Exhibit
10.5
SUPPLEMENTAL
EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN
FOR
THE
CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF BERKSHIRE BANK
Article
1
Description,
Purpose and Definitions
1.1 Name.
The name
of this Plan is the “Berkshire Bank Supplemental Executive Retirement
Plan.”
1.2 Purpose.
The
purpose of the Plan is to promote the retention of Michael P. Daly, the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company, by providing an additional source of
retirement income to supplement that available to him from other
sources.
1.3 Definitions.
For
purposes of the Plan, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings
indicated, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
“Bank”
means
Berkshire Bank, Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
“Cause”
means
termination of employment because of Executive’s personal dishonesty, willful
misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, intentional
failure to perform stated duties, willful violation of any law, rule or
regulation (other than traffic violations or similar infractions) or a final
cease-and-desist order.
“Change
in Control”
means an
event of a nature that: (i) would be required to be reported in response to
Item
1(a) of the current report on Form 8-K, as in effect on the date hereof,
pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
“Exchange Act”); or (ii) results in a Change in Control of the Bank or the
Company within the meaning of the Bank Change in Control Act and the Rules
and
Regulations promulgated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) at
12 C.F.R. § 303.4(a) with respect to the Bank and the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System (“FRB”) at 12 C.F.R. § 225.41(b) with respect to the
Company, as in effect on the date hereof; or (iii) results in a transaction
requiring prior FRB approval under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 and
the
regulations promulgated thereunder by the FRB at 12 C.F.R. § 225.11, as in
effect on the date hereof except for the Company’s acquisition of the Bank; or
(iv) without limitation such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have
occurred at such time as (A) any “person” (as the term is used in Sections 13(d)
and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined
in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities
of
the Bank or the Company representing 20% or more of the Bank’s or the Company’s
outstanding securities except for any securities of the Bank purchased by the
Company in connection with the conversion of the Bank to the stock form and
any
securities purchased by any tax-qualified employee benefit plan of the Bank;
or
(B) individuals who constitute the Board of Directors on the date hereof (the
“Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority
thereof, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date
hereof whose election was approved by a vote of at least three-quarters (3/4)
of
the directors comprising the Incumbent Board, or whose nomination for election
by the Company’s stockholders was
approved
by the same Nominating Committee serving under an Incumbent Board, shall be,
for
purposes of this clause (B), considered as though he were a member of the
Incumbent Board; or (C) a plan of reorganization, merger, consolidation, sale
of
all or substantially all the assets of the Bank or the Company or similar
transaction occurs in which the Bank or Company is not the resulting entity;
or
(D) solicitations of shareholders of the Company, by someone other than the
current management of the Company, seeking stockholder approval of a plan of
reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company or Bank or similar
transaction with one or more corporations as a result of which the outstanding
shares of the class of securities then subject to the plan or transaction are
exchanged for or converted into cash or property or securities not issued by
the
Bank or the Company shall be distributed; or (E) a tender offer is made for
20%
or more of the voting securities of the Bank or the Company.
“Company”
means
Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
“Disability”
means
Executive’s absence from employment which: (i) is due to his inability to engage
in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable
physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can
be
expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months;
or
(ii) results from a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which
can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous
period of not less than twelve (12) months, and causes Executive to receive
income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months
under
an accident and health plan covering the Bank’s employees.
“Executive”
means
Michael P. Daly, Chief Executive Officer of the Bank.
“Final
Average Earnings” means
the
highest average of the total salary and bonus paid to executive for any three
consecutive completed calendar years preceding termination.
“Separation
from Service”
means
Executive’s termination from employment with the Bank on account of Executive’s
death, Disability, retirement, or other such termination of employment.
Executive will not be deemed to have experienced a Separation from Service
if he
is on military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence, to the
extent such leave does not exceed a period of six (6) months or, if longer,
such
longer period of time as is protected by either statute or contract. Executive
will not be deemed to have experienced a Separation from Service, if he
continues to provide “significant services” to the Company. For purpose of the
preceding sentence, Executive will be considered to provide “significant
services” if he provides continuing services that average at least twenty
percent (20%) of the services provided by him during the immediately preceding
three (3) full calendar year of employment and the annual remuneration paid
for
such services is at least twenty percent (20%) of the average annual
compensation earned during the final three (3) full calendar years of
employment.
Article
2
Eligibility
2.1 Entitlement
to Benefits.
Except
to the extent provided in Sections 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4, Executive shall become
entitled to receive a benefit under the Plan only if his
employment
with
the
Bank terminates for reasons other than Cause after he has attained age 62.
Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, no benefit shall be
payable to Executive if his employment is terminated for Cause.
