so modified
and, thereafter, any reference in this Agreement to “Stock Consideration” shall be deemed to refer
to the Stock Consideration reflecting the Exchange Ratio as modified pursuant to this Section
11.1.9).
For purposes of this Section 11.1.9, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated
below:
“Acquisition Transaction” means (i) a merger or consolidation, or any similar transaction,
involving the relevant companies, (ii) a purchase, lease or other acquisition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the relevant companies, (iii) a purchase or other acquisition
(including by way of merger, consolidation, share exchange or otherwise) of securities representing
10% or more of the voting power of the relevant companies; or (iv) agree or commit to take any
action referenced above.
“Determination Date” means the first date on which all Requisite Regulatory Approvals (and
waivers, if applicable) necessary for consummation of the Merger and the Bank Merger have been
received (disregarding any waiting period).
“Index” means the following companies and the weights attributed to them as follows:
Name | Ticker | Index Weighting (%) | ||||
Oritani Financial Corp.
|
ORIT | 9.78 | ||||
Brookline Bancorp Inc.
|
BRKL | 9.11 | ||||
S&T Bancorp Inc.
|
STBA | 8.84 | ||||
Independent Bank Corp.
|
INDB | 8.24 | ||||
Dime Community Bancshares Inc.
|
DCOM | 7.37 | ||||
TrustCo Bank Corp NY
|
TRST | 6.84 | ||||
Flushing Financial Corp.
|
FFIC | 6.31 | ||||
Xxxxxx Valley Holding Corp.
|
HUVL | 5.79 | ||||
Provident New York Bancorp
|
PBNY | 5.67 | ||||
Danvers Bancorp Inc.
|
DNBK | 4.97 | ||||
Lakeland Bancorp
|
LBAI | 3.94 | ||||
Sterling Xxxxxxx
|
XXX | 0.00 | ||||
Xxxxxxxxx Financial Inc.
|
WFD | 3.63 | ||||
OceanFirst Financial Corp.
|
OCFC | 3.52 | ||||
United Financial Bancorp
|
UBNK | 3.48 | ||||
Abington Bancorp Inc
|
ABBC | 3.45 | ||||
Sun Bancorp Inc.
|
SNBC | 3.24 | ||||
Metro Bancorp Inc.
|
METR | 2.03 |
“Index Ratio” means the Final Index Price divided by the Initial Index Price.
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“Initial BHLB Market Value” means $20.88, adjusted as indicated in the last sentence of this
Section 11.1.9.
“Initial Index Price” means the sum of the per share closing sales price of the common stock
of each company comprising the Index.
“Final Index Price” means the sum of the Final Prices of each company comprising the Index.
“Final Price” with respect to any company belonging to the Index, means the average of the
daily closing sales prices of a share of common stock of such company (and if there is no closing
sales price on any such day, then the mean between the closing bid and the closing asked prices on
that day), as reported on the consolidated transaction reporting system for the market or exchange
on which such common stock is principally traded, for the ten consecutive trading days immediately
preceding the Determination Date.
“BHLB Market Value” means, as of any specified date, the average of the daily closing sales
prices of a share of BHLB Common Stock as reported on the NASDAQ for the ten consecutive trading
days immediately preceding such specified date.
If any company belonging to the Index declares or effects a stock dividend, reclassification,
recapitalization, split-up, combination, exchange of shares or similar transaction between the date
of this Agreement and the Determination Date, the prices for the common stock of such company shall
be appropriately adjusted for the purposes of applying this Section 11.1.9. If a company belonging
to the Index announces a sale between the date of this Agreement and the Determination Date, such
company shall be removed from the Index and the relative weighting of the companies remaining in
the Index shall be appropriately adjusted.
