In connection with the proposed transaction, Berkshire intends to file a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC that will include a joint proxy statement of Brookline and Berkshire and a prospectus of Berkshire, which will be distributed to the shareholders of Brookline and Berkshire in connection with their votes on the merger of Brookline with and into Berkshire and the issuance of Berkshire common stock in the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE (AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS) BECAUSE SUCH DOCUMENTS WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE PROPOSED MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain these documents, and any other documents Berkshire and Brookline have filed with the SEC, free of charge at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, or by accessing Berkshire's website at www.ir.berkshirebank.com under the "Investor Relations" link and then under the heading "Documents," or by accessing Brookline's website at www.brooklinebancorp.com. In addition, documents filed with the SEC by Berkshire or Brookline will be available free of charge by (1) writing Berkshire at 60 State Street, Boston, MA 02109 Attention: Kevin A. Conn or (2) writing Brookline at 131 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02116, Attention: Carl M. Carlson.

Participants in the Solicitation

The directors, executive officers and certain other members of management and employees of Berkshire may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Berkshire and Brookline in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about Berkshire's directors and executive officers is included in the proxy statement for its 2024 annual meeting of Berkshire's shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 5, 2024.

The directors, executive officers and certain other members of management and employees of Brookline may also be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from shareholders of Brookline and Berkshire in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of Brookline is included in the proxy statement for its 2023 annual meeting of Brookline shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 29, 2024.

Additional information regarding the interests of those participants and other persons who may be deemed participants in the transaction may be obtained by reading the joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction when it becomes available. Free copies of this document may be obtained as described above.

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SOURCE Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 16, 2024 08:30 ET (13:30 GMT)