BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.
Amended and Restated Bylaws
ARTICLE I - STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. Annual Meeting.
An annual meeting of the stockholders, for the election of Directors to
succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business
as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, on such
date, and at such time as the Board of Directors shall each year fix, which date
shall be within thirteen (13) months subsequent to the later of the date of
incorporation or the last annual meeting of stockholders.
Section 2. Special Meetings.
Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred
stock of the Corporation, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation
may be called only by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by
a majority of the total number of Directors which the Corporation would have if
there were no vacancies on the Board of Directors (hereinafter the "Whole
Board").
Section 3. Notice of Meetings.
Written notice of the place, date, and time of all meetings of the
stockholders shall be given, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60)
days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder
entitled to vote at such meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or
required by law (meaning, here and hereinafter, as required from time to time by
the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation).
When a meeting is adjourned to another place, date or time, written notice
need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the place, date and time thereof
are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided,
however, that if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than thirty (30) days
after the date for which the meeting was originally noticed, or if a new record
date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, written notice of the place, date, and
time of the adjourned meeting shall be given in conformity herewith. At any
adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been
transacted at the original meeting.
Section 4. Quorum.
At any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a majority of all of the
shares of the stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or by
proxy (after giving effect to the provisions of Article IV of the Corporation's
Certificate of Incorporation), shall constitute a quorum for all purposes,
unless or except to the extent that the presence of a larger number may be
required by law. Where a separate vote by a class or classes is required, a
majority of the shares of such class or classes present in person or represented
by proxy (after giving effect to the provisions of Article IV of the
Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation) shall constitute a quorum entitled
to take action with respect to that vote on that matter.
If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chairman of the meeting
or the holders of a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote who are
present, in person or by proxy, may adjourn the meeting to another place, date,
or time.
If a notice of any adjourned special meeting of stockholders is sent to all
stockholders entitled to vote thereat, stating that it will be held with those
present in person or by proxy constituting a quorum, then except as otherwise
required by law, those present in person or by proxy at such adjourned meeting
shall constitute a quorum, and all matters shall be determined by a majority of
the votes cast at such meeting.
Section 5. Organization.
Such person as the Board of Directors may have designated or, in his or her
absence of such a person, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Corporation or, in his or her absence, such person as may be chosen by the
holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote who are present, in person
or by proxy, shall call to order any meeting of the stockholders and act as
chairman of the meeting. In the absence of the Secretary of the Corporation, the
secretary of the meeting shall be such person as the chairman of the meeting
appoints.
Section 6. Conduct of Business.
(a) The chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order
of business and the procedures at the meeting, including such regulation of the
manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as seem to him or her in order.
The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon
which the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the
meeting.
(b) At any annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be
conducted as shall have been brought before the meeting: (i) by or at the
direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the
Corporation who is entitled to vote with respect thereto and who complies with
the notice procedures set forth in this Section 6(b). For business to be
properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the business must
relate to a proper subject matter for stockholder action and the stockholder
must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the
Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder's notice must be delivered or mailed to
and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than
ninety (90) days prior to the date of the annual meeting; provided, however,
that in the event that less than one hundred (100) days' notice or prior public
disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, notice
by the stockholder to be timely must be received not later than the close of
business on the 10th day following the day on which such notice of the date of
the annual meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made. A
stockholder's notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter such
stockholder proposes to bring before
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the annual meeting: (i) a brief description
of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons
for conducting such business at the annual meeting; (ii) the name and address,
as they appear on the Corporation's books, of the stockholder proposing such
business; (iii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation's capital
stock that are beneficially owned by such stockholder; and (iv) any material
interest of such stockholder in such business. Notwithstanding anything in these
Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be brought before or conducted at an
annual meeting except in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(b).
The Officer of the Corporation or other person presiding over the annual meeting
shall, if the facts so warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that
business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 6(b) and, if he or she should so determine, shall so
declare to the meeting and any such business so determined to be not properly
brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.
