<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-25-047382.txt : 20250512
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-25-047382.hdr.sgml : 20250512
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20250512172209
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-25-047382
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	DEFA14A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20250512
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20250512

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001108134
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS, NOT FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6036]
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	02 Finance
		EIN:				043510455
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		DEFA14A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15781
		FILM NUMBER:		25936108

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		60 STATE STREET
		STREET 2:		38TH FLOOR
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		617-641-9206

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		60 STATE STREET
		STREET 2:		38TH FLOOR
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
</SEC-HEADER>
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<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt">UNITED STATES</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><B>SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><B>WASHINGTON, D.C.
20549</B></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><B>FORM 8-K</B></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><B>CURRENT REPORT</B></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt">PURSUANT TO SECTION
13 OR 15(D) OF</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt">THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt">Date of Report (Date
of earliest event reported): <FONT STYLE="text-decoration: underline">May 12, 2025</FONT></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 14pt"><FONT STYLE="text-decoration: underline">BERKSHIRE
HILLS BANCORP, INC.</FONT></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt">(Exact Name of Registrant
as Specified in its Charter)</P>

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<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%">
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    <TD STYLE="text-decoration: underline; width: 32%; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><FONT STYLE="text-decoration: underline">Delaware</FONT></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 2%">&#160;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-decoration: underline; width: 32%; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><FONT STYLE="text-decoration: underline">001-15781</FONT></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 2%">&#160;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-decoration: underline; width: 32%; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><FONT STYLE="text-decoration: underline">04-3510455</FONT></FONT></TD></TR>
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        <P STYLE="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center">(State or Other Jurisdiction)</P>
        <P STYLE="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center">of Incorporation)</P></TD>
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    <TD STYLE="text-align: center; vertical-align: top">
        <P STYLE="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center">(Commission File No.)</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: center; vertical-align: top">&#160;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: center; vertical-align: top">
        <P STYLE="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center">(I.R.S. Employer</P>
        <P STYLE="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center">Identification No.)</P></TD></TR>
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<P STYLE="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt">&#160;</P>

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    <TD STYLE="text-decoration: underline; width: 49%; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><FONT STYLE="text-decoration: underline">60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts</FONT></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 2%; text-align: center">&#160;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-decoration: underline; width: 49%; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><FONT STYLE="text-decoration: underline">02109</FONT></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: center">&#160;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(Zip Code)</FONT></TD></TR>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt">Registrant&#8217;s telephone
number, including area code: <FONT STYLE="text-decoration: underline">(800) 773-5601 ext. 133773</FONT></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><FONT STYLE="text-decoration: underline">Not Applicable</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt">(Former Name or Former
Address, if Changed Since Last Report)</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt">Check the appropriate
box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):</P>

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    <TD STYLE="width: 97%; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</FONT></TD></TR>
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    <TD STYLE="width: 97%; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</FONT></TD></TR>
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    <TD STYLE="width: 97%; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 3%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 97%; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</FONT></TD></TR>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt">Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: </P>