11.1.10 By the Board of Directors of Legacy if the Board of Directors of Legacy has determined
in good faith that it is in the best interests of Legacy to enter into an agreement with a third
party with respect to a Superior Proposal (such transaction being defined to be an “Alternative
Acquisition Agreement”) and provides written notice of such determination to BHLB and terminates
this Agreement pursuant to this Section 11.1.10 in each case on or before January 31, 2011,
provided that Legacy has abided by terms and conditions set forth in Sections 6.11.1, 6.11.2 and
6.11.3, and provided, further, that if Legacy provides BHLB with a Notice of Superior Proposal
pursuant to Section 11.1.8 by January 31, 2011, such deadline, but only with respect to an
Alternative Acquisition Agreement with the Person making the Acquisition Proposal described in that
Notice of Superior Proposal, shall be 11:59 pm (Eastern Time) on the later of (i) January 31, 2001,
or (ii) the first Business Day following the expiration of the last of the negotiating periods in
Section 11.1.8.
11.2 Effect of Termination.
11.2.1 In the event of termination of this Agreement pursuant to any provision of Section
11.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no further force, except that (i) the
provisions of Sections 11.2, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.8, 12.9, 12.10, 12.11, and any
other section which, by its terms, relates to post-termination rights or obligations, shall survive
such termination of this Agreement and remain in full force and effect.
11.2.2 If this Agreement is terminated, expenses and damages of the parties hereto shall be
determined as follows:
(A) Except as provided below, whether or not the Merger is consummated, all costs and expenses
incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
shall be paid by the party incurring such expenses.
(B) In the event of a termination of this Agreement because of a breach of any representation,
warranty, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement, the breaching party shall remain
liable for any and all damages, costs and expenses, including all reasonable attorneys’ fees,
sustained or incurred by
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the non-breaching party as a result thereof or in connection therewith or with respect to the
enforcement of its rights hereunder.
(C) As used in this Agreement, “Termination Fee” shall mean (A) $2,160,000 in connection with
the Merger and this Agreement through the termination hereof if the Termination Fee becomes payable
in connection with Legacy entering into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement and (B) an amount
equal to $4,320,000 in all other circumstances. As a condition of BHLB’s willingness, and in order
to induce BHLB to enter into this Agreement, and to reimburse BHLB for incurring the costs and
expenses related to entering into this Agreement and consummating the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, Legacy hereby agrees to pay BHLB, and BHLB shall be entitled to payment of, the
Termination Fee by wire transfer of same day funds on the earlier of (x) the date of termination
or, if such date is not a Business Day, on the next following Business Day or (y) within three (3)
Business Days after written demand for payment is made by BHLB, as applicable, following the
occurrence of any of the events set forth below:
(i) Legacy terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 11.1.8 or BHLB terminates this
Agreement pursuant to Section 11.1.7(A); or
(ii) The entering into a definitive agreement by Legacy relating to an Acquisition Proposal or
the consummation of an Acquisition Proposal involving Legacy within one (1) year after the
occurrence of any of the following: (i) the termination of this Agreement by BHLB pursuant to
Section 11.1.2 or 11.1.3 because of a breach by Legacy or any Legacy Subsidiary after the
occurrence of a bona fide Acquisition Proposal has been publicly announced or otherwise made known
to the senior management or board of directors of Legacy; or (ii) the termination of this Agreement
by BHLB or Legacy pursuant to Section 11.1.5 because of the failure of the shareholders of Legacy
to approve this Agreement at the Legacy Shareholders Meeting after the occurrence of an Acquisition
Proposal has been publicly announced or otherwise made known to the shareholders of Legacy
provided, however, that for the purpose of this clause (ii), all references in the definition of
Acquisition Proposal to “25% or more” shall instead refer to “40% or more.”
(D) In the event that Legacy shall terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 11.1.7(B),
BHLB shall pay to Legacy the Termination Fee by wire transfer of same day funds no later than the
second Business Day following such termination.
(E) Legacy and BHLB acknowledge that the agreements contained in this Section 11.2.2 are an
integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that, without these
agreements, neither party would enter into this Agreement. The amounts payable by Legacy and BHLB
pursuant to this Section 11.2.2 constitute liquidated damages and not a penalty and shall be the
sole and exclusive monetary remedy of such party in the event of termination of this Agreement on
the bases specified in such section.