At any special meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be
conducted as shall have been brought before the meeting by or at the direction
of the Board of Directors.
(c) Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures and
meet the qualifications set forth in these Bylaws shall be eligible for election
as Directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of
the Corporation may be made at a meeting of stockholders at which directors are
to be elected only: (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors; or
(ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation entitled to vote for the election of
Directors at the meeting who complies with the notice procedures set forth in
this Section 6(c). Such nominations, other than those made by or at the
direction of the Board of Directors, shall be made by timely notice in writing
to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder's notice shall
be delivered or mailed to and received at the principal executive offices of the
Corporation not less than ninety (90) days prior to the date of the meeting;
provided, however, that in the event that less than one hundred (100) days'
notice or prior disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to
stockholders, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not
later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such
notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made.
Such stockholder's notice shall set forth: (i) as to each person whom such
stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a Director, all
information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in
solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in
each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (including such person's written consent to being named in the proxy
statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); and (ii) as to
the stockholder giving the notice (x) the name and address, as they appear on
the Corporation's books, of such stockholder and (y) the class and number of
shares of the Corporation's capital stock that are beneficially owned by such
stockholder. At the request of the Board of Directors, any person nominated by
the Board of Directors for election as a Director shall furnish to the Secretary
of the Corporation that information required to be set forth in a stockholder's
notice of nomination which pertains to the nominee. No person shall be eligible
for election as a Director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 6(c). The Officer of the Corporation or
other person presiding at the meeting shall, if the facts so warrant, determine
that a nomination was not made in accordance with such provisions and, if he or
she shall so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and the
defective nomination shall be
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disregarded. No nomination shall be made or voted upon if the nominee is
ineligible for election to the Board of Directors under these Bylaws.
(d) No person shall be eligible for election or appointment to the Board of
Directors: (i) if such person has, within the previous 10 years, been the
subject of supervisory action by a financial regulatory agency that resulted in
a cease and desist order or an agreement or other written statement subject to
public disclosure under 12 U.S.C. 1818(u), or any successor provision; (ii) if
such person has been convicted of a crime involving dishonesty or breach of
trust which is punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year under
state or federal law; (iii) if such person is currently charged in any
information, indictment, or other complaint with the commission of or
participation in such a crime; and (iv) except for persons serving as members of
the of the initial Board of Directors or except as otherwise approved by the
Board of Directors, unless such person has been, for a period of at least one
year immediately prior to his or her nomination or appointment, a resident of a
county in which the Corporation or its subsidiaries maintains a banking office
or a county contiguous to any such county. No person shall be eligible for
election or appointment to the Board of Directors if such person is the nominee
or representative of a company, as that term is defined in Section 10 of the
Home Owners' Loan Act or any successor provision, of which any director,
partner, trustee or shareholder controlling more than 10% of any class of voting
stock would not be eligible for election or appointment to the Board of
Directors under this Section 6. No person shall be eligible for election to the
Board of Directors if such person is the nominee or representative of a person
or group, or of a group acting in concert (as defined in 12 C.F.R Section 574
4(d)), that includes a person who is ineligible for election to the Board of
Directors under this Section 6. The Board of Directors shall have the power to
construe and apply the provisions of this Section 6 and to make all
determinations necessary or desirable to implement such provisions, including
but not limited to determinations as to whether a person is a nominee or
representative of a person, a company or a group, whether a person or company is
included in a group, and whether a person is the nominee or representative of a
group acting in concert.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws, in no event shall
any person, group or company that would not be eligible for election to the
Board of Directors or to have his or its representative or nominee eligible for
election to the Board of Directors under Section 6 of this Article I be entitled
or permitted to vote his or its shares with respect to any amendment,
modification or repeal of Section 6 of this Article I.
Section 7. Proxies and Voting.
At any meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder entitled to vote may
vote in person or by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing filed in
accordance with the procedure established for the meeting. Any facsimile
telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission
created pursuant to this paragraph may be substituted or used in lieu of the
original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original
writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile
telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the
entire original writing or transmission.
All voting, including on the election of Directors but excepting where
otherwise required
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by law or by the governing documents of the Corporation, may be made by a voice
vote; provided, however, that upon demand therefor by a stockholder entitled to
vote or his or her proxy, a stock vote shall be taken. Every stock vote shall be
taken by ballot, each of which shall state the name of the stockholder or proxy
voting and such other information as may be required under the procedures
established for the meeting. The Corporation shall, in advance of any meeting of
stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a
written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as
alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector
or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person presiding
at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each
inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign
an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality
and according to the best of his ability.
All elections shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast, and
except as otherwise required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, all
other matters shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast.
Section 8. Stock List.
A complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of
stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order for each class of stock and showing
the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in his
or her name, shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder, for any
purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours for a period of
at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city
where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of
the meeting, or if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be
held.
The stock list shall also be kept at the place of the meeting during the
whole time thereof and shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder
who is present. This list shall presumptively determine the identity of the
stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by
each of them.
Section 9. Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting.
Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred
stock of the Corporation, any action required or permitted to be taken by the
stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at an annual or special meeting
of stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in
writing by such stockholders.
ARTICLE II - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. General Powers, Number, Term of Office and Limitations.
The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be under the direction of
its Board of Directors. The number of Directors who shall constitute the Whole
Board shall be such number as the Board of Directors shall from time to time
have designated, except that in the absence of
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such designation shall be eighteen (18). The Board of Directors shall annually
elect a Chairman of the Board from among its members who shall, when present,
preside at its meetings.
No person shall be qualified to continue to serve as a Director after the
annual meeting immediately following his or her seventy-second birthday;
provided, however, that any Director serving on the date these Bylaws are
adopted may not be re-elected following his or her seventy-second birthday but
shall be qualified to serve as a Director until the expiration of the last term
he or she is elected to serve prior to his or her seventy-second birthday.
The Directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any
class or series of Preferred Stock, shall be divided, with respect to the time
for which they severally hold office, into three classes, with the term of
office of the first class to expire at the first annual meeting of stockholders,
the term of office of the second class to expire at the annual meeting of
stockholders one year thereafter and the term of office of the third class to
expire at the annual meeting of stockholders two years thereafter, with each
Director to hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected
and qualified. At each annual meeting of stockholders, Directors elected to
succeed those Directors whose terms then expire shall be elected for a term of
office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after
their election, with each Director to hold office until his or her successor
shall have been duly elected and qualified.
Section 2. Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships.
Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred
Stock, and unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines, newly created
directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors
or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation,
retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause may be filled
only by a majority vote of the Directors then in office, though less than a
quorum, and Directors so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the
annual meeting of stockholders at which the term of office of the class to which
they have been elected expires and until such Director's successor shall have
been duly elected and qualified. No decrease in the number of authorized
directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent
Director.
Section 3. Regular Meetings.
Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place or
places, on such date or dates, and at such time or times as shall have been
established by the Board of Directors and publicized among all Directors. A
notice of each regular meeting shall not be required.
Section 4. Special Meetings.
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by one-third (1/3)
of the Directors then in office (rounded up to the nearest whole number), or by
the Chairman of the Board or the President or, in the event that the Chairman of
the Board or the President are incapacitated or otherwise unable to call such
meeting, by the Secretary, and shall be held at such
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place, on such date, and at such time as they, or he or she, shall fix. Notice
of the place, date, and time of each such special meeting shall be given each
Director by whom it is not waived by mailing written notice not less than five
(5) days before the meeting or by telegraphing or telexing or by facsimile
transmission of the same not less than twenty-four (24) hours before the
meeting. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business
may be transacted at a special meeting.
Section 5. Quorum.
At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the Whole Board
shall constitute a quorum for all purposes. If a quorum shall fail to attend any
meeting, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting to another place,
date, or time, without further notice or waiver thereof.
Section 6. Participation in Meetings By Conference Telephone.
Members of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may
participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference
telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons
participating in the meeting can hear each other and such participation shall
constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 7. Conduct of Business.
At any meeting of the Board of Directors, business shall be transacted in
such order and manner as the Board may from time to time determine, and all
matters shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the Directors present,
except as otherwise provided herein or required by law. Action may be taken by
the Board of Directors without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto
in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of
proceedings of the Board of Directors.
Section 8. Powers.
The Board of Directors may, except as otherwise required by law, exercise
all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by
the Corporation, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the unqualified power:
(1) To declare dividends from time to time in accordance with law;
(2) To purchase or otherwise acquire any property, rights or privileges on
such terms as it shall determine;
(3) To authorize the creation, making and issuance, in such form as it may
determine, of written obligations of every kind, negotiable or
non-negotiable, secured or unsecured, and to do all things necessary
in connection therewith;
(4) To remove any Officer of the Corporation with or without cause, and
from time to time to devolve the powers and duties of any Officer upon
any other person for the time being;
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(5) To confer upon any Officer of the Corporation the power to appoint,
remove and suspend subordinate Officers, employees and agents;
(6) To adopt from time to time such stock, option, stock purchase, bonus
or other compensation plans for Directors, Officers, employees and
agents of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as it may determine;
(7) To adopt from time to time such insurance, retirement, and other
benefit plans for Directors, Officers, employees and agents of the
Corporation and its subsidiaries as it may determine;
(8) To adopt from time to time regulations, not inconsistent with these
Bylaws, for the management of the Corporation's business and affairs;
and
(9) To fix the Compensation of officers and employees of the Corporation
and its subsidiaries as it may determine.
Section 9. Compensation of Directors.
Directors, as such, may receive, pursuant to resolution of the Board of
Directors, fixed fees and other compensation for their services as Directors,
including, without limitation, their services as members of committees of the
Board of Directors.
ARTICLE III - COMMITTEES
Section 1. Committees of the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors, by a vote of a majority of the Board of Directors,
may from time to time designate committees of the Board, with such lawfully
delegable powers and duties as it thereby confers, to serve at the pleasure of
the Board and shall, for these committees and any others provided for herein,
elect a Director or Directors to serve as the member or members, designating, if
it desires, other Directors as alternate members who may replace any absent or
disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Any committee so designated
may exercise the power and authority of the Board of Directors to declare a
dividend, to authorize the issuance of stock or to adopt a certificate of
ownership and merger pursuant to Section 253 of the Delaware General Corporation
Law if the resolution which designates the committee or a supplemental
resolution of the Board of Directors shall so provide. In the absence or
disqualification of any member of any committee and any alternate member in his
or her place, the member or members of the committee present at the meeting and
not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she or they constitute a
quorum, may by unanimous vote appoint another member of the Board of Directors
to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.
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Section 2. Conduct of Business.
Each committee may determine the procedural rules for meeting and
conducting its business and shall act in accordance therewith, except as
otherwise provided herein or required by law. Adequate provision shall be made
for notice to members of all meetings. The quorum requirements for each such
committee shall be a majority of the members of such committee unless otherwise
determined by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of the Board of
Directors which such quorum determined by a majority of the Board may be one-
third of such members and all matters considered by such committees shall be
determined by a majority vote of the members present. Action may be taken by any
committee without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing,
and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of
such committee.
Section 3. Nominating Committee.
The Board of Directors shall appoint a Nominating Committee of the Board,
consisting of not less than three (3) members of the Board of Directors. The
Nominating Committee shall have authority: (a) to review any nominations for
election to the Board of Directors made by a stockholder of the Corporation
pursuant to Section 6(c)(ii) of Article I of these Bylaws in order to determine
compliance with such Bylaw; and (b) to recommend to the Whole Board nominees for
election to the Board of Directors to replace those Directors whose terms expire
at the annual meeting of stockholders next ensuing.