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    <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; width: 37%; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Title of each class</B></FONT></TD>
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    <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; width: 18%; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Trading symbol(s)</B></FONT></TD>
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    <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; width: 41%; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Name of each exchange on which registered</B></FONT></TD></TR>
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    <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Common stock, par value $0.01 per share</FONT></TD>
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    <TD STYLE="text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">New York Stock Exchange</FONT></TD></TR>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt">Indicate by check
mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR &#167;230.405)
or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR &#167;240.12b-2).</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt">Emerging growth
company <FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt">If an emerging growth
company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any
new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. <FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></P>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 59.85pt"><B>Item 8.01</B></TD><TD><B>Other Events</B></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 66.85pt; text-indent: -59.85pt"><B>&#160;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">On March 24, 2025, Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(&#8220;Berkshire&#8221;), filed a registration statement on Form S-4 containing a joint proxy statement/prospectus, as supplemented on
May 9, 2025 (the &#8220;Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus&#8221;), with respect to the annual meeting of the Berkshire stockholders scheduled
to be held at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on May 21, 2025, via webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BHLB2025. The Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus
included a proposal to approve the Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. 2025 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the &#8220;2025 Plan&#8221;) as
Proposal 3 (&#8220;Proposal 3&#8221;) in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&#160;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">After furnishing the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus to stockholders,
Berkshire was informed by Institutional Shareholder Services (&#8220;ISS&#8221;) that Proposal 3 received an unfavorable recommendation
from ISS in part because the shareholder value transfer (&#8220;SVT&#8221;) for the 2025 Plan, as determined by ISS using its proprietary
model, is greater than the benchmark calculated by ISS. A component of the ISS model for SVT is the potential value transfer of equity
based on new, available and outstanding shares.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&#160;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Today, Berkshire is providing the following supplemental information
to help Berkshire stockholders evaluate Proposal 3 and to provide additional, clarifying information to assist ISS in applying its model
to evaluate the 2025 Plan.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&#160;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">As of May 12, 2025, Berkshire had:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&#160;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&#8226;44,400 stock options outstanding, with a weighted average exercise
price of $26.65 and a weighted average remaining term of  0.93 years under all equity plans,</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&#8226;386,968 unvested full value awards with time-based vesting outstanding
under all equity plans, which are expected to vest when the proposed transaction between Berkshire and Brookline Bancorp, Inc. (&#8220;Brookline&#8221;)
is completed,</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&#8226;110,356 unvested full value awards with performance-based vesting
outstanding under all equity plans, which are expected to vest when the proposed transaction between Berkshire and Brookline is completed,</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&#8226;822,719 shares remaining available for issuance under Berkshire&#8217;s
2022 Equity Incentive Plan and 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, which will be cancelled when the proposed transaction between Berkshire and
Brookline is completed, and</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&#8226;84,260,582 shares of common stock are anticipated to be outstanding
when the proposed transaction between Berkshire and Brookline is completed.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&#160;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Berkshire has not granted and will not grant any additional stock options,
full value awards, with time-based or performance-based vesting, or any other type of equity award under Berkshire&#8217;s 2022 Equity
Incentive Plan or 2018 Equity Incentive Plan from December 16, 2024 (the date of the merger agreement between Berkshire and Brookline)
through the closing of the proposed transaction between Berkshire and Brookline, assuming the 2025 Plan is approved by stockholders at
the 2025 annual meeting of Berkshire stockholders and becomes effective. Assuming the 2025 Plan is approved by Berkshire stockholders
and becomes effective, the remaining shares available to be granted under the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan and 2018 Equity Incentive Plan
(822,719 shares) will be cancelled.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&#160;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>The Berkshire board of directors unanimously
recommends that </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Berkshire stockholders vote &#8220;FOR&#8221;
approval of the Berkshire Equity Plan Proposal.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&#160;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">If you have already submitted your proxy or instructed your broker,
bank or other agent how to vote your shares, you do not need to take any action unless you wish to change your vote. Proxies already returned
by stockholders will remain valid and common stock represented thereby will be voted at the meeting in accordance with your instructions
unless revoked. You may revoke your proxy at any time before your proxy is voted at the meeting by: (1) filing with the Corporate Secretary
of Berkshire a duly executed revocation of proxy; (2) submitting a new proxy with a later date; (3) voting again via the internet or by
telephone not later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, on May 20, 2025; or (4) voting virtually at the Berkshire Annual Meeting. If a broker,
bank or other similar organization holds your shares, you must contact them in order to find out how to revoke or change your vote.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&#160;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">BERKSHIRE STOCKHOLDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT SOLICITATION MATERIALS FILED BY BERKSHIRE WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING
DECISION BECAUSE THESE DOCUMENTS CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&#160;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&#160;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B><FONT STYLE="text-decoration: underline">No Offer or Solicitation</FONT></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&#160;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">This communication is not a proxy statement or solicitation or a proxy,
consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed transaction between Berkshire and Brookline and
shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities of Berkshire, Brookline or the combined company,
nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration
or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be deemed to be made except by means
of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and otherwise in accordance with
applicable law.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&#160;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B><FONT STYLE="text-decoration: underline">Additional Information About the Merger and Where to Find It</FONT></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&#160;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">In connection with the proposed transaction between Berkshire and Brookline,
Berkshire filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC that includes a joint proxy statement of Brookline and Berkshire and
a prospectus of Berkshire, which have been distributed to the stockholders of Brookline and Berkshire in connection with their votes on
the merger of Brookline with and into Berkshire and the issuance of Berkshire common stock in the proposed transaction between Berkshire
and Brookline. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS (AND
ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION BETWEEN BERKSHIRE AND BROOKLINE OR INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCE INTO THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS) BECAUSE SUCH DOCUMENTS WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE PROPOSED
MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain these documents, and any other documents Berkshire and
Brookline have filed with the SEC, free of charge at the SEC&#8217;s website, www.sec.gov, or by accessing Berkshire&#8217;s website at
www.berkshirebank.com under the &#8220;Investor Relations&#8221; link, or by accessing Brookline&#8217;s website at www.brooklinebancorp.com
under the &#8220;SEC Filings&#8221; link. In addition, documents filed with the SEC by Berkshire or Brookline will be available free of
charge by (1) writing Berkshire at 60 State Street, Boston, MA 02109, Attention: Wm. Gordon Prescott, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
or (2) writing Brookline at 131 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02116, Attention: Carl M. Carlson, Co-President and Chief Financial and Strategy
Officer.</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B><FONT STYLE="text-decoration: underline">Participants in the Solicitation</FONT></B></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">The directors, executive officers and certain other members of management
and employees of Berkshire may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Berkshire in connection
with the proposed transaction between Berkshire and Brookline. Information about Berkshire&#8217;s directors and executive officers is
included in Berkshire&#8217;s Amendment No 1. to the Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was filed with the SEC on March 19, 2025.</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">The directors, executive officers and certain other members of management
and employees of Brookline may also be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction
between Berkshire and Brookline from the stockholders of Brookline. Information about the directors and executive officers of Brookline
is included in Brookline&#8217;s Amendment No 1. to the Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was filed with the SEC on March 19, 2025.</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Additional information regarding the interests of those participants
and other persons who may be deemed participants in the transaction may be obtained by reading the joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding
the proposed transaction between Berkshire and Brookline. Free copies of this document may be obtained as described above.</P>

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<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">SIGNATURES</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">Pursuant to the requirements
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto
duly authorized.</P>

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    <TD STYLE="width: 44%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt"><B>Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.</B></FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
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    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">&#160;</TD>
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    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">&#160;</TD>
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    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">DATE: May 12, 2025</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">By:</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">/s/ Wm. Gordon Prescott</FONT></TD></TR>
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    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Wm. Gordon Prescott<BR>
Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel</FONT></TD></TR>
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