11.3 Amendment, Extension and Waiver.
Subject to applicable law, at any time prior to the Effective Time (whether before or after
approval thereof by the shareholders of Legacy or BHLB), the parties hereto by action of their
respective Boards of Directors, may (a) amend this Agreement, (b) extend the time for the
performance of any of the obligations or other acts of any other party hereto, (c) waive any
inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained herein or in any document delivered
pursuant hereto, or (d) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein;
provided, however, that after any approval of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby by the shareholders of Legacy or BHLB (as applicable), there may not be, without further
approval of such shareholders, any amendment of this Agreement which decreases or increases the
amount or value, or changes the form of, the Merger Consideration to be delivered to Legacy’s
shareholders pursuant to this Agreement. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument
in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto. Any agreement on the part of a party
hereto to any extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing
signed on behalf of such party, but such waiver or failure to insist on strict compliance with such
obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with
respect to, any subsequent or other failure. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this
Article XI may only be effected upon a vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors of the
terminating party.
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11.4 Additional Provisions Regarding Termination:
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement;
(A) | BHLB may not terminate this Agreement on account of the failure of a Regulatory Approval closing condition due to a requirement, whether contained in any Regulatory Approval or as a condition necessary to obtain any Regulatory Approval, to divest liabilities and assets that would constitute a Material Adverse Effect, unless (i) BHLB gives Legacy thirty (30) days written notice of its intention to do so (“Notice of Divestiture MAE”), (ii) BHLB provides Legacy with BHLB’s written analysis of the economic impact of the required divestiture on the benefits of the proposed Transaction to BHLB, taken as a whole together with such divestiture and the reasonably anticipated proceeds thereof, (iii) BHLB proposes in the Notice of Divestiture MAE such adjustments, modifications or amendments to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as would enable BHLB to proceed with the Merger, and (iv) BHLB negotiates in good faith with Legacy to make such adjustments, modifications or amendments to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as would enable the BHLB to proceed with the Merger. | ||
(B) | The limitations on solicitation by Legacy as set forth in Section 6.11, as well as Legacy’s obligation under Section 8.1.1 to hold a Special Meeting of Stockholders to vote upon the transaction contemplated in this Agreement, will be suspended upon BHLB’s delivery of the Notice of Divestiture MAE, regardless, in the case of Section 6.11, whether or not the Legacy Shareholder Vote shall have been obtained. | ||
(C) | If, within twenty-five (25) days after Legacy’s receipt of a Notice of Divestiture MAE, BHLB and Legacy do not amend to this Agreement, Legacy may (i) xxx BHLB to enforce its rights under this Agreement or (ii) terminate this Agreement at no cost to Legacy. | ||
(D) | In any dispute regarding the existence of a Material Adverse Effect, the existence of the amount specified in clause (vi) of the definition of Material Adverse Effect will not prejudice Legacy’s ability to assert that a greater divestiture does not constitute a Material Adverse Effect. |
ARTICLE XII
MISCELLANEOUS
MISCELLANEOUS
12.1 Confidentiality.
Except as specifically set forth herein, BHLB and Legacy mutually agree to be bound by the
terms of the Confidentiality Agreements, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, and all
information furnished by either party to the other party or its representatives pursuant hereto
(including pursuant to Sections 6.2 and 6.3) shall be subject to, and the parties shall hold such
information in confidence in accordance with, the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreements.
The parties hereto agree that the Confidentiality Agreements shall continue in accordance with its
terms, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement.
12.2 Public Announcements.
Legacy and BHLB shall cooperate with each other in the development and distribution of all
news releases and other public disclosures with respect to this Agreement, and except as may be
otherwise required by law, neither Legacy nor BHLB shall issue any news release, or other public
announcement or communication with respect to this Agreement unless such news release or other
public announcement or communication has been mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto.
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12.3 Survival.
All representations, warranties and covenants in this Agreement or in any instrument delivered
pursuant hereto shall expire and be terminated and extinguished at the Effective Time, except for
those covenants and agreements contained herein which by their terms apply in whole or in part
after the Effective Time.