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
Section 1. Generally.
(a) The Board of Directors as soon as may be practicable after the annual
meeting of stockholders shall choose a Chairman of the Board, a President and
Chief Executive Officer, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary and a
Treasurer and from time to time may choose such other officers as it may deem
proper. The Chairman of the Board shall be chosen from among the Directors. Any
number of offices may be held by the same person.
(b) The term of office of the Chairman of the Board and of all Officers
shall be until the next annual election of Officers and until their respective
successors are chosen but any Officer may be removed from office at any time by
the affirmative vote of a majority of the authorized number of Directors then
constituting the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.
(c) All Officers chosen by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive
Officer shall have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their
respective Offices, subject to the specific provisions of this Article IV. Such
officers shall also have such powers and duties as from time to time may be
conferred by the Board of Directors or by any committee thereof.
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Section 2. Chairman of the Board of Directors.
The Chairman of the Board shall perform such duties designated to him or
her by the Board of Directors and which are delegated to him or her by the Board
of Directors by resolution of the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board,
when present, or his or her designee shall preside at all meetings of the
stockholders of the Corporation.
Section 3. President and Chief Executive Officer.
The President and Chief Executive Officer shall have general responsibility
for the management and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation
and shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to
the office of President and Chief Executive Officer or which are delegated to
him or her by the Board of Directors. Subject to the direction of the Board of
Directors, the President and Chief Executive Officer shall have power to sign
all stock certificates, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation which
are authorized and shall have general supervision of all of the other Officers
(other than the Chairman of the Board), employees and agents of the Corporation.
Section 4. Vice President.
The Vice President or Vice Presidents shall perform the duties of the
President in his absence or during his inability to act. In addition, the Vice
Presidents shall perform the duties and exercise the powers usually incident to
their respective offices and/or such other duties and powers as may be properly
assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the
President. A Vice President or Vice Presidents may be designated as Executive
Vice President or Senior Vice President.
Section 5. Secretary.
The Secretary or Assistant Secretary shall issue notices of meetings, shall
keep their minutes, shall have charge of the seal and the corporate books, shall
perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as are usually incident
to such office and/or such other duties and powers as are properly assigned
thereto by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President.
Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Secretary shall have the
power to sign all stock certificates.
Section 6. Treasurer.
The Treasurer shall be the Comptroller of the Corporation and shall have
the responsibility for maintaining the financial records of the Corporation. He
or she shall make such disbursements of the funds of the Corporation as are
authorized and shall render from time to time an account of all such
transactions and of the financial condition of the Corporation. The Treasurer
shall also perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to
time prescribe. Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the
Treasurer shall have the power to sign all stock certificates.
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Section 7. Assistant Secretaries and Other Officers.
The Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may appoint one or
more Assistant Secretaries and such other Officers who shall have such powers
and shall perform such duties as are provided in these Bylaws or as may be
assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the
President and the Chief Executive Officer.
Section 8. Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporation.
Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the President or any
Officer of the Corporation authorized by the President shall have power to vote
and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any
meeting of stockholders of or with respect to any action of stockholders of any
other corporation in which this Corporation may hold securities and otherwise to
exercise any and all rights and powers which this Corporation may possess by
reason of its ownership of securities in such other corporation.
ARTICLE V - STOCK
Section 1. Certificates of Stock.
Each stockholder shall be entitled to a certificate signed by, or in the
name of the Corporation by, the Chairman of the Board or the President, and by
the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or any Treasurer or Assistant
Treasurer, certifying the number of shares owned by him or her. Any or all of
the signatures on the certificate may be by facsimile.
Section 2. Transfers of Stock.
Transfers of stock shall be made only upon the transfer books of the
Corporation kept at an office of the Corporation or by transfer agents
designated to transfer shares of the stock of the Corporation. Except where a
certificate is issued in accordance with Section 4 of Article V of these Bylaws,
an outstanding certificate for the number of shares involved shall be
surrendered for cancellation before a new certificate is issued therefor.
Section 3. Record Date.
In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to
notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or to receive payment of
any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or to exercise any
rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the
purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record
date, which record date shall not precede the date on which the resolution
fixing the record date is adopted and which record date shall not be more than
sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of any meeting of
stockholders, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the time for such other
action as hereinbefore described; provided, however, that if no record date is
fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders
entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the
close of business on the day next
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preceding the day on which notice is given or, if notice is waived, at the close
of business on the next day preceding the day on which the meeting is held, and,
for determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or
other distribution or allotment or rights or to exercise any rights of change,
conversion or exchange of stock or for any other purpose, the record date shall
be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts a
resolution relating thereto.
A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote
at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting;
provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the
adjourned meeting.
Section 4. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.
In the event of the loss, theft or destruction of any certificate of stock,
another may be issued in its place pursuant to such regulations as the Board of
Directors may establish concerning proof of such loss, theft or destruction and
concerning the giving of a satisfactory bond or bonds of indemnity.
Section 5. Regulations.
The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of certificates of stock
shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board of Directors may
establish.
ARTICLE VI - NOTICES
Section 1. Notices.
Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or required by law, all
notices required to be given to any stockholder, Director, Officer, employee or
agent shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given by hand
delivery to the recipient thereof, by depositing such notice in the mails,
postage paid, or by sending such notice by prepaid telegram or mailgram or other
courier. Any such notice shall be addressed to such stockholder, Director,
Officer, employee or agent at his or her last known address as the same appears
on the books of the Corporation. The time when such notice is received, if hand
delivered, or dispatched, if delivered through the mails or by telegram or
mailgram or other courier, shall be the time of the giving of the notice.
Section 2. Waivers.
A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder, Director, Officer,
employee or agent, whether before or after the time of the event for which
notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be
given to such stockholder, Director, Officer, employee or agent. Neither the
business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver.
Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such
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meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of
objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of business because
the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
ARTICLE VII - MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1. Facsimile Signatures.
In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere
specifically authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile signatures of any officer or
officers of the Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board
of Directors or a committee thereof.
Section 2. Corporate Seal.
The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of
the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary. If and when
so directed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, duplicates of the
seal may be kept and used by the Treasurer or by an Assistant Secretary or an
assistant to the Treasurer.
Section 3. Reliance Upon Books, Reports and Records.
Each Director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of
Directors, and each Officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his
or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of
account or other records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions,
reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its Officers or
employees, or committees of the Board of Directors so designated, or by any
other person as to matters which such Director or committee member reasonably
believes are within such other person's professional or expert competence and
who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.
Section 4. Fiscal Year.
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as fixed by the Board of
Directors.
Section 5. Time Periods.
In applying any provision of these Bylaws which requires that an act be
done or not be done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act
be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event,
calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded,
and the day of the event shall be included.
ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS
The Board of Directors may amend, alter or repeal these Bylaws at any
meeting of the Board, provided notice of the proposed change was given not less
than two (2) days prior to the meeting. The stockholders shall also have power
to amend, alter or repeal these Bylaws at any
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meeting of stockholders provided notice of the proposed change was given in the
notice of the meeting; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any other
provisions of the Bylaws or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a
lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders
of any particular class or series of the voting stock required by law, the
Certificate of Incorporation, any Preferred Stock Designation or these Bylaws,
the affirmative votes of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of all
the then-outstanding shares of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single
class, shall be required to alter, amend or repeal any provisions of these
Bylaws.
The above Amended and Restated Bylaws amend and restate the Bylaws of
Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc., effective as of January 10, 2000, and are
effective as of October 16, 2002.
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