Exhibit 10.1

 

Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.

Amended and Restated Executive Compensation Agreement

 

Glenn S. Welch

 

This Amended and Restated Executive Compensation Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made effective as of December 11, 2014 by and between Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (“Berkshire”) and Glenn S. Welch.

 

Recitals

 

WHEREAS, Berkshire and Glenn S. Welch previously entered into an executive compensation proposal dated November 3, 2014 (the “Original Agreement”); and

 

WHEREAS, the parties to the Agreement desire to amend and restate the Original Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, and upon the terms and conditions hereinafter provided, the parties agree as follows:

 

Overview:

 

As you know, Berkshire has entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger between Berkshire and Hampden Bancorp, Inc. (“Hampden”), dated as of November 3, 2014. This Agreement describes your current agreement and the agreement for your future compensation.

 

Current Arrangements:

 

·               Employment Agreement - Your employment agreement provides for a lump sum cash payment equal to three (3) times your prior five-year “annual compensation” (as defined in the employment agreement) and up to 18 months of continued health and dental insurance at no cost to you, if following a Change in Control your employment is terminated Without Cause or With Good Reason. Your employment agreement also provides that you will receive the benefits you would have received under any tax-qualified retirement plan and non-tax-qualified retirement plan for thirty-six (36) months. In addition, if you are offered employment that is comparable in terms of compensation and responsibilities, and you remain employed for six (6) months, you will receive a lump sum payment equal to 3 months base salary.

 

·                You are also subject to certain non-competition and non-solicitation obligations for one (1) year following your termination of employment under the employment agreement.

 

·                Salary Continuation Agreement – You also participate in an executive salary continuation agreement. Under the terms of that agreement, upon a change in control, you are entitled to an annual benefit (paid in monthly installments beginning at age 65 equal to $60,000 for the remainder of your life).

 











 

Proposed Compensation Arrangements:

 

·                Effective on the closing date of the merger, you will be employed by Berkshire in an executive position as Regional President of the Springfield, MA and Connecticut Regions, and other executive duties as determined by Berkshire’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Your initial base salary will be $350,000.

 

·                Effective on the closing date of the merger, you will participate in Berkshire’s change in control severance plan on similar terms as other similarly situated executives (and with the same change in control multiple as provided under your current agreement).

 

·                Effective on the closing date of the merger, you will receive a stay bonus of $400,000 payable in cash.

 

·                If at any time during the first six months following the closing date of the merger, your employment with Berkshire is terminated as a result of a mutual decision between the parties for any reason other than cause, or after completing six months of employment with Berkshire, you decide unilaterally within five business days to resign for any reason, Berkshire will pay you $400,000 provided that you will be subject to non-competition/non-solicitation restrictions for eighteen months, with the non-competition restrictions being limited to the area within a 30-mile radius of 19 Harrison Avenue, Springfield, Massachusetts.

 

·                You will receive a minimum annual performance bonus of $133,333 for each of the first three years following the closing date of the merger (for total aggregate bonuses of $400,000), assuming you are still employed by Berkshire on each one-year anniversary from the closing date of the merger (for three years) payable one-half in cash and one-half in the form of restricted stock that will vest over three years, with one-third vesting each year. If Berkshire terminates your employment during the first three years following the closing date of the merger for a reason other than cause (as such term is defined in Berkshire’s employment agreement with its President and Chief Executive Officer), you will receive the minimum annual performance bonus of $133,333 that would otherwise have been paid to you for that year (as if you had remained employed on the applicable anniversary date of the merger), and you will forfeit any subsequent performance bonuses.

 

·                Hampden will terminate your salary continuation agreement prior to the effective time of the merger. Within 45 days of the termination of the agreement, you will receive a lump sum payment equal to the present value of the benefits otherwise due under the agreement.

 

·                You will agree to add an automatic limitation to your salary continuation agreement, so that amounts and benefits payable to you in connection with the change in control will be automatically limited so as not to permit any excess parachute payments under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

 

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·                Hampden will terminate your employment agreement prior to the effective time of the merger, and you will not receive any payment or benefits under the agreement. You will provide any consents that may be required.

 

·                Effective October 31, 2014, you agree that any compensation resulting from the exercise of stock options and/or the sale of stock received upon such stock option exercise will not be included in the definition of “annual compensation” under your employment agreement for purposes of determining cash severance that may be due in connection with a change in control.

 

·                All payment amounts are subject to adjustment depending on final tax calculations, confirmation of 2010 through 2014 compensation, and are subject to applicable tax withholding. All payments of deferred compensation will be subject to a six-month delay if and to the extent necessary and advisable to avoid additional taxes and penalties under Section 409A of the Code.

 

·                Berkshire makes no representation and warranties with respect to excess parachute payments under Section 280G of the Code and does not undertake any liability or indemnification with respect to any related taxes.

 

·                This Agreement supersedes the Original Agreement.

 

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A C C E P T E D

 

	
BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Linda A. Johnston
    	
 
    	
12-11-14
    
	
 
    	
Linda A. Johnston,   Executive 
    	
 
    	
Date
    
	
 
    	
Vice President – Human   Resources
    	
 
    	
 
    


 

By signing below, you agree that this Agreement will be binding upon you, will take effect on the Closing Date, and will as of such date supersede any other employment, severance, change of control or related agreements between the undersigned executive and Hampden and its affiliates. The parties agree to work in good faith to document the terms of this Agreement into one or more written documents consistent with the terms set forth herein. In the event that the Merger Agreement is terminated prior to the occurrence  of the Closing Date, this Agreement shall become null and void and of no effect.

 

 

	
By
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Glenn S. Welch
    	
 
    	
12/11/14
    
	
 
    	
Glenn S. Welch
    	
 
    	
Date
    


 

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