12.4 Notices.
All notices or other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if
delivered by (i) receipted hand delivery, (ii) facsimile with confirmation of transmission, (iii)
mailed by prepaid registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), or (iv) by recognized
overnight courier addressed as follows:
If to Legacy, to:
|
X. Xxxxxxx Dunlaevy | |
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board | ||
Legacy Bancorp, Inc. | ||
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000 | ||
With required copies to:
|
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |
President | ||
Legacy Bancorp, Inc. | ||
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000 | ||
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
Senior Vice President and General Counsel | ||
Legacy Bancorp, Inc. | ||
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000 | ||
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq. | ||
Xxxxxx XxXxxxxxx & Fish LLP | ||
Seaport West | ||
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | ||
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000 | ||
If to BHLB, to:
|
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx | |
President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. | ||
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000 | ||
With required copies to:
|
Wm. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |
Vice President and General Counsel | ||
Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. | ||
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000 | ||
Xxxxxxxx Spaccassi, Esq. | ||
Xxxx Xxxx, Esq. | ||
Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, P.C. | ||
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX | ||
Xxxxx 000 | ||
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 |
63
or such other address as shall be furnished in writing by any party, and any such notice or
communication shall be deemed to have been given, as applicable: (i) as of the date delivered by
hand, (ii) upon confirmation of transmission, (iii) three (3) Business Days after being delivered
to the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, or (iv) one (1) Business Day after being delivered to the
overnight courier.
12.5 Parties in Interest.
This Agreement and the Voting Agreements shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit
of the parties hereto or thereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however,
that neither this Agreement and the Voting Agreements nor any of the rights, interests or
obligations hereunder or thereunder shall be assigned by any party hereto without the prior written
consent of the other party. Except for Section 7.6.7, 7.6.8, 7.6.9 and 7.7 hereof nothing in this
Agreement is intended to confer upon any Person or entity other than the parties hereto any rights
or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.
12.6 Complete Agreement.
This Agreement, including the Exhibits and Disclosure Schedules hereto and the documents and
other writings referred to herein or therein or delivered pursuant hereto, and the Confidentiality
Agreements, contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties with respect to its
subject matter. There are no restrictions, agreements, promises, warranties, covenants or
undertakings between the parties other than those expressly set forth herein or therein. This
Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (other than the Confidentiality
Agreements) between the parties, both written and oral, with respect to its subject matter.
12.7 Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts all of which shall be considered
one and the same agreement and each of which shall be deemed an original. A facsimile or other
electronic copy of a signature page shall be deemed to be an original signature page.
12.8 Severability.
In the event that any one or more provisions of this Agreement shall for any reason be held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, by any court of competent jurisdiction, such
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement
and the parties shall use their reasonable efforts to substitute a valid, legal and enforceable
provision which, insofar as practical, implements the purposes and intents of this Agreement.
12.9 Governing Law.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
Delaware, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law.
12.10 Interpretation.
When a reference is made in this Agreement to Articles, Sections or Exhibits, such reference
shall be to an Article or Section of or Exhibit to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The
recitals hereto constitute an integral part of this Agreement. References to sections include
subsections, which are part of the related Section (e.g., a section numbered “Section 5.5.1” would
be part of “Section 5.5” and references to “Section 5.5” would also refer to material contained in
the subsection described as “Section 5.5.1”). The table of contents, index and headings contained
in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
64
interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used
in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”. The
phrases “the date of this Agreement”, “the date hereof” and terms of similar import, unless the
context otherwise requires, shall be deemed to refer to the date set forth in the Preamble to this
Agreement. The parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this
Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or
interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties and no presumption or burden
of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any of the
provisions of this Agreement.
12.11 Specific Performance.
The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that the provisions
contained in this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its specific terms or was
otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction
or injunctions, without the posting of bond or other security, to prevent breaches of this
Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of the United
States or any state having jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they
are entitled at law or in equity. Each party agrees that it will not seek and will agree to waive
any requirement for the securing or posting of a bond in connection with the other party’s seeking
or obtaining such relief.
[Signature Page Follows]
65
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed under
seal by their duly authorized officers as of the date first set forth above.
BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC. |
||||
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx | ||||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx | |||
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
LEGACY BANCORP, INC. |
||||
/s/ X. Xxxxxxx Dunlaevy | ||||
Name: | X. Xxxxxxx Dunlaevy | |||
Title: | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | |||