AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF
MERGER
DATED AS OF APRIL 29,
2009
BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP,
INC.
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Page No.
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Introductory
Statement
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1
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ARTICLE I
Definitions
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1
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ARTICLE II
The Merger
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6
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6
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6
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6
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6
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Effect on Outstanding Shares of CNB Financial
Common Stock
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7
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7
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Effect on Outstanding Shares of Berkshire Hills
Bancorp Common Stock
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9
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Directors of Surviving Corporation After
Effective Time
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9
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Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws
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10
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Treatment of Stock Options and
Warrants
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10
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11
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11
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11
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12
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ARTICLE III
Representations and Warranties
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12
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12
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Representations and Warranties of CNB
Financial
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12
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Representations and Warranties of Berkshire
Hills Bancorp
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28
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ARTICLE IV
Conduct Pending the Merger
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40
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Forbearances by CNB Financial
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40
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Forbearances by Berkshire Hills
Bancorp
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44
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ARTICLE V
Covenants
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44
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44
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46
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46
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47
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48
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48
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48
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CNB Financial Shareholder Meeting
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48
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Registration of Berkshire Hills Bancorp Common
Stock
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49
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Notification of Certain Matters
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50
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50
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52
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53
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53
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ARTICLE VI
Conditions to Consummation
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53
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Conditions to Each Party’s
Obligations
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53
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Conditions to the Obligations of Berkshire Hills
Bancorp
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54
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Conditions to the Obligations of CNB
Financial
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55
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ARTICLE VII
Termination
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56
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56
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Page No.
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57
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57
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ARTICLE VIII
Certain Other Matters
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58
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58
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58
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58
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58
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58
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58
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58
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60
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Successors and Assigns; Assignment
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60
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60
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Form of Voting
Agreement
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Plan of Bank
Merger
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ii
Agreement and Plan of
Merger
This is an
Agreement and Plan of Merger , dated as of the 29
th day of April, 2009 (“ Agreement
”), by and between Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (“ Berkshire Hills Bancorp ”), and
CNB Financial Corp. , a Massachusetts corporation (“ CNB
Financial ”).
The Board of
Directors of each of Berkshire Hills Bancorp and CNB Financial has
determined that this Agreement and the business combination and
related transactions contemplated hereby are advisable and in the
best interests of Berkshire Hills Bancorp or CNB Financial, as the
case may be, and in the best long-term interests of the
shareholders of Berkshire Hills Bancorp or CNB Financial, as the
case may be.
The parties hereto
intend that the Merger as defined herein shall qualify as a
reorganization under the provisions of Section 368(a) of the IRC
for federal income tax purposes.
Berkshire Hills
Bancorp and CNB Financial each desire to make certain
representations, warranties and agreements in connection with the
business combination and related transactions provided for herein
and to prescribe various conditions to such
transactions.
As a condition and
inducement to Berkshire Hills Bancorp’s willingness to enter
into this Agreement, each of the members of the Board of Directors
of CNB Financial have entered into an agreement dated as of the
date hereof in the form of Exhibit A pursuant to which
he or she will vote his or her shares of CNB Financial Common Stock
in favor of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby.
In consideration
of their mutual promises and obligations hereunder, the parties
hereto adopt and make this Agreement and prescribe the terms and
conditions hereof and the manner and basis of carrying it into
effect, which shall be as follows:
The following
terms are defined in this Agreement in the Section
indicated:
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Location of
Definition
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Section 2.3
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Section 2.12
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Section 3.3(q)
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Berkshire Hills
Bancorp Employee Plan
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Section 3.3(q)
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Berkshire Hills
Bancorp Pension Plan
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preamble
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Berkshire Hills
Bancorp Qualified Plan
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Section 3.3(q)
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Berkshire Hills
Bancorp’s Reports
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Section 3.3(g)
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Section 2.7(c)
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1
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Section 5.8
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Section 2.2
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Section 2.2
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preamble
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CNB Financial
Employee Plans
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Section 3.2(r)(i)
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Section 2.10
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CNB Financial
Pension Plan
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Section 3.2(r)(iii)
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CNB Financial
Qualified Plan
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Section 3.2(r)(iv)
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CNB
Financial’s SEC Reports
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Section 3.2(g)
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Section 2.10
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Commonwealth
National Bank
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Section 2.12
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Section 5.11(a)
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Section 2.10
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Section 3.1
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Section 2.11
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Section 2.3
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Section 2.7(c)
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Section 2.5
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Section 7.2(a)
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Section 5.12(a)
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Section 3.2(p)
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Section 2.6(a)
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Section 5.12(c)
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Section 2.1
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Section 2.5(a)
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Proxy
Statement-Prospectus
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Section 5.9(a)
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Section 5.9(a)
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Section 5.8
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Section 2.1
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In addition, for
purposes of this Agreement:
" Acquisition
Proposal ” means any proposal or offer with respect to
any of the following (other than the transactions contemplated
hereunder): (i) any merger, consolidation, share exchange,
business combination, or other similar transaction involving CNB
Financial or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) any sale, lease,
exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition of 25% or
more of CNB Financial’s consolidated assets in a single
transaction or series of transactions; (iii) any tender offer
or exchange offer for 25% or more of the outstanding shares of CNB
Financial’s capital stock or the filing of a registration
statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 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 an any of the foregoing.
" Agreement
” means this Agreement, as amended, modified or amended and
restated from time to time in accordance with its terms.
“Berkshire Hills Bancorp Common Stock” means the
common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Berkshire Hills
Bancorp.
2
" Berkshire
Hills Bancorp Price ” means the average of the closing
sales price of Berkshire Hills Bancorp Common Stock, as reported on
The Nasdaq Global Select Market, for the ten consecutive trading
days ending on the date that is five business days prior to the
Closing Date; provided , however , that any date on
which fewer than 100 shares of Berkshire Hills Bancorp Common Stock
trades shall be disregarded in computing the average closing sales
price and the average shall be based upon the closing sales price
and number of days on which 100 or more shares of Berkshire Hills
Bancorp Common Stock traded during the ten consecutive trading days
ending on a date that is five business days prior to the Closing
Date.
“BHCA” means the Bank Holding Company Act of
1956, as amended.
" CNB Financial
Common Stock ” means the common stock, par value $1.00
per share, of CNB Financial.
" CRA
” means the Community Reinvestment Act.
“DGCL” means the Delaware General Corporation
Law.
" Environmental
Law ” means any federal, state or local law, statute,
ordinance, rule, regulation, code, license, permit, authorization,
approval, consent, order, directive, executive or administrative
order, judgment, decree, injunction, or agreement with any
Governmental Entity relating to (i) the protection,
preservation or restoration of the environment (which includes,
without limitation, air, water vapor, surface water, groundwater,
drinking water supply, soil, surface land, subsurface land, plant
and animal life or any other natural resource), or to human health
or safety as it relates to Hazardous Materials, or (ii) the
exposure to, or the use, storage, recycling, treatment, generation,
transportation, processing, handling, labeling, production, release
or disposal of, Hazardous Materials, in each case as amended and as
now in effect. The term Environmental Law includes, without
limitation, the Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, the Superfund Amendments
and Reauthorization Act of 1986, the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act of 1972, the Federal Clean Air Act, the Federal Clean
Water Act, the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of
1976, the Federal Solid Waste Disposal and the Federal Toxic
Substances Control Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and
Rodenticide Act, the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act of
1970 as it relates to Hazardous Materials, the Federal Hazardous
Substances Transportation Act, the Emergency Planning and Community
Right-To-Know Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Endangered
Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Rivers and
Harbors Appropriation Act or any so-called “Superfund”
or “Superlien” law, each as amended and as now in
effect.
" ERISA
” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended.
" ERISA
Affiliate ” means any entity that is considered one
employer with CNB Financial under Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA
or Section 414 of the IRC.
" Exchange
Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
3
" Excluded
Shares ” shall consist of (i) Dissenters’
Shares and (ii) shares held directly or indirectly by
Berkshire Hills Bancorp (other than shares held in a fiduciary
capacity or in satisfaction of a debt previously
contracted).
" FDIC
” means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
“FRB” means the Federal Reserve
Board.
" GAAP
” means generally accepted accounting principles.
" Government
Regulator ” means any federal or state governmental
authority charged with the supervision or regulation of depository
institutions or depository institution holding companies or engaged
in the insurance of bank deposits.
" Governmental
Entity ” means any court, administrative agency or
commission or other governmental authority or
instrumentality.
" Hazardous
Material ” means any substance (whether solid, liquid or
gas) which is or could be detrimental to human health or safety or
to the environment, currently or hereafter listed, defined,
designated or classified as hazardous, toxic, radioactive or
dangerous, or otherwise regulated, under any Environmental Law,
whether by type or by quantity, including any substance containing
any such substance as a component. Hazardous Material includes,
without limitation, any toxic waste, pollutant, contaminant,
hazardous substance, toxic substance, hazardous waste, special
waste, industrial substance, oil or petroleum, or any derivative or
by-product thereof, radon, radioactive material, asbestos,
asbestos-containing material, urea formaldehyde foam insulation,
lead and polychlorinated biphenyl.
" HOLA
” means the Home Owners’ Loan Act, as
amended.
" IRC
” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
" knowledge
” means, with respect to a party hereto, actual knowledge of
the members of the Board of Directors of that party or any officer
of that party with the title ranking not less than vice
president.
" Lien
” means any charge, mortgage, pledge, security interest,
claim, lien or encumbrance.
" Loan
” means a loan, lease, advance, credit enhancement, guarantee
or other extension of credit.
" Loan
Property ” means any property in which the applicable
party (or a subsidiary of it) holds a security interest and, where
required by the context, includes the owner or operator of such
property, but only with respect to such property.
" Material
Adverse Effect ” means an effect which is material and
adverse to the business, financial condition or results of
operations of CNB Financial or Berkshire Hills
4
Bancorp, as the
context may dictate, and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
provided , however , that any such effect resulting
from any (i) changes in laws, rules or regulations or
generally accepted accounting principles or regulatory accounting
requirements or interpretations thereof that apply to both
Berkshire Hills Bancorp and CNB Financial, or to financial and/or
depository institutions generally, (ii) changes in economic
conditions affecting financial institutions generally, including
but not limited to, changes in the general level of market interest
rates, (iii) actions and omissions of Berkshire Hills Bancorp
or CNB Financial taken with the prior written consent of the other
or (iv) direct effects of compliance with this Agreement on
the operating performance of the parties, including expenses
incurred by the parties in consummating the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, shall not be considered in
determining if a Material Adverse Effect has occurred. With respect
to CNB Financial, a Material Adverse Effect shall also be deemed to
have occurred in the event that (1) the level of
non-performing assets (non-accrual, past due, other non-performing
assets and restructured loans, as such items are defined by
Industry Guide 3 of the SEC’s Securities Act Industry Guides)
shall equal or exceed $8.0 million as of the month end prior
to the Closing Date or (2) CNB Financial incurs net loan
charge-offs in excess of $4.0 million subsequent to
December 31, 2008.
" MBCA
” shall mean the Massachusetts Business Corporation Act, MGL
Chapter 156D, Section 1, et seq.
“OCC” means the Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency.
" OTS
” means the Office of Thrift Supervision.
" Participation
Facility ” means any facility in which the applicable
party (or a Subsidiary of it) participates in the management
(including all property held as trustee or in any other fiduciary
capacity) and, where required by the context, includes the owner or
operator of such property, but only with respect to such
property.
" person
” means an individual, corporation, limited liability
company, partnership, association, trust, unincorporated
organization or other entity.
" Securities
Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
"
Subsidiary ” means a corporation, partnership, joint
venture or other entity in which CNB Financial or Berkshire Hills
Bancorp, as the case may be, has, directly or indirectly, an equity
interest representing 50% or more of any class of the capital stock
thereof or other equity interests therein.
" Superior
Proposal ” means an unsolicited, bona fide written offer
made by a third party to consummate an Acquisition Proposal that
(i) CNB Financial’s Board of Directors determines in
good faith, after consulting with its outside legal counsel and its
financial advisor, would, if consummated, result in a transaction
that is more favorable to the shareholders of CNB Financial than
the transactions contemplated hereby (taking into account all
legal, financial, regulatory and other aspects of the proposal and
the entity making the proposal), (ii) is not conditioned on
obtaining financing (and with respect to which Berkshire Hills
Bancorp has received written
5
evidence of
such person’s ability to fully finance its Acquisition
Proposal), (iii) is for 100% of the outstanding shares of CNB
Financial Common Stock and (iv) is, in the written opinion of
CNB Financial’s financial advisor, more favorable to the
shareholders of CNB Financial from a financial point of view than
the transactions contemplated hereby (including any adjustments to
the terms and conditions of such transactions proposed by Berkshire
Hills Bancorp in response to such Acquisition Proposal).
" Taxes
” means all income, franchise, gross receipts, real and
personal property, real property transfer and gains, wage and
employment taxes.
2.1 The
Merger . Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement, CNB Financial will merge with and into Berkshire
Hills Bancorp (the “ Merger ”) at the Effective
Time. At the Effective Time, the separate corporate existence of
CNB Financial shall cease. Berkshire Hills Bancorp shall be the
surviving corporation (hereinafter sometimes referred to in such
capacity as the “ Surviving Corporation ”) in
the Merger and shall continue to be governed by the DGCL and its
name and separate corporate existence, with all of its rights,
privileges, immunities, powers and franchises, shall continue
unaffected by the Merger.
2.2
Closing . The closing of the Merger (the “ Closing
”) will take place in the offices of Luse Gorman Pomerenk
& Schick, P.C., 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C., or
at such other location as is agreed to by the parties hereto, at
10:00 a.m. on the date designated by Berkshire Hills Bancorp
within thirty days following satisfaction or waiver of the
conditions to Closing set forth in Article VI (other than
those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the
Closing), or such later date as the parties may otherwise agree
(the “ Closing Date ”).
2.3 Effective
Time . In connection with the Closing, Berkshire Hills Bancorp
shall duly execute and deliver articles of merger (the “
Articles of Merger ”) to the Delaware Secretary of
State for filing pursuant to the DGCL and to the Massachusetts
Secretary of State for filing pursuant to the MBCA. The Merger
shall become effective at such time as the Articles of Merger are
duly filed with the Delaware Secretary of State and the
Massachusetts Secretary of State or at such later date or time as
Berkshire Hills Bancorp and CNB Financial agree and specify in the
Articles of Merger (the date and time the Merger becomes effective
being the “ Effective Time ”).
2.4 Effects of
the Merger . The Merger will have the effects set forth in the
MBCA and the DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, and subject thereto, from and after the Effective Time,
Berkshire Hills Bancorp shall possess all of the properties,
rights, privileges, powers and franchises of CNB Financial and be
subject to all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of CNB
Financial.
6
2.5 Effect on
Outstanding Shares of CNB Financial Common Stock .
(a) Subject
to the provisions of this Agreement, hereof, by virtue of the
Merger, automatically and without any action on the part of the
holder thereof, each share of CNB Financial Common Stock issued and
outstanding at the Effective Time, other than Excluded Shares,
shall become and be converted into, as provided in and subject to
the limitations set forth in this Agreement, the right to receive
0.3696 shares (the “ Exchange Ratio ”) of
Berkshire Hills Bancorp Common Stock (the “ Merger
Consideration ”).
(b) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, no fraction of a share of
Berkshire Hills Bancorp Common Stock and no certificates or scrip
therefor will be issued in the Merger; instead, Berkshire Hills
Bancorp shall pay to each holder of CNB Financial Common Stock who
would otherwise be entitled to a fraction of a share of Berkshire
Hills Bancorp Common Stock an amount in cash, rounded to the
nearest cent, determined by multiplying such fraction by the
Berkshire Hills Bancorp Price.
(c) If,
between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, the
outstanding shares of Berkshire Hills Bancorp Common Stock shall
have been changed into a different number of shares or into a
different class by reason of any stock dividend, subdivision,
reclassification, split, combination or exchange of shares, the
Exchange Ratio shall be adjusted appropriately to provide the
holders of CNB Financial Common Stock the same economic effect as
contemplated by this Agreement prior to such event.
(d) As
of the Effective Time, each Excluded Share, other than
Dissenters’ Shares, shall be canceled and retired and shall
cease to exist, and no exchange or payment shall be made with
respect thereto. All shares of Berkshire Hills Bancorp Common Stock
that are held by CNB Financial, if any, other than shares held in a
fiduciary capacity or in satisfaction of a debt previously
contracted, shall be canceled and shall constitute authorized but
unissued shares. In addition, no Dissenters’ Shares shall be
converted into shares of Berkshire Hills Bancorp Common Stock
pursuant to this Section 2.5 but instead shall be
treated in accordance with the provisions set forth in
Section 2.11 of this Agreement.
2.6 Exchange
Procedures .
(a) Appropriate
transmittal materials (“ Letter of Transmittal
”) in a form satisfactory to Berkshire Hills Bancorp and CNB
Financial shall be mailed as soon as practicable after the
Effective Time to each holder of record of CNB Financial Common
Stock as of the Effective Time. A Letter of Transmittal will be
deemed properly completed only if accompanied by certificates
representing all shares of CNB Financial Common Stock (“
Certificate(s) ”) to be converted thereby.
(b) At
and after the Effective Time, each Certificate (except as
specifically set forth in Section 2.5 ) shall represent
only the right to receive the Merger Consideration.
(c) Prior
to the Effective Time, Berkshire Hills Bancorp shall
(i) reserve for issuance with its transfer agent and registrar
a sufficient number of shares of Berkshire Hills Bancorp Common
Stock to provide for payment of the aggregate Merger Consideration
and (ii)
7
deposit, or
cause to be deposited, with Registrar and Transfer Company (the
“ Exchange Agent ”), for the benefit of the
holders of shares of CNB Financial Common Stock, for exchange in
accordance with this Section 2.6 , an amount of cash
sufficient to pay any cash in lieu of fractional shares pursuant to
Section 2.5(b) .
(d) The
Letter of Transmittal shall (i) 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,
(ii) be in a form and contain any other provisions as
Berkshire Hills Bancorp may reasonably determine and
(iii) include instructions for use in effecting the surrender
of the Certificates in exchange for the Merger Consideration. Upon
the proper surrender of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent,
together with a properly completed and duly executed Letter of
Transmittal, the holder of such Certificates shall be entitled to
receive in exchange therefor a certificate representing that number
of whole shares of Berkshire Hills Bancorp Common Stock that such
holder has the right to receive pursuant to Section 2.5
, and a check in the amount equal to the cash in lieu of fractional
shares, if any, that such holder has the right to receive pursuant
to Section 2.5 , and any dividends or other
distributions to which such holder is entitled pursuant to
Section 2.5 . Certificates so surrendered shall
forthwith be canceled. As soon as practicable following receipt of
the properly completed Letter of Transmittal and any necessary
accompanying documentation, the Exchange Agent shall distribute
Berkshire Hills Bancorp Common Stock and cash as provided herein.
The Exchange Agent shall not be entitled to vote or exercise any
rights of ownership with respect to the shares of Berkshire Hills
Bancorp Common Stock held by it from time to time hereunder, except
that it shall receive and hold all dividends or other distributions
paid or distributed with respect to such shares for the account of
the persons entitled thereto. If there is a transfer of ownership
of any shares of CNB Financial Common Stock not registered in the
transfer records of CNB Financial, the Merger Consideration shall
be issued to the transferee thereof if the Certificates
representing such CNB Financial Common Stock are presented to the
Exchange Agent, accompanied by all documents required, in the
reasonable judgment of Berkshire Hills Bancorp and the Exchange
Agent, to evidence and effect such transfer and to evidence that
any applicable stock transfer taxes have been paid.
(e) No
dividends or other distributions declared or made after the
Effective Time with respect to Berkshire Hills Bancorp Common Stock
issued pursuant to this Agreement shall be remitted to any person
entitled to receive shares of Berkshire Hills Bancorp Common Stock
hereunder until such person surrenders his or her Certificates in
accordance with this Section 2.6 . Upon the surrender
of such person’s Certificates, such person shall be entitled
to receive any dividends or other distributions, without interest
thereon, which subsequent to the Effective Time had become payable
but not paid with respect to shares of Berkshire Hills Bancorp
Common Stock represented by such person’s
Certificates.
(f) The
stock transfer books of CNB Financial shall be closed immediately
upon the Effective Time and from and after the Effective Time there
shall be no transfers on the stock transfer records of CNB
Financial of any shares of CNB Financial Common Stock. If, after
the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to Berkshire Hills
Bancorp, they shall be canceled and exchanged for the Merger
Consideration deliverable in respect thereof pursuant to this
Agreement in accordance with the procedures set forth in this
Section 2.6 .
8
(g) Any
portion of the aggregate amount of cash to be paid pursuant to
Section 2.5 , any dividends or other distributions to
be paid pursuant to this Section 2.6 or any proceeds
from any investments thereof that remains unclaimed by the
shareholders of CNB Financial for six months after the Effective
Time shall be repaid by the Exchange Agent to Berkshire Hills
Bancorp upon the written request of Berkshire Hills Bancorp. After
such request is made, any shareholders of CNB Financial who have
not theretofore complied with this Section 2.6 shall
look only to Berkshire Hills Bancorp for the Merger Consideration
and cash in lieu of fractional shares, if any, deliverable in
respect of each share of CNB Financial Common Stock such
shareholder holds, as determined pursuant to
Section 2.5 of this Agreement, without any interest
thereon. If outstanding Certificates are not surrendered prior to
the date on which such payments would otherwise escheat to or
become the property of any governmental unit or agency, the
unclaimed items shall, to the extent permitted by any abandoned
property, escheat or other applicable laws, become the property of
Berkshire Hills Bancorp (and, to the extent not in its possession,
shall be paid over to it), free and clear of all claims or interest
of any person previously entitled to such claims. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, neither the Exchange Agent nor any party to this
Agreement (or any affiliate thereof) shall be liable to any former
holder of CNB Financial Common Stock for any amount delivered to a
public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat
or similar laws.
(h) Berkshire
Hills Bancorp and the Exchange Agent shall be entitled to rely upon
CNB Financial’s stock transfer books to establish the
identity of those persons entitled to receive the Merger
Consideration, which books shall be conclusive with respect
thereto. In the event of a dispute with respect to ownership of
stock represented by any Certificate, Berkshire Hills Bancorp and
the Exchange Agent shall be entitled to deposit any Merger
Consideration and cash in lieu of fractional shares, if any,
represented thereby in escrow with an independent third party and
thereafter be relieved with respect to any claims
thereto.
(i) If
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, if required by the
Exchange Agent or Berkshire Hills Bancorp, the posting by such
person of a bond in such amount as the Exchange Agent may 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 and cash in lieu of fractional shares, if any,
deliverable in respect thereof pursuant to Section 2.5
.
2.7 Effect on
Outstanding Shares of Berkshire Hills Bancorp Common Stock . At
the Effective Time, each share of common stock of Berkshire Hills
Bancorp issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall remain an issued and outstanding share of common stock
of the Surviving Corporation and shall not be affected by the
Merger.
2.8 Directors
of Surviving Corporation After Effective Time .
Subject to
Section 5.14 , immediately after the Effective Time,
until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and
qualified, the directors of the Surviving Corporation shall consist
of the directors of Berkshire Hills Bancorp serving immediately
prior to the Effective Time.
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2.9
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws . The certificate of
incorporation of Berkshire Hills Bancorp, as in effect immediately
prior to the Effective Time, shall be the certificate of
incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended
in accordance with applicable law. The bylaws of Berkshire Hills
Bancorp, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time,
shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter
amended in accordance with applicable law.
2.10 Treatment
of Stock Options and Warrants .
(a) Each
option to purchase shares of CNB Financial Common Stock issued by
CNB Financial and outstanding at the Effective Time pursuant to the
CNB Financial Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan (formerly, the
Commonwealth National Bank 2001 Stock Option Plan) or the CNB
Financial Corp. 2008 Equity Incentive Plan (each, a “ CNB
Financial Option ”) shall be converted into an option to
purchase shares of Berkshire Hills Bancorp Common Stock as
follows:
(i) The
aggregate number of shares of Berkshire Hills Bancorp Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of the converted CNB Financial Option
after the Effective Time shall be equal to the product of the
Exchange Ratio multiplied by the number of shares of CNB Financial
Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the CNB Financial Option
immediately prior to the Effective Time, such product to be rounded
to the nearest whole share of Berkshire Hills Common Stock;
and
(ii) the
exercise price per share of each converted CNB Financial Option
shall be equal to the quotient of the exercise price of such CNB
Financial Option immediately prior to the Effective Time divided by
the Exchange Ratio, such quotient to be rounded to the nearest
whole cent; provided, however, that, in the case of any CNB
Financial Option that is intended to qualify as an incentive stock
option under Section 422 of the IRC, the number of shares of
Berkshire Hills Bancorp Common Stock issuable upon exercise of and
the exercise price per share for such converted CNB Financial
Option determined in the manner provided above shall be further
adjusted in such manner as may be necessary to conform to the
requirements of Section 424(b) of the IRC.
Options to
purchase shares of Berkshire Hills Bancorp Common Stock that arise
from the operation of this Section 2.10 shall be
referred to as “ Converted Options .” All
Converted Options shall be exercisable for the same period and
shall otherwise have the same terms and conditions applicable to
the CNB Financial Options that they replace.
(b) Before
the Effective Time, Berkshire Hills Bancorp will take all corporate
action necessary to reserve for future issuance a sufficient
additional number of shares of Berkshire Hills Bancorp Common Stock
to provide for the satisfaction of its obligations with respect to
the Converted Options. Berkshire Hills Bancorp agrees to file, as
soon as practicable after the Effective Time, a registration
statement on Form S-8 (or any successor or other appropriate form)
and make any state filings or obtain state exemptions with respect
to the Berkshire Hills Bancorp Common Stock issuable upon exercise
of the Converted Options.
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(c) Each
member of the board of directors of CNB Financial or a CNB
Financial Subsidiary who holds outstanding warrants issued by
Commonwealth National Bank on November 19, 2001 (each a
“ CNB Financial Warrant ”) shall agree to the
cancellation of such CNB Financial Warrant, without consideration,
effective immediately prior to the Effective Time. All other CNB
Financial Warrants shall be converted to warrants to purchase
shares of Berkshire Hills Bancorp Common Stock on the same basis as
CNB Financial Options are so converted under
Section 2.10(a) above.
2.11
Dissenters’ Rights . Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Agreement to the contrary, shares of CNB Financial Common
Stock that are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
and which are held by shareholders who shall have not voted in
favor of the Merger or consented thereto in writing and who
properly shall have demanded payment of the fair value for such
shares in accordance with the MBCA (collectively, the “
Dissenters’ Shares ”) shall not be converted
into or represent the right to receive the Merger Consideration.
Such shareholders instead shall be entitled to receive payment of
the fair value of such shares held by them in accordance with the
provisions of the MBCA, except that all Dissenters’ Shares
held by shareholders who shall have failed to perfect or who
effectively shall have withdrawn or otherwise lost their rights as
dissenting shareholders under the MBCA shall thereupon be deemed to
have been converted into and to have become exchangeable, as of the
Effective Time, for the right to receive, without any interest
thereon, the Merger Consideration upon surrender in the manner
provided in Section 2.6 of the Certificate(s) that,
immediately prior to the Effective Time, evidenced such shares. CNB
Financial shall give Berkshire Hills Bancorp (i) prompt notice
of any written demands for payment of fair value of any shares of
CNB Financial Common Stock, attempted withdrawals of such demands
and any other instruments served pursuant to the MBCA and received
by CNB Financial relating to shareholders’ dissenters’
rights and (ii) the opportunity to participate in all
negotiations and proceedings with respect to demands under the MBCA
consistent with the obligations of CNB Financial thereunder. CNB
Financial shall not, except with the prior written consent of
Berkshire Hills Bancorp, (x) make any payment with respect to
such demand, (y) offer to settle or settle any demand for
payment of fair value or (z) waive any failure to timely deliver a
written demand for payment of fair value or timely take any other
action to perfect payment of fair value rights in accordance with
the MBCA.
2.12 Bank
Merger . Concurrently with or as soon as practicable after the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, Berkshire Bank, a wholly
owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hills Bancorp, and Commonwealth
National Bank (“ Commonwealth National Bank ”),
a wholly owned subsidiary of CNB Financial, shall enter into the
Plan of Bank Merger, in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit B , pursuant to which Commonwealth National
Bank will merge with and into Berkshire Bank (the “ Bank
Merger ”). The parties intend that the Bank Merger will
become effective simultaneously with or immediately following the
Effective Time.
2.13
Alternative Structure . Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in this Agreement, prior to the Effective Time,
Berkshire Hills Bancorp may specify that the structure of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including whether or
not to consummate the Bank Merger, be revised and the parties shall
enter into such alternative transactions as Berkshire Hills Bancorp
may reasonably determine to effect the purposes of this Agreement;
provided, however, that such revised structure shall not (i)
alter or change the
11
amount or kind
of the Merger Consideration or (ii) materially impede or delay
the receipt of any regulatory approval referred to in, or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement.
In the event that Berkshire Hills Bancorp elects to make such a
revision, the parties agree to execute appropriate documents to
reflect the revised structure.
2.14 Absence
of Control . Subject to any specific provisions of this
Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Berkshire
Hills Bancorp by reason of this Agreement shall not be deemed
(until consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby) to
control, directly or indirectly, CNB Financial or to exercise,
directly or indirectly, a controlling influence over the management
or policies of CNB Financial.
ARTICLE
III
Representations and
Warranties
3.1 Disclosure
Letters . Prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, Berkshire Hills Bancorp and CNB Financial have each
delivered to the other a letter (each, its “ Disclosure
Letter ”) setting forth, among other things, facts,
circumstances and events the disclosure of which is required or
appropriate either in response to an express disclosure requirement
contained in a provision hereof or as an exception to one or more
of their respective representations and warranties (and making
specific reference to the Section of this Agreement to which they
relate).
3.2
Representations and Warranties of CNB Financial . CNB Financial
represents and warrants to Berkshire Hills Bancorp that, except as
disclosed in CNB Financial’s Disclosure Letter:
(a)
Organization and Qualification . CNB Financial is a
corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is registered with the FRB as
a bank holding company. CNB Financial has all requisite corporate
power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to
conduct the business currently being conducted by it. CNB Financial
is duly qualified or licensed as a foreign corporation to transact
business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the
character of the properties owned or leased by it or the nature of
the business conducted by it makes such qualification or licensing
necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or licensed
and in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect on
CNB Financial. CNB Financial engages only in activities (and holds
properties only of the types) permitted to bank holding companies
by the BHCA and the rules and regulations of the FRB promulgated
thereunder.
(i) CNB
Financial’s Disclosure Letter sets forth with respect to each
of CNB Financial’s Subsidiaries its name, its jurisdiction of
incorporation, CNB Financial’s percentage ownership, the
number of shares of stock owned or controlled by CNB Financial and
the name and number of shares held by any other person who owns any
stock of the Subsidiary. CNB Financial owns of record and
beneficially all the capital stock of each of its Subsidiaries free
and clear of any Liens. There are no contracts, commitments,
agreements or understandings relating to CNB Financial’s
right to vote or dispose of any equity securities of its
Subsidiaries.
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CNB
Financial’s ownership interest in each of its Subsidiaries is
in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations
relating to equity investments by bank holding companies or
national banking associations.
(ii) Each
of CNB Financial’s Subsidiaries is a corporation duly
organized and validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction
of incorporation, has all requisite corporate power and authority
to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct the
business currently being conducted by it and is duly qualified or
licensed as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in
good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of the
properties owned or leased by it or the nature of the business
conducted by it makes such qualification or licensing necessary,
except where the failure to be so qualified or licensed and in good
standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect on such
Subsidiary.
(iii) The
outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary have been
validly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable. No shares of capital stock of any Subsidiary of CNB
Financial are or may be required to be issued by virtue of any
options, warrants or other rights, no securities exist that are
convertible into or exchangeable for shares of such capital stock
or any other debt or equity security of any Subsidiary, and there
are no contracts, commitments, agreements or understandings of any
kind for the issuance of additional shares of capital stock or
other debt or equity security of any Subsidiary or options,
warrants or other rights with respect to such
securities.
(iv) No
Subsidiary of CNB Financial other than Commonwealth National Bank
is an “insured depository institution” as defined in
the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended, and the applicable
regulations thereunder. Commonwealth National Bank’s deposits
are insured by the FDIC to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Commonwealth National Bank is a member in good standing of the
Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston. Commonwealth National Bank
engages only in activities (and holds properties only of the types)
permitted by the National Bank Act and the rules and regulations of
the OCC promulgated thereunder.
(i) The
authorized capital stock of CNB Financial consists of:
(A) 10,000,000 shares of CNB Financial Common Stock; and
(B) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per
share .
(ii) As
of the date of this Agreement: (A) 2,283,208 shares of CNB
Financial Common Stock are issued and outstanding, all of which are
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and were issued in
full compliance with all applicable federal and state securities
laws; (B) no shares of CNB Financial preferred stock are
issued and outstanding; (C) 356,895 shares of CNB Financial
Common Stock are reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding CNB
Financial Options; and (D) 92,500 shares of CNB Financial Common
Stock are reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding CNB
Financial Warrants.
(iii) Set
forth in CNB Financial’s Disclosure Letter is a complete and
accurate list of all outstanding CNB Financial Options and CNB
Financial Warrants, including the names of the optionees and
warrant holders, dates of grant, exercise prices, dates of
vesting,
13
dates of
termination, shares subject to each grant and whether stock
appreciation, limited or other similar rights were granted in
connection with such options or warrants.
(iv) No
bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness having the right to
vote on any matters on which shareholders of CNB Financial may vote
are issued or outstanding.
(v) Except
as set forth in this Section 3.2(c) , as of the date of
this Agreement, (A) no shares of capital stock or other voting
securities of CNB Financial are issued, reserved for issuance or
outstanding and (B) neither CNB Financial nor any of its
Subsidiaries has or is bound by any outstanding subscriptions,
options, warrants, calls, rights, convertible securities,
commitments or agreements of any character obligating CNB Financial
or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to
be issued, delivered or sold, any additional shares of capital
stock of CNB Financial or obligating CNB Financial or any of its
Subsidiaries to grant, extend or enter into any such option,
warrant, call, right, convertible security, commitment or
agreement. As of the date hereof, there are no outstanding
contractual obligations of CNB Financial or any of its Subsidiaries
to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital
stock of CNB Financial or any of its Subsidiaries.
(d)
Authority . CNB Financial has all requisite corporate power
and authority to enter into this Agreement, to perform its
obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
actions on the part of CNB Financial’s Board of Directors,
and no other corporate proceedings on the part of CNB Financial are
necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement other than the approval
and adoption of this Agreement by the affirmative vote of the
holders of two thirds of the outstanding shares of CNB Financial
Common Stock. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and
delivered by CNB Financial and constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of CNB Financial, enforceable against CNB Financial in
accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and
remedies generally and to general principles of equity, whether
applied in a court of law or a court of equity.
(e)
No Violations . The execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement by CNB Financial do not, and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not, (i) assuming
all required governmental approvals have been obtained and the
applicable waiting periods have expired, violate any law, rule or
regulation or any judgment, decree, order, governmental permit or
license to which CNB Financial or any of its Subsidiaries (or any
of their respective properties) is subject, (ii) violate the
articles of organization or bylaws of CNB Financial or the similar
organizational documents of any of its Subsidiaries or
(iii) constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under
(or an event which, with due notice or lapse of time or both, would
constitute a default under), or result in the termination of,
accelerate the performance required by, or result in the creation
of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of CNB Financial
or any of its Subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions or
provisions of any note, bond, indenture, deed of trust, loan
agreement or
14
other
agreement, instrument or obligation to which CNB Financial or any
of its Subsidiaries is a party, or to which any of their respective
properties or assets may be subject except, in the case of (iii),
for any such breaches, violations or defaults that would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on
CNB Financial.
(f)
Consents and Approvals. No consents or approvals of, or
filings or registrations with, any Governmental Entity or any third
party are required to be made or obtained in connection with the
execution and delivery by CNB Financial of this Agreement or the
consummation by CNB Financial of the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Bank
Merger, except for filings of applications and notices with,
receipt of approvals or nonobjections from, and expiration of the
related waiting period required by, federal and state banking
authorities. As of the date hereof, CNB Financial has no knowledge
of any reason pertaining to CNB Financial why any of the approvals
referred to in this Section 3.2(f) should not be
obtained without the imposition of any material condition or
restriction described in Section 6.1(b) .
(g)
Securities Filings . CNB Financial has filed with the SEC
all reports, schedules, registration statements, definitive proxy
statements and other documents that it has been required to file
under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act since
December 31, 2005 (collectively, “ CNB
Financial’s SEC Reports ”). None of CNB
Financial’s SEC Reports contained any untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. As of their respective dates, all of CNB
Financial’s SEC Reports complied in all material respects
with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of
the SEC promulgated thereunder. Each of the financial statements
(including, in each case, any notes thereto) of CNB Financial
included in CNB Financial’s SEC Reports complied as to form,
as of their respective dates of filing with the SEC, in all
material respects with applicable accounting requirements and with
the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect
thereto.
(h)
Financial Statements . CNB Financial’s Disclosure
Letter contains copies of (i) the consolidated balance sheets
of CNB Financial and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008
and 2007 and related consolidated statements of operations,
stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the years in
the two-year period ended December 31, 2008, together with the
notes thereto, accompanied by the audit report of CNB
Financial’s independent public auditors, (ii) the
unaudited consolidated balance sheet of CNB Financial and its
Subsidiaries as of March 31, 2009 and the related consolidated
statements of operations and changes in stockholders’ equity
for the three months ended March 31, 2009, and (iii) the
consolidated report of condition and income filed with the FDIC by
Commonwealth National Bank for the period ended March 31,
2009. Such financial statements were prepared from the books and
records of CNB Financial and its Subsidiaries, fairly present the
consolidated financial position of CNB Financial and its
Subsidiaries in each case at and as of the dates indicated and the
consolidated results of operations, retained earnings and cash
flows of CNB Financial and its Subsidiaries for the periods
indicated, and, except as otherwise set forth in the notes thereto,
were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied
throughout the periods covered thereby; provided
,
15
however , that the unaudited financial statements for
interim periods are subject to normal year-end adjustments (which
will not be material individually or in the aggregate) and lack a
statement of cash-flows and footnotes. The books and records of CNB
Financial and its Subsidiaries have been, and are being, maintained
in all respects in accordance with GAAP and any other legal and
accounting requirements and reflect only actual
transactions.
(i)
Undisclosed Liabilities . Neither CNB Financial nor any of
its Subsidiaries has incurred any material debt, liability or
obligation of any nature whatsoever (whether accrued, contingent,
absolute or otherwise and whether due or to become due) other than
liabilities reflected on or reserved against in the consolidated
financial statements of CNB Financial as of December 31, 2008,
except for (i) liabilities incurred since December 31,
2008 in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice that, either alone or when combined with all similar
liabilities, have not had, and would not reasonably be expected to
have, a Material Adverse Effect on CNB Financial and
(ii) liabilities incurred for legal, accounting, financial
advising fees and out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(j)
Absence of Certain Changes or Events . Since
December 31, 2008:
(i) CNB
Financial and its Subsidiaries have conducted their respective
businesses only in the ordinary and usual course of such businesses
consistent with their past practices;
(ii) there
has not been any event or occurrence that has had, or is reasonably
expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect on CNB
Financial;
(iii) CNB
Financial has not declared, paid or set aside any dividends or
distributions with respect to the CNB Financial Common
Stock;
(iv) except
for supplies or equipment purchased in the ordinary course of
business, neither CNB Financial nor any of its Subsidiaries have
made any capital expenditures exceeding individually or in the
aggregate $20,000;
(v) there
has not been any write-down or specific reserve established by
Commonwealth National Bank in excess of $25,000 with respect to any
of its Loans or other real estate owned;
(vi) there
has not been any sale, assignment or transfer of any assets by CNB
Financial or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $20,000 other
than in the ordinary course of business or pursuant to a contract
or agreement disclosed in CNB Financial’s Disclosure
Letter;
(vii) there
has been no increase in the salary, compensation, pension or other
benefits payable or to become payable by CNB Financial or any of
its Subsidiaries to any of their respective directors, officers or
employees, other than in conformity with the policies and practices
of such entity in the usual and ordinary course of its
business;
16
(viii) neither
CNB Financial nor any of its Subsidiaries has paid or made any
accrual or arrangement for payment of bonuses or special
compensation of any kind or any severance or termination pay to any
of their directors, officers or employees; and
(ix) there
has been no change in any accounting principles, practices or
methods of CNB Financial or any of its Subsidiaries other than as
required by GAAP.
(k)
Litigation. Other than for matters incidental to the
business of CNB Financial, which would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
on CNB Financial, there are no suits, actions or legal,
administrative or arbitration proceedings pending or, to the
knowledge of CNB Financial, threatened against or affecting CNB
Financial or any of its Subsidiaries or any property or asset of
CNB Financial or any of its Subsidiaries. To the knowledge of CNB
Financial, there are no investigations, reviews or inquiries by any
court or Governmental Entity pending or threatened against CNB
Financial or any of its Subsidiaries. There are no judgments,
decrees, injunctions, orders or rulings of any Governmental Entity
or arbitrator outstanding against CNB Financial or any of its
Subsidiaries that have not been satisfied or that enjoin CNB
Financial or any of its Subsidiaries from taking any
action.
(l)
Absence of Regulatory Actions . Since December 31,
2005, neither CNB Financial nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a
party to any cease and desist order, written agreement or
memorandum of understanding with, or any commitment letter or
similar undertaking to, or has been subject to any action,
proceeding, order or directive by any Government Regulator, or has
adopted any board resolutions at the request of any Government
Regulator, or has been advised by any Government Regulator that it
is contemplating issuing or requesting (or is considering the
appropriateness of issuing or requesting) any such action,
proceeding, order, directive, written agreement, memorandum of
understanding, commitment letter, board resolutions or similar
undertaking. There are no unresolved violations, criticisms or
exceptions by any Government Regulator with respect to any report
or statement relating to any examinations of CNB Financial or its
Subsidiaries.
(m)
Compliance with Laws . CNB Financial and each of its
Subsidiaries conducts its business in compliance in all material
respects with all statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules,
judgments, orders or decrees applicable to it. CNB Financial and
each of its Subsidiaries has all permits, licenses, certificates of
authority, orders and approvals of, and has made all filings,
applications and registrations with, all Governmental Entities that
are required in order to permit it to carry on its business as it
is presently conducted; all such permits, licenses, certificates of
authority, orders and approvals are in full force and effect, and
no suspension or cancellation of any of them is threatened. Neither
CNB Financial nor any of its Subsidiaries has been given notice or
been charged with any violation of, any law, ordinance, regulation,
order, writ, rule, decree or condition to approval of any
Governmental Entity which, individually or in the aggregate, would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on CNB
Financial.
17
(n)
Taxes . All federal, state, local and foreign Tax returns
required to be filed by or on behalf of CNB Financial or any of its
Subsidiaries have been timely filed or requests for extensions have
been timely filed and any such extension shall have been granted
and not have expired, and all such filed returns are complete and
accurate in all material respects. All Taxes shown on such returns,
all Taxes required to be shown on returns for which extensions have
been granted and all other taxes required to be paid by CNB
Financial or any of its Subsidiaries have been paid in full or
adequate provision has been made for any such Taxes on CNB
Financial’s balance sheet (in accordance with GAAP). There is
no audit examination, deficiency assessment, tax investigation or
refund litigation with respect to any Taxes of CNB Financial or any
of its Subsidiaries, and no claim has been made in writing by any
authority in a jurisdiction where CNB Financial or any of its
Subsidiaries do not file Tax returns that CNB Financial or any such
Subsidiary is subject to taxation in that jurisdiction. All Taxes,
interest, additions and penalties due with respect to completed and
settled examinations or concluded litigation relating to CNB
Financial or any of its Subsidiaries have been paid in full or
adequate provision has been made for any such Taxes on CNB
Financial’s balance sheet (in accordance with GAAP). CNB
Financial and its Subsidiaries have not executed an extension or
waiver of any statute of limitations on the assessment or
collection of any Tax due that is currently in effect. CNB
Financial and each of its Subsidiaries has withheld and paid all
Taxes required to have been withheld and paid in connection with
amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor,
creditor, shareholder or other third party, and CNB Financial and
each of its Subsidiaries has timely complied with all applicable
information reporting requirements under Part III, Subchapter
A of Chapter 61 of the IRC and similar applicable state and
local information reporting requirements. Neither CNB Financial nor
any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement, contract,
arrangement or plan that has resulted or would result, individually
or in the aggregate, in connection with this Agreement in the
payment of any “excess parachute payments” within the
meaning of Section 280G of the IRC.
(i) CNB
Financial’s Disclosure Letter lists, and CNB Financial has
previously delivered or made available to Berkshire Hills Bancorp a
complete and correct copy of, any contract, arrangement, commitment
or understanding (whether written or oral) to which CNB Financial
or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or is bound:
(A) with
any executive officer or other key employee of CNB Financial or any
of its Subsidiaries the benefits of which are contingent, or the
terms of which are materially altered, upon the occurrence of a
transaction involving CNB Financial or any of its Subsidiaries of
the nature contemplated by this Agreement;
(B) with
respect to the employment of any directors, officers, employees or
consultants;
(C) any
of the benefits of which will be increased, or the vesting or
payment of the benefits of which will be accelerated, by the
occurrence of any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, or the value of any of the benefits of which will be
calculated on the basis of any of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement (including any stock option plan, phantom stock or
stock appreciation rights plan, restricted stock plan or stock
purchase plan);
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(D) containing
covenants that limit the ability of CNB Financial or any of its
Subsidiaries to compete in any line of business or with any person,
or that involve any restriction on the geographic area in which, or
method by which, CNB Financial (including any successor thereof) or
any of its Subsidiaries may carry on its business (other than as
may be required by law or any regulatory agency);
(E) pursuant
to which CNB Financial or any of its Subsidiaries may become
obligated to invest in or contribute capital to any
entity;
(F) that
relates to borrowings of money (or guarantees thereof) by CNB
Financial or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $50,000, other
than advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston or
securities sold under agreements to repurchase with a maturity of
thirty-one days or less and entered into in the ordinary course of
business; or
(G) which
is a lease or license with respect to any property, real or
personal, whether as landlord, tenant, licensor or licensee,
involving a liability or obligation as obligor in excess of $25,000
on an annual basis.
(ii) Neither
CNB Financial nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default under (and
no event has occurred which, with due notice or lapse of time or
both, would constitute a default under) or is in violation of any
provision of any note, bond, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust,
loan agreement, lease or other agreement to which it is a party or
by which it is bound or to which any of its respective properties
or assets is subject and, to the knowledge of CNB Financial, no
other party to any such agreement (excluding any loan or extension
of credit made by CNB Financial or any of its Subsidiaries) is in
default in any respect thereunder, except for such defaults or
violations that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect on CNB Financial.
(p)
Intellectual Property . CNB Financial and each of its
Subsidiaries owns or possesses valid and binding licenses and other
rights to use without payment all patents, copyrights, trade
secrets, trade names, service marks and trademarks material to its
business. CNB Financial’s Disclosure Letter sets forth a
complete and correct list of all material trademarks, trade names,
service marks and copyrights owned by or licensed to CNB Financial
or any of its Subsidiaries for use in its business, and all
licenses and other agreements relating thereto and all agreements
relating to third party intellectual property that CNB Financial or
any of its Subsidiaries is licensed or authorized to use in its
business, including without limitation any software licenses
(collectively, the “ Intellectual Property ”).
With respect to each item of Intellectual Property owned by CNB
Financial or any of its Subsidiaries, the owner possesses all
right, title and interest in and to the item, free and clear of any
Lien. With respect to each item of Intellectual Property that CNB
Financial or any of its Subsidiaries is licensed or authorized to
use, the license, sublicense or agreement covering such item is
legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect.
Neither CNB Financial nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any
charge, complaint, claim, demand or notice alleging any
interference, infringement,
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misappropriation or violation with or of any
intellectual property rights of a third party (including any claims
that CNB Financial or any of its Subsidiaries must license or
refrain from using any intellectual property rights of a third
party). To the knowledge of CNB Financial, neither CNB Financial
nor any of its Subsidiaries has interfered with, infringed upon,
misappropriated or otherwise come into conflict with any
intellectual property rights of third parties and no third party
has interfered with, infringed upon, misappropriated or otherwise
come into conflict with any intellectual property rights of CNB
Financial or any of its Subsidiaries.
(q)
Labor Matters . CNB Financial and its Subsidiaries are in
material compliance with all applicable laws respecting employment,
retention of independent contractors, employment practices, terms
and conditions of employment, and wages and hours. Neither CNB
Financial nor any of its Subsidiaries is or has ever been a party
to, or is or has ever been bound by, any collective bargaining
agreement, contract or other agreement or understanding with a
labor union or labor organization with respect to its employees,
nor is CNB Financial or any of its Subsidiaries the subject of any
proceeding asserting that it has committed an unfair labor practice
or seeking to compel it or any such Subsidiary to bargain with any
labor organization as to wages and conditions of employment nor has
any such proceeding been threatened, nor is there any strike, other
labor dispute or organizational effort involving CNB Financial or
any of its Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of CNB
Financial, threatened.
(r)
Employee Benefit Plans .
(i) CNB
Financial’s Disclosure Letter contains a complete and
accurate list of all pension, retirement, stock option, stock
purchase, stock ownership, savings, stock appreciation right,
profit sharing, deferred compensation, consulting, bonus, group
insurance, severance and other benefit plans, contracts, agreements
and arrangements, including, but not limited to, “employee
benefit plans,” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA,
incentive and welfare policies, contracts, plans and arrangements
and all trust agreements related thereto with respect to any
present or former directors, officers or other employees of CNB
Financial or any of its Subsidiaries (hereinafter referred to
collectively as the “ CNB Financial Employee Plans
”). CNB Financial has previously delivered or made available
to Berkshire Hills Bancorp true and complete copies of each
agreement, plan and other documents referenced in CNB
Financial’s Disclosure Letter, along with, where applicable,
copies of the IRS Form 5500 or 5500-C for the most recently
completed year. There has been no announcement or commitment by CNB
Financial or any of its Subsidiaries to create an additional CNB
Financial Employee Plan, or to amend any CNB Financial Employee
Plan, except for amendments required by applicable law which do not
materially increase the cost of such CNB Financial Employee Plan.
To the Knowledge of CNB Financial, each CNB Financial Employee Plan
has been operated and administered in all material respects in
accordance with its terms and with applicable law, including, but
not limited to, ERISA, the IRC, the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, COBRA, the Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and any regulations or
rules promulgated thereunder, and all material filings, disclosures
and notices required by ERISA, the IRC, the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and any
other applicable law have been timely made or any interest, fines,
penalties or other impositions for late filings have been paid in
full.
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(ii) There
is no pending or threatened litigation, administrative action or
proceeding relating to any CNB Financial Employee Plan. All of the
CNB Financial Employee Plans comply in all material respects with
all applicable requirements of ERISA, the IRC and other applicable
laws. There has occurred no “prohibited transaction”
(as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of
the IRC) with respect to the CNB Financial Employee Plans which is
likely to result in the imposition of any penalties or taxes upon
CNB Financial or any of its Subsidiaries under Section 502(i) of
ERISA or Section 4975 of the IRC.
(iii) Each
CNB Financial Employee Plan that is an “employee pension
benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) and
which is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the IRC
(a " CNB Financial Qualified Plan ”) has received a
favorable determination letter from the IRS, and CNB Financial and
its Subsidiaries are not aware of any circumstances likely to
result in revocation of any such favorable determination letter. No
CNB Financial Qualified Plan is an “employee stock ownership
plan” (as defined in Section 4975(e)(7) of the IRC).
Neither CNB Financial nor any Subsidiary of CNB Financial or any
ERISA Affiliate has ever sponsored a CNB Financial Qualified Plan
that is subject to Title IV of ERISA (any such plan shall be
referred to herein as a “ CNB Financial Pension Plan
”). Neither CNB Financial nor its Subsidiaries or any ERISA
Affiliate has contributed to any “multiemployer plan,”
as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA, on or after
September 26, 1980.
(iv) With
respect to each CNB Financial Employee Plan that is a
“multiple employer plan” (as defined in
Section 4063 of ERISA): (A) none of CNB Financial or any
of its Subsidiaries, nor any of their respective ERISA Affiliates,
has received any notification, nor has any actual knowledge, that
if CNB Financial or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
respective ERISA Affiliates were to experience a withdrawal or
partial withdrawal from such plan it would incur withdrawal
liability that would be reasonably likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect on CNB Financial; and (B) none of CNB Financial
or any of its Subsidiaries, nor any of their respective ERISA
Affiliates, has received any notification, nor has any reason to
believe, that any CNB Financial Employee Plan is in reorganization,
has been terminated, is insolvent, or may be in reorganization,
become insolvent or be terminated.
(v) Each
CNB Financial Employee Plan that is a “nonqualified deferred
compensation plan” (as defined in Section 409A(d)(1) of
the IRC) and which has not been terminated has been operated since
January 1, 2005 in good faith compliance with
Section 409A of the IRC and the regulations issued under
Section 409A of the IRC.
(vi) Neither
CNB Financial nor any of its Subsidiaries has any obligations for
post-retirement or post-employment benefits under any CNB Financial
Employee Plan that cannot be amended or terminated upon
60 days’ notice or less without incurring any liability
thereunder, except for coverage required by Part 6 of Title I
of ERISA or Section 4980B of the IRC, or similar state laws,
the cost of which is borne by the insured individuals.
(vii) All
contributions required to be made with respect to any CNB Financial
Employee Plan by applicable law or regulation or by any plan
document or other contractual undertaking, and all premiums due or
payable with respect to insurance policies funding any CNB
Financial Employee Plan, for any period through the date hereof
have been timely made or paid in full, or to the extent not
required to be made or paid on or before the date hereof, have
been
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fully reflected
in the financial statements of CNB Financial. All anticipated
contributions and funding obligations are accrued on CNB
Financial’s consolidated financial statements to the extent
required by GAAP. Each CNB Financial Employee Plan that is an
employee welfare benefit plan under Section 3(1) of ERISA
either (A) is funded through an insurance company contract and
is not a “welfare benefit fund” within the meaning of
Section 419 of the IRC or (B) is unfunded.
(i) A
list and description of all real property owned or leased by CNB
Financial or a Subsidiary of CNB Financial is set forth in CNB
Financial’s Disclosure Letter. CNB Financial and each of its
Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all real property
owned by it (including any property acquired in a judicial
foreclosure proceeding or by way of a deed in lieu of foreclosure
or similar transfer), in each case free and clear of any Liens
except (i) liens for taxes not yet due and payable and
(ii) such easements, restrictions and encumbrances, if any, as
are not material in character, amount or extent, and do not
materially detract from the value, or materially interfere with the
present use of the properties subject thereto or affected thereby.
Each lease pursuant to which CNB Financial or any of its
Subsidiaries is lessee, leases real or personal property is valid
and in full force and effect and neither CNB Financial nor any of
its Subsidiaries, nor, to CNB Financial’s knowledge, any
other party to any such lease, is in default or in violation of any
material provisions of any such lease. A complete and correct copy
of each such lease has been provided or made available to Berkshire
Hills Bancorp. All real property owned or leased by CNB Financial
or any of its Subsidiaries are in a good state of maintenance and
repair (normal wear and tear excepted), conform with all applicable
ordinances, regulations and zoning laws and are considered by CNB
Financial to be adequate for the current business of CNB Financial
and its Subsidiaries. To the knowledge of CNB Financial, none of
the buildings, structures or other improvements located on any real
property owned or leased by CNB Financial or any of its
Subsidiaries encroaches upon or over any adjoining parcel or real
estate or any easement or right-of-way.
(ii) CNB
Financial and each of its Subsidiaries has good and marketable
title to all tangible personal property owned by it, free and clear
of all Liens except such Liens, if any, as are not material in
character, amount or extent, and do not materially detract from the
value, or materially interfere with the present use of the
properties subject thereto or affected thereby. With respect to
personal property used in the business of CNB Financial and its
Subsidiaries that is leased rather than owned, neither CNB
Financial nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default under the terms
of any such lease.
(t)
Fairness Opinion . CNB Financial has received the opinion of
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. to the effect that, as of the
date hereof, the Merger Consideration is fair, from a financial
point of view, to CNB Financial’s shareholders.
(u)
Fees . Other than for financial advisory services performed
for CNB Financial by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. pursuant to
an agreement dated January 15, 2009, a true and complete copy
of which has been previously delivered or made available to
Berkshire
22
Hills Bancorp,
neither CNB Financial nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any of their
respective officers, directors, employees or agents, has employed
any broker or finder or incurred any liability for any financial
advisory fees, brokerage fees, commissions or finder’s fees,
and no broker or finder has acted directly or indirectly for CNB
Financial or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
(v)
Environmental Matters .
(i) Each
of CNB Financial and its Subsidiaries, the Participation
Facilities, and, to the knowledge of CNB Financial, the Loan
Properties are, and have been, in substantial compliance with all
Environmental Laws.
(ii) There
is no suit, claim, action, demand, executive or administrative
order, directive, investigation or proceeding pending or, to the
knowledge of CNB Financial, threatened, before any court,
governmental agency or board or other forum against CNB Financial
or any of its Subsidiaries or any Participation Facility
(A) for alleged noncompliance (including by any predecessor)
with, or liability under, any Environmental Law or
(B) relating to the presence of or release into the
environment of any Hazardous Material, whether or not occurring at
or on a site owned, leased or operated by CNB Financial or any of
its Subsidiaries or any Participation Facility.
(iii) To
the knowledge of CNB Financial, there is no suit, claim, action,
demand, executive or administrative order, directive, investigation
or proceeding pending or threatened before any court, governmental
agency or board or other forum relating to or against any Loan
Property (or CNB Financial or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of
such Loan Property) (A) relating to alleged noncompliance
(including by any predecessor) with, or liability under, any
Environmental Law or (B) relating to the presence of or
release into the environment of any Hazardous Material, whether or
not occurring at a Loan Property.
(iv) Neither
CNB Financial nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice,
demand letter, executive or administrative order, directive or
request for information from any Governmental Entity or any third
party indicating that it may be in violation of, or liable under,
any Environmental Law.
(v) There
are no underground storage tanks at any properties owned or
operated by CNB Financial or any of its Subsidiaries or any
Participation Facility. Neither CNB Financial nor any of its
Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of CNB Financial, any other
person or entity, has closed or removed any underground storage
tanks from any properties owned or operated by CNB Financial or any
of its Subsidiaries or any Participation Facility.
(vi) During
the period of (A) CNB Financial’s or its
Subsidiary’s ownership or operation of any of their
respective current properties or (B) CNB Financial’s or
its Subsidiary’s participation in the management of any
Participation Facility, there has been no release of Hazardous
Materials in, on, under or affecting such properties. To the
knowledge of CNB Financial, prior to the period of (A) CNB
Financial’s or its Subsidiary’s ownership or operation
of any of their respective current properties or (B) CNB
Financial’s or its Subsidiary’s
23
participation
in the management of any Participation Facility, there was no
contamination by or release of Hazardous Material in, on, under or
affecting such properties.
(w)
Loan Portfolio; Allowance for Loan Losses .
(i) With
respect to each Loan owned by CNB Financial or its Subsidiaries in
whole or in part:
(A) The
note and the related security documents are each legal, valid and
binding obligations of the maker or obligor thereof, enforceable
against such maker or obligor in accordance with their
terms;
(B) neither
CNB Financial nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any prior holder of
a Loan, has modified the note or any of the related security
documents in any material respect or satisfied, canceled or
subordinated the note or any of the related security documents
except as otherwise disclosed by documents in the applicable Loan
file;
(C) CNB
Financial or a Subsidiary of CNB Financial is the sole holder of
legal and beneficial title to each Loan (or CNB Financial’s
or its Subsidiary’s applicable participation interest, as
applicable), except as otherwise referenced on the books and
records of CNB Financial or a Subsidiary of CNB
Financial;
(D) the
original note and the related security documents are included in
the Loan files, and copies of any documents in the Loan files are
true and correct copies of the documents they purport to be and
have not been suspended, amended, modified, canceled or otherwise
changed except as otherwise disclosed by documents in the
applicable Loan file; and
(E) with
respect to a Loan held in the form of a participation, the
participation documentation is legal, valid, binding and
enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent conveyance and other laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and
to general equity principles.
(ii) Neither
the terms of any Loan, any of the documentation for any Loan, the
manner in which any Loans have been administered and serviced, nor
CNB Financial’s practices of approving or rejecting Loan
applications, violate any federal, state, or local law, rule or
regulation applicable thereto, including, without limitation, the
Truth In Lending Act, Regulations O and Z of the Federal Reserve
Board, the CRA, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and any state
laws, rules and regulations relating to consumer protection,
installment sales and usury.
(iii) The
allowance for loan losses reflected in CNB Financial’s
audited balance sheet at December 31, 2008 was, and the
allowance for loan losses shown on the balance sheets in CNB
Financial’s SEC Reports for periods ending after such date,
in the opinion of management, was or will be adequate, as of the
dates thereof, under GAAP.
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