Article
3
Supplemental
Retirement Benefits
3.1 Basic
Benefit.
Subject
to the succeeding provisions of this Article, Executive shall be entitled to
an
annual benefit equal to 46.6%
of his
Final Average Earnings upon his separation from service (other than for Cause)
at or after attaining age 62.
3.2 Early
Retirement Benefit.
If
Executive’s separation from service occurs prior to the date he attains age 62
but after attaining age 55, other than by reason of his death or Disability
or
following a Change in Control, he shall be entitled to a percentage of the
basic
benefit determined under Section 3. The percentage of Executive’s benefit
under this Section 3.2 shall be determined as follows:
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(i)
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If
he retires during the calendar year in which he attains age 55, the
benefit otherwise determined under Section 3.1 shall be reduced by
50%.
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(ii)
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If
he retires during the calendar year in which he attains age 56, the
benefit otherwise determined under Section 3.1 shall be reduced by
40%.
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(iii)
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If
he retires during the calendar year in which he attains age 57, the
benefit otherwise determined under Section 3.1 shall be reduced by
30%.
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(iv)
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If
he retires during the calendar year in which he attains age 58, the
benefit otherwise determined under Section 3.1 shall be reduced by
20%.
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(v)
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If
he retires during the calendar year in which he attains age 59, the
benefit otherwise determined under Section 3.1 shall be reduced by
15%.
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(vi)
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If
he retires during the calendar year in which he attains age 60, the
benefit otherwise determined under Section 3.1 shall be reduced by
10%.
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(vii)
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If
he retires during the calendar year in which he attains age 61, the
benefit otherwise determined under Section 3.1 shall be reduced by
5%.
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Such
benefit shall be paid in accordance with Executive’s election under Section 3.5
at the time specified in Section 3.6.
3.3 Death
and Disability Benefits.
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A.
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If
Executive dies while employed by the Bank or his separation from
service
occurs by reason of his Disability, there shall be paid to him or
his
designated beneficiary an amount equal to the benefit he would
have
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received
under Section 3.1 if he had retired on the date immediately preceding his date
of death or termination of employment and, as of such date, was deemed to
satisfy the age requirement of Section 3.1. Such benefit shall be paid in
accordance with his election under Section 3.5 at the time specified in Section
3.6.
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B.
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If
Executive dies after his entitlement to a benefit has been established
by
reason of his termination of employment but prior to the time that
benefit
payment(s) have commenced, such payment(s) shall be made to his
beneficiary in accordance with his
election.
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C.
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Executive
may, on a form prescribed by and filed with the Administrator, designate
a
beneficiary to receive any death benefit payable under this section.
If no
effective beneficiary designation is on file at the time of his death,
the
death benefit under this section shall be paid as
follows:
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(1)
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To
his surviving spouse; or
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(2)
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If
no spouse survives, to his surviving children in equal shares, with
the
descendants of a child who has predeceased him taking such child’s share
by representation; or
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(3)
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If
none of his spouse and descendants is living, to the representative
of his
estate.
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D.
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The
automatic beneficiaries set forth in Subsection C and, except as
otherwise
provided in Executive’s duly filed beneficiary designation, the
beneficiaries named in such designation, shall become fixed at his
death
so that if a beneficiary survives him but dies before final payment
of the
death benefit, any remaining death benefits shall be paid to the
representative of such beneficiary’s
estate.
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3.4 Change
in Control Benefit
If
Executive experiences a separation from service with the Bank following a Change
in Control (other than for Cause), there shall be paid to him an amount equal
to
the benefit he would have received if he had retired on the date immediately
preceding his date of termination of employment and, as of such date, was deemed
to satisfy the age requirements of Section 3.1. Such benefit shall be paid
in a
single lump sum within ten (10) days of the Change in Control. The benefit
payable under this provision shall be calculated using Executive’s Final Average
Earnings as of his date of termination.
3.5 Form
of Benefit.
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A.
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Upon
Executive’s entitlement to a benefit under this Plan, his benefit shall be
paid in the form of (i) a single life annuity with twenty (20)
annual
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payments
guaranteed or (ii) a lump sum which is actuarially equivalent to the annuity
form of payment in (i), as designated by Executive on an election form provided
by the Bank for such purpose.
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B.
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Executive
may, while employed by the Bank, change the form in which his benefits
shall be paid by filing a revised election indicating such change
at least
one (1) calendar year prior to the date payments are to commence.
Such
election shall be irrevocable beginning one (1) calendar year prior
to the
date payments are to commence and the election must defer the payment
date
by at least five (5) calendar years beyond the previously scheduled
commencement date. No changes in the form of benefit payment shall
be
permitted following his termination of
employment.
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3.6 Time
of Payment/Calculation of Lump Sum.
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A.
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Benefit
payments made to Executive or Executive’s beneficiary pursuant to Sections
3.1, 3.2 or 3.3 shall commence in accordance with his election under
Section 3.5 not later than 60 days following his separation from
service.
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B.
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For
purposes of this Plan, any lump sum calculation shall be made assuming
a
mortality age using the 1994 Group Annuity Reserve (GRA) table and
a
discount rate of six percent (6%).
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3.7 Payment
in the Event of Incapacity or Minority.
If the
Bank, in its discretion, determines that any person entitled to receive any
payment under this Plan is physically, mentally or legally incapable of
receiving or acknowledging receipt of payment, and no legal representative
has
been appointed for such person, the Administrator in its discretion may (but
shall not be required to) cause any sum otherwise payable to such person to
be
paid to one or more legal person(s) as may be chosen by the Administrator from
among the following: the institution maintaining such person, such person’s
spouse, children, parents or other relatives by blood or marriage, a custodian
under any applicable Uniform Transfers to Minors Act or any other person
determined by the Administrator to have incurred expense for such person. The
Administrator’s payment, based upon its good faith determination of the
incapacity of the person otherwise entitled to payments under this Plan and
the
existence of any other person specified above, shall be conclusive and binding
on all persons. Any such payment shall be a complete discharge of the
liabilities of the Company under this Plan to the extent of such
payment.
3.8 Specified
Employee. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Article 3, in the event Executive is a Specified
Employee, as defined in accordance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and any regulations issued thereunder,
payment of Executive’s Basic Benefit or Early Retirement Benefit, as applicable,
shall not commence until six (6) months after Executive’s Separation from
Service.
Article
4
Source
of Benefits
4.1 Employer
Funds.
This
Plan is unfunded, and all benefits payable to Executive and his beneficiaries
shall be payable solely from the general assets of the Bank. Executive shall
not
be required or permitted to make any contribution to the Plan.
4.2 Trust
Fund.
The Bank
may establish a trust from which part or all of the benefits under the Plan
are
to be paid. If a trust is established, all of the principal and income of such
trust shall remain subject to the claims of the Bank’s creditors until applied
to the payment of benefits.
4.3 Executive’s
Right to Funds.
This
Plan constitutes a mere promise by the Bank to make benefit payments in the
future. Beneficial ownership of any assets, whether cash or investments, that
the Bank may earmark or place in trust to pay Executive’s benefits under this
Plan shall at all times remain in the Bank, and neither Executive nor his
beneficiaries shall have any property interest in any specific assets of the
Bank. To the extent Executive or any other person acquires a right to receive
payments from the Bank under this Plan, such right shall be no greater than
the
right of any unsecured general creditor of the Bank.
Article
5
Administration
5.1 Administrator.
The
Board of Directors of the Bank shall be the Administrator of the Plan. The
Board
may delegate any of its administrative functions to another person, subject
to
the revocation of such delegation at any time.
5.2 Discretion.
The
Administrator shall also have the discretionary power and authority, which
it
shall exercise in good faith, to determine whether Executive is entitled to
a
benefit under the Plan, the identity of Executive’s beneficiaries, and the
amount and form of the benefit payable to Executive or his beneficiary. The
Administrator shall have the discretion and authority to interpret the Plan
and
to make such rules and regulations as it deems necessary for the administration
of the Plan and to carry out its purposes. The determinations of the
Administrator shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.
5.3 Determination
of Benefit.
The
Administrator’s good faith determination of the benefits to which Executive or
his beneficiaries are entitled under this Plan shall be conclusive and binding
on all persons; provided, however, that this provision shall not preclude the
Administrator’s correcting any error the Administrator determines to have been
made in the computation of any benefit. The Administrator shall be entitled
to
recover from any Participant or beneficiary, or from his estate, the amount of
any overpayment of benefits and may reduce the amount of future benefits payable
to any individual by the amount of any overpayment made with respect to
Executive.
5.4 Benefit
Claim Procedure.
Within a
reasonable period of time following Executive’s termination of employment, the
Administrator will inform Executive or his beneficiary of the amount of
benefits, if any, payable from the Plan. Not later than 30 days
after
receipt
of such notification, Executive or his beneficiary may file with the
Administrator a written claim objecting to the amount of benefits payable under
the Plan. The Administrator, not later than 90 days after receipt of such claim,
will render a written decision to the claimant on the claim. If the claim is
denied, in whole or in part, such decision will include the reason or reasons
for the denial, a reference to the Plan provision that is the basis for the
denial, a description of additional material or information, if any, necessary
for the claimant to perfect the claim, an explanation as to why such information
or material is necessary and an explanation of the Plan’s claim procedure. The
claimant may file with the Administrator, not later than 60 days after receiving
the Administrator’s written decision, a written notice of request for review of
the decision, and the claimant or the claimant’s representative may review Plan
documents which relate to the claim and may submit written comments to the
Administrator. Not later than 60 days after receipt of such review request,
the
Administrator will render a written decision on the claim, which decision will
include the specific reasons for the decision, including a reference to the
Plan’s specific provisions where appropriate. The foregoing 90- and 60-day
periods during which the Administrator must respond to the claimant may be
extended by up to an additional 90 or 60 days, respectively, if special
circumstances beyond the Administrator’s control so require.
5.5 Indemnification.
The Bank
shall indemnify the Administrator and each other person to whom administrative
functions are delegated against any and all liabilities that may arise out
of
their administration of the Plan, except those that are imposed on account
of
such person’s willful misconduct.
5.6 Limitation
of Authority.
No
person performing any administrative functions with respect to the Plan shall
exercise, or participate in the exercise of, any discretion with respect to
his
own benefit under the Plan. This provision shall not preclude such person from
exercising discretionary authority with respect to the generally applicable
provisions of the Plan, even though such person’s benefit may be affected by
such exercise.
Article
6
Miscellaneous
6.1 Actuarial
Equivalency.
Except
as otherwise provided for in Section 3.7C, whenever an actuarial equivalent
must
be determined under this Plan, it shall be determined using reasonable actuarial
factors elected by the Administrator.
6.2 Termination
of Employment.
Executive shall be deemed to have terminated employment for purposes of this
Plan when he or she has ceased to provide service to the Bank as an
employee.
6.3 Effective
Date.
This
Plan is restated effective as of December
14, 2006.
6.4 No
Employment Rights.
Nothing
contained in this Plan shall be construed as conferring upon Executive the
right
to continue in the employ of the Bank.
6.5 No
Compensation Guarantees.
Nothing
contained in this Plan shall be construed as conferring upon Executive the
right
to receive any specific level of compensation;
nor
shall
the Bank be prevented in any way from modifying the manner or form in which
Executive is to be compensated.
6.6 Effect
on Benefit Plans.
Neither
benefits accrued by Executive under this Plan nor amounts paid pursuant to
the
Plan following his termination of employment shall be deemed to be salary or
other compensation to him for the purpose of computing benefits to which he
or
she may be entitled under any pension plan or other employee benefit plan or
arrangement sponsored by the Bank, except to the extent such other plan
expressly provides otherwise.
6.7 Rights
and Benefits Not Assignable.
The
rights and benefits of Executive and any other person or persons to whom
payments may be made pursuant to this Plan are personal and, except for payments
made to the representative of a person’s estate which may be assigned to the
persons entitled to such estate, shall not be subject to any voluntary or
involuntary anticipation, alienation, sale, assignment, pledge, transfer,
encumbrance, attachment, garnishment by creditors of Executive or such person
or
other disposition.
6.8 Amendment
and Termination.
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A.
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The
Board of Directors of the Bank may amend this Plan in such manner
as it
deems advisable, provided that no amendment shall reduce the accrued
benefit of Executive, determined as of the date of the adoption of
such
amendment.
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B.
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The
Bank may terminate this Plan at any time. No person shall accrue
any
additional benefits under the Plan following the date of its termination.
However, the termination of the Plan shall not affect Executive’s right to
receive payment of his accrued benefit (determined as of the date
of the
Plan’s termination) upon termination of employment; provided Executive
would have been entitled to a benefit upon termination of employment
if
the Plan had not been terminated.
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6.9 Governing
Law.
Except
to the extent preempted by federal law, this Plan shall be construed in
accordance with, and governed by, the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
without regard to rules relating to choice of law.
6.10 Entire
Agreement.
This
Plan constitutes the entire understanding between the Bank and each Participant
as to the subject matter hereof. No rights are granted to Executive by virtue
of
this Agreement other than those specifically set forth herein.
6.11 Section
409A Compliance.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any administrative form
related to the Plan, this Plan shall be interpreted in accordance with, and
incorporate the terms and conditions required by, Section 409A of the Code,
together with any Department of Treasury regulations and other guidance issued
thereunder, including without limitation, any regulations or other guidance
that
may be issued after the date hereof. The Board
of
Directors, in its discretion, may adopt any amendments to the Plan or modify
any
related administrative form or adopt other policies and procedures (including
amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other
actions the Board of Director determines to be necessary or appropriate to
comